At McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle: Warriors 12 (Ivana Lauitiiti 25’, Payton Takimoana 50’ tries; Patricia Maliepo con, penalty goal)
North Queensland Cowboys 6 (Rosie Kelly 9’ try; Emma Manzelmann con) HT: 8-6.
Like father, like daughter.
Ivana Lauitiiti has announced herself to the NRLW with a try on debut to lead the Warriors to a gutsy 12-6 win against the North Queensland Cowboys during Magic Round on Sunday.
The teenager is the daughter of Warriors legend Ali Lauitiiti, who also scored on his NRL debut, against the North Sydney Bears in 1998.
Lauitiiti celebrated her 19th birthday on Saturday and could not have asked for a better present from coach Ronald Griffiths after receiving a late call-up to replace the injured Felila Kia on the bench.
Star winger Michaela Brake was also a late withdrawal due to personal reasons, replaced by another young debutante in Tyra Wetere.
Lauitiiti was lost for words after the game. “I’m still in shock I debuted,” she said. “Sorry, I don’t say much.”
The development player let her actions do the talking.
Injected into the game at 6-0 down in the 23rd minute, Lauitiiti made an immediate impact with a strong carry in heavy rain to draw the Warriors level once Patricio Maliepo nailed the conversion from in front.
Lauitiiti broke one tackle and carried another player across the try line with her.
Her strong ball carrying was perfectly suited to the wet conditions at McDonald Jones Stadium.
She was one of only five Warriors players to run more than 100 metres despite being on the field for only 24 minutes, and averaged 9.6m with every carry.
The Warriors scored 12 unanswered points to register their second win of the season.
The Warriors celebrate Ivana Lauitiiti’s first half try.David Neilson / Photosport
Former Black Ferns rugby international Rosie Kelly had opened the scoring for the Cowboys inside nine minutes.
The Warriors dropped a cross field kick from Tahlulah Tillet and Kelly seized on the loose ball, surviving suggestions of a knock-on.
After converting Lauitiiti’s try, Maliepo nudged the Warriors in front with a penalty goal right before halftime.
Her 40/30 gave the Warriors one last scoring opportunity but they opted to take the points when a Cowboys player was penalised for lying on top of Lauitiiti, preventing her from playing the ball.
The Warriors scored the only points of the second half with 20 minutes remaining.
In-form winger Payton Takimoana capitalised on an overlap and some quick hands to score in the left corner after the Warriors chose to run from close-range on the fifth tackle.
Takimoana leads the Warriors with six tries and has scored in each of the past four appearances.
The Warriors lost captain and fullback Apii Nicholls to a head injury assessment for the final 10 minutes, but they hung on through staunch defence to secure their second win of the season.
The big picture
The six-point win snapped a run of two consecutive defeats for the Warriors and was only their second victory in five games since returning to the NRLW after beating the Eels 14-0 on July 13.
What’s next
The Warriors will be sweating on the outcome of Nicholls’ HIA as they return to Australia next Saturday to face the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The match is being played as a part of a double header with the men’s team. The women’s game kicks off at 7.15pm.
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