The Warriors, with their rookie brigade in eye-catching form, have beaten Penrith 18-4 in an NRL trial in Rotorua.

Big winger Ken Maumalo scored a double and 18-year-old centre Marata Niukore also dotted down to put the Warriors in control in a high-quality pre-season encounter.

Two other youngsters, props Sam Lisone and Albert Vete, then set up Golden Boot winner Shaun Johnson to complete a runaway try.

There was also a strong performance from fullback Sam Tomkins, the England international solid in defence and slick in attack.

The Warriors’ win came after they had to absorb plenty of Penrith attack in the opening half.

They opened the scoring in the 24th minute from a Panthers’ final-tackle kick, hooker Thomas Leuluai pouncing on the loose ball to initiate a big break-out.

Then from a slick backline move, Maumalo touched down with an athletic dive.

The amount of Panthers’ pressure was bound to pay off, and skipper Peter Wallace’s big cut-out pass led to another young winger on display, Robert Jennings, scoring.

Maumalo completed his double early in the second spell by showing his strength to force his way over in a tackle, before Niukore crossed to push the score out to 12-4.

Then it was Lisone’s footwork and Vete’s backing up that created the opening for Johnson to sprint away.

The match was the Warriors’ last NRL trial before their season begins away to Newcastle on March 7.

Leuluai, standing in as skipper for Simon Mannering, who was rested, said defence had been a focus for the Warriors.

“But we made ourselves do a lot of it in the first half, which is something we need to work on,” he said.

Leuluai also had plenty of praise for the youngsters, including Maumalo.

“The kid has been a stand-out for me in the off-season,” he said.

“He’s obviously a big boy, but he’s been working on his game and he’s really understanding his role in the team.”

The Panthers have another trial against Parramatta at home next Saturday.

Wallace said it was good to have their first hit-out under their belt and to have everyone come through it unscathed.

“It was just about getting out there and getting tackled, having a run, a bit of a kick,” he said.

“As a team, the first 40 was pretty pleasing.”