Live: NZ Warriors v Canterbury Bulldogs, NRLW

Try doubles to centre Emmanita Paki and wing Lavinia Tauhalaliku have propelled NZ Warriors to a 32-10 opening win in their NRLW campaign in Hamilton.

Bolstered by strong recruitment during the off-season, the Auckland-based team took about half an hour to find their feet, but buried their rivals with three tries in quick succession immediately after halftime.

Second-rower Shakira Baker wasted no time setting a benchmark for the new season, when she smashed Bulldogs prop Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa in a strong tackle from kickoff, jolting the ball free and giving the Warriors early attacking position.

They could not take advantage and put themselves on the back foot early, conceding five straight penalties that drew a warning from referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski.

The Warriors lost debutant prop Mya Hill-Moana to the sin bin for 10 minutes, after a hipdrop tackle on Bulldogs captain Tayla Preston on the goal-line.

They withstood that assault and were still shorthanded, when they struck first, as new five-eighth Gayle Broughton burst through the defensive line from short range to score.

Back to their full complement, the Warriors extended their advantage, when Broughton found Paki with a long pass that put her over near the left corner.

Tryscoring sensation Payton Takimoana was forced off the field at halftime, after suffering a shoulder injury, as she seemingly scored in the right corner, but was forced into touch.

Ahead 10-0 at the break, Paki struck again after the restart, slicing through for her double, after fullback Apii Nicholls provided an extra set of hands down the left edge.

The Warriors quickly doubled down on the right, when Nicholls again injected herself into the attack, and found centre Tysha Ikenasio, now on Takimoana's wing, with a long pass and open space to the tryline.

Back to the left, where Broughton, Nicholls and Paki combined to put Tauhalaliku across.

Almost eight minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs had not touched the ball, except to kick off four times.

As possession evened out, the Warriors continued to dominate up the middle of the park, where Harata Butler was particularly damaging, and halfback Patricia Maliepo was next to score, as she weaved through ineffectual tackles.

The Bulldogs finally found the scoreboard, when slick handling put Wellington-born prop Alexis Tauaneai into space.

As the final seconds ticked down, Tauhalaliku brought up her try double from another punishing run from Butler and another long pass from Broughton, before centre Monica Tagoai gave the Bulldogs the final say.

The result put the Warriors third on the NRLW table after the opening round, behind last year's finalists - champions Brisbane Broncos and minor premiers Sydney Roosters - on points difference.

They travel to Canberra Raiders next Sunday.

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