The Warriors defeated the Cowboys 18-6 at Mt Smart Stadium in Round 26 last year.
The home side blitzed the opposition with a dominant running game, with eight members of their starting 13 compiling triple figure in metres gained. Overall the Warriors made 461 more metres on the night.
Krisnan Inu drew first blood for the Warriors in the 14th minute when the Cowboys allowed a James Maloney bomb to bounce 10 metres out from their try line, with halfback Shaun Johnson tipping the ball on to his winger who slid over in the left corner.
Kalifa Faifai Loa struck back for the Cowboys five minutes later when he crossed in the left corner after grabbing Matthew Bowen’s bullet cut-out pass.
However, some woeful defence in centre-field allowed James Maloney to stroll through a gap 40 metres out, which resulted in Lance Hohaia scoring under the posts for a 12-6 lead at the 27-minute mark.
Krisnan Inu sealed victory midway through the second half, scoring his second try off a short left-side rush and Shaun Johnson assist.
Wingers Bill Tupou (145 metres) and Inu (136 metres, eight tackle busts) enjoyed the space the Warriors forwards delivered them, while both Matthew Bowen (63 metres) and Johnathan Thurstons (two runs, 12 metres) were uncharacteristically quiet for the North Queensland side.
