Rugby League: The New Zealand Warriors delight in "reviving some faces" in the Bulldogs' win against NRL – Christchurch-born Jazz Tevaga

The same streets that Jazz Tevaga traveled in his youth were broadcast to the world on Friday. This is something the Warriors utility will not forget anytime soon.

While preparing to face the Bulldogs in the first NRL clash, 49 people were murdered in mosques in his hometown of Christchurch. As the news shook the country and the world, for 23-year-old Tevaga, the horror unfolded near our home.

"I was pretty moved to hear the news yesterday," Tevaga said. "I have a lot of family there, so my heart was very heavy yesterday, and today I woke up to the news." I really did not want to believe that such things could happen in New Zealand. "

Hearing the news, Tevaga jumped directly on the phone to check on his family. They were fine, but separated because her nieces and nephews were unable to leave their schools because of confinement. This led to a dark night for Tevaga and his teammates the night before their first match of the season. Meeting around dinner time, winger David Fusitu's led the team in a prayer to highlight the moment.

The uncomfortable feeling followed the team up to match day and, with the announcement of the cancellation of the Super Rugby match of the Highlanders against the Crusaders in Dunedin, Tevaga s 39; asked if their match at Mt Smart Stadium would do the same.

Instead, the Warriors offered free tickets for the match, observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of the massacre, and held a clinical rugby league demonstration to beat the Bulldogs 40-6.

Warriors were a dominant force from the first to the last whistle. Their advanced pack is more muscular than the Bulldogs, while the back line makes the most of their opportunities to score away from the test line. Tevaga himself made an impressive performance with 41 goals.

"We came together and we had a lot to play," Tevaga said. "We just wanted to win and try to restore some positivity in New Zealand.

"We all feel heavy, so it's nice to put some smiles on some faces."

It's not just the locals who wanted to give New Zealand something that keeps it from thinking about murder. Kieran Foran, the Bulldogs' half kiwi, said the 24 hours before the match had been well filled, with a number of kiwi players in the Canterbury-Bankstown team.

"It had an effect on, I think, all the people of the world," he said.