After holding a solid 14-4 halftime lead, a vastly rearranged One New Zealand Warriors side was unable hang on in the second half against a far more experienced Redcliffe in the club’s historic New South Wales Cup trial in Logan in South East Queensland on Saturday.
It was a landmark occasion for the Warriors, their first-ever reserve grade trial played at the base of the Warriors Inspire Logan academy set up jointly with the Logan City Council.
Arriving in the city on Thursday, the Warriors not only prepared for the trial but spent time in the community visiting schools.
Fielding a young squad boasting modest New South Wales Cup experience, they faced Queensland Cup powerhouse Redcliffe, one of the most renowned clubs in the state.
Included in the Redcliffe squad were three-game NRL forward Riley Price and former Warriors juniors Sheldon Pitama and Mason Lome-Hindle; Price’s father and Warriors great Steve was in the crowd.
The Warriors had a lineup almost exclusively made up of players aged 20 or younger, eligible to play Jersey Flegg Cup or SG Ball Cup this season. Among the squad were eight players backing up from the Warriors’ NRL Preseason Challenge match against the Dolphins in Sydney on Friday night.
With the temperature sitting at 30 degrees for the 12.30pm kick-off, the Warriors opened solidly, second rower Kahu Capper – the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) captain last year – scoring the only try in the first quarter.
The Warriors stayed in the grind after the drinks break and created tries for both wingers Daeon Amituanai and Motu Pasikala, Harry Inch converting the second for a 14-0 lead before Lome-Hindle, a four-game SG Ball player for the Warriors last year, cut the margin to 10 points.
At the break, Warriors coach David Tangata-Toa took off his frontline New South Wales Cup players to field a much less-experienced combination.
It was one-way scoring as Redcliffe scored five more tries to stretch out to a 16-point victory.
The One New Zealand Warriors start their New South Wales Cup campaign against the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday, March 6.
Trial | Logan Metro Sports Park
One New Zealand Warriors 14 (Kahu Capper, Daeon Amituanai, Motu Pasikala tries; Harry Inch conversion).
Redcliffe 30 (Mason Lome-Hindle, Karl Oloapu, Dom de Stradis, Michael McGrath, Callum Bowles, Jowah Raidaveta tries; Josh James 2 conversions; Callum Bowles conversion).
Halftime: 14-4 One New Zealand Warriors.
One New Zealand Warriors: Geronimo Doyle; Daeon Amituanai, Nganatatafu Vake, Sio Kali, Motu Pasikala; Maui Winitana-Patelesio, Jack Thompson; Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea, Makaia Tafua, Emosi Ravosai; Kayliss Fatialofa, Kahu Capper; Jaydee Auloa. Bench: Brandon Norris, Mikaele Ilaiu, Tepatasi Laumalili, Harry Inch, Josh Tanielu, Harry Tauafiafi, Tama Darlington, Samuel Waterworth, Hohepa Chandler, Dezman Laban, Taipari Wikitera, Joseph Ratcliffe, Tyson Hansen, Gordon Afoa.
