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RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRLW: Warriors suffer back-to-back NRLW defeats with home loss to Titans
Warriors centre Tysha Ikenasio is tackled against Gold Coast. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ NZ Warriors have slumped to their third defeat in four NRLW appearances this season, falling 20-10 to Gold Coast Titans at Auckland's Go Media Stadium. Looking to build on their first-ever home win two weeks ago, the wahine dug a deep hole for themselves, allowing their rivals to score three early tries. Gold Coast opened the scoring, when they went shortside down the right and winger Lily Patston plunged over in the corner, converted from the sideline by Lauren Brown. The visitors then struck on the other side of the field, when quick hands put winger Georgia Grey into the left corner. The Warriors showed attacking flair, but could not find a way through or around the Titans defence, then conceded easy metres through penalties to gift their opponents plenty of opportunities at the other end. Gold Coast hooker Lily-Rose Kolc was next to score, finding far too much space from dummy half near the line. Centre Emmanita Paki had a chance to open the Warriors scoring, when she ran onto Patricia Maliepo's kick behind the tryline, but the ball took a wicked bounce behind her and the chance was lost. Next time down the field though, with halftime imminent, Paki offloaded to winger Payton Takimoana, who found her way to the corner for her fifth try of the season. Trailling 14-4 at the break, the home side needed to score next to make a contest of it, but Titans fullback Jaime Chapman dented their hopes, when she shrugged off a couple of tacklers to power over next to the posts. The Warriors were not helped, when Maliepo - their most dangerous attacker - was pulled from the field for a head check. She duly passed and returned. On debut, interchange forward Metanoia Fotu-Moala - the third of three sisters to play NRLW - stormed over next to the posts to give her team a glimpse with 10 minutes remaining, but they could not capitalise on repeat sets in the Gold Coast redzone and ran out of time. The Warriors travel to Newcastle for 'Magic Round' next week, when they face North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday. See how it all unfolded below:
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors rookie Lydia Turua-Quedley shares NRLW journey with long-distance partner, son
Lydia Turua-Quedley returns to her natural halfback position against Gold Coast. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ Like most of her NZ Warriors teammates, achieving her NRLW dream has not come without sacrifices for rookie halfback Lydia Turua-Quedley. Three weeks after making her debut off the bench in the Australian women's rugby league competition, Turua-Quedley, 26, will step into the starting line-up against Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, with incumbent Emily Curtain nursing a hip complaint. The journey has been a circuitous one, taking her through a season with the Auckland Storm rugby team, time off for childbirth, and stints in the Auckland and Queensland club competitions. She's shared that process with partner Paul Roache, who played four first-grade games for the Warriors in 2023, but now plies his trade at Burleigh Bears on the Gold Coast. "I've had to move back in with family, but we're really blessed and I'm truly grateful for our family's support with our son, Noah," Turua-Quedley said. "It's hard, but we're really lucky with the support we have. "There are definitely a lot of Snapchat calls and a lot of sending videos to Paul, just so he has that time with Noah, but in a different way." Last week, when the Warriors wahine took on Newcastle Knights across the Tasman, Roache drove seven hours down the coast to watch. Her first start also means a change of responsibilities - Turua-Quedley has previously deputised for hooker Capri Paekau at dummy half, but takes on a more familiar role in the No.7 jersey. Lydia Turua-Quedley made her NRLW debut against defending champions Sydney Roosters. Photo: Mark Kolbe/ "I'm normally a halfback anyway, so it's really exciting to get back there," she said. "I've learned we've got some deadly outside back and when we shift the ball to them, they're unstoppable. "There's a huge difference in the halves, you steer the ship a bit more, but that's my normal position, so it comes more natural to me than the hooker role. "It's truly a dream come true that I finally get my turn." Ironically, she will re-unite with former Storm teammate and rugby convert Patricia Maliepo in the Warriors halves. "This is like a full-circle moment and when she rocked up, I was, like, 'Oh my gosh, do you remember me?' Turua-Quedley said. "Back then, I wasn't a mum and I'm a much different person now, so she was buzzing out about how much we've both grown. "We've had the whole pre-season and also that history together." The Warriors women have had a daunting start to their return to the competition after a five-year hiatus, pitted against the two-time champion Knights and defending titleholders Sydney Roosters in their first three games, but her bench exploits have prepared Turua-Quedley for her starting opportunity. "I'm excited and more comfortable, because I didn't start straight away and got to ease myself into it," she said. "Going against the Roosters - the winners from last year - in my first NRLW game, I was so nervous, but now I know they have two legs and two arms, just like us." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back for NZ Warriors against Gold Coast Titans
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has recovered from a knee injury suffered four weeks ago. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Photosport Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will return from injury, when NZ Warriors take on Gold Coast Titans at Go Media Stadium on Saturday. Nicoll-Klokstad, 29, suffered the knee against Brisbane Broncos four weeks ago, but has made a timely recovery to reclaim his No.1 jersey from Taine Tuaupiki for the encounter against the NRL cellar dwellers. His inclusion is the only change to the squad that barely overcame Newcastle Knights last weekend, with a last-ditch try to second-rower Leka Halasima. Veteran Kurt Capewell has been named to start at centre, despite leaving the field 20 minutes before the end of that encounter, while second-rower Marata Niukore will bring up 150 NRL games - 96 for Parramatta Eels and 54 for the Warriors, after beginning his career in the junior programme at Mt Smart. Former Titans Tanah Boyd and Erin Clark will line up against their old team, which they helped to two wins over the Warriors last season - the first an Anzac Day fixture in Auckland and the second a 60-point drubbing across the Tasman. In his 500th first-grade game in charge, under-siege Titans coach Des Hasler won't have the services of star forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui with a knee injury and David Fifita, who has re-aggravated an ankle injury. Former Warrior Kieran Foran will start at five-eighth for Gold Coast. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Tavita-Harris, 7 Tanah Boyd, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Jackson Ford, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18 Taine Tuaupiki, 20 Sam Healey, 21 Bunty Afoa, 22 Ali Leiataua, 23 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava Titans: 1 AJ Brimson, 2 Jaylan de Groot, 3 Brian Kelly, 4 Jojo Fifita, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Jayden Campbell, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Sam Verrills, 10 Jaimin Jolliffe, 11 Chris Randall, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Klese Haas Interchange: 14 Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 15 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 16 Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui, 17 Josh Patston Reserves: 18 Arama Hau, 19 Sean Mullany, 20 Tom Weaver, 21 Ryan Foran, 22 Alofiana Khan-Pereira Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
How did Leka Halasima snatch NRL victory for Warriors over Newcastle?
Warriors celebrate Leka Halasima's gamewinning try against Newcastle Knights. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport In 2025, NZ Warriors have made a habit of pulling victory out of the jaws of defeat. Their comfortable position in the playoff race is based on a handful of early-season performances, where they either made key offensive plays near the end or defensively repelled torrid comebacks over the final stages. Their 20-15 win over Newcastle Knights was something else again, as they leaked three first-half tries and had to claw their way back into the contest after the break. In the end, the result came down to an incredible play from a young star that has made a habit of stamping his presence on games in his breakout season. Hard to go past the final seconds, when Boyd's desperate field-goal attempt was charged down, but the ball fell to second-rower Leka Halasima, who rumbled 40 metres to the tryline to save his team's blushes. "I'll take it," Warriors coach Andrew Webster said. "I've been on the end of a few of those - I think every team has at some stage. "I liked the way we kept fighting, we kept going after the moment. It wasn't happening for us. "We just came up with a freakish play from a young guy that's got heaps of talent - that's what he's got in his toolkit." Boyd had a solid enough second outing for the Warriors, replacing Luke Metcalf in the No.7 jersey , after his predecessor suffered a season-ending knee injury last month. He was on target off the tee to convert all three tries and added a penalty, but he'd love to have those last hectic minutes back. His first field goal attempt was the closest, but sliced right. Two others never really had a chance, while his 35-metre penalty attempt - the result of an offside defender rushing at him - was also pushed wide. "Lots of halves will have those big moments at the end," Webster said. "He just wanted to keep having a crack at it - he didn't hide. "He's just going to improve every week and the team will get better as they get used to him." At that moment, victory seemed to have slipped through the Warriors' fingers, but the rugby league gods had one last opportunity in store for them. Last week, against Wests Tigers, Halasima produced two moments of brilliance for two late tries, chasing a high kick to the goal area, where five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita swooped on a loose ball to score, before outmuscling his markers to score himself. Still a teenager, his teammates have been in awe of Halasima this season, with co-captain Mitch Barnett describing him as a "freak". He has now scored eight tries, equalling Metcalf for the club lead, and the move to extend his current contract through 2029 looks a very smart piece of business by the Warriors. Halasima also made a crucial trysaving tackle on Knights centre Fletcher Hunt in the first half, after fullback Taine Tuaupiki ran down Bradman Best over the length of the field. "He's his toughest critic around his defence and he works really hard at it," Webster said. "He's still got a long way to go, but I thought that was an inspirational passage of play. "We all celebrate the one at the end, but he's got some other brilliant stuff in him." In a week when rumours of his departure swirled , veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was again sharp, running for a game-high 265 metres, while hooker Wayde Egan led his team with 37 tackles. The Warriors were first to score and seemed to have another try soon after, when Egan reached out and planted the ball over the line in a tackle. The try was ruled out for a double movement, with Egan's elbow touching the ground before he stretched the extra few centimetres. Webster wasn't happy about that call or the later one that allowed tackled Knights winger Greg Marzhew to offload from the ground to fullback Dane Gagai for a try. Webster insisted Egan's movement was a continuation, rather than another action, arguing the elbow never lifted off the ground, while Marzhew's pass "looked like rugby union, not rugby league". "At the same time, I thought the Knights were very good," he said. "I don't want to take anything away from their effort tonight, but I thought those two calls were very tough." Returning from Origin duty and a week off to recover, Kurt Capewell lined up at centre , but failed to go the distance with what seemed like a knee injury, suffered just before halftime. He went another 25 minutes after the break, but finished the contest on the bench, so his status for next week must be in doubt. Next option would be Ali Leiataua, who actually played fullback, as the reserves extended their winning streak to 13 games in NSW Cup. Tuaupiki had to leave for a head check, but returned to the game. He's taken a beating in recent weeks, concussed in cup play last month, missing a week, then taking another big hit against Wests last week. He was more subdued than usual this week on attack, but incumbent Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will likely return from his knee injury next week. Traditionally, at this time of the season, Warriors fans are left hanging by their fingernails, clinging to 'mathematical chances' of reaching the playoffs. This season, they get to enjoy the opposite countdown, with a post-season spot looming large. This result gives them 12 wins from 17 games for fourth on the NRL table. They're four points behind leaders Canberra Raiders, who still have a bye to come, and four points clear of their nearest pursuers, Brisbane Broncos. Four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers are another point behind, after their terrible start. Most importantly, the Warriors are eight points ahead of the ninth-placed Dolphins, who have their last bye next week, with seven games remaining. They face each other at Mt Smart the following week. A disastrous run of losses could still hijack their campaign, but five of the Warriors' last seven games are against teams currently outside the top eight. Next Saturday, the Warriors return home on a short turnaround to face bottom-of-the-table Gold Coast Titans, who lost a heartbreak to Wests Tigers this week. This could be a banana-skin game for the home side, who lost twice to their rivals last season - an Anzac Day game at home and a 66-6 horror show across the ditch. On both occasions, the Titans were bottom of the pile, but managed to avoid the wooden spoon, thanks largely to these two valuable and somewhat unexpected victories. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: Halasima's last-ditch try lifts Warriors to incredible win over Knights
Kurt Capewell in action for the NZ Warriors against the Newcastle Knights. Photo: PhotoSport / David Neilson The Warriors got their campaign back on track with a win over the Tigers last weekend, can they make it two from two against the struggling Knights? Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog:
