Rugby league is full of scripts like the one that unfolded in the One New Zealand Warriors’ final match of the 2026 SG Ball Cup (under-19) season in Wollongong on Saturday.
In short it runs like this: Slow start, fall well behind, make a big comeback but not enough to remedy the early damage.
So it was for the Warriors when they took on Illawarra in a contest the Steelers ultimately won 30-22.
Both teams were well matched in terms of their ladder positions going into the game, the Warriors 13th on six points with a 2-5 record, the Steelers 14th on five points from a win, a draw and five losses.
The opening stanza suggested anything but as the Steelers looked like a top four side running in tries in the first, sixth, 11th and 14th minutes to bolt to a 20-0 lead, suggesting it could be a difficult day out for the Warriors.
Match: Steelers v Warriors
Round 9 -
home Team
Steelers
away Team
Warriors
Venue: Collegians Sporting Complex, Wollongong
That all changed in an instant as the visitors ran hot in the second quarter creating three tries in quick time, all to centre Parekaahu Keepa coming in the 21st, 24th and 29th minutes.
For the first halfback Hinckley Ioka launched a bomb from halfway, Keepa chasing it down, leaping, catching and linking with Ronley Kolomalu. He then shipped the ball back inside to Keepa who ran on an angled line towards the posts.
Three minutes later Ioka and standoff Wiremu Makea combined on the left to open up Illawarra’s defensive line for Keepa to slip through.
Keepa’s third also had Ioka and Makea working together with Keepa passing to winger Kolomalu. As he was being herded towards the touchline, Kolomalu dunked the ball back inside for Keepa to pick up and score.
The Warriors had recovered from 0-20 to trail just 18-20 at halftime before the Jets regained some of the ground they’d lost with two unconverted tries giving them a 28-18 lead early in the second half.
With 11 minutes left the Warriors gave themselves a shot at stealing victory as Ioka probed from close range on the left, popping the ball up for Makea to score.
He couldn't add the extras leaving his side 22-28 behind. There was enough time but in the end a penalty took Illawarra eight clear for the win.
