A youthful One New Zealand Warriors side produced a stunning 22-10 upset win over New South Wales Cup leader Penrith at North Sydney on Saturday.
It was a day charged with emotion as the players wore black armbands in support of captain Kalani Going, whose great uncle the legendary All Black halfback Sid Going passed away at the age of 80 on Friday.
In stretching their unbeaten streak to five matches, the Warriors moved up to fifth on the ladder on 13 points as they continued their strong revival following an indifferent start to the season.
They did so with a side radically changed from the one used in the 10th-round 26-20 win over the Sydney Roosters a week earlier with just two players remaining from the backline.
Of the 17 players, 11 players were eligible for the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) or Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) teams this season while a 12th was a New South Wales Cup rookie in winger Compton Fuatimau.
From the lineup named on Tuesday, coach David Tangata-Toa had lost fullback Ben Farr, halfback Paul Roache and prop Zyon Maiu’u to the club’s NRL squad.
Match: Panthers v Warriors
Round 11 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Warriors
6th Position
Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
The Warriors, who defied a string of injuries and setbacks to draw 22-22 with the Panthers on April 27, relished their underdog status in Saturday’s rematch.
Tries to hooker Makaia Tafua and centre Moala Graham-Taufa gave them a handy 10-0 lead in a first half which also saw them suffer more adversity when teenaged centre Sio Kali was forced off the field with a leg injury.
The Panthers found a way back into the encounter with the first two tries of the second half to lock it up 10-10 but a double strike in the last 11 minutes sealed a 22-10 win for the Warriors.
First second rower Eddie Ieremia scored in the 69th minute followed by fullback Motu Pasikala showing enormous strength when he held off multiple defenders to score; Pasikala also converted both tries to secure an outstanding 12-point victory.
