NZ Warriors may have just posted their highest points total of the season in their 48-18 win over St George Dragons, but the most lasting impression left on head coach Andrew Webster came at the other end of the field.
Led by a quartet from wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, the Warriors ran in nine tries to three against the disjointed Dragons to record a third straight NRL victory, continuing their 2023 rejuvenation and catapulting into the competition's elite at fourth place on the ladder.
The points were the most the club have posted in a single game since their 50-14 win over Newcastle Knights in 2016, when wing David Fusitu'a crossed three times at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Warriors hadn't scored over 30 points in three consecutive matches since 2007, coming on the back of emphatic wins over Redcliffe Dolphins and Canberra Raiders.
While Webster was pleased with aspects of his team's attack, the highlight of his evening at Wollongong was a relatively inconspicuous late defensive stand, when the contest was already well and truly put to bed.
"It probably sounds weird, but the last couple of sets in defence," Webster replied, when asked what had pleased him most from his team's performance.
"We scored 48 points and I thought the boys kept trying defensively, because they’re the moments where you're not ruthless or you don't want to keep trying, and you know you've got it done... silly moments like that.
"I thought our attack was really clinical at times, I also thought we overdid it at times too.
"We put 48 points on them and everyone’s going to say, 'Are you kidding yourself?' I thought there were moments where we were trying to be too cute and overplay, but I was also happy with our execution at times."
Providing the exclamation point on that execution was Watene-Zelezniak, who recorded the first hat-trick of his near decade-long NRL career, then added one more for good measure.
The veteran wing's resurgence personifies that of his team, with his haul taking him to 12 for the season - the first Warriors player to reach a double-figure tally since 2018 - and he's done it in just nine games.
Through his past five matches, the Waikato product has averaged two tries per game, with his ability to finish acrobatically in the corner fast becoming his trademark.
"Not many people in this competition can put a ball down with such little space," said captain Tohu Harris. "I'm just glad we've got one of those guys who can."
Yet again, the skipper was in the thick of the action, leading from the front with a bullocking effort that included 156 running metres through 18 carries to go along with 27 tackles.
Front-row cohort Addin Fonua-Blake was even more impressive. Arguably the competition's form prop, the Mate Ma'a Tonga powerhouse carried for 190m from 20 runs.
The Warriors' vaunted back three combined for 528m and 13 tackle breaks, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad providing four try assists in a display that Webster says exemplified the way his fullback has adjusted his offence.
"He's very clinical and makes sure he gives his centre good opportunities, so the centre can put the winger away," Webster said.
"I've noticed that he's got really good at that. He's so clear on how it looks for him at the moment.
"It's been a real big improvement and I'm really proud of how hard he's worked at it."
Half Shaun Johnson was also at his brilliant best, constantly keeping the Dragons defensive line guessing and asking questions with his kicking game.
Plaudits aside, Webster is far from satisfied by the display against a team in disarray, littered with the kind of errors they won't get away with against the NRL's premier sides.
That includes fifth-placed South Sydney Rabbitohs, who'll provide a likely litmus test, when they travel to Auckland next week, and Webster has called for both his team and the Go Media Mt Smart faithful to show up for the occasion.
"I think there are 1500 tickets for sale, so you'd better hurry up if you want those," Webster said. "We've got to make Mt Smart rocking, and get everyone there yelling, screaming and carrying on, because that's what they love doing.
"They're lunatics and we love them, but the [Rabbitohs] are a good side. The big thing at the moment is how quickly we can improve each week, how can we fix things we’re not good at and how ambitious are we?
"It's not about the result, but just to be better, and that’s what we’re going to have to go back and focus on. [The Rabbitohs] play on Sunday, so we'll watch them, we'll do our homework.
"We already know we're playing a good team, but we'll enjoy this one and then shift our focus to that. It's always exciting knowing we're going home to a full house."
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