Ivana Lauitiiti powers through North Queensland Cowboys defence. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
Inspired by club royalty, NZ Warriors have secured the second win of their NRLW rebirth, accounting for North Queensland Cowboys 12-6 at 'Magic Round' in Newcastle.
Teenage forward Ivana Lauitiiti marked her debut with a first-half try and gamewinning tackle, as both teams struggled to overcome tricky conditions.
After a long trek to the NSW town, the Warriors had to adjust to a late line-up change, with sevens convert Michaela Brake ruled out for personal reasons, replaced by teenage debutant Tyra Wetere.
Playing with a big wind at their backs, they had an immediate opportunity to score, when their kickoff was allowed to roll dead, but they could not take advantage.
North Queensland struck first, when the Warriors could not handle a kick on their goal-line and former Black Fern Rosie Kelly fell on the loose ball.
Wetere seemed to answer for the Warriors, when halfback Emily Curtain kicked into the goal area and her winger chased it down, but replays detected a slight knock-on in the process.
As heavy rain fell, they went close again, when five-eighth Patricia Maliepo kicked for Wetere's corner and the Cowboys defenders needed two attempts to deflect the ball dead.
Moments later, centre Tysha Ikenasio was held up over the line, but from the next play, another teenage debutant - Ivana Lauitiiti, daughter of club legend Ali Lauitiiti - could not be denied, as she powered over.
With halftime looming, Maliepo earned a prime attacking opportunity with a 40-30 kick and then slotted an easy penalty, when the Cowboys defence refused to let Lauitiiti play the ball in front of the posts.
Leading 8-6 at the break, they had an early opportunity to build on their lead after the restart, when Curtain was tackled while kicking the ball, but with conditions becoming increasingly slippery, they could not capitalise.
They finally broke through off a powerful run from prop Metanoia Fotu-Moala and quick hands put winger Payton Takimoana over in the corner for the winning points.
The Warriors suffered a huge blow, when captain and fullback Apii Nicholls broke from deep inside her own half, but was tackled heavily and had to leave the field for a head check with 10 minutes remaining. She subsequently passed her HIA, but could not return to help her team.
North Queensland had one last attempt to force extra time, when Takimoana spilled the ball in her own half with seconds remaining, but Lauitiita produced a big tackle that forced a knock-on and the Warriors held on for victory.
Read how the game unfolded here:
