NSW Cup Round 23 – live scores, results, news, match reports, highlights

Warriors pull off dramatic win over Bulldogs in NSW Cup thriller

Claire Stegbauer

Game summary

The Warriors have produced a stunning late comeback to down the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 34-30 in an electrifying The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Round 23 clash at Leichhardt Oval.

In a contest that ebbed and flowed for 80 minutes, both sides traded blows in an arm-wrestle defined by sharp kicking games, forward dominance, and an unforgettable grandstand finish.

It took just eight minutes for the Bulldogs to open the scoring. Toby Sexton directed play to the left edge, where a sweeping back-line movement looked to have come unstuck when the final pass drifted high and wide. But winger Jed Reardon read it best, reeling in the wayward ball and planting it down in the corner. Sexton nailed the extras for a 6-0 lead.

Warriors captain Kalani Going responded in style in the 14th minute. Spotting an opening from dummy-half, Going exploded into space and set off on a 60-metre dash, fending off would-be chasers before slamming the ball down under the posts. Tanah Boyd added the two to lock the game at 6-6.

Canterbury-Bankstown wrestled back momentum almost immediately. Sexton, controlling the tempo with precision, slipped Lipoi Hopoi through a perfect short hole just 10 metres out. The back-rower barely had to break stride as he crashed over untouched in the 18th minute. Sexton converted for 12-6.

The Bulldogs’ left side continued to wreak havoc. In the 27th minute, Jack Todd backed himself with a determined solo effort, lowering the shoulder and barging over defenders to score. Sexton’s flawless boot extended the lead to 18-6.

Just when it looked like the Bulldogs might carry a two-score buffer into the sheds, the Warriors hit back with a moment of finesse. In the 35th minute, a beautifully weighted grubber kick skidded toward the in-goal, where Setu Tu dived at full stretch to ground it centimetres before the dead-ball line. Boyd’s sideline conversion kept the visitors in touch at 18-12 at half-time.

The Warriors stormed out of the sheds, their forwards tearing through the middle to win the ruck and force the Bulldogs backwards. That dominance paid off just two minutes into the half when Toby Crosby took a short ball close to the line, brushed off two defenders, and crashed over beside the uprights. Boyd converted to level the game at 18-18.

The visitors struck again in the 46th minute. Off the back of another strong set, Boyd shifted the ball wide to Geronimo Doyle, who showed great reach and strength to ground it for the Warriors’ fourth try. The conversion missed, but the Warriors had the lead for the first time at 22-18.

The Bulldogs weren’t done yet. In the 51st minute, Sexton again turned to his kicking game, floating a pinpoint cross-field bomb to Blake Wilson. The winger did brilliantly to stay in the field of play, twisting and diving to score despite the sideline breathing down his neck. Sexton added the two for 24-22.

Momentum stayed with the home side when Jonathan Sua crossed in the 55th minute. A simple but well-executed left-edge sweep exposed the Warriors’ defensive numbers, and Sua slipped through to score. Sexton’s conversion made it 30-22, giving the Bulldogs an eight-point advantage with just over 20 minutes left.

The Bulldogs looked to be in control, but the Warriors’ forwards dug deep, surging through the middle once again to set up an attacking platform. In the 60th minute, Boyd steered a set play to the left edge, sending a cut-out pass to Sio Kali, who powered through the gap to score. Boyd’s conversion reduced the deficit to 30-28.

With 10 minutes to play, the match was balanced on a knife’s edge. The Warriors launched one last charge, keeping the ball alive with quick hands and in-and-out passing across the park. Then came the moment of the match when Sio Kali pounced on a Setu Tu offload, tore into open space and sprinted 60 metres to the try-line. His second try of the afternoon put the Warriors in front 32-30, and Boyd’s fifth conversion sealed the 34-30 lead.

The Bulldogs threw everything at the visitors in the dying minutes, but the Warriors’ defence held firm, securing a victory that not only showcased their resilience but sealed the minor premiership.

Talking points

– The Bulldogs were dominant early through the middle, led by a composed Toby Sexton steering them into great attacking positions and forcing repeat sets with his pinpoint kicking game. However, as the match wore on, the Warriors’ pack wrestled back control and rolled downfield with ease.

– Sio Kali’s impact was game-changing for the Warriors. The strike centre finished with a double, including the match-winning runaway try, and constantly troubled Canterbury-Bankstown’s edge defence with his speed and timing.

– Tanah Boyd’s control and conversion accuracy (five from six) kept the Warriors in striking distance all afternoon, while Sexton’s perfect night off the tee (five from five) and playmaking was equally influential for Canterbury-Bankstown.

– The match was a genuine arm-wrestle, as momentum swung back and forth for 70 minutes before the Warriors delivered the knockout punch.

Key moment

With the Bulldogs leading 30-28 and less than 10 minutes on the clock, the Warriors kept the ball alive in desperate fashion before an offload was pounced on by Sio Kali. In a blink, the centre was in the clear, sprinting 60 metres downfield to score his second try of the day, the game-winner that stunned the Bulldogs and sealed the comeback.

What’s next?

The Bulldogs face the Canberra Raiders in Round 24, while the Warriors head to St Marys to take on the Penrith Panthers.

Wondrous Willet scores treble as Sea Eagles soar home

Ellery Behan

Game summary

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles fought their way to a 30-12 victory over the Newcastle Knights on Saturday afternoon, battling through an early deficit in wet weather to come out on top at 4 Pines Park with winger Navren Willet crossing for a hat-trick.

It was a nightmare start for the Sea Eagles, coughing up the ball on their opening set which handed the Knights a chance to open their account. They did exactly that, as Jackson Hastings floated a chip kick into the path of Francis Manuleleua who snatched it out of thin air to score. Connor Votano converted with ease to put the visitors ahead by six.

Despite the wet weather, Newcastle were determined not to shy away from playing an open, fast-paced brand of football to establish the upper hand. Hastings linked up once more with Manuleleua with a brilliant short ball that saw the back-rower earn 40 metres of territory for his side. Newcastle shifted to their right edge, with winger Wilson De Cource challenging three defenders to beat him to the corner before lofting a pass on his inside to Kyle McCarthy who crossed untouched. Votano steered the conversion between the uprights from out wide, doubling their lead to 12.

Manly refused to panic despite their poor start, continuing to try and wrestle back momentum. They eventually found space down their right edge through Clayton Faulalo, offloading the ball to Navren Willet who set sail down the eastern touchline and found Dean Matterson on his inside to score. Brandon Wakeham nailed the conversion to cut the deficit to six.

A Newcastle error coming out of their own end handed a golden opportunity to the home side to level the contest before the break. Moving the ball to the right edge, Wakeham gave an early pass to Faulalo out the back, giving him time to dig into a passive defensive line and arch a cut-out ball to Willet who outpaced his opposite man to score. Wakeham showed his class with a conversion from the sideline and rain beating the turf to lock it up at 12-all.

Refusing to let the final seconds of the first half dwindle out, Wakeham placed a chip kick into the path of Willet on the resuming set after kick-off, with a heavenly bounce into the hands of the lanky winger. He raced away to score, offering a noble salute to the home crowd who had risen to their feet in jubilation. Wakeham converted from in front to give Manly an 18-12 lead at the break after trailing 12-0 just 10 minutes into the contest.

The home side picked up where they left off in the second stanza, ruthlessly dragging the Knights out of play on the first tackle of the second half and then going on to put their possession to good use. Working their right edge, Wakeham linked up with Joey Walsh who fired a bullet pass onto the chest of Willet who dove over in the corner for the first hat-trick  of his The Knock-on Effect NSW Cup career. Wakeham impressively converted from the western touchline to establish a 24-12 advantage.

After a 25-minute period riddled with errors and barren of points, Manly ticked the scoreboard over again with a brilliant play down their left edge which saw Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega break away from his opposite man and stride through open pasture before drawing in the fullback and finding Semisi Kioa on his outside to score. Wakeham’s conversion soared between the sticks to put the home side 30-12 ahead. They defended their way to the hooter, securing a crucial home victory.

Talking points

– Brandon Wakeham put on a phenomenal performance, setting up tries off the boot and bringing the best out of his teammates, with none more grateful than Navren Willet who collected three tries in Saturday’s outing. Wakeham was faultless off the kicking tee, converting all five of the Sea Eagles’ tries in slippery conditions.

– Despite the result, the effort of the Knights cannot be questioned as the young outfit with an average age of 22 years in their starting 13 went after the game for the full 80 minutes.

– Both sides were in poor form coming into the contest, with Manly winning one of their last eight games and Newcastle managing just two victories in their previous nine outings.

Key moment

As the final minute of the contest ticked away and Manly’s 18-point upper hand guaranteed them a win, the home side refused to stop playing before the whistle had relieved them of their duties. The Knights were picking and probing for a consolation try, and halfback Jackson Hastings queried the defensive line with a chip kick collected by back-rower Francis Manuleleua. The 21-year-old looked certain to cross but the Manly defence refused to let him plant the ball as he was swarmed to the try-line and held up in-goal. The astounding show of defence was a testament to Manly’s character, who saved a certain try in the dying embers of the match when the result was beyond doubt.

What’s next?

The Knights will look to bounce back next Saturday as they host the St George Illawarra Dragons at the Newcastle Centre of Excellence at 3:15pm, while the Sea Eagles will savour this week’s victory with a bye in Round 24.

Panthers outclass Jets at Henson Park

Anthony Eltarraf

Game summary

The Newtown Jets fell 26-16 to the Penrith Panthers at Henson Park on Saturday, with the visitors’ lethal left edge proving the difference in an entertaining contest.

A penalty in the opening set gifted Penrith prime field position and they wasted no time capitalising. Crisp ball movement found Paul Alamoti, who crossed for the opening try before converting his own effort for a 6-0 lead.

The Jets hit back after 20 minutes through Tuku Hau Tapuha, who powered towards the line and looked to be stopped short, but stretched out to plant the ball on the stripe. The successful conversion levelled the scores at 6-6.

Penrith finished the half in control, striking twice in quick succession. Asu Kepaoa scored first on the left wing, before another penalty marched them downfield. From there, Riley Price finished off a classy play sparked by Trent Toelau’s hard line and clever offload. The Panthers went into the break with a handy 16-6 advantage.

Newtown started the second half brightly, with Jayden Berrell’s well-weighted grubber finding Michael Gabrael, who managed to ground the ball just inside the field of play. Mawene Hiroti’s missed conversion kept the deficit at six points.

But just as the Jets threatened, the Panthers steadied. Once again, they went to their trusted left edge, where Kepaoa grabbed his second of the afternoon to push the margin back to double digits. Moments later, Jack Cole pounced on a tap back from a towering bomb before stepping past the last defender to score.

Kristian Dixon gave the home side late hope, chasing through to collect a perfect Niwhai Puru chip and score, but it was too little, too late, as Penrith held firm to seal a classy 26-16 win.

Talking points

– Penrith’s left edge was in irresistible form, accounting for three of their five tries, and proving to be their go-to weapon whenever they were desperate for points.

– Michael Gabrael crossed for his 15th try of the season, continuing to show why he’s become such a dependable finisher for the Jets.

– The Panthers’ goal-line defence was rock solid, with players repeatedly turning up for each other to shut down the Jets’ attack.

Key moment

With the Jets clawing back to within a converted try early in the second half, Kepaoa’s second try proved pivotal. Penrith turned to their left edge yet again, moving the ball crisply to send their winger over in the corner, halting Newtown’s momentum.

What’s next?

The Jets head to Kellyville next week to take on the Parramatta Eels, while the Panthers return home to face the Warriors in what shapes as a blockbuster clash.