Illawarra got off to a dream start with Hooker Siliva Havili burrowing over close to the line in the opening 10 minutes to give the hosts the early advantage.

A short while later, winger Patrick Herbert collected a neat cross field kick from halfback Shaun Nona to grab Illawarra’s second try. Nona was clinical with his conversions, giving his team a 12-0 lead.

The Warriors found some spark from interchange forward Nathaniel Roache who barged over for their first of the afternoon to narrow the gap to eight.

The margin was cut four when Warriors winger Fetalaiga Piaiga dived over in the corner with Illawarra holding a 12-8 lead at the break.

Nona gave his side a six-point buffer with a penalty goal following a shoulder charge on young five-eighth Jack Payne midway through the second stanza.

Poor discipline from Illawarra allowed the Warriors to claw their way back into the game with back to back tries courtesy of Samuel Cook and Jezz Tevega. Lino converted both four pointers to give the visitors a 20-14 lead heading into the final fifteen minutes.

The hosts desperately tried to cross the stripe in the final exchanges but poor handling errors and strong defence from the Warriors left them try-less for the second 40.

A sweetly struck field goal from Lino in the final five minutes put the nail in Illawarra's coffin, meaning the Warriors perfect start to the season would continue, running out 21-14 victors.