Warriors forward Leka Halasima’s stunning game-winning try against the Newcastle Knights has earned high praise from coach Andrew Webster.
The 19-year-old swooped on a charged-down Tanah Boyd field goal, then accelerated away into open space, stepping the fullback before carrying three Knights defenders over the line to score asthe siren sounded to clinch a 20-15 win in Newcastle.
The Warriors were shellshocked as they looked destined to lose to an understrength Knights side missing Kalyn Ponga.
In the final minute of the match, Boyd missed a long-range penalty goal, but the Warriors got the ball back from a 20m drop-out, and four plays later, Halasima produced his moment of magic to help his side clinch their 12th win of the season.
The result is massive in the context of the Warriors’ season as it maintains their four-point gap over the fifth-placed Brisbane Broncos in the standings with seven games remaining in the season.
“We had some really good looks at field goals, penalty goals, we were earning that through our defence and then we just come up with a freakish play by a young guy who’s got heaps of talent,” Webster said post-match.
“That’s what he’s got in his toolkit ... so just happy for the boys ... it wasn’t pretty tonight, but I still felt like we wanted to try and earn the victory and go after it.
“I liked the way that we kept fighting and kept going after the moment wasn’t happening for us.”
Halasima has played in all 18 games for the Warriors this season, scoring eight tries, and he’s been involved in many jaw-dropping moments, including his try against the Wests Tigers in round four.
While Halasima is the talk of the town, Webster is urging everyone to remember that he’s still in his first full season of the NRL, having made his debut late last season.
“I think with every exciting player, they have just got to stay grounded and not get ahead of themselves,” Webster said. “I haven’t seen those signs of him.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster: "I liked the way that we kept fighting." Photo / Alyse Wright
“The first thing he should be working on this week is his defence again and improving that and if he does that, then that stuff just comes natural to him.
“If Leka keeps improving with that other stuff, he’ll become a brilliant player, because you’ll see all that natural stuff like you saw at the end of the game.”
Webster also offered some words of encouragement to Boyd, who looked devastated after missing two field goal attempts and then the penalty goal shot.
“We got back to a draw game and then we gave ourselves a really good look with eight minutes to go and then we fought our way back then again to have another opportunity. So that won’t define him, that’s for sure.”
The Warriors are back at home for their next clash on Saturday against the last-placed Gold Coast Titans.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
