The New Zealand Warriors were left scrambling after a star player was instantly knocked out cold in a sickening tackle against the Canberra Raiders on Friday.
Injury carnage struck the Warriors before the game even started in Auckland, with veteran forward Kurt Capewell ruled out of the game after suffering a torn calf in the warm-up.
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The Warriors lost another player just 10 minutes into the game when Raiders forward Noah Martin steamrolled Chanel Harris-Tavita, who had his head crunched in some heavy contact.
The Warriors five-eighth was knocked out instantly and fell backwards onto the turf — play was stopped immediately and medical stuff rushed to the aid of Harris-Tavita, who lay motionless for a few moments.
“He’s in trouble. You don’t like to see this at all,” Fox League’s Michael Ennis said in commentary.
Watch the heavy tackle on Chanel Harris-Tavita in the video above
“Real concern for Harris-Tavita. Went low, dropped his head and caught the hip of Martin.”
Fox League commentator Jake Duke described the scenes as “very concerning”, while Ennis said it was a “catastrophic start” for the Warriors.
Braith Anasta said the Warriors were “dropping like flies” in the tough, wet conditons.
Taune Tuaupiki came off the bench to replace Harris-Tavita, who eventually got to his feet and left the field under his own steam but was ruled out of the game with a Category 1 HIA.
Warriors forward James Fisher-Harris left the field with concussion concerns but returned after passing his HIA.
It was tied up at 6-6 at halftime after the Raiders scored first through Kaeo Weekes in the fourth minutes and threatened to open the floodgates.
But the Warriors dug in and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored in the corner before the home side defended superbly to prevent Canberra scoring again in the first half.
The undermanned Warriors produced an inspired performance, overpowering Canberra’s feared forward pack in a heated contest.
Ali Leiataua, Leka Halasima and Jackson Ford, Tanah Boyd and Watene-Zelezniak all scored second half tries to give the Warriors a dominant 40-6 victory.
The Warriors have now started the season 2-0 with wins over the Roosters and the Raiders, and will welcome back Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf from injury later in the season.
