After their strong start to the NRL season, NZ Warriors have staggered to back-to-back defeats in the space of five days, succumbing 14-0 to Sydney Roosters at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.
In a lowscoring affair, hampered by torrential rain, the Roosters showed the ability that has made them perennial title contenders, withstanding periods of intense pressure and making the most of their own opportunities to grind out a win.
The result marks the first consecutive losses for the home side, after a 5-2 start to their campaign, and their first time they have failed to score since their 44-0 debacle at Gold Coast to end their 2021 season.
While the short turnaround from their Anzac Day loss to Melbourne Storm was undoubtedly a factor, the Roosters were also backing up from their win over St George Dragons that same day.
The Warriors missed injured captain Tohu Harris, fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and utility forward Jazz Tevaga, but did enough to stay in the contest, without really threatening the scoreboard.
With his team trailing 8-0, second-rower Jackson Ford came closest to scoring early in the second half, when he crossed the tryline, but could not ground the ball in a couple of tackles.
The Roosters took the lead in the fifth minute, with a penalty by Joseph Suaalii, after Warriors half Shaun Johnson failed to carry 10 metres with a goal-line dropout.
With five minutes left in the half, Sydney second-rower Nat Butcher had the first try, storming over from close range on the last tackle.
The Warriors were not out of the contest, but they could not capitalise on their opportunities and were eventually put away, when NZ Kiwis hooker Brandon Smith ran from dummy half, and put a neat grubber kick behind the defence for forward Sitili Tupouniua to chase and score.
"We probably gave the Roosters too much ball early on and just couldn't recover," said captain Wayde Egan. "They're a quality side and if you give them the footy, they're going to score points.
"Our attack just wasn't good enough and didn't make the most of our opportunities. We'll have to have a look at that.
"We're missing a few players, which is always hard, but that's no excuse. We just missed our roles a couple of times - a few bad passes, a few bad kicks - something to look at."
Despite the defeat, the Warriors stay in top-eight playoff position on the NRL table, but next face two-time defending champions Penrith Panthers, hurting from their shock loss to previously winless Wests Tigers.
Sydney Roosters 14 (Butcher & Tupouniua tries; Suaalii penalty & 2 conversions) NZ Warriors 0
