James Fisher-Harris in action for the Warriors. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Canberra Raiders have overpowered NZ Warriors 30-8 in the 2025 NRL season-opener at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, dealing an early blow to the Auckland club's hopes of reaching the playoffs.
The 'home' side in the US showcase needed only six minutes to grab the lead through a try to Kiwi centre Seb Kris and extended their advantage through winger Xavier Savage before the half hour.
Moments later, Savage doubled down with a length-of-the-field try that may have been the defining moment of the contest. The Warriors were pressing hard on attack, but Luke Metcalf's final pass to winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was picked off by Savage, who went untouched, as he sprinted away.
Second-rower Kurt Capewell had the Warriors on the scoreboard with a try before halftime, but Kris also had his second soon after the restart, when fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad spilled a high kick near his goal-line.
Kiwis centre Matt Timoko had a try disallowed for Canberra, through obstruction, but wasn't to be denied, when he received a pass on halfway and beat the last defender to score.
The Warriors had plenty of chances to score and finally responded, when Raiders captain Joseph Tapine was sin-binned for a shoulder charge on counterpart Mitch Barnett. With a numerical advantage, they put Tuivasa-Sheck into the left corner for a try, but had run out of time to make any kind of comeback.
"Awesome experience, but very disappointed not to get the two points," reflected hooker Wayde Egan. "We just gave them too much ball in the first half and didn't complete well.
"We gave them too many chances - they took their chances and we probably didn't. A lot to build on for next week.
"Raiders are tough and fit, and showed they will be hard to beat."
The Warriors' next outing will be against Manly Sea Eagles at Go Media Stadium on Friday, 14 March.
Review how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
Team lists
Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Savelio Tamale, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Corey Horsburgh, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Zac Hosking, 13. Morgan Smithies
Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie, 15. Simi Sasagi, 16. Josh Papalii, 17. Ata Mariota
New Zealand Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Taine Tuaupiki, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima
