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RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Samoa, NZ, New Caledonia open Oceania U16 women's tournament with wins
Solomon Island celebrate their goal against American Samoa. Photo: Shane Wenzlick/ Samoa have started their campaign in the Oceania U16 women's championship at Apia with a 5-0 trouncing of New Caledonia. After finishing runners-up at the same event last year to qualify for the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco in October, the Samoans proved too strong for New Caledonia at the Samoa Football headquarters. Cali Willis scored a double late in the first half to give the locals a 2-0 lead at halftime. The hosts dominated much of the contest, roared on by a small, but vocal home crowd, although New Caledonia showed flashes of danger on the break, only to be undone by a lack of precision in the final third. They had the first real opportunity almost straight from kickoff, with Shan Nemoinon firing over from a promising position on the edge of the box. Moments later, Samoa captain Breanna Kitiona found herself unmarked from a corner, but headed directly at goalkeeper Kessyna Nyipie. Aaliyah Johnson, who scored late in the second spell, was a constant threat for the home side, seeing a powerful effort saved superbly by Nyipie in the sixth minute, before miscuing another chance, with the New Caledonian keeper caught off her line. Samida Ann Tuimanuvao, who went in as a replacement in the second half, scored a classic, with a piledriver off her left foot sailing over Nyipie's head and into the back of the net, before an own goal by New Caledonia gave Samoa the 5-0 advantage. New Caledonia had their own moments, but they were simply outclassed and outplayed by the Samoans. Samoa head coach Juan Chang Urrea was glad the girls pulled through in the end, as they now shift their focus to Fiji on Monday. "It was a very tough match, we started slow and we picked it up," he said. "It's not just how you start, but how you pick it up at the end as teammates and how they move forward. "It's a good game, we close the first chapter of the book and they did that very strongly. The conditions are very hard and very hot, and they adapted. "Every opposition is going to be tough, and we just need to review the game and then go from there too." Losing New Caledonia coach Kenjy Vendegoi conceded the Samoans played better. Speaking through a translator, he said they were rattled. "The Samoans are favourites in the group at the moment," he said. "They presented a lot of opportunities and they completed a lot of their opportunities. "We look forward to the next match." Samoa will now look ahead to a top-of-the-table encounter against Fiji, while New Caledonia face a must-win match with Tahiti in the other Group A fixture. Fiji earlier defeated Tahiti 4-0. Samoa 5 (Cali Willis 2, Aaliyah Johnson, Samida Ann Tumanuvao, own goal) New Caledonia 0 Defending champions New Zealand have started their title defence with a comfortable 4-0 win over Tonga. Isla Robson scored a hattrick, as they held off a spirited Tongan effort to record their first three points of the 2025 tournament. New Zealand's Ameila Hitchcock competes with Tonga's Sophie Hale. Photo: Shane Wenzlick/ Tonga put in a good shift, as New Zealand had never scored less than seven goals in four previous meetings between the two nations at U16 women's level. They did well to hold out for 25 minutes. It also marked only the fourth time in Oceania U16 women's championship history that New Zealand were kept to less than five goals. They face the other Group B winners, the Solomon Islands, next Tuesday, while Tonga will attempt to keep their campaign alive against tournament debutants American Samoa. New Zealand 4 (Isla Robson 3, Mia Humphrey) Tonga 0 In another result, Solomon Islands came out winners over American Samoa 1-0, with the winner scored late in the first half by striker Janita Ereanimae. Making their debut at this level, after winning the qualifying tournament in the Cook Islands in May, American Samoa showed plenty of promise. Coach Diane Justus had strengthened her squad with four US-based players and her side created enough chances to feel they deserved at least a share of the points. American Samoa were the stronger team in the second half and pushed hard for an equaliser, showing they could compete with a side riding the momentum of the senior national team's Nations Cup 2025 triumph last month. The Solomon Islands started brightly and nearly took the lead in the sixth minute, when Rose Aba turned sharply in the box and fired a powerful shot towards the bottom-right corner, but Leila Salausa in the American Samoa goal got a glove on the ball and pushed it wide. American Samoa's first real opportunity came in the 23rd minute, through Anaiyah Vee, who burst down the right wing, beating defenders with her pace and strength. Her low cross just missed the run of an unmarked Naimanu Samuelu in the box. Solomon Islands 1 (Janita Ereanimae) American Samoa 0
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors skipper Apii Nicholls grappling with NRLW captaincy conundrum
Apii Nicholls leads her team onto Go Media Stadium against Parramatta Eels. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ As her NZ Warriors teammates acclimatise to the demands of NRLW, captain Apii Nicholls is locked into her own steep learning curve, trying to lead them through the minefield. The wāhine slipped to a 20-10 defeat to Gold Coast Titans last Saturday, with Nicholls lamenting that she couldn't find a way to inspire those around her in their time of need. "I think a few people talk about how I lead with my actions, but I felt in that game, I needed to lead with my voice," she reflected. "It was really challenging - there were moments when we felt the pressure and it was challenging for me to change that for our team." The Auckland club has re-entered the Aussie women's rugby league competition after a five-year absence, winning one of their first four games against opposition rosters stacked with experience. By contrast, less than half the Warriors 25-strong squad had played at this level before, and many are still adjusting to a switch from rugby union or sevens. Fullback Nicholls, 32, is the most seasoned league performer on show, with 23 NRLW games under her belt - only lock Laishon Albert-Jones (24) has more - along with 11 tests for the Kiwi Ferns. She is also the only foundation member of the women's programme - Warriors player No.2 in 2018 - to return for its rebirth. Apii Nicholls is tackled against Parramatta Eels. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ When new coach Ron Griffiths began considering his captaincy options, the choice was obvious, but Nicholls needed persuading. "Last year, when we signed her, my wife and I met her in Canberra, and I thought she could lead the team," he remembers. "She's the sort of player, the way she speaks, her humility, she leads by her actions… she could captain this team. "I didn't even mention leadership to her, but by the time I got back to Newcastle that night, I had a message saying she didn't want a leadership role with the club. "We've taken her right outside her comfort zone and she's going through growing pains." Nicholls has had to understand she is a work in progress. This is her first time as a skipper and, while that responsibility comes naturally to some, others have to work harder at it. "That's something I've been able to accept over these past few days and that's helped me move on from that last game," Nicholls conceded. "It's challenging and this week has been the most challenging for me, but I've been able to speak to a few people that have given me a lift that I can keep going. "I really wanted to turn things around, but we didn't in the end. Leaving that game, what mattered the most was staying connected as a team. "We reflect, we learn, we take ownership of our roles and keep building." Whether she realises it or not, Nicholls has made an impact on those around her. She exudes mana and, yes, she has provided a couple of highlight plays already this season, especially on defence. As Parramatta Eels counterpart Abbi Church broke from her own half and threatened to run the length of the park for a try, Nicholls' one-on-one tackle in midfield undoubtedly lifted the Warriors at a time when their first-ever win at Mt Smart still hung in the balance. Griffiths tells of another senior player becoming quite emotional, while discussing Nicholls' growth in such a short time. "That shows you she's well on her way to getting where she needs to be," he said. "Whatever Apii said on Sunday wouldn't have won or lost us that game. Apii Nicholls is the only player returning from the previous Warriors women's programme. Photo: BIANCA DE MARCHI "She might have felt she needed to lead with her voice, and at certain times, she will need to say things to lift her players or get them on track, but I didn't feel that had a bearing on the outcome on Sunday. She still feels like she needs to put the team on her back at times - that's probably where she's at as a leader - but she doesn't need to. "She's always hard on herself and I get that, but when you watch good leaders, they self-reflect and think, 'Maybe I didn't get that right'. It can create some uncertainty at times, if you haven't had leadership roles before, so that's weighing on her mind." Self-awareness can be a burden, but as the campaign progresses and other players become more comfortable in their new surroundings, Nicholls will find the support she needs from her teammates. "I just want to make sure these girls have a good season, because it's their first time," she said. "As a leader, I want the best for each and every one of these players - that's the biggest focus for me. "I'm a huge believer that everything happens for a reason. We'll continue to build, we're always going to be learning and we can't always get things right, so we are where we are meant to be." Just like their captain. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Cool the jets: Warriors rule out imminent Cleary NRL debut
Warriors v Dolphins Kickoff 8pm Friday, 1 August Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster is desperate to turn down the volume on calls to hand Jett Cleary an NRL debut this season. As the season has progressed, injuries have taken a toll on the club's first-grade squad, which has had to dip deep into its reserves to cover key absences. Webster has lost starting halfback Luke Metcalf to a season-ending knee injury, while five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita will sit out this week's encounter with the Dolphins , nursing a calf niggle. These setbacks have co-incided with a spike in form from Cleary - youngest son of former Warriors coach, now Penrith Panthers mastermind Ivan and younger brother of Panthers superstar Nathan. All eyes are on Cleary, playing the first season of a three-year contract at Mt Smart, with many - especially across the Tasman - expecting him to force his way into first grade at any time. Webster insists that just isn't going to happen. "Jett's played five reserve grade games this season, but the last two weeks have been his best," he said. "He's had his best two weeks at training, but to be honest, Jett's a long way away. "We believe Jett will be first-grade player at our club, but we're not going to put pressure on him by throwing him in sooner. "If I answer that strongly, everyone hopefully will stop asking." Given his pedigree, Cleary's decision to join the Warriors attracted considerable attention, with the anticipation he would eventually follow his dad and brother into the NRL. Ivan Cleary played 53 games for the Warriors and coached them for six seasons, playing a part in both grand final appearances in the club's history. Jett Cleary scores a try for Warriors reserves against South Sydney. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Nathan Cleary was a Warriors ballboy as a kid, but has grown into one of the game's greatest-ever players, combining with his father to help the Panthers to four straight premierships. Jett Cleary, 20, has spent most of this season in the Warriors Jersey Flegg (U21) side, but with injuries higher up the depth chart, he has progressed into the reserves side, currently riding a 14-game winning streak in NSW Cup. Last week, he scored two tries and added two conversions, after taking over goalkicking duties from Taine Tuaupiki, in their 68-6 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs. That performance has tongues wagging about his inevitable promotion to the top level. Cleary began the season behind Metcalf, Harris-Tavita, Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin and Luke Hanson among the club's halves. Metcalf is gone for the season and the next three are now on first-grade duty - Martin primarily as a utility - while Hanson is also injured. "Everyone likes to put pressure on Jett for obvious reasons and we love him, he's going great, but he's got a lot to work on and he knows that," Webster emphasised. "He's had a terrific couple of weeks and he's building confidence, but you don't need to ask if he'll be playing seniors - we just wouldn't do that." With the injury toll mounting in first-grade, a depleted reserves side face a major challenge to their unbeaten run, when they visit Wollongong to face St George Illawarra Dragons in a top-of-the-table encounter on Saturday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
