Blake Green puts on masterclass as Warriors thrash Roosters 30-6 at Allianz Stadium

WARRIORS five-eighth Blake Green has been heralded as a potential NSW Blues candidate after dismantling the Roosters in a history-making win for New Zealand.

Leivaha Pulu.

AS a schoolboy, he was the best half in Australia.

On Saturday night, Warriors five-eighth Blake Green was heralded as a potential NSW State of Origin candidate after dismantling the Roosters in a history-making win for New Zealand.

Green, who was born in Fairfield and played in the 2004 Australian schoolboys, overshadowed former Test half Cooper Cronk to lift the Warriors to a club-first fourth consecutive win to begin the season.

Leivaha Pulu celebrates with teammates after scoring a try.

Having steered the Warriors to wins over the Rabbitohs, Titans, Raiders and Roosters in only four games since being let go by Manly, Green’s coach Stephen Kearney didn’t hold back on where he rates the pivot.

“Well, I’ll tell you what, if he was a Kiwi I’d be looking at him for the Kiwis,’’ Kearney said.

“He’s got a real calming influence and I don’t want to embarass him, but to me he’s made a tremendous contribution to the club.

“He’s a footballer, he’s a real pro and I’m very pleased he’s in our team.’’

The Warriors - who had won just two from 17 without star half Shaun Johnson in the past - were given no chance to topple the premiership favourites after he pulled out with a groin strain in the final training session on Friday.

Cooper Cronk after the Roosters concede a try.

But pushed and prodded around the park by the cool head of Green and the energy of 26-year-old rookie Mason Lino, in just his 10th NRL game in four years, the fitter-than-ever Warriors embarrassed the error-riddled Roosters into submission.

Lino was superb, finishing with 18 of the Warriors 30-points, playing with a confidence that proves Kearney has depth of quality to continue their early season form.

Hooker Isaac Luke was also outstanding in the complete domination of their opposition.

The Roosters fired out of the blocks with a blistering try in the fourth minute to Latrell Mitchell - and then that was it.

What followed was an ugly, illl-disciplined display, which ultimately most have come to expect from Warriors sides of the past.

At the 25th minute mark they had managed to complete just two of seven sets (29 per cent completion rate) with forward passes, and poor handling styming their attack.

By fulL-time, the Roosters had managed to complete just 57 per cent of the footy, while they also lost the penalty count 11-8.

Jazz Tevaga is tackled by Roosters defence.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson disagreed with Kearney’s view that the Roosters side may have switched off mentally, upon hearing the news of Johnson’s omission.

Instead, he pointed to the Roosters discipline and distinct lack of urgency - as featured last week in their thumping win over Newcastle.

“I don’t care who you are, you don’t win games until you respect the ball,’’ Robinson said.

“And that’s what happened after that first try, we didn’t complete. For five sets in a row we had errors.

James Tedesco in action for the Roosters.

“We’ve come up against a side that has played well each week, they were ready play and played very well.

“But the basic rules of rugby league, how we wanted to respect the ball, that concerned me..’’

Ahead of a tough clash with Cronulla on Friday night, what will also be a concern for the Roosters is the placing on report of utility Victor Radley for a high shot on Ligi Sao.

Full-time NZ WARRIORS 30 (D Fusitua S Kata M Lino L Pulu tries M Lino 7 goals) bt SYDNEY ROOSTERS 6 (L Mitchell try L Mitchell goal) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 14,493.

Originally published as Blake Green puts on masterclass as Warriors thrash Roosters 30-6 at Allianz Stadium