The Central Coast’s NZ Warriors endured in Friday night try frenzy (June 12) with an upset 37-26 win over the North Queensland Cowboys at Central Coast Stadium.
The win was a major turnaround from last week’s drubbing at the hands of the Panthers and puts the Warriors back onto the NRL finals radar.
Five-eight Kodi Nikorima was in sparkling form with two try-assists in the first half, including a magical, left foot step that opened up the Cowboys’ defence, before off-loading to forward Eliesa Katoa to score.
Nikorima also slotted a field goal on the stroke of half-time to give the Warriors a 17-12 lead going into the break.
Speaking to NRL.com after the match, Nikorima said assistant coach and former New Zealand star playmaker, Stacey Jones, had encouraged him to take on the defence more often.
“I was just trying to pick my moments and I’m just thankful they came off tonight.”
“We spoke earlier in the week after last week’s game – we didn’t complete enough [sets] so we didn’t build enough pressure … that was our main focus going into tonight’s game,” Nikorima said.
Halfback Blake Green was also intrinsic to the Warriors victory, commanding play from the centre and executing a precise kicking game that culminated in several of the Warriors’ tries.
In one memorable moment, the Warrior’s Patrick Herbert scored a miraculous ‘half-volley’ try, grounding the ball from an overhead kick at the same instant it hit the ground in the in-goal area.
Centre Peta Hiku was another player to set the game alight with a hat-trick of tries.
Hiku came under pressure early after failing to field a kick cleanly, conceding a try that put the Cowboys in front mid-way through the first half.
But the Warriors full-back hit back with three tries of his own, the last from another deft kick by Green.
There is plenty for the Warriors to work on however – coach Steve Kearney will not be pleased with conceding 27 points, including several soft tries.
“We made it awfully difficult for ourselves at times out there tonight,” he said.
“[But] in the second half, Greenie kicked really well, and we built some pressure with repeat sets and that gave us more opportunities.”
“Possession is king at the minute,” Kearney added.
Many of the Warriors players were reunited with family at the club’s new Terrigal base this week.
Eliesa Katoa’s mother, Akanesi, had the thrill of seeing her son play NRL footy for the first time and watched on as her son scored a try to help set up the team’s win.
For the Cowboys, it was another tough night out after losing star Valentine Holmes with a leg injury after 26 minutes while stand-in captain McLean and Jordan McLean also succumbed to injury in the first half.
Cowboys coach Green said his team just weren’t tough enough, noting they had conceded five of the Warriors seven tries on the last tackle.
The Warriors now have two wins from five games and will take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs next at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney on Friday night (June 19).
That match will start at 6pm.
Reporter: Ross Barry