SG Ball Team List: Pukekohe steeled for doubleheader

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Fri 21 Feb 2025, 03:42 PM

Double header football returns to Pukekohe for the first time this season when the One New Zealand Warriors face the Illawarra Steelers in the SG Ball Cup (under-19) and Harold Matthews Cup (under-17).

The SG Ball sides round out the action with their fourth-round contest at Navigation Homes Stadium with the Warriors seeking further improvement as they bid for their first win of the season.

They were right in the hunt in last Saturday’s clash against Canterbury Bankstown, recovering impressively from a 10-24 deficit to close to just 22-24 midway through the second half.

Earlier they had scored the first two tries of the match to lead 10-0 after just 10 minutes but ultimately the Bulldogs proved too strong going on to win 42-22 with three unanswered tries in the final stages.

Round 4 - Sunday 23rd February

Full Time

Warriors

Steelers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Joseph Ratcliffe

Fullback for Steelers is number 1 Lucas Borg
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Connor Bowden

Winger for Steelers is number 2 Saifiti Junior Saifiti
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Compton Purcell

Centre for Steelers is number 3 Charles Heidke
Centre for Warriors is number 11 Kairus Booth

Centre for Steelers is number 4 Zane Timmins
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Mason Lome-Hindle

Winger for Steelers is number 5 Tom Kirk
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Noah Jensen

Five-Eighth for Steelers is number 6 Aaymon Fitzgibbon
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Maui Winitana-Patelesio

Halfback for Steelers is number 19 Beau Baldock

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Waka Tate

Prop for Steelers is number 8 Jackson Smith
Hooker for Warriors is number 21 Isaiah Savea

Hooker for Steelers is number 15 Mason Phillips
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Paea Sikuvea

Prop for Steelers is number 10 Ben Jackson
2nd Row for Warriors is number 4 Kahu Capper

2nd Row for Steelers is number 11 Drew Langdon
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Te Paeroa Wi Neera

2nd Row for Steelers is number 12 Connor Sadler
Lock for Warriors is number 16 Militonimolela Sikuvea

Lock for Steelers is number 13 Hudson Bailey

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Rico Lemalie

Interchange for Steelers is number 14 Noah Parker
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Elijah Solomona

Interchange for Steelers is number 17 Likamani Richter
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tepatasi Laumalili

Interchange for Steelers is number 20 Daniel Meafou
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Epalahame Kivalu

Interchange for Steelers is number 21 Kapene Karaitiana

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Meihana Pauling

Replacement for Steelers is number 9 Brodie Breakspear

Last updated: 01:29 pm Wednesday 26th February 2025

The Warriors again provided encouragement with their attack as they worked their right side well for the opening two tries to winger Connor Bowden and second rower Hiraka Waitai-Haenga.

There was more quality when they made their comeback going to the left edge for second rower Te Paeroa Wi Neera and then a wide shift to the right for Bowden’s second try.

Bowden, another convert from rugby union (from Botany Downs Secondary College's First XV), has enjoyed a bright start to his Warriors rugby league career with three tries in his first two appearances.

Making his debut at fullback this Sunday will be Joseph Ratcliffe, who was in the Warriors’ premiership-winning Harold Matthews Cup side last year. Still 17, Ratcliffe is a Palmerston North Boys’ High School First XV rugby union player.

While the Warriors are yet to register a win in the competition, the Steelers had wins over Melbourne and Manly Warringah in the opening two rounds but lost 20-34 to Canberra last weekend.