Fullback Taine Tuaupiki kicked a conversion after the final siren to give the NZ Warriors a dramatic 26-24 win over St George Illawarra in Saturday's Round 7 New South Wales Cup contest at Collegians Sporting Complex in Wollongong.
The Dragons had sneaked into the lead – 24-20 – for the first time in the match with a Savelio Tamale try four minutes from fulltime but the Warriors were not to be denied.
LATEST HEADLINES: * Tall Blacks players on move in ANBL free agency * Dylan Walker returns, Nicoll-Klokstad milestone * Warriors reach Harold Matthews Cup grand final * Will Shaun Johnson return to Warriors in 2025? * Five new Black Ferns contracted players named
Inside the last minute, they organised a try for wing Setu Tu to lock it up 24-24 with all the pressure on Tuaupiki to seal victory.
He did not disappoint, coolly slotting the goal for the Warriors’ third win of the season.
The victory rounded out a brilliant day for the club’s pathways teams after the Harold Matthews Cup side stunned favourite Canterbury Bankstown 12-10 to make next week’s under-17 grand final and the Jersey Flegg Cup under-21s headed off the Dragons 28-22 for their first win of the season.
The NSW Cup victory was built on a fast start, which delivered tries to second rower Maia Sands, Tuaupiki and hooker Jaydee Aloa – all converted by Tuaupiki – for an 18-0 lead inside 24 minutes.
The Dragons snared a try before the break and two more in the third quarter to close to 14-18 with 25 minutes to play before the Warriors went out to 20-14 when they opted for a penalty 12 minutes from time. It would be critical.
In the space of three minutes the Dragons scored twice but could convert only one of the tries for a 24-20 lead before the two Tus - Tu and Tuaupiki - combined to seal victory.
Tuaupiki’s goal kicking was the difference.
The Warriors were outscored five tries to four but Tuaupiki converted all four as well as adding a goal for a total of 14 points while St George Illawarra’s Jesse Marschke succeeded with just two conversions.
The Warriors face top side Penrith at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday (kick-off .
Wing Garry Tuilekutu bagged a hat-trick and hooker Makaia Tafua a double to help the Warriors' Jersey Flegg Cup to break through for their first win of the season when they held out the Dragons on Saturday.
It was reward at last for the players who had bounced back from a challenging start in the first three rounds of the season to push Newcastle before losing 18-8 and then Manly Warringah last week in a 20-16 defeat.
While the Dragons, running fourth in the competition, opened the scoring in the fourth minute, the Warriors replied through Tafua in the 26th minute and then Tuilekutu with his first four minutes later enabling them to go to halftime with a 10-6 lead.
St George Illawarra surged to a 16-10 advantage with two tries early in the second spell before two Tuilekutu tries in the space of two minutes and Tafua’s second in the 60th minute – all converted by William Piliu – flipped the contest with the Warriors bolting to a 28-16 lead inside the last 10 minutes of the 70-minute match.
The Dragons clawed it back to 28-22 with their fourth try in the 63rd minute but the Warriors, desperate to savour victory for the first time in six attempts, defended stoically to hold on for a well-deserved and much-needed win.
They are back home on Saturday, facing the Penrith Panthers at North Harbour Stadium. The Panthers had their just their second loss of the season last weekend, going down to the Wests Tigers 20-18.