Rugby League: Junior Warriors beat Roosters

Junior Warriors coach Stacey Jones. Photo / Getty Images

The Junior Warriors remain on track for another NYC grand final, after a comprehensive 44-30 win over the Roosters today in their qualifying final.

The Auckland side only confirmed their place in the playoffs with a last minute draw against the Panthers last week but were irresistible at Allianz Stadium.

They led 28-14 at halftime and after a hint of a Roosters comeback early in the second half, cleared away in the third quarter.

The Warriors will face either the Knights or the Dragons next week in their semi final.
Tuimoala Lolohea and Sam Lisone were among many standouts for the Warriors, scoring eight tries.

The scoreline flattered the home side, as the visitors were dominant throughout the match and were never under any scoreboard pressure.

Coach Stacey Jones will be concerned with some patchy defence from his team but it was nonetheless an impressive performance against the fifth ranked Roosters.

The Auckland side made a blistering start, scoring five tries in the first 33 minutes to lead 28-10.

The Roosters got back into the game - aided by some simple Warrior errors - with tries either side of halftime to cut the deficit to just ten points.

The Junior Warriors, who are competing in the finals for the seventh consecutive year, restored their comfortable advantage with three tries in quick succession.

The first of them was a spectacular effort, with winger Metia Lisati soaring through the air and planting the ball inches inside the touchline, with his body closer to the grandstand than the field.

Junior Warriors: 44
Junior Roosters: 30
Halftime: 28-14