The One New Zealand Warriors’ hold on second spot in the New South Wales Cup is shaky following their heaviest defeat of the season in tonight’s 25th-round clash against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Daniel Anderson Stadium.
The home side entered the contest on 31 points on the back of three straight wins with just a point back to South Sydney in third spot.
Facing a seventh-placed Sea Eagles side desperate to make a late push for a spot in the top five, they put on a disappointing display to slide to a 12-32 loss.
By halftime the Sea Eagles were 18-0 ahead with the Warriors failing to impose themselves on the match.
The start of the second spell was no better as the Sea Eagles posted another two tries to leap out to a 26-0 advantage with 30 minutes still to play.
Not until the 56th minute did the Warriors make an impression on the scoreboard when Jacob Laban scored.
It was brief reprieve as centre Clayton Faulalo scored his third try to take his side out to a commanding 32-6 lead before halfback Ronald Volkman reduced the damage with a last-minute try.
The One New Zealand Warriors are away to St George Illawarra in their final regular season match next weekend.
Match details
Daniel Anderson Stadium, Auckland
One New Zealand Warriors 12 (Jacob Laban, Ronald Volkman tries; Eiden Ackland 2 conversions).
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles 32 (Clayton Faulalo 3, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Ryan Garner, Brad Abbey tries; Jamie Humphreys 4 conversions).
Halftime: 18-0 Sea Eagles.
One New Zealand Warriors | Ben Farr; Setu Tu, Patrick Moimoi, Viliami Vailea, Edward Kosi; Eiden Ackland, Ronald Volkman; Zyon Maiu’u, Michael Sio, Tom Ale; Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban; Kalani Going (c). Interchange: Paul Roache, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Maia Sands, Isaiah Vagana.
