Magical three try performance from Shaun Johnson gives Warriors victory over Canberra Raiders

THE New Zealand Warriors have ended Canberra's finals hopes with an emphatic 50-16 win at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

THE Warriors own version of “Beauty and The Beast” on Saturday combined to put Canberra out of it’s misery at Mt Smart Stadium.

If the Raiders’ season was in free-fall after four straight defeats and the sacking of coach David Furner, they hit the deck with an almighty thud across the Ditch as the Warriors extinguished any faint hopes they had of reaching the play-offs.

At the same time, the home side breathed new life into their own finals chances with a devastating reminder of just what they are capable of when they are in the mood.

And it was stylish halfback Shaun Johnson and Manu “The Beast” Vatuvei who were most responsible for the carnage that produced the 50-16 final scoreline.

The Beast was back to his devastating best, crossing for a first half hattrick that will have Raiders fullback Reece Robinson tossing and turning in his sleep for weeks to come.

But if big Manu set the stadium alight late in the first half, it was Johnson who hogged the limelight in the second.

Vatuvei

He sent the stats men scurrying for the record books after he nailed a second half hattrick in the space of just over six electrifying minutes not long after the break.

It catapulted the Warriors from a halftime scoreline of 20-12 to a 38-12 lead as the Raiders defence literally fell apart under the onslaught.

Bench forward Feleti Mateo was another outstanding contributor for the winners while fullback Kevin Locke was also a constant threat.

The Warriors could not have hoped for a better start to the game with the Raiders conceding the opening try inside two minutes having not touched the football.

A short, questionable pass from five-eighth Thomas Leuluai saw backrower Elijah Taylor storm over from close range.

But if Canberra were shell-shocked early, they quickly settled into the contest and were back on level terms at 6-all after 16 minutes when centre Jarrod Croker caught his opposite Konrad Hurrell flat-footed and steamed over out wide.

Croker made it a first half double six minutes later to give his side a 12-6 advantage thanks to a comical Johnson error.

Deep in attack, Johnson thought referee Gavin Badger was a teammate and passed him the ball, only to see Croker pick up the dregs and race 80 metres untouched.

But 12 minutes from halftime, the whole complexion of the game changed after Vatuvei scored his first try from a pin-point Leuluai grubber.

The “Beast” was suddenly let loose and the introduction of ball-player Feleti Mateo off the bench for the Warriors was the catalyst.

Mateo’s second touch, a superb inside ball from fullback Kevin Locke, saw Vatuvei streak over for his second with his third coming only a matter of a few minutes later.

Suddenly, after being well in the game, the Raiders found themselves down 20-12 at halftime with their backs to the wall.

And that wall came crashing down in the final 40 minutes as Johnson and co ran riot.

Five second half tries blew the scoreline out embarrassingly for the Raiders before Croker crossed in the closing minutes for his own personal hattrick.

Johnson led the onslaught when he took advantage of a forward pass from Sam Rapira to race away for his first try after 50 minutes for a 26-12 advantage.

Remarkably, within the space of six minutes minutes, he had two more as the lead blew out to 38-12.

If he wasn’t scoring them himself, Johnson was setting them up with his pass to skipper Simon Mannering for his try midway through the second half a beauty.

By that point, the Raiders defence was in tatters with winger Ngani Laumape posting his side’s half century with another try with 11 minutes remaining.

WARRIORS 50 (S Johnson 3 M Vatuvei 3 N Laumape S Mannering E Taylor tries S Johnson 7 goals) bt CANBERRA 16 (J Croker 3 tries J Croker 2 goals) at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Alan Shortall.