MILTON-Ulladulla product Jack Murchie and his New Zealand Warriors continued their inconsistent season on Friday night, scoring seven tries against an injury-hit North Queensland in a rip-roaring 37-26 bout at Central Coast Stadium.
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Having previously scored just four tries in four games, the Warriors ran riot with seven, contributing to a 12-try total for the night.
Adding to the peculiarity of the evening, Fox Sports presenter Hannah Hollis will be tested for coronavirus on Saturday after conducting a sideline interview with injured Cowboys fullback Valentine Holmes.
There was no contact between the pair and the NRL confirmed Holmes was free to fly home with the Cowboys following the match.
On the field, Kodi Nikorima was a standout for the Warriors with two try-assists, two line-break assists, a linebreak and a field goal to help the Warriors secure their second win of the season.
"That's the challenge for Kodi to elevate him to the status of the top-shelf halves in the competition - to turn that on every week, similar to what he did and against the Dragons," coach Stephen Kearney said.
"It's the awareness of what we need from him, he was good. But it was a pretty solid team performance."
Warriors centre Peta Hiku crossed the line three times - his first tries of the season - as he wreaked havoc down the Cowboys' right edge.
There were troubling signs for the Cowboys who lost Holmes and Jordan McLean early on, but they unearthed a star in the making with teenager Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow announcing his NRL arrival.
Already hailed 'the fastest player in the NRL', the 18-year-old slotted in at fullback on his debut after Holmes was taken from the field with an ankle injury.
Cowboys coach Paul Green was reserved in his praise for Tabuai-Fidow, who came up with two try assists, and was left fuming by his team's defence.
"That's probably his natural position, (where) he played the most growing up, so he did a pretty good job," Green said.
"He got caught out on one of those kick tries but generally speaking he did a pretty good job."
The loss puts the Cowboys in eighth spot after just two wins from the first five games, with another big trip to Sydney to play the Wests Tigers next weekend.
Murchie, who was born in Batemans Bay, and his Warriors will face South Sydney at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night.
