Adam Pompey in possession. Photo: David Neilson / Photosport
A runaway try from forward Leka Halasima and a late penalty from halfback Luke Metcalf have carried NZ Warriors to their third straight win of the 2025 NRL season - 26-24 over Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.
The Tigers - competition wooden-spooners for the past three seasons - showed they were a very different proposition under Kiwi legend Benji Marshall and seemed on track for their third victory in four games, when they scored back-to-back tries in quick succession for a 24-18 lead midway through the second half.
Both teams had tries disallowed over the final half hour, but the Warriors were struggling to stay in the contest on a ground where they had enjoyed little previous success.
With 10 minutes remaining, Halasima received the ball on the right sideline and sprinted from deep inside his own half, evading a despairing tackle and bumping off the last defender in his path to score.
In his excitement, he could have run closer to the posts, but luckily Metcalf had his kicking boots on and converted the try to level the scores.
From the restart, the Warriors made good metres and earned a penalty, when fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was hit in a high shoulder charge 40 metres out from the posts.
Again, Metcalf made no mistake into a stiff wind and the visitors were able to withstand pressure over the final moments to secure the win.
"We did everything we could to make it uncomfortable," reflected co-captain Mitch Barnett. "We came over the top again, we're just showing grit at the moment and I'm very proud of the effort."
The result elevates the Warriors into sixth on the competition table with a 3-1 record, as they head into a bye week. Their next outing will see them visit Melbourne Storm on Sunday 13 April.
See how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
Team lists
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Adam Doueihi, 4. Starford To'a, 5. Jeral Skelton, 6. Lachlan Galvin, 7. Jarome Luai, 8. Terrell May, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Alex Seyfarth, 13. Alex Twal
Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva, 15. Royce Hunt, 16. Jack Bird, 17. Sione Fainu
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Taine Tuaupiki, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Adam Pompey, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima
