New Zealand Warriors

Playing as well as ever in his 13th season in the National Rugby League, 32-year-old Johnson came up with two try assists, two forced dropouts and 722 kick metres as the Warriors racked up their sixth win of 2023.

"Shaun leads with his voice and he leads with his actions and that's very powerful when a player can do that," Warriors coach Andrew Webster said post-match.

The New Zealand-based team touched down in Tamworth on Sunday, with uncertainty still surrounding how long they will be away from home.

At this stage, they have committed to remaining in Australia until at least April 4, but whether they can host games in Auckland from round five will depend on COVID-19 quarantine measures.

Monday's return to pre-season training will mark the first time several players have seen each other since the end of last season.

Melbourne Storm were to host the Warriors at their home ground but will instead clash in Sydney, the NRL said following consultations with biosecurity experts.

"I want to thank the Melbourne Storm players for putting the game ahead of their personal circumstances," NRL acting CEO Andrew Abdo said in a statement.

Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, has recorded double-digit rises in new Covid-19 infections, accounting for nearly 90% of the 126 cases detected nationally over the past week.

The Warriors boarded a private flight to the New South Wales town of Tamworth as the NRL plans to restart the coronavirus-hit 2020 season on May 28.

However, an "unwell" Roache was not on the flight from Auckland after contacting medical staff on Sunday morning.

Warriors centre David Fusitu'a also remained in New Zealand on compassionate grounds.

They're en route to Tamworth but David Fusitu'a and Nate Roache delayed.#ALLIN

The 46-12 loss to the Raiders on Friday left Kearney feeling angrier than he could remember.

His team trailing 30-0 at halftime, the coach was captured by television cameras delivering a dressing down to his players in the shed which involved furiously kicking a stray towel. It would have hit Peta Hiku in the head if the centre hadn't taken evasive action.

Kearney was angry that after a run of six gritty showings, in which no game was decided by more than four points, his side failed to front in their first game in Auckland for a month.

The Warriors defeated the Dragons 20-12 in Auckland on Friday night, despite finishing on the wrong end of a 13-5 penalty count.

Many of the penalties conceded by the Warriors came while the now joint premiership leaders were defending their own line.

While admitting the Warriors were the better side on the night, McGregor said the constant "stop-start-nature" of the match hindered the Dragons' ability to play with any fluidity.

Centre has long been a problem position for the Auckland club, particularly finding one who could be relied upon defensively.

Not since Brent Tate left the club in 2012 has there been genuine stability on the right edge.

But ask Shaun Johnson and he'll tell you that void has finally been filled by Hiku, a Warriors junior who rejoined the club this season after five seasons in the NRL with Manly and Penrith and a brief stint in England.

"Collectively that right edge have done an awesome job so far this year and Peta has been a rock there for us," he said.

Kearney rolled out a mix of youth and experience in front of a vocal Rotorua crowd, his side getting the job done 20-16 over a depleted Storm side without any notable first graders.

"There were some really nice patches there. In terms of expectations this early, I was pleased. For the most part it was good and there are some real positive signs," Kearney said.

"I think we started a bit sheepish, a bit slow there as a group but overall I'm pretty happy with what I saw."

After seeking a release from Wigan to return to Auckland following a car crash in which his girlfriend was seriously injured, Gelling had to beg for an opportunity with the club he had always expected to play for when he joined Sydney Roosters as an 18-year-old in 2009.

Again turned away when he approached the Warriors late last year, Gelling refused to give up and the Cook Islands international now has 12 months to prove himself but he is aiming to win more than just a contract extension.

Running the rule over all 16 clubs ahead of the 2018 season, the former Dragons and Panthers star also named Knights recruit Connor Watson as the man under most pressure to perform at the club, even ahead of high-profile signing Mitch Pearce.

Soward also backed young Storm half Brodie Croft to seamlessly slip into Cooper Cronk's shoes and help the club press for back-to-back titles.

n terms of the Warriors, Soward identified Green as the man to reverse the problems that have dogged the talent-laden, but underperforming, team in recent years.