Griffiths’ gamble pays off as Warriors women stun Newcastle Knights

A positional gamble from Warriors women's head coach Ron Griffiths paid off in a big way with Stacey Waaka and Tysha Ikenasio starring in their 22-14 win over the Newcastle Knights at the weekend.

Griffiths moved Black Ferns Sevens star Waaka into centre and shifted Ikenasio to the wing at FMG Stadium Waikaton on Saturday night.

The switch clicked almost straight away.

Waaka finished with a team-high 165 run metres, a try, three try assists and nine tackle breaks.

Ikenasio scored a hat-trick to help the Warriors’ wāhine to their fifth win of the season.

Ikenasio's performance was even more impressive given she had admitted to having doubts after initially being left out of the weekend’s team list.

Stacey Waaka scoring a try. Photo/DJ Mills/Photosport

Griffiths backed her to respond and the 28-year-old delivered.

“If you look attitude up in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of her [Ikenasio],” Griffiths said in a post-match press conference.

“Even though we got beat last week and there were some moments she didn’t nail, you give her the benefit of the doubt, find her strength, talk to her about that… and that's what she comes up with tonight, a really great performance.”

Ikenasio scored the Warriors’ opening try before adding two more while Waaka and captain Apii Nicholls also crossed.

The win carried exta meaning during the Indigenous Round, with the Warriors women led onto the field by prop Harata Butler.

Nicholls said the moment was a powerful celebration of culture and identity.

“It was very inspiring,” Nicholls told journalists. “Especially from Harata and all our indigenous players, to celebrate their people, not only people here in New Zealand but also Australia. It was just a really proud moment.”

The victory lifts the Warriors women back into the top four after five rounds.

They will travel to Sydney to face the Wests Tigers on Sunday, 16 August.

Metcalf makes his case

The Warriors men also produced a statement win, defeating the Penrith Panthers 28-12 for the first time since 2019.

At Go Media Stadium in Auckland, Luke Metcalf made the most of his after Te Maire Martin's hamstring injury opened the door at halfback.

Metcalf had been waiting behind Tanah Boyd and Martin for his chance but wasted little time showing what he could bring.

He finished with four conversions , a try, four tackle breaks and a try assist, topping the fantasy points for the match.

With the No. 7 jersey now up for grabs, head coach Andrew Webster was not getting drawn into the debate.

Asked what Metcalf’s performance meant for the race to start at halfback, Webster said he had “no opinion” on the decision.

Luke Metcalf helped the Warriors men beat the Penrith Panthers 28-12 at Go Media Stadium. Photo/Photosport/Blake Armstrong

“I thought he was good, I want to celebrate Luke, he deserves the praise,” Webster told journalists.

The win keeps the Warriors in third place on the NRL ladder.

They head to Brisbane next to face the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 15 August.

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