Warriors go-back-to-back in UNE Harold Matthews Cup
The Warriors have become the first club in 12 years to make it back-to-back titles in the UNE Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17s Boys) after scoring a 30-16 win over a gallant Newcastle Knights at Leichhardt Oval today.
The Warriors had to rally from 12-0 down early in the first half with back-rower Bishop Neal – who was later named a deserved Player of the Match – sparking the comeback after scoring twice in the space of five minutes.
The two sides were locked up 12-all at half-time and although the Knights scored first when play resumed, the Warriors clawed their way back in front before taking control of the match at the back end.
It was the first time a club has won consecutive Harold Matthews Cup titles since Parramatta in 2012-13. The Warriors made history last year after becoming the first club ever to win a Harold Matthews Cup premiership in their first year in the competition, but Ashford said that had not been a focus in the lead-up.
“We spoke about it earlier in the season about not riding on the coat-tails of what was done before us, and the boys creating their own legacy in the jersey,” Warriors coach TJ Ashford said.
“Credit to them, because they brought into it very early and my staff have been outstanding this year again. Collectively as a group we just all got on the same page and we knew what we wanted to do, and we knew if we gave ourselves a chance we’d be back here again 12 months later and that’s exactly what happened so I’m very proud and very blessed.”
Neal set the tone for the match from the kick-off when he charged at the Knights defence and nearly broke through.
The Knights absorbed the early pressure and then turned on the attack when five-eighth Cooper Votano stepped and swerved his way past four defenders to score underneath the posts. No.7 Chase Butler landed the conversion for a 6-0 lead.
The Knights mounted another raid out wide and looked destined to score when centre Chip Valentish spotted a gap and accelerated through it towards the line. It was only some desperate defence from Neal which denied him after he tackled him and turned him over on his back.
The effort was impressive, but it wasn’t enough to save the Warriors with Knights hooker Zane Hopkins picking up prop Ashton Allen shortly afterwards to crash his way over the line. Butler landed the conversion from right in front to extend the lead to 12-0.
“The boys have been in situations like that all year,” Ashford said. “We really pride ourselves on how hard we work together a group and I thought the boys did that today. They had to rally around being 12-0 down and to come back like that is a special thing for the boys.
“Grand Finals are built on defence and I felt like there were a few things there where we defended at the back end of the game which helped us win the contest.”
A lack of possession had hurt the Warriors but they got back into the match as that evened up and Neal showed plenty of strength and skill to bust his way through the line from 30 metres out before palming off Knights fullback Riley Rostron to improve his position and score. Halfback Alapati Tusa Soagia converted to reduce the margin to 12-6.
Another surge from the Warriors saw hooker Dreytin Marriott come close to scoring but Neal was lurking for the next play and picked the ball up from dummy-half to push his way past the goal-line defence and score. Tusa Soagia converted to lock the scores up at 12-all.
“Sometimes big players step up in big games and that’s exactly what happened, but they can’t do what they do without the rest of the group,” Ashford said.
Both teams had their chances to score again – Warriors replacement Kenny Lafituanai hit the posts in a play that left the uprights shaking, while Neal popped up at the other end to defuse a Votano kick in-goal – but they couldn’t capitalise to leave the scores locked up at half-time.
The Knights drew first blood when play resumed after Votano found back-rower Curtis Mulherin who crashed over out wide. Butler was unable to land the sideline conversion but the Knights had their noses back in front at 16-12.
The Warriors then came up with a piece of magic which saw winger Hinckley Ioka combine with Kaian Olsen and Parekaahu Keepa to keep the ball alive to score. Tusa Soagia landed the conversion to put the Warriors back in front 18-16.
The Warriors went a step closer to securing back-to-back titles when Marriott picked up prop Krushil Koteka on a crash play. Tusa Soagia added the extras from right in front to give the Warriors a bit of breathing space at 24-16.
Koteka sealed the result when he barged his way over the line from close range with Tusa Soagia adding the extras to make it 30-16 and spark celebrations on the field.
“It feels great,” Ashford said. “I don’t think the reality is going to sink in for a bit but it’s a special club, a special group of boys and I’m just proud and privileged to be able to call myself their coach. It’s an outstanding moment, I hope the boys can enjoy it and it’s a memory for a lifetime.”
