Lower grades: Flegg boys off to flying start

The Warriors' under-21s were shining lights on an otherwise tough weekend for the club's teams below NRL level.

The Warriors’ Jersey Flegg Cup team was the club’s sole side to join the NRL outfit in the winner’s circle, chalking up a similarly rousing win over Sydney Roosters in Pukekohe on Saturday.

The defending NSW Cup premiers crashed heavily to the Roosters in Friday’s Mount Smart curtain-raiser, while the SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup line-ups both went down to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Sydney.

After losing just three of 28 games on their way to NSW Cup grand final and State Championship glory in 2025, the Warriors were thumped 48-14 by a Roosters team that missed the playoffs last year.

The Warriors conceded six tries to trail 28-0 at halftime, before off-season recruit Haizyn Mellars bagged a second-half double and interchange Tepatasi Laumlili dotted down to peg the scoreline back somewhat. The Roosters scroed the last three tries, however, to complete an emphatic win.

Five-eighth Luke Hanson (147 run metres) and hooker Makaia Tafua (45 tackles) worked hard in a soundly beaten side, while Jett Cleary had a try assist in his first outing of 2026. Alofiana Khan-Pereira was a late inclusion to make his club debut on the wing, but it was a fairly quiet outing with eight runs for 71 metres.

The Warriors’ Jersey Flegg team had no such troubles with the Tricolours on Saturday, posting eight tries in a 44-14 victory.

The home side was quick out of the blocks with tries to centre Nganaiaiafu Vake and young second-row wrecking ball Bishop Neal inside 10 minutes, while Braelan Marsh — son of PJ — crossed to give the Warriors a 22-10 halftime advantage.

Motu Pasikala scored a second-half double and rugby union convert Harry Inch notched a four-pointer to go with his six conversions in a one-sided second half.

The Bulldogs’ SG Ball team subjected the Warriors to a 50-4 mauling with winger Jacksyn Hill’s 21st-minute try the only respite for the visitors.

Ex-Warrior Kaawyn Patterson was among the four first-half tryscorers, while the Bulldogs scored six tries in the space of 26 minutes in the second stanza.

The Warriors’ two-time defending champion Harold Matthews Cup side was more competitive, going down 26-16 to the Bulldogs.

Interchange Kayce Perese-Sukroo, fullback and Kaian Olsen and winger Chris Sau got the Warriors’ tries.