New Zealand Warriors women’s coach Ronald Griffiths is excited for what the future holds after they completed their comeback NRLW season with a record 44-6 win over the Wests Tigers in Sydney.
The result sees the Warriors finish eighth out of 12 teams with four wins and seven defeats intheir first season back in the competition since 2020.
When the NRLW launched in 2018, the Warriors were one of the four foundation clubs, taking part in the competition’s first three seasons before the impact of the Covid pandemic forced them to withdraw.
They made their return this year with a very inexperienced squad, but still showed glimpses of brilliance, in particular against the Tigers, the back-to-back wooden spooners, by claiming their highest score.
Try-scoring machine Payton Takimoana claimed a brace to take her season tally to 15, the second-most in the NRLW this season.
“We had players that came out of Auckland Rugby League and have played every game of NRLW this year. Imagine them 12 months on, they’ve had an impact on the game and what that’s going to do for our team.
“Plus, then the players that we bring in around that, some experience, it changes the complexion of our team completely. We’re really excited for the future.”
The Warriors had numerous players make the jump from sevens or rugby union, including Michael Brake, Payton Takimoana and Patricia Maliepo, while the likes of Ivana Lauitiiti, Ashlee Matapo and Kalyn Takitimu-Cook had their first full NRLW seasons this year.
Fullback and captain Apii Nicholls agreed and believes the Warriors are on the cusp of something special.
“We had a really good season,” Nicholls said. “We just fell short in some of our games, but the potential’s there.
“I’m just really looking forward to next year and I know that it’ll be different next year in terms of the players that we might have and I’m really looking forward to the new challenge.”
The Warriors never looked troubled against the Tigers with Laishon Albert-Jones scoring a brace inside the opening 15 minutes. The Tigers’ only try came right on hafltime as the Warriors led 24-6 at the break.
The Tigers started the second half strong, but after Nicholls scored the Warriors’ fifth try it was all over.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ men’s reserves squad have gone down 24-10 to the St George Illawarra Dragons, missing the chance to automatically qualify for the New South Wales Cup grand final.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
