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RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors women learn on fly in NRLW homecoming
Warriors women celebrate a try against Parramatta Eels. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ After six years away, NZ Warriors wāhine gave home fans a glimpse of their future, as they continued their rugby league education with a first NRLW win at Mt Smart on Sunday. The inexperienced roster that looked lost at times against defending champions Sydney Roosters seven days earlier, seemed far more connected in a 14-0 victory over Parramatta Eels. To coin an old phrase, the penny dropped for the 10 players who had never stepped out at this level before - including a handful of rugby converts, who had never even played the game before. "From our performance from last week to this week - without a trial game, we were in freefall at times last week, but we kept going for each other," Warriors coach Ron Griffiths observed. "Today, we were in freefall, but because we had that run under our belt, we understood how to win moments back." The Warriors returned to the Aussie women's competition after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a five-year hiatus, but only seven had previous NRLW experience and only one - captain Apii Nicholls - had worn the jersey before. Michaela Brake scores her first NRLW try against the Eels. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ The rest have been either plucked from domestic club footy or raided from the other oval-ball code. They also took on the titleholders without a pre-season game and that lack of cohesion showed in a 30-6 defeat at Sydney. "If you watched Shak's performance last week [former Black Fern Shakira Baker], it was immense for a lady that had only played limited rugby league games," Griffiths said. "When you watched her again today, you could see those moments she missed last week, she got them right." With their performance against Parramatta, in their first home game since 2019, the Warriors seemed far more at ease in their unfamiliar surroundings. Asked which aspect of the scoreline pleased him most, Griffiths had no hesitation. "Definitely the zero," he said. "There's lots of pleasing moments to come out of that, but one thing we've spoken about from day one was having a team full of defensive resolve. "Putting the layers on top in attack will come and we've seen a vast improvement today in that - but definitely the zero." Given her impressive sevens pedigree, most attention will naturally centre on winger Michaela Brake, as she tries to master a new skillset, and she took a huge step forward in her development. The nuggety speedster known as 'Mini' scored her first NRLW try in the opening minutes against the Eels, and tormented them throughout with her willingness to run in the open field and from dummy half. "Last week, Michaela had 10 carries and they were all powerful, but we've been talking to her about when she needs to run," Griffiths said. "We've only given her fleeting bits of information. "Her ruck recognition today, and understanding when to follow the ball and run, was self-taught. She's been watching the game and thinking, 'I need to improve from last week and that's when I need to chase these moments in time'. "She did that exceptionally today." Tysha Ikenasio scores a try against Parramatta Eels. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ The next step in that evolution will come when Brake's teammates recognise she's about to run and then follow. One try went begging against the Eels, when Brake scampered clear from her own half, but ran out of support with just the fullback to beat. "We need to anticipate that and it's up to us as coaches to put them in those scenarios where they see that picture - 'What are we seeing right now, we need to be on that play'." Some of that learning happened in game. In the first half, halfback Emily Curtain rolled a kick to the tryline, but centre Tysha Ikenasio - another sevens exponent - slightly mis-timed her chase and couldn't control the bounce. When Curtain repeated that kick in the second half, Ikenasio was on the spot to score. Perhaps the play of the game came from Nicholls herself. As Eels counterpart Abbi Church counterattacked from her own goal-line, the field suddenly opened up with teammates around her. Nicholls stood her ground on halfway and dumped Church in a crucial one-on-one tackle that's sure to feature in this week's game analysis. "Her career is littered with moments like that where, when the break's made, she makes a decision," Griffiths said. "She doesn't always get it right, but her application to go and make that tackle is important. "One thing I noticed today, when that break was made, I could see her and Mini communicating. "Last week, if the break was made, we went to that player. This week, I could see them communicating amongst each other." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
28-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Warriors v Cowboys: Erin Clark sets sights even higher after dominant return to Mt Smart
'I've still got a lot to learn. Getting that balance of when to pass, when to run, getting momentum and when to just carry. 'I'm slowly getting that.' Clark – originally a halfback – re-signed with the Warriors on a three-year deal at the end of 2024. The now-27-year-old made his NRL debut with the Mt Smart club in 2017 but left mid-season to take up a deal with the Canberra Raiders, before moving on to the Gold Coast Titans. Clark hoped his comeback would inspire his kids to pursue their dreams. 'It's just a thing to my kids, not to give up. I want them to look up to me in that sense. 'If I didn't give it another go, I wouldn't be happy. I'm just happy I knuckled down and gave it a crack.' The Warriors have won consecutive games without premiership-winning co-captain James Fisher-Harris, who is out until round 11 with a pectoral injury. The Kiwis forward said it showed the strength of their recruiting and development. ''Next man up mentality' is thrown around a lot, but we've got that here. 'That's credit to Webby [coach Andrew Webster] and [recruitment manager] Andrew McFadden with the depth they've got at the club. If one person goes down, someone's ready to go and live up to our standards and type of footy.' The Warriors next face the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday in Magic Round in Brisbane.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad rejects offshore options to re-sign with NZ Warriors
Warriors v Knights Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 25 April Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad admits the thought of himself in another club's jersey "freaked me out". Widely rumoured to be heading offshore at the end of this season , Nicoll-Klokstad has instead inked a two-year extension to his current contract, staying at Mt Smart at least until the end of the 2027 campaign. Last month, he celebrated his 50th game for the Auckland-based NRL club , taking a circuitous route, after debuting in 2017, but spending four years at Canberra Raiders, before returning to where it all began. The prospect of him leaving again, reportedly to the English Super League, didn't feel right to Warriors fans nor to Nicoll-Klokstad himself, as it turned out. "There were options," he admitted. "There were crossroads that we had to navigate our way through and that's just a part of the business side of rugby league unfortunately. "It was hard being at those crossroads and potentially seeing yourself in a different jersey didn't sit right. Thinking about it freaked me out a little bit, so I'm glad we were able to come to a conclusion and put all that stuff behind us." Nicoll-Klokstad spoke of the weight on his shoulders, as he came to work each day, trying not to let contract negotiations interfere with onfield business. "I knew I had to come in with a smile on my face, perform - which is the most important thing - and put my best foot forward." Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will be at Mt Smart at least another two years. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ He also credited coach Andrew Webster for rekindling his career. "I love being at this club and I love being coached under Webby," he said. "I feel like I've played my best foot under Webby and I've enjoyed my footy, since returning to the Warriors. "I still see myself as a fullback and I'm excited for everything the club's got going forward. There's a real young crop of talent coming through and I'm excited to be there, when they get the opportunity to show what they can do. "I'm moving on to a bit of an old age now, it's an exciting part of my career and I'm glad to be here with the Warriors." Webster has shown incredible loyalty to Nicoll-Klokstad, who faces competition from former Dally M Medal winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and up-and-comer Taine Tuaupiki for the No.1 jersey. When Nicoll-Klokstad sat out against Brisbane Broncos last week with concussion, Tuaupiki moved off the wing and reminded everyone of his ability in his natural position, yet the incumbent is back to face Newcastle Knights on Friday. "He [Webster] always does and always has shown that faith," he said. "Ever since I signed with the club, he wasn't even at the club at the time, but he was calling me and wishing me luck on the World Cup tour, telling me how excited he was for me to be at the club while he's there and being my coach. "He's shown that faith throughout the whole journey, the whole three years and he's still showing it. He backs everything I do and that's something I need to do for myself - back my game, back what I can do as a fullback and what I bring to the squad. "With respect to those boys, I think they're really good fullbacks and for Webby to show that faith in me means a lot." Nicoll-Klokstad insisted he sought no assurances from Webster over the security of his jersey before re-signing. "The thing I find with Charnze is we're on the same page so much," Webster said. "What he finds important, I do as well, so it's a really good match. "He feels comfortable that he's having a really good impact on the place, which he is. "He's so comfortable in his own skin and I think his best footy is because he's on page with the club values."
