For the third time in seven months a One New Zealand Warriors side features in a preliminary final when the club’s under-17 side team faces the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Henson Park on Saturday for a place in the Harold Matthews Cup grand final.
Last September the Warriors’ NRL and New South Wales Cup sides were both just a win away from making their grand finals for the first time since 2011.
Remarkably the under-17 squad is bidding for a spot in its season finale in its debut season in the renowned Harold Matthews Cup, a pathways competition which dates back to 1970 and has been the breeding ground for countless first-grade players.
The TJ Ashford-coached Warriors needed some help to seal the last spot in the six-team finals series but they then helped themselves in their first taste of the playoffs with a breathless start against the more fancied Parramatta Eels at Leichhardt Oval last Sunday.
While the Eels had pumped the Warriors 34-6 in the opening round of the short-form competition’s regular season back in February the tables were turned last weekend as the visitors blasted out of the blocks to lead 18-0 at halftime and 24-0 soon after.
Match: Bulldogs v Warriors
Semi Final -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Tawa-Dean SimpkinsFullback for Warriors is number 1 Joseph Ratcliffe
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Paul JohnsonWinger for Warriors is number 2 Ezekiel Davidson-Faaiuaso
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Braith SloaneCentre for Warriors is number 3 Jeremiah Lemana
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Jope RauqeCentre for Warriors is number 18 Turama Paranihi
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Wesley PAPALII-AFOAWinger for Warriors is number 5 Kairus Booth
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Elijah Tu'ifuaFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Tyson HANSEN
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Matthew BarakatHalfback for Warriors is number 20 Deshontayne Te Wao
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Itula SeveProp for Warriors is number 8 Hudsyn Frost
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Mason PhillipsHooker for Warriors is number 9 Kaawyn Patterson
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Olesa TaiProp for Warriors is number 10 Gordon Pailegutu Taanuu Afoa
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Solomone Tupou2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Dezman Laban
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Fine Fale2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Militonimolela Sikuvea
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Azariah Toki-MautairiLock for Warriors is number 13 Lennox Tuiloma
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Tristan BURNSInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Boston Krone
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Viliami MaheInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Romana Whitiora
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Albert BalchinInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Houma Fotu
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Hassan RabaaInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Isaiah Savea
Reserves
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Replacement for Bulldogs is number 20 Luke TibertiReplacement for Warriors is number 21 Timau Utiaro Antonio
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Parramatta would make a comeback to trail 12-24 but the boys from Go Media Stadium surged again to lead 30-12 and then held the Eels out for a 30-20 victory.
It was a performance featuring dazzling skill and tries from the Warriors capped by winger Kairus Booth flawless goal kicking.
The One New Zealand Warriors head back across the Tasman for Saturday's clash at another venue steeped in history – Henson Park, the home of the Newtown Jets (the match kicks off at 11.00am local time).
If the challenge last week promised to be a stern one, then taking on the Bulldogs, the 2023 Harold Matthews champions, is another step up again.
They were unbeaten taking out the minor premiership with seven wins and a draw while the Warriors had a 5-3 record; the two teams didn’t face each other in the regular season.
The Bulldogs haven’t played since March 30 with the competition having a break in the first weekend of April and the top two sides then earning a week off for the opening series of playoffs.
The One New Zealand Warrior have named an unchanged 17 for this week’s grand final or bust contest.
