A prized top three spot is on the line when the One New Zealand Warriors take on the Newtown Jets in their final New South Wales Cup regular season match at Henson Park in Sydney tomorrow (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
The two sides are level on 33 points split only by points differential with the Jets (plus 159) in third and the Warriors (plus 87) fourth.
So, it’s a straight shootout to seal a berth in the top three which ensures a second life in the five-team finals format.
When the clubs met in the opening round of the season, they produced a remarkable match at Go Media Stadium.
Up 20-6 early in the second half, the Warriors conceded three converted tries in the final quarter to find themselves trailing 20-24 with two minutes left.
Then the real drama started with centre Ali Leiataua scoring a try handy to the posts (not converted) leaving the sides locked at 24-24.
Match: Jets v Warriors
Round 26 -
home Team
Jets
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Jets is number 1 Liam IsonFullback for Warriors is number 1 Ben Farr
-
Winger for Jets is number 2 Tom RodwellWinger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
-
Centre for Jets is number 3 Jordan SwannCentre for Warriors is number 2 Setu Tu
-
Centre for Jets is number 4 Jackson FerrisCentre for Warriors is number 3 Moala Graham-Taufa
-
Winger for Jets is number 5 Siteni TaukamoWinger for Warriors is number 20 Motu Pasikala
-
Five-Eighth for Jets is number 6 Khaled RajabFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke Hanson
-
Halfback for Jets is number 7 Niwhai PuruHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Paul Roache
Forwards
-
Prop for Jets is number 8 Rhys DakinProp for Warriors is number 4 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
-
Hooker for Jets is number 9 Jayden BerrellHooker for Warriors is number 9 Makaia Tafua
-
Prop for Jets is number 10 Tuku Hau TapuhaProp for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa
-
2nd Row for Jets is number 11 Jordin Leiu2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jacob Laban
-
2nd Row for Jets is number 12 Billy Burns2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Leka Halasima
-
Lock for Jets is number 13 Blake HoskingLock for Warriors is number 13 Kalani Going
Interchange
-
Interchange for Jets is number 15 Kurt DillonInterchange for Warriors is number 8 Tanner Stowers-Smith
-
Interchange for Jets is number 17 Billy MagouliasInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Geronimo Doyle
-
Interchange for Jets is number 18 Joshua CookInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Harry Durbin
-
Interchange for Jets is number 19 Brad FearnleyInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Zyon Maiu'u
Reserves
-
Replacement for Jets is number 21 Tony MarounReplacement for Warriors is number 18 Caleb Laiman
Last updated:
Back came the Warriors from the restart, striking from long range with Leiataua bursting through and Geronimo Doyle in support to score in the corner for a 28-24 victory.
Now the Warriors and Jets meet again dead even on points to determine which side has the favoured run into the playoffs.
Win and the Warriors will have their wish and if they do they might also still have a chance of taking out the minor premiership.
NSW Cup Rd 1 Highlights: Great escape
For that to happen the second-placed North Sydney Jets (34 points) would have to lose to the eighth-placed Newcastle Knights later on Saturday and then the ladder-leading Canberra Raiders (34) would have to stumble against the Sydney Roosters (11th) on Sunday.
The Knights have won their last two matches while the Roosters upset the Bears 24-20 last week and have had success in their last four matches.
The Warriors’ effort will again centre around ever-present Kalani Going and Eddie Ieremia who have appeared in each one of the side’s 23 matches.
Apart from Going a number of players with NRL experience have been named to play led by 138-game veteran prop Bunty Afoa, winger Edward Kosi, centre Moala Graham-Taufa, halfback Paul Roache and rookie back rowers Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima.
Match: Jets v Warriors
Round 26 -
home Team
Jets
2nd Position
away Team
Warriors
4th Position
Venue: Henson Park, Sydney
