Hat-trick heroics power Warriors to victory at home
Tysha Ikenasio’s hat-trick in Hamilton inspired the New Zealand Warriors to a hard-fought victory over the Newcastle Knights, winning 22-14 at home.
Kicking off the Indigenous Round in Waikato, Warriors forward Harata Butler led a pre-game ceremony with players from both sides coming together to share a hongi, the traditional Māori greeting.
Tysha Ikenasio was the playmaker of the night. Michael Bradley
Once the match began, Ikenasio wasted no time making her mark.
She struck early, crashing over the try line in both the second and fifth minute to secure a quick double and give the home side the early advantage.
But the visitors refused to back down, surging late in the first half with tries from Simone Karpani and Kirra Dibb. They flipped the momentum and sent the Warriors into the sheds with a narrow deficit to the lead on the scoreboard.
Making it look effortless, the star forward picked up right where she left off in the second half, crashing over for her third try of the afternoon to seal her hat-trick.
Then another try from teammate Stacey Waaka reclaimed the lead for the Warriors and Apii Nicholls scored the final four-pointer in the 61st minute to seal the victory for the home team in Hamilton.
“I touted this as the game of the round, and it definitely lived up to the billing for me,” Ruan Sims said on Nine.
“The Knights were right in it, but I just had a feeling that the Warriors at home in Waikato were going to be really tough to beat. And right from the get-go, when we saw that beautiful ceremony when they walked out, the energy was there, the emotion was there.
“The Warriors started so fast, two tries in the opening minutes. But then that second half, a perfect completion in a second half of football. That goes a really long way. And they were busting tackles left, right, and centre.
“I think there’s really positive signs there for the Warriors.
“They didn’t get it all their way because the Knights were very strong too ... but as we spoke about, there were just too many missed tackles and a lot of their first-up contact was lacking, and that’s what the Warriors took advantage of.”
The Knights head back home to take on the Canberra Raiders next Saturday and the Warriors take on the Wests Tigers next Sunday.
