A Tysha Ikenasio hat-trick has helped propel the Warriors to a 22-14 NRLW victory over the Newcastle Knights in Hamilton.
It’s an important result, with the Warriors gaining ground on the three leading teams, while the Knights drop to the middle of the table.
Both teams went into the match sitting on six points, four points behind leading teams the Broncos, Roosters and Titans.
The victory gives them four wins from six games, and puts them on eight points – two behind the leading trio.
The Warriors, sporting their Te Ārahi jerseys to mark Indigenous round, looked like a million bucks early in the match, rocking the Knights with two tries from Ikenasio in the first six minutes as she finished off backline moves with pace and strength on the right wing.
But the Knights found some rhythm, scoring a fine try via Simone Karpani and then a lucky one after Kirra Dibb was hit by an Apii Nicholls kick at close range, but grabbed it and galloped 80 metres to score.
The conversion gave the Knights a 12-10 halftime lead.
Ikenasio scored her third try early in the second half, and the Warriors increased their momentum with Stacey Waaka scoring midway through the half, and a chip and chase effort from Nicholls putting them further ahead.
She said she had her teammates to thank for her hat-trick, paying particular praise to centre Waaka.
“Stacey is awesome, she’s great on the field and off it, and has been a real asset to our team and I have loved playing outside her,” she told Sky Sport.
Captain Nicholls said the players were trying to be consistent each week in their physical approach to the game.
“We knew the Knights were going to bring it tonight, we knew it was going to be a tough game, but super proud of our girls for just turning them away and working hard for each other.”
See how the match unfolded here.