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NZ Warriors women learn on fly in NRLW homecoming
NZ Warriors women learn on fly in NRLW homecoming

RNZ News

time13-07-2025

  • 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.

Warriors women chalk up first win in NRLW return
Warriors women chalk up first win in NRLW return

RNZ News

time13-07-2025

  • Sport
  • RNZ News

Warriors women chalk up first win in NRLW return

Michaela Brake scores her first NRLW try for the Warriors. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ NZ Warriors have shown themselves to be quick learners, overpowering Parramatta Eels 14-0 at Auckland's Go Media Stadium for their first win in their return to the NRLW. In their first home game since 2019, the wahine bounced back from last week's season-opening loss to the champion Sydney Roosters across the Tasman, as their inexperienced roster demonstrated far more composure and cohesion in slippery conditions. See how it unfolded:

NZ Warriors code converts 'falling in love' with rugby league
NZ Warriors code converts 'falling in love' with rugby league

RNZ News

time10-07-2025

  • Sport
  • RNZ News

NZ Warriors code converts 'falling in love' with rugby league

Tysha Ikenasio felt the physicality of the 13-player code. Photo: Photosport Despite nursing a few more bruises than they are accustomed to, the NZ Warriors new recruits have been re-invigorated by their code switch. The women's side played their first NRLW match in five years on Sunday and, although they were beaten by the defending champion Sydney Roosters, the loss did little to take the gloss off their return. Almost three quarters of the 2025 Warriors women squad had not played NRLW before, but looked right at home on the league pitch. Among them was sevens convert Tysha Ikenasio, who definitely felt the physicality of the 13-player code. "Just those bigger bodies, it was just a lot of mahi, but I did really enjoy it and I already can't wait for this weekend." Two-time Olympic champion Michaela Brake has also switched from the sevens arena and admitted it was a tough introduction. "There's a lot less space on the field than there is with sevens, so that was a good shock to the system," she said. "I hadn't ran into so many props ever in my life, but man, I almost didn't want the game to end. "I've finally got a game of league under my belt, so the positive thing is that we can only go up from here." Brake embraces the nuances of adapting to league. "It's what I asked for. I wanted to come into an environment where I was challenged physically and mentally learning completely new rules, a new game that I've never played before." As the side's marquee signing, Brake is also coping with the high expectations placed on her. "It's a good type of pressure. It's an honour, in all honesty - to have the reputation that I have came with a lot of hard work. "I guess, with the stats that I have behind me with the Black Ferns Sevens, that will create a lot of attention, when I do change codes. Yes, it has created a type of pressure that I am embracing and enjoying, but it also showcases on Sunday that I am still human and that I still make mistakes. "No matter how many gold medals I have from the Olympics, I'm still someone who will learn and get better each game, so it has been a challenge in that sense." Warriors women regroup against Sydney Roosters. Photo: Photosport Another making the code hop was Patricia Maliepo, who was part of the successful Blues Super Rugby Aupiki campaign earlier this year, but felt she had now found her home under Warriors coach Ron Griffiths. "I feel like I'm falling in love with the game." The former Black Fern admitted to not feeling that same love in 15s. "I think, over numerous years of being in the same environment and going through changes, I didn't feel valued in the previous spaces I've been in. "After day one of talking to Ron, this is where I'm meant to be. I think the difference here is it's an open environment. "Everyone lets you be yourself and even the coach - it doesn't feel like coach and player talking, it just feels like people." Ikenasio said the side was proud of the performance they put on in their return. "I think we just showed heart out there," she said. "For a lot of us girls, it was our first game of league. "To go up against the defending champs and hold them out in that first half, I think that's something that we should be proud of." This Sunday sees them meet Parramatta Eels in Auckland, their first appearance at Mt Smart since 2019. The women play at 1.50pm, with the men to follow at 4pm against Wests Tigers . While they hope to be embraced by the established fan base, Ikenasio said they were also out to create their own legacy. "Obviously, the men have done really well these past few years, and we're going to try and go off that too, but we are our own team. "We've got a strong team culture and it's only growing." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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