General 2014 NYC Holden Cup Finals

[mt.wellington]

Thought Id creat a thread for the finals week itself as theres no guarantees that the Warriors will make it all the way so one will have to be created anyway…

NYC FINALS | Roosters on menu
Richard Becht
Mon 8th September, 05:42PM

Co-captain Mason Lino provided the clutch conversion to take the Vodafone Junior Warriors into the NYC finals yet again. Image | www.photosport.co.nz

The Vodafone Junior Warriors begin their record seventh consecutive NYC finals campaign against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).

The Stacey Jones-coached side edged into eighth place after halfback Mason Lino calmly kicked a side-line conversion for a last-gasp 18-18 draw with Penrith last night.

It meant both teams finished on 29 points but the Vodafone Junior Warriors claimed the last finals berth with a superior points for and against differential. No other club has featured in the NYC finals every season since the competition's inception in 2008.

The fifth-placed Roosters ended their regular season campaign on 35 points.

In the only regular season encounter between the two sides, the Roosters stole a late 20-18 win over the Vodafone Junior Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium last month.

Saturday night’s elimination final between the two clubs is one of two NYC play-offs scheduled for Allianz Stadium ahead of the NRL qualifying final between the minor premiers the Sydney Roosters and Penrith (5.50pm local time; 7.50pm NZT).

The schedule for week one of the 2014 NRL and NYC finals series is:

FRIDAY

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

NYC:
(2) Brisbane Broncos v (3) Parramatta Eels (subject to stadium confirmation), 3.15pm
(6) Wests Tigers v (7) South Sydney Rabbitohs, 5.15pm


SATURDAY

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

NYC:
(1) Newcastle Knights v (4) St George Illawarra Dragons (subject to stadium confirmation), 1.00pm
(5) Sydney Roosters v (8) Vodafone Warriors, 3.00pm

https://www.warriors.co.nz/news/2014/09/08/nyc_finals_roosters_on_menu.html

 

[goku]

Im suprised they didnt thrash the panthers with tui and kata and hukatai playing.
Oh well, lets go jr warriors

 

[mt.wellington]

Im suprised they didnt thrash the panthers with tui and kata and hukatai playing.
Oh well, lets go jr warriors

Likewise. Pretty impressive lineup. Maybe the influx of Reserve Grade players didn't have them gelling so well. Hopefully they can work on their combinations this week…

 

[mt.wellington]

NYC FINALS | Experience on hand
Richard Becht
Wed 10th September, 03:02PM

Tuimoala Lolohea lines up for the Vodafone Junior Warriors for just the third time this season in Saturday's play-off against the Sydney Roosters. Image | www.photosport.co.nz

Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Stacey Jones has again been able to call on several of his most-experienced players for Saturday’s NYC elimination play-off against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).

Throughout the 2014 campaign a number of NYC-eligible players have spent time playing in the New South Wales Cup while David Fusitua and Tuimoala Lolohea have also made their NRL debuts as the club seeks to develop its players of the future.

Lolohea had appeared in just one NYC regular season match before returning for the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ top eight-clinching clash against Penrith last Sunday.

As well as his three NRL appearances this year, Lolohea has turned out for the New South Wales Cup side 14 times. A try-scorer in last weekend’s 18-18 draw with the Panthers, Lolohea again teams up with co-captain Mason Lino in the halves this week.

Solomone Kata is in the centres for only the sixth time this season after being used at NSW Cup level in 13 games.

Starting on the wing in just his sixth NYC match this year is Ngataua Hukatai who last week became the 11th member of the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 50-game club. Having featured in NSW Cup football nine times this year, Hukatai marked his milestone game with his side’s vital last-gasp try which Lino converted brilliantly from wide out.

Others with NSW Cup experience in this week's line-up are Lino, co-captain Sam Lisone, centre Ken Maumalo and winger Metia Lisati.

Fullback Brad Abbey, the team’s top try-scorer with 14 so far, will extend his record of being the only player to appear in each of the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 24 matches so far this season. He was again prominent against the Roosters, making 156 metres from 13 runs including six tackle breaks.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors’ back five all made notable contributions with Hukatai gaining 160 metres from 14 runs, Maumalo 148 from 12, Kata 116 from 15 and Lisati 83 from 12 while Lolohea made 99 metres.

Up front Lisone carried the ball 16 times for 152 metres and interchange front rower Toafofoa Sipley made 157 metres from 13 runs.

In a tough defensive contest loose forward Jazz Tevaga made 48 tackles and second rower Adam Tuimavave-Gerrrard 43.

With another three goals against Penrith, Lino lifted his season’s tally to 172 points from 10 tries and 66 goals; he also brought up his 200th NYC goal to take his career total to 463 points.

The effects of injuries and developing players has resulted in Jones using 39 players in 24 NYC matches this year, 20 of them making their NYC debuts.



VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Allianz Stadium, Sydney

3.00pm, Sunday, September 13

Referees: Jon Stone and Lawrence McDonnell


VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS

1 BRAD ABBEY

2 NGATAUA HUKATAI

3 KEN MAUMALO

4 SOLOMONE KATA

5 METIA LISATI

6 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA

7 MASON LINO (c)

8 SAM LISONE (c)

9 KURT ROBINSON

10 KOUMA SAMSON

11 MARATA NIUKORE

12 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD

13 JAZZ TEVAGA

Interchange:

14 OFAHIKI OGDEN

15 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY

16 NATHANIEL ROACHE

17 IULIO AFOA

18 JAMES BELL

COACH: STACEY JONES

https://www.warriors.co.nz/news/2014/09/10/nyc_finals_experience_on_call.html

 

[Jordan G]

Damn, that back line has some points in it. Just need the forwards to do their job first.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

You'd think.that with Chad in eligible for the NSWarriors (has this been confirmed?) that Lolohea would be playing for them rather than the U20's... Or is the club putting all it's eggs in the U20's basket this finals series??

 

[Rick O'Shay]

You'd think.that with Chad in eligible for the NSWarriors (has this been confirmed?) that Lolohea would be playing for them rather than the U20's... Or is the club putting all it's eggs in the U20's basket this finals series??

Seems that way. Maybe they figure they have a better chance of a championship with the NYC team. Pretty powerful lineup though.

 

[mt.wellington]

You'd think.that with Chad in eligible for the NSWarriors (has this been confirmed?) that Lolohea would be playing for them rather than the U20's... Or is the club putting all it's eggs in the U20's basket this finals series??

Maybe pound for pound we have a better chance of going further with the U20 team...

 

[KPWarrior]

Warriors 16-6 after 20 mins, try's to Lisone/Lesornay/Lasoreknee, Kata and Afoa, 2 converted by Leenaw.

 

[KPWarrior]

22-6

 

[KPWarrior]

28-10 good try from Low Low Here, converted by Leenor.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Standard junior warriors... Hot on attack and absolutely horrific in defence!!

 

[motu1]

Standard junior warriors... Hot on attack and absolutely horrific in defence!!

the whole comp can't defend

 

[Wellington Warrior]

28-14 at halftime. Concerning thing for the warriors is that they have had most of the possession and territory but the Roosters seem to walk straight through us whenever they get down our end of the field!!

Lolohea (low low here) been limping most of the first half and didn't even attempt to stop someone running past him. Lucky Abbey was there in cover!. Their first try came from a basic miss from Lisone (la saw nay)
Abbey has been outstanding!!

 

[KPWarrior]

The plan to have all 3 grades playing the same style is obviously working well tho.

 

[Fazz]

These commentators are pretty horrific ...

 

[Fazz]

That was some special defence. The game is won and epic desperation from Lisone and co.

 

[KPWarrior]

That was some special defence. The game is won and epic desperation from Lisone and co.

Yup, first grade team is capable of it too, it's just a pity we have to be 20-30 points in front before it shows.

 

[Tyrael]

What was the final score?

 

[KPWarrior]

What was the final score?

44-30