Comfort Glaze Lower Grade Report: Warriors NSW Cup side win thriller, Flegg team fades
The Dragons' visit to Auckland garnered a win and a loss for the Warriors' NSWRL teams over the weekend.
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The Warriors survived a second-half comeback from St George Illawarra in NSW Cup on Saturday, but their Jersey Flegg Cup outfit were overrun by the Dragons after the break on Sunday.
Luke Metcalf led the Warriors’ NSW Cup side to a nerve-shredding 31-26 win over St George Illawarra Dragons at Go Media Stadium after letting a 24-0 lead slip.
The Warriors put on an attacking clinic in the first half. Mid-season recruit Luke Laualilii crossed in the third minute, Jye Linnane scored an 80-metre runaway from a Dragons error, Luke Hanson made a break to put Kayliss Fatialofa over, and Metcalf sent Fatialofa through a hole and backed up to grab the try.
But the Saints regrouped and posted the first four tries of the second half to snatch a 26-24 lead with 11 minutes to go.
Metcalf levelled up with a 74th-minute penalty goal, then nailed the go-ahead field shortly afterwards. The halfback’s bomb — taken by Haizyn Mellars — led to a late sealer for Rocco Berry.
Mellars ran for a game-high 186 metres, closely followed by Linanne (175 metres), who also had five tackle-breaks. Fatialofa (12 runs for 124 metres and 34 tackles) and Riley Price (13 runs for 128 metres and 32 tackles) were the pick of the Warriors forwards, while hooker Makaia Tafua typically topped the tackle count (45).
The result saw the 9-8 Warriors climb to eighth — just a win outside the all-important top five.
NSW CUP — ROUND 20: Warriors 31 (Luke Laulilii, Jye Linnane, Kayliss Fatialofa, Luke Metcalf, Rocco Berry tries; Metcalf 5 goals; Metcalf field goal) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 26 at Go Media Stadium, Auckland.
The Warriors’ Jersey Flegg Cup side gave up a halftime lead at Trusts Stadium on Sunday, ultimately going down 34-22 to St George Illawarra Dragons.
Tries to prop Tepatasi Laumalili, prolific winger Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi, and halfback and captain Jack Thompson gave the home side a 16-12 advantage at the break over the competition leaders.
But as their NSW Cup counterparts did, the Saints scored four unanswered tries in the second half to open up an 18-point lead, before a strong consolation effort from Warriors second-rower Connor Bowden closed out the scoring.
The Warriors slipped to and 8-8 record and eighth on the ladder.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP — ROUND 20: St George Illawarra Dragons 34 defeated Warriors 22 (Tepatasi Laumalili, Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi, Jack Thompson, Connor Bowden tries; Harry Inch 3 goals) at Trusts Stadium, Auckland.