Latest news with #PatriciaMaliepo
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Injury mars Roosters' big start to NRLW title defence
A maiden hat-trick to winger Taina Naividi helped underpin the Sydney Roosters' victory as they began their NRLW premiership defence with a 30-6 win over revival team, the Warriors. The 24-year-old Fiji international scored all three of her tries in the first half off the back of cut-out passes from teammates Jasmin Strange (twice) and halfback Jocelyn Kelleher. Naividi also led her side in tackle breaks with 10. But the six tries-to-one win was soured with a serious right elbow injury to NSW Origin winger Jayme Fressard as she was attempting to plant the ball in the north-west corner of Allianz Stadium in the 51st minute of Sunday's match. "She has a dislocated elbow so it's not looking great for her at the moment. We'll just have to see what happens," coach John Strange said on how long Fressard would be on the sidelines. Highlights for the Warriors were few on the scoreboard but they showed plenty of spark in attack off the back of halves Emily Curtain and Patricia Maliepo. A 14-time Zealand Ferns rugby international, Maliepo was on debut and both scored and converted the first Warriors try since 2020, which was the last NRLW season the Auckland club competed. Patricia Maliepo fights her way to the line! 💪 — NRLW (@NRLWomens) July 6, 2025 "I thought we were courageous, determined, full of resolve," Warriors coach Ron Griffith said. "Seventh-five per cent of our players haven't played NRLW before, we have five rugby union players, we didn't have a trial game, and they just kept turning up for each other." But it was the four tries in the opening 35 minutes – the other was by Fressard – that had the Warriors chasing hard as they headed to the sheds down 18-6 at halftime. That task became a little harder early in the second half, when prop and former Newcastle Knight Rima Butler was rewarded for her seven tackle-busts by scoring her first try in Roosters colours (24-6). A try to Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick in the 53rd minute and there was no coming back. The Roosters take on a Dragons outfit full of confidence at Jubilee Stadium next week after the Red V's 36-14 win over the Raiders yesterday. But the Tricolours will still be without their Golden Boot winner Tarryn Aiken (shoulder) who is still three to four weeks away.
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Warriors wahine stumble to champion Roosters in NRLW return
Warriors hooker Capri Paekau looks for support against Sydney Roosters. Photo: Mark Kolbe/ NZ Warriors have quickly learnt how much ground they must make up in their NRLW return, succumbing 30-6 to defending champions Sydney Roosters in their 2025 season-opener. 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. 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. 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. 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 168 metres, 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.
