Wāhine Toa and Lions triumph, thanks to individual brilliance

The theme of last weekend's sporting action was individual brilliance from start to finish. Let’s begin with our Wāhine Toa.

In a thrilling 34-6 match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Saturday in Sydney, the women’s Wahs secured their first-ever back-to-back win.

The stellar individual performances contributed significantly to this united front shining brightly.

Now, picture this: You’re chasing down a kick that has landed about 30 metres from your own try line. In dewy conditions, you manage to sneak in behind your opponent and ground the ball just as it hugs the line - right on time.

That’s exactly what Warriors centre Tysha Ikenasio pulled off, delivering what could be a strong contender for NRLW Try of the Year.

Following through on a kick from her team-mate and halfback Abby Curtain, Ikenasio executed a remarkable play, scoring by the narrowest of margins, leaving Bulldogs centre Elizabeth MacGregor and fans alike stunned.

Witnessing the magic of individual players was just the tip of the iceberg for head coach Ron Griffiths, as moments of brilliance surged throughout the match.

Rugby union convert Patricia Maliepo delivered an exceptional performance, racking up 18 unanswered points - eight of which came from two outstanding tries.

However, it was Maliepo’s boot that truly set her apart. She converted several challenging kicks, contributing 10 points, making it hard to believe this is her rookie season.

Women's Warrior Patricia Maliepo kicking a field goal. Photo/James Gourley/Photosport

The fruits of Griffiths’ labour are beginning to show, with the connections between his players growing stronger with every outing. On Saturday night, this chemistry was on full display as the women played purposefully.

They now return home before heading to the mighty Waikato, where they’ll face the 12th-placed Canberra Raiders at FMG Stadium on Saturday, 17 August. Kick-off is at 7.15pm.

NRL: Bulldogs vs Warriors

If you looked up “Man in the Arena”, it should come with a photo of Stephen Crichton because he embodies exactly what that means.

In a dominant 32-14 win over a depleted men's Warriors side, Crichton lit up a rain-soaked Saturday night, unfazed by the conditions as he stood tall for his men in blue.

Backing up the Bulldogs’ strong kicking game, Crichton executed a slick double show-and-go in the 50th minute, only adding to the Warriors’ defensive woes.

Supporting their kicking performance was a monster 40/20 from Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton, just one of many moments in a clinical, all-round performance from the Sydney side.

Warriors head coach Andrew Webster commended the Bulldogs for executing a great game plan that denied his side a chance to break their losing streak.

“The dogs suffocated us with great tactics; they kicked early and got a lot of repeat sets, and we just didn’t adjust well enough to that,” Webster told reporters.

Although they lost half Te Maire Martin earlier on due to a failed head injury assessment (HIA), the Wahs simply could not string together a cohesive performance, and 44 missed tackles didn’t help their case either.

With the rise of the four time premiers Penrith Panthers now sitting in fourth place, Webby and his men must address areas of concern. Otherwise, their home game against the St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday at Go Media Stadium will be a tough task.

One NZ Warriors captain James Fisher-Harris is tackled by the Bulldogs defence. Photo/James Gourley/Photosport.

NPC: Wellington vs Waikato

Round two of the National Provincial Championship saw the Wellington Lions hand a 35-24 loss to Waikato on their home turf.

Although the men from the Tron were unable to secure the win, fans were still entertained by a few young talents.

Waikato winger Oli Mathis displayed all class in one the most entertaining moments of the match.

“Never mind kicking it, trying to get out of their own half. Just give to Oli Mathis” commentators shared as the 20-year-old beat defenders, sprinted 75 metres, and offloaded to team-mate Tepaea Cook-Savage.

After being tackled just short of the line, veteran Aaron Cruden scored, rewarding the efforts of his team-mates.

Despite a 21-5 halftime lead, Waikato managed to close the gap to four points in the second half. But the Lions held their composure and asserted their dominance for the rest of the match.

Lions winger and 2025 Hurricanes debutant Tjay Clarke showed Mathis that he could match his speed.

During a counterattack, Clarke turned Waikato centre Bailyn Sullivan inside out, mirroring Mathis’ pace and winning the footrace to extend his team’s lead to nine.

Wellington secured their first two points of the season and will next play Otago at Porirua Park, with kick-off scheduled for 2.05pm. Meanwhile, Waikato will round out the third round when they host Counties Manukau on Sunday at 4.35pm.