The Warriors Women have recorded their first ever home victory in NRLW history after keeping the Paramatta Eels scoreless at Go Media Stadium. Photo / Photosport
The Warriors Women have recorded their first ever home victory in NRLW history after keeping the Paramatta Eels scoreless at Go Media Stadium. Photo / Photosport
For the first time in 1730 days, the Warriors Women are back in the winner’s circle, beating the Parramatta Eels in their return to home soil.
After suffering a heavy 30-6 defeat in their return to the NRLW last week, it was a Go MediaStadium homecoming that sparked the Warriors’ relentless defensive performance, keeping the Eels scoreless.
“Leading into this game, we said that we would show up for each other and stay connected and that’s exactly what we did,” captain Apii Nicholls told Sky Sport.
“We were unlucky that first round but we trained really hard defensively and we brought it tonight.”
Warriors second rower and former Black Fern Shakira Baker set the standard in the first minute of the game, with a crunching tackle off the kickoff forcing a mistake and turnover.
A tidy set from the Warriors saw the ball spread wide to cross-code superstar Michaela Brake, who had some work to do before crossing over in the corner for her first NRLW try with her first touch of the day.
Cross-code star Michaela Brake scored her first try for the Warriors Women against the Eels at Go Media Stadium. Photo / Photosport
The Warriors would only have to wait minutes for their second attacking chance after a handling error by Eels half Cassey Tohi-Hiku gave them possession about 30m out from the line.
A brilliant cut-out pass from Warriors captain and fullback Apii Nicholls left winger Payton Takimoana with a clear run to the opposite corner, also scoring her first NRLW try. Both sideline conversation attempts by half Patricia Maliepo fell just short of the posts.
Handling errors were a common theme for both sides throughout the game in testing dewy conditions, giving away possession in key parts of the field.
Strong defensive efforts throughout the first half saw the Warriors hold off a formidable Eels attack close to the line.
Warriors captain Apii Nicholls was a powerhouse on both sides of the ball. Photo / Photosport
Winger Brake looked dangerous with ball in hand, making three line breaks in the opening 35 minutes. It looked as though she would cross over the line again in the 28th minute after putting on her trademark right-foot step and gunning for the sideline, but she was denied by two Parramatta defenders.
The Warriors weren’t able to capitalise on go-forward ball – heading into the sheds at halftime 8-0 ahead.
Under pressure for much of the second half, it would be the Warriors’ defence that came up trumps, holding out all attacking efforts from Parramatta.
It took until the 57th minute for the next points to be scored after a strong set took the Warriors within 10m of the line before a deft grubber from playmaker Emily Curtain was pounced on by centre Tysha Ikenasio. Maliepo nailed the conversion from the right of the posts to extend the lead to 14.
Centre Tysha Ikenasio crossed over for the Warriors' third try of the game. Photo / Photosport
Despite looking strong with ball in hand, the Eels couldn’t break through the Warriors’ defence, with several bone-rattling hits destroying momentum – the biggest of the night coming from Nicholls on her opposing fullback and Eels captain Abbi Church.
With the final whistle blown, the Warriors Women recorded their first NRLW win in over four years – and first ever on home soil – in convincing fashion.
