Latest news with #IvanaLauitiiti
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Warriors Women v Bulldogs Women: Live updates from the round six NRLW clash
Advertise with NZME. All the action as the Warriors Women travel to Sydney to take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round six of the NRLW. Coach Ronald Griffiths has named an unchanged starting line up as the Warriors Women look to win their second consecutive game on the road. It was a statement NRLW debut from teenage debutant Ivana Lauitiiti, daughter of Warriors legend Ali Lauitiiti, that inspired the Warriors to a 12-6 win over North Queensland during their Magic Round clash last weekend. That took their season record to two wins and three losses with six games remaining in the regular season. Cross-code signing Michaela Brake has made herself unavailable for a second consecutive week due to personal reasons, which sees Tyra Wetere retain her spot on the wing after making her NRLW debut last week. The only change to the squad this week sees 20-year-old prop Matekino Gray return to the interchange bench after recovering from a head knock. Gray's inclusion sees Ashlee Matapo shifted to the reserves alongside Avery-Rose Carmont. The Warriors women sit in 10th place on the NRLW ladder, one point behind the seventh-placed Bulldogs – who are coming off a 14-all draw against the Gold Coast Titans during Magic Round last week. Warriors Women: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Tyra Wetere, 3. Tysha Ikenasio, 4. Emmanita Paki, 5. Payton Takimoana, 6. Patricia Maliepo, 7. Emily Curtain, 8. Metanoia Fotu-Moala, 9. Lydia Turua-Quedley, 10. Lavinia Kitai, 11. Maarire Puketapu, 12. Kaiyah Atai, 13. Laishon Albert-Jones. Interchange (from): 14. Capri Paekau, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Ivana Lauitiiti, 17. Matekino Gray, 19. Avery-Rose Carmont, 21. Ashlee Matapo.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Teens Ivana Lauitiiti, Tyra Wetere make impression for NZ Warriors wahine
Ivana Lauitiiti overpowers Cowboys defenders to score. Photo: NRL Photos Makeshift winger Tyra Wetere had a couple of days to prepare for her unexpected NRLW debut, while the arrival of fellow NZ Warriors rookie Ivana Lauitiiti's was probably destined her whole life. The teenagers made their presence felt against North Queensland Cowboys last weekend, with Lauitiiti inspiring victory with her powerful stint off the bench and Wetere - a specialist halfback - contributing a surprise cameo that has seen her retained in the starting line-up. You may have heard of Lauitiiti's father - Warriors legend Ali Lauitiiti, who logged 115 first-grade games for the club over six years, before heading to England, where Ivana was born. While dad brought Harlem Globetrotter skills to rugby league with his crazy footwork and ballhandling skills, daughter rocked the Cowboys with brute force, even at the tender age of 19. Ali Lauitiiti brought Globetrotters skills to rugby league. Photo: "We used to watch him play and he was powerful with a great offload - the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree," coach Ron Griffiths marvelled. "She's got some things about her game that definitely resemble dad, that's for sure. "We speak about moments etched in history for this team and that's the first time that a father and daughter have played for the Warriors. What a moment - they can keep that forever." Both also scored as teenagers on debut, with Ivana powering through four tacklers to open her team's account in pouring rain at Newcastle. "Ivana is a development player, so we gave her an opportunity," Griffiths said. "What we saw on gameday was what we've seen at training from her. "She's going to have a big career no doubt, if she keeps the same ethic. She was so hard to handle with the ball and, defensively, came up with some really good plays for us." Lauitiiti drew a penalty in front of the posts that put them 8-6 ahead at halftime, rocked Cowboys fullback Jakiya Whitfield with a big tackle on her own goal-line and then dislodged the ball from prop Mackenzie Weale with another in the dying seconds to seal the win. "When Ivan put that shot on Jakiya, I had just missed the tackle and it was a gamechanger," reflected halfback Emily Curtain. "It changed the energy and, off the back of that, we all just wanted to keep them down there. Tyra Wetere (left) celebrates her disallowed try against North Queensland. Photo: David Neilson/photosport "Bringing those girls onto the field and making hits like that, we want to get behind it and do the same." Wetere, 19, only learnt of her promotion to the starting line-up, after sevens superstar Michaela Brake was ruled out for personal reasons, leaving a vacancy on the wing. "When we spoke to her about playing there, we wanted to give her the best experience possible playing NRLW, when her time was right," Griffiths said. "I said to her, 'Just think about this decision before you make it… an opportunity to play NRLW in an unfamiliar position, do you think you're ready?' "Before I could finish, she said, 'I'm ready'." Griffiths sent Wetere away to consider the offer more carefully. "Ten minutes later, she came back with a list of reasons why, and that said to me she was mature enough and ready to play." Wetere seemed to have the opening try against the Cowboys, when she chased a kick from Curtain deep into the goal area, but replays detected a tiny fumble as she forced the ball. "She got her opportunity because of her attitude," Griffiths said. "She works so hard, she's put layers on her game and developed. "She's been doing reps at fullback, so there were some similarities, but to jump on the wing and acquit herself like she did…" Interchange forward Ashlee Matapo, 18, has also logged four games in her first taste of NRLW experience, as Griffiths continues to offer a pathway for local girls to pursue their rugby league dreams. "To see the likes of Ivana, Tyra and Ash able to get out there and show everyone what they're capable of is so good," said five-eighth Patricia Maliepo. "There's so much more talent out there in New Zealand - this is only the start of it. "It's cool to see young talent come through." Matapo will drop out of the playing squad on Saturday against Canterbury Bulldogs, as the Warriors carefully monitor the load on their youngsters so early in their careers. Lauitiiti starts off the bench and Wetere line up on the wing again in Brake's continued absence. Warriors: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Tyra Wetere, 3. Tysha Ikenasio, 4. Emmanita Paki, 5. Payton Takimoana, 6. Patricia Maliepo, 7. Emily Curtain, 8. Metanoia Fotu-Moala, 9. Lydia Turua-Quedley, 10, Lavinia Kitai, 11. Maarire Puketapu, 12. Kaiyah Atai, 13. Laishon Albert-Jones Interchange: Capri Paekau, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Ivana Lauitiiti, 17. Matekino Gray Reserves: 19. Avery-Rose Carmont, 21. Ashlee Matapo Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Terrific teens Ivana Lauitiiti, Tyra Wetere making impression for NZ Warriors wahine
Ivana Lauitiiti overpowers Cowboys defenders to score. Photo: NRL Photos Makeshift winger Tyra Wetere had a couple of days to prepare for her unexpected NRLW debut, while the arrival of fellow NZ Warriors rookie Ivana Lauitiiti's was probably destined her whole life. The teenagers made their presence felt against North Queensland Cowboys last weekend, with Lauitiiti inspiring victory with her powerful stint off the bench and Wetere - a specialist halfback - contributing a surprise cameo that has seen her retained in the starting line-up. You may have heard of Lauitiiti's father - Warriors legend Ali Lauitiiti, who logged 115 first-grade games for the club over six years, before heading to England, where Ivana was born. While dad brought Harlem Globetrotter skills to rugby league with his crazy footwork and ballhandling skills, daughter rocked the Cowboys with brute force, even at the tender age of 19. Ali Lauitiiti brought Globetrotters skills to rugby league. Photo: "We used to watch him play and he was powerful with a great offload - the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree," coach Ron Griffiths marvelled. "She's got some things about her game that definitely resemble dad, that's for sure. "We speak about moments etched in history for this team and that's the first time that a father and daughter have played for the Warriors. What a moment - they can keep that forever." Both also scored as teenagers on debut, with Ivana powering through four tacklers to open her team's account in pouring rain at Newcastle. "Ivana is a development player, so we gave her an opportunity," Griffiths said. "What we saw on gameday was what we've seen at training from her. "She's going to have a big career no doubt, if she keeps the same ethic. She was so hard to handle with the ball and, defensively, came up with some really good plays for us." Lauitiiti drew a penalty in front of the posts that put them 8-6 ahead at halftime, rocked Cowboys fullback Jakiya Whitfield with a big tackle on her own goal-line and then dislodged the ball from prop Mackenzie Weale with another in the dying seconds to seal the win. "When Ivan put that shot on Jakiya, I had just missed the tackle and it was a gamechanger," reflected halfback Emily Curtain. "It changed the energy and, off the back of that, we all just wanted to keep them down there. Tyra Wetere (left) celebrates her disallowed try against North Queensland. Photo: David Neilson/photosport "Bringing those girls onto the field and making hits like that, we want to get behind it and do the same." Wetere, 19, only learnt of her promotion to the starting line-up, after sevens superstar Michaela Brake was ruled out for personal reasons, leaving a vacancy on the wing. "When we spoke to her about playing there, we wanted to give her the best experience possible playing NRLW, when her time was right," Griffiths said. "I said to her, 'Just think about this decision before you make it… an opportunity to play NRLW in an unfamiliar position, do you think you're ready?' "Before I could finish, she said, 'I'm ready'." Griffiths sent Wetere away to consider the offer more carefully. "Ten minutes later, she came back with a list of reasons why, and that said to me she was mature enough and ready to play." Wetere seemed to have the opening try against the Cowboys, when she chased a kick from Curtain deep into the goal area, but replays detected a tiny fumble as she forced the ball. "She got her opportunity because of her attitude," Griffiths said. "She works so hard, she's put layers on her game and developed. "She's been doing reps at fullback, so there were some similarities, but to jump on the wing and acquit herself like she did…" Interchange forward Ashlee Matapo, 18, has also logged four games in her first taste of NRLW experience, as Griffiths continues to offer a pathway for local girls to pursue their rugby league dreams. "To see the likes of Ivana, Tyra and Ash able to get out there and show everyone what they're capable of is so good," said five-eighth Patricia Maliepo. "There's so much more talent out there in New Zealand - this is only the start of it. "It's cool to see young talent come through." Matapo will drop out of the playing squad on Saturday against Canterbury Bulldogs, as the Warriors carefully monitor the load on their youngsters so early in their careers. Lauitiiti starts off the bench and Wetere line up on the wing again in Brake's continued absence. Warriors: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Tyra Wetere, 3. Tysha Ikenasio, 4. Emmanita Paki, 5. Payton Takimoana, 6. Patricia Maliepo, 7. Emily Curtain, 8. Metanoia Fotu-Moala, 9. Lydia Turua-Quedley, 10, Lavinia Kitai, 11. Maarire Puketapu, 12. Kaiyah Atai, 13. Laishon Albert-Jones Interchange: Capri Paekau, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Ivana Lauitiiti, 17. Matekino Gray Reserves: 19. Avery-Rose Carmont, 21. Ashlee Matapo Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
