A much-changed One New Zealand Warriors side fought well but was headed 20-10 by South Sydney in Saturday’s Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) catch-up match at North Sydney Oval.
The fifth-round clash had to be rescheduled after atrocious weather in Sydney forced it to be postponed last month.
The Warriors’ lineup originally named on Tuesday was modified significantly with second rower Alvin Chong Nee moved to the centres and William Piliu brought in as his partner.
Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo was switched from the centres to halfback, Francis Tuimauga and Augustino Filipo both came into the starting pack from the interchange with Mikaele Ilaiu brought onto the bench.
The Rabbitohs, sitting in the top half of the competition, were on song in the first half crossing for three tries in the first 23 minutes to lead 14-0 before the Warriors worked try for winger Raphael Sio to go to the break 10 points adrift at 4-14.
The good work was undone when South Sydney nabbed a fourth try early in the second half to jump to a 20-4 lead but the One New Zealand Warriors kept competing and were rewarded with a Garry Tuilekutu try in the 59th minute.
Heading into the last 10 minutes of the match there was time enough to stage a grandstand finish but South Sydney denied the Warriors to hold on for a 20-10 win.
