Warriors win U-20s grand final

The Warriors repelled a dramatic Brisbane fightback to win the Holden Cup under-20s rugby league grand final 34-32 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

On the back of three first-half tries to Solomone Kata, the Warriors raced to a 34-6 lead after 53 minutes before the Broncos scored 26 unanswered points in draining Sydney heat.

Jayden Nikorima scored for the Broncos with two minutes to go but pushed the conversion wide to give the Warriors – who scored two tries in two minutes last weekend against Parramatta to qualify for the decider – the win.

The Warriors only scraped into the finals thanks to a sideline conversion from Mason Lino against Penrith in round 26.

Kata opened the scoring in the ninth minute after an earlier Warriors try was disallowed for a knock-on.

After the on-field referees ruled against the try, video referees Ashley Klein and Luke Patten awarded the touchdown, despite Kata appearing to strip the ball from Broncos playmaker Duncan Paia’aua in a two-man tackle before racing away untouched.

Kata then scooped up a Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard kick in the 12th minute to stretch the lead to 10-0.

Warriors hooker Kurt Robinson was knocked out in a 18th minute tackle and momentum then swung Brisbane’s way.

Back-up Broncos hooker Jayden Nikorima ducked out of dummy half to break the Warriors line and dished off to Alex Barr to score under the posts. Halfback Ashley Taylor’s conversion closed the gap to 10-6.

Kata then made it a triple when he ran onto a lovely pass from halfback and captain Lino in the 34th minute.

The Warriors then surged further ahead when Nathaniel Roache broke the Brisbane line and passed off to Tuimoala Lolohea who scored a converted try and the Kiwis went to the break leading 22-6.

The game was then almost put to bed just three minutes after halftime when the Warriors created numbers on their left-side and Ken Maumalo crashed over.

Lino again converted for the Warriors to lead 28-6.

It was then that the Brisbane fightback begun.

They scored two tries through winger Paul Byrnes in four minutes to drag the score back to 34-18 with 20 minutes to play.

Kodi Nikorima then dashed over for a great solo try four minutes later and the Warriors lead had been reduced to 10 points before left winger Jack Tuttle crossed 10 minutes from fulltime.

Jayden Nikorima crossed with two minutes to go but pushed the gettable conversion wide.

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