Dallin Watene-Zelezniak dives in for his third try against the St George-Illawarra Dragons. Photo: Photosport
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a career-best four tries as the Warriors blew away the St George-Illawarra Dragons 48-18 in a lop-sided NRL match in Wollongong.
The Warriors recorded their ninth win of the season - three more than they achieved through all of 2022 - to climb to fourth and have them still on course to play finals football for the first time in five years.
A nine-try display resulted in club's biggest-ever win over the Dragons and it was just their second win in 11 visits to Wollongong.
Forwards Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris led the way up front while halfback Shaun Johnson was at the heart of their best attacking moments.
While of the Warriors backs impressed, the headlines belonged to former Kiwis captain Watene-Zelezniak, who finished two of his four tries in spectacular, diving style to dot down in the right corner.
It was a tight match through the opening half hour, with the Warriors just 8-6 ahead, before the struggling home side began making a succession of mistakes that cost them possession and points.
The Warriors host the fifth-ranked South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday next week.
- RNZ