Matty’s On the Five: Up the Wahs! Warriors impress against Dolphins, Moana Pasifika dominate Waratahs and a Black Ferns scoring frenzy

Manuia le vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Happy Samoan Language Week!

Up the Wahs! A back-to-back win for the Warriors starts this week off in grand fashion, Moana Pasifika dominates Waratahs in their last home game and the Black Ferns cruise past Australia.

1. Warriors win second on the trot!

Mt Smart Stadium was again sold out for an epic encounter between the Dolphins and Warriors, the Wahs stunning the fourth placed Dolphins winning 24 to 20.

Samoan flyer Jamayne Isaako opened the scoring for the Dolphins early in the first half, with a silky backline play putting him over the line. Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth scored the Dolphins second, breaking through the Warriors defence close to the line.

The Warriors hit back soon after, as Marcelo Montoya defused a bomb on the last tackle, offloading to Chanel Harris-Tavita who had an easy passage to score the home sides first.

Farnworth featured in the Dolphins second, making an easy break through the defence and offloading the ball to Samoan flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who sprinted away to score. Te Maire Martin was rewarded with a try, after his clinical ball-play before the end of the first half.

The Warriors kept the pressure on the Dolphins, forcing three-line drop-outs off the back of the halves kicking game. Eventually the Warriors were rewarded, with Dallin Watene Zelezniak crossing the try-line.

Barnstormer Marata Niukore put the Warriors further in front, scoring a try of his own from his strong line running. With 10 to go, Isaako came back to haunt the Warriors, scoring a try in the corner off of a grubber kick. But, the Warriors were able to hold the Dolphins off to secure the win.

Result: Warriors beat Dolphins 24 - 20 at Go Media Stadium.

Highlight moment: Moala Graham-Taufa, fellow central Aucklander and my former teammate making his first-grade debut.

Samoan champion: Chanel Harris-Tavita got the nod to start in the halves, and his ball play and defence didn’t disappoint. He was even rewarded with a meat pie!

2. Moana Pasifika show class against the Waratahs.

In a must-win game to keep their season alive, Moana Pasifika put on a clinical performance against the Waratahs at Go Media Stadium, beating the New South Wales side 27 - 13.

Moana came out of the gates firing, showing their strong attacking ability in the first half. Tries from Tongan stars Kyran Taumoefolau and Fotu Inisi put Moana on the front foot in the first forty. Taumoefolau got the call up to the topside, making his debut and scoring a try, how good!

Inisi’s try was one to add to his highlight reel. Taumoefolau made a break down the right edge, offloading to Patufilo on the inside, and Inisi running a great support line streaked away to score in the corner.

Inisi was rewarded again for his support running, as veteran Julian Savea made a break on the right edge, offloading to Inisi to score his second. WIlliam Havili converted a penalty to put Moana ahead by 22. Veteran Sekope Kepu also picked up a try after hammering at the line, to put them up 27, nil.

Two late tries from the Waratahs weren’t enough for the away side to comeback, and Moana picked up another emphatic home win.

Result: Moana Pasifika beat the Waratahs 27 - 13 at Go Media Stadium.

Highlight moment: Sekope Kepu scoring a try after announcing his retirement from a lengthy career, what a legend!

Samoan champion: Pepesana Patafilo, he’s been clinical in the past few games for Moana, and on Saturday he showed his ability to create magic on attack.

3. Black Ferns produce scoring frenzy against Australia.

The World Champion Black Ferns came back from their shocking loss last week in emphatic fashion, thrashing the Wallaroos 67 to 19 at North Harbour Stadium at the weekend.

The Wallaroos were looking to snap a 25-game losing streak to the Black Ferns, and the intensity showed in the face-off during the pregame haka. Both sides got out to a firing start, the Black Ferns opening the score, but the Wallaroos answering back immediately scoring a runaway try.

Ferns center Sylvia Brunt showed attacking brilliance close to the line, scoring a great try to put the home side in front. Fullback Mererangi Paul scored a quick double to extend the lead 26 - 7 for the Black Ferns, and the Ferns kept on the pressure before the half, edging Australi 45 - 7 at halftime.

Prop Chryss Viliko wasted no time in the second half, scoring her first try for the Black Ferns (a fellow Niuean too, how good!). The scoring frenzy continued in the second half, with the Ferns running away with a 67 - 19 win, retaining the Laurie O’Reilly Cup and finishing the Pacific Four in second place.

Result: Black Ferns beat the Wallaroos 67 to 19 at North Harbour Stadium.

Highlight moment: Chryss Viliko scored her first try for the Black Ferns, as one of our Niuean athletes, that was a beautiful moment to see!

Samoan champion: Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, the Black Ferns flanker was strong for the Ferns pack scoring a try of her own too.

4. Blues stunned in Christchurch.

The Blues winning streak came to an end, snapped by a struggling Crusaders side in Christchurch, going down by a sliver of a margin, 29 to 27 in Christchurch.

A 14-phase barrage against the Crusaders line was finished by a penalty early in the first half, allowing the Blues to hit first. Both sides continued to punch away on both ends of the pitch, and it was Ethan Blackadder who broke open the Blues defence scoring the first try.

The Blues were quick to fight back, finding their way to the Crusaders ten-meter line and powerhouse Ofa Tu’ungafasi powering over to score the Blues first. Tu’ungafasi featured in another try later into the half, awarded for his support line on the left edge.

A quick tap right on half time put the Crusaders over for a try in the right corner by Chay Fihaki scoring in the right corner. In the second half, it was a back and forth between both sides, the Blues scoring first and the Crusaders hitting back. Christian Lio completed a silky cross-field kick to score on the exposed right side.

It looked like the Crusaders of old, who were clinical in their ball play, scoring another try to put them in the lead. Fihaki converted a penalty to put the Crusaders further ahead. Late in the second half, the Blues scored a try in the left corner to put them within arms reach - but a missed conversion kept the home side on top.

Result: Crusaders beat the Blues 29 - 27 at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch.

Highlight moment: A cross field kick to Christian Lio who scored looked like a signature Richie Mo’unga move, how good!

Samoan champion: Christian Lio, a great outing on the edge for the Samoan star.

Christian Lio celebrating his try.

5. State of Origin teams named!

It’s approaching mid year, and that means State of Origin season is underway! State vs State, mate vs mate. A time where us Kiwis and Pacific Islanders weigh in on the pinnacle of rugby league, an age-old Australian rivalry.

Sixteen of the forty players named in both sides hold Pacific heritage, how good is it to see more of our Pacific boys involved in the State of Origin matches!

NSW Blues: Former Kiwis and Wests Tigers coach Michael McGuire named his squad for the Blues as head coach for the first time. Notable inclusions include Dylan Edwards getting the nod at fullback for the first time, previously held by James Tedesco. Also, the edge pairing of Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Jerome Luai returns for the Blues.

QLD Maroons: Billy Slater named a side that looks to be picked off of form, and some of the players included have been having stellar seasons. Lightning fullback Reece Walsh returns to the number 1 jersey, one that has been contested with Kalyn Ponga, who is out for injury. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Valentine Holmes join in the centre pairing which is exciting, and Jayden Su’a gets the call up into the starting side after a strong season so far with the Dragons.

Game one kicks off next Wednesday at Accor Stadium in Sydney!

Matty’s Golden Point

Matty’s Golden Point is a piece of advice shared on 531PI’s Pacific Grandstand show.

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face”.

- Mike Tyson