Rolling to a solid 20-12 away win over Newcastle today the One New Zealand Warriors have completed one of the most extraordinary regular seasons in the New South Wales Cup’s history.
The victory left the minor premiers with a record of 21 wins, a draw and just two losses giving them an incredible total of 47 points, a phenomenal 797 points scored and only 386 conceded for a differential of 411.
In recent history only Penrith in 2014 has come close to matching that record.
That season teams played 25 regular season games rather than 24 with the Panthers totalling 45 points in finishing with 21 wins, three draws and just one loss (578 points for, 321 against).
As the competition’s top team, the Warriors have week one of the finals off next week before their first playoff in week two. Victory in that match would take them directly to the grand final in week four.
They had some regulars missing today including captain Kalani Going, hooker Sam Healey, fullback Taine Tuaupiki and utility forward Freddy Lussick while halfback Jett Cleary wasn’t used for the whole game.
Win #21 didn’t come easily at the Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence but it certainly began well when prop Harry Durbin coasted through a gaping hole from close range off dummy half Makaia Tafua.
It was their only try of the first half as they went to halftime holding a 6-4 lead.
The Knights went 8-6 ahead straight after halftime but the Warriors then produced two tries in the space of four minutes to seize control.
From halfway standoff Luke Hanson dummied and blasted through the line, finding second rower Jason Salalilo who ran away to finish.
Going left worked again soon after with Hanson again the provider, creating a hole for Setu Tu to carve through, Tom Ale converting for 16-8 lead.
The Knights recovered to trail just 12-16 but the Warriors had a match-sealing eight-point lead when Geronimo Doyle put winger Sio Kali over from a short side play with six minutes to play.