NRLW: Late scoring bursts not enough for Warriors against Tigers
Flurries at the end of each half kept the Warriors in the contest before ultimately going down 30-22.
The Warriors have slipped to sixth on the NRLW ladder after a 30-22 defeat to Wests Tigers in Round 7 at CommBank Stadium.
A three-try burst late in the first half from the Warriors negated the Tigers’ dominant opening 25 minutes, while another surge in the second stanza levelled the scores at 22-all.
But the Tigers held their composure in the latter stages. Faythe Manera scored a go-ahead try with five minutes left before a a penalty goal from star Kiwi halfback Raecene McGregor put the result beyond doubt.
The Warriors spent most of the first half on their heels and trailed 16-0 after a try to Tigers fullback Caitlin Turnbull, and consecutive four-pointers to centre Lilly Rogan.
But a superb finish to winger Tysha Ikenasio put the Warriors on the board in the 28th minute, before centre Stacey Waaka speared through four minutes later from five-eighth Emmanita Paki’s inside ball. The Warriors cut the halftime deficit to four points on the bell, with superb lead-up work from Apii Nicholls and Kaiyah Atai sending Paki on a 60-metre sprint to the line.
Points proved harder for both teams to come by for the majority of the second half, but winger Namoe Gesa reached out for an important try 11 minutes after the resumption to give the Tigers a 22-12 advantage.
The Warriors levelled up with two tries in four minutes, however, firstly with quick hands from Nicholls, Paki and Waaka sending Ikenasio in for her seventh try of the season. A barnstorming solo effort from lock Atai made it 22-all with 10 minutes left but the Warriors were unable to maintain that momentum.
Goalkicking proved crucial in a match that finished five tries apiece, with Patricia Maliepo managing just one conversion from four attempts (Nicholls missed the other). The halfback-turned-hooker has kicked 12 from 32 in 2026 (37.5 percent).
Waaka (13 runs for 110 metres, one try, two try assists, seven tackle-breaks) was a clear standout, but fellow gun ex-Broncos centre Mele Hufaga struggled to having an impact — the strike weapon making just six runs for 32 metres.
Atai (10 runs for 84 metres, two line-breaks, one try assist, 24 tackles) and Harata Butler (11 runs for 112 metres, three tackle-breaks, 15 tackles) again performed strongly in the pack.
It’s crunch time for the Warriors this Sunday as they head to Sydney again to take on the undefeated, ladder-leading Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
NRLW — ROUND 7: Wests Tigers 30 defeated Warriors 22 (Tysha Ikenasio 2, Stacey Waaka, Emmanita Paki, Kaiyah Atai tries; Patricia Maliepo goal) at CommBank Stadium, Sydney.