Warriors wahine stumble to champion Roosters in NRLW return
After a four-year hiatus forced by the Covid pandemic, the Auckland club fielded a largely untried team — only seven players had previous experience in the Australian competition — against the reigning premiers in Sydney.
The Warriors weathered the early storm from their rivals, but conceded first points, when winger Payton Takimoana spilled the first pass from a tap restart inside her own 20 and Roosters winger Jayme Fressard capitalised in the opposite corner.
Moments later, sevens star Michaela Brake made a meal of her first high kick in rugby league and Taina Naividi powered over for the Roosters' second try.
Rugby convert Patricia Maliepo, playing at five-eighth, opened the Warriors account, from a sustained period of pressure on the Roosters goal-line, converting her own try to keep her team in contention.
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The Roosters kicked into another gear and Naividi had her second try, after the Warriors charged down a kick, but the ball quickly found Roosters star Isabelle Kelly, who carved through the backpedalling defence.
Takimoana fielded a kick on her goal-line and was driven back for a dropout, and from the restart, Naividi picked up a first-half hattrick to put the titleholders ahead 18-6 at the break.
The Warriors wahine played their first game back in the NRLW against the dominant defending champions. (Source: 1News)
From the second-half kickoff, Warriors forward Matekino Gray was dispossessed of the ball and Roosters counterpart Rima Butler rumbled over from the ensuing scrum.
As fatigue set in, the Warriors began falling off tackles or committing basic errors that had them constantly on the back foot.
When captain Apii Nicholls spilled the ball in her own half, Fressard seemed to have her second try, but Brake did enough to drive her into touch, as the Roosters winger suffered a dislocated elbow in the process.
Apii Nicholls of the Warriors is tackled during the Sydney Roosters Women v NZ Warriors Women. (Source: Photosport)
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Moments later, Nicholls threw a long pass beyond her winger into touch and the Roosters struck again through lock Olivia Kernick, as the scoreline began to mount.
Naividi was denied a record-equalling fourth try by a forward pass and, at the other end of the field, former Black Fern Shakira Baker lost the ball over the tryline.
The Warriors had other opportunities to add to their tally, but their hands let them down at close range.
Brake could not find enough space to show her speed, but fellow sevens exponent Tysha Ikenasio was probably the Warriors' best, running for a team-high 168m, while Maliepo's unorthodox rugby skills translated well to league.
Coach Ron Griffiths now has seven days to address the issues, before his team face Parramatta Eels — 18-16 winners over Cronulla Sharks in their opener — at Go Media Stadium.
rnz.co.nz
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