A potent second half performance propelled the One New Zealand Warriors back into second on the ladder after beating the Sea Eagles 40-30 in today’s seventh-round New South Wales Cup clash in Sydney.
The Slade Griffin-coached side was 12-18 down at halftime but found the try-line no fewer than five times in a 28-point second half effort.
Like the club’s NRL side, the One New Zealand Warriors needed a heavy quota of resilience to win through.
Approaching the 60-minute mark the contest was still delicately balanced at 24-24 before three tries in 14 minutes carried the One New Zealand Warriors to a 40-24 lead before the Sea Eagles scored in the final minute.
As early as the first minute the One New Zealand Warriors had their first try through right winger Sanele Aukusitino. He later had a second try while back rower Demitric Sifakula also snared a double; Sifakula flew to Sydney from Auckland this morning after being 18th man for the NRL side last night.
Drafted into the side after not being named earlier in the week were NRL squad members Ronald Volkman and Viliami Vailea.
Volkman again dominated the scoring backing up his 18 points against Newcastle last week with 16 points from a try and six conversions.
Match details
HE Laybutt Field, Blacktown
Sea Eagles 30 (Clayton Faulalo 3, Zac Fulton, Cameron Brown tries; Jamie Humphreys 4 conversions, penalty).
One New Zealand Warriors 40 (Sanele Aukusitino 2, Demitric Sifakula 2, Setu Tu, Ronald Volkman, Ali Leiataua tries; Ronald Volkman 6 conversions).
Halftime: 18-12 Sea Eagles.
One New Zealand Warriors | Geronimo Doyle; Setu Tu, Viliami Vailea, Ali Leiataua, Sanele Aukusitino; Ben Farr, Ronald Volkman; Zyon Maiu’u, Paul Roache, James Gavet; Kalani Going (captain), Jacob Laban; Demitric Sifakula. Interchange: Leka Halasima, Tahi Baggaley, Patrick Vaivai, Isaiah Vagana.
