Jye Linnane made a heartfelt return with an impressive debut as the NZ Warriors secured a dominant 46-4 victory against Melbourne at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
The 20-year-old's previous two seasons were marred by ACL injuries, with the latest sidelining him since January of last year.
A talented running half, he joined from the Newcastle Knights in April last year, starting his rehabilitation efforts early.
After waiting until round 11 to make his first appearance for the Warriors, he finally debuted in the NSW Cup.
Linnane wasted no time in showcasing why the Warriors pursued him so eagerly.
Playing in the centres alongside Luke Hanson, Kayliss Fatialofa, and Daeon Amituanai, he thrived in his new role.
The second half remained strong, featuring a perfectly timed grubber from Cleary for Amituanai, followed by tries from Ieremia-Toeava and Niukore, pushing the score to 46-0.
Each try resulted from methodical buildup as the halves pairing effectively found openings.
This victory positions the Warriors just two points shy of the top five, as they prepare for an away match against the Dragons next Saturday.