Hopes for an improved performance ended in disappointment for the One New Zealand Warriors when they slumped to a 12-36 loss to a rampant South Sydney side in Sunday’s round two SG Ball Cup (under-19) contest at Bruce Pulman Park in Takanini.
Having key second rower Bishop Neal ruled out after a head knock last week didn’t help their cause but ultimately the Warriors were unable to stay with the visitors.
Signs were promising early on when halfback Rico Lemalie dropped a perfectly placed bomb wide to the right for winger Justice Pua to score and then a short-side raid down the left produced a try for fullback Joseph Ratcliffe for an 8-4 lead after 12 minutes.
It wasn’t to last.
The Rabbitohs hit back twice before halftime for a 14-8 lead and then had a hot streak after the break when their pace delivered three tries in the space of 10 minutes for a commanding 30-8 lead.
Match: Warriors v Rabbitohs
Round 2 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Rabbitohs
Venue: Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini
The Warriors stemmed the flow of points with a nice shift from a scrum for Pua to score his second but the Rabbitohs put an exclamation mark on their performance with their seventh try.
It’s a bye round for the Warriors next week before they’re back at Bruce Pulman Park to take on the Central Coast Roosters in round four on March 1.
