Discarded speedster burns former club with ‘amazing’ display
Updated . First published at
Alofi Khan-Pereira was discarded by the Titans at the end of last season, but the in-form Warriors speedster got the last laugh on Saturday afternoon.
One of the fastest men in rugby league was at his scintillating best at Cbus Super Stadium, scoring a try that only few could imagine, before setting up another two in a stunning 42-6 rout for the Warriors, cemented a top-four spot in the process.
Alofi Khan-Pereira celebrates a try. Getty Images
Just 10 minutes into the must-win clash for the Warriors, the elusive winger stood up Gold Coast centre Jojo Fifita with a brilliant in-and-away move.
Moments later, Khan-Pereira received a pass inside his own half and raced past Fifita again into open space before linking up with Chanel Harris-Tavita to score.
“Look at the speed he shows here to get past Fifita, who is no slouch - but it’s the ease which he beats him,” Kevin Walters said on Fox League.
“That is amazing speed and class.”
Before the half-hour mark, the 24-year-old showed his aerial skill too, leaping above the Titans to catch a bomb and offload it to Leka Halasima for a try as the visitors piled on the points in an entertaining opening half.
Gold Coast had their fair share of opportunities to narrow the margin or even take the lead, but costly errors showed the disparity in class between the two sides.
“Relentless performance from the Warriors in the first half,” Steve Roach said.
“I don’t think the Titans have played that badly, but it’s just the power of this Warriors side ... they have been dominant.”
The visitors continued their dominance early in the second half when Mitch Barnett threw a questionable short ball to Eddie Ieremia-Toeava for a try.
To make matters worse for the home team, AJ Brimson was sin binned mid-way through the second half for a professional foul on Te Maire Martin, before rookie halfback Zane Harrison limped off the field with a hamstring injury.