Fullback **Taine Tuaupiki** scored **16 points**, including a **first-half double**, to lead the **One New Zealand Warriors** to a **24-18 win** over second-placed **Canberra** in Saturday’s **17th-round New South Wales Cup** encounter at **Go Media Stadium**.

Stretching their winning run to **four matches**, the Warriors moved to **23 points**, just one behind the Raiders in third spot and two behind competition leaders the **North Sydney Bears**, who play on Sunday.

Boosted by **NRL forwards Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, and Jacob Laban**, the Warriors made a brilliant start with Tuaupiki crossing for the first of his tries in just the **second minute**.

The Warriors reorganized themselves, got into the grind, and then picked up two tries in a matter of three minutes, first through Tuaupiki again and then winger **Motu Pasikala**, who chased down a kick just inside the dead ball line.

Television replays showed he had knocked on, but the try had been awarded and there was no way of overturning it with no bunker operating for the match.

The lucky break opened up a **16-6 lead**, which the Warriors maintained until the final seconds of the half when the Raiders trimmed the margin to **16-8 with a penalty**.

In greasy conditions, the contest became an arm wrestle with the error count climbing, neither team troubling the scoreboard.

The Warriors also had to contend with having **Demitric Sifakula** sent to the sin bin.

Then in the **58th minute**, center **Setu Tu** hunted down a kick to score – Tuaupiki converting – for the Warriors to open up a **22-6 advantage**.

A melee erupted after the try was scored with most of the players involved.

After a long stoppage, Warriors forwards Tom Ale and Jacob Laban plus Canberra’s **Horsburgh** were ordered off, the game down to **11 on 12** for the final **14 minutes**.

Tuaupiki kicked a penalty to make it **24-14** as the Warriors managed the final stages of the game cleverly before conceding a **79th-minute try**.

The New Zealand Warriors honor the mana of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia, and the Pacific.

We acknowledge the traditional kaitiaki of the lands, elders past and present, their stories, their traditions, their mamae, and their mana motuhake.