BY VIV

This week, while the NRLM team has a bye in their march to September, the girls have a road trip to New Zealand to take on the Warriors. 

The Warriors were one of the foundation NRLW clubs but went on hiatus in 2021 after COVID before returning in 2025. The Warriors’ approach to recruitment has been to lure Apii Nicholls home, a large part of the Raiders’ 2025 woes. Other Kiwi Ferns in the NRLW who took the opportunity to jump across the ditch were Laishon Albert-Jones, Harata Butler, Capri Paeku, Emmanita Paki, and Matekino Gray. Beyond that, their approach has been to mine the depths of the New Zealand rugby union, which brought them Michaela Brake (nee Blythe), Shakira Baker, Tysha Ikenasio, and Patricia Maliepo. The Warriors’ forward pack is made up of local players and QCup finds. For their efforts, they sit 3-3, a team that is starting to find its groove after a slow start.

The Warriors ran over the Bulldogs with a 34-6 win in a rainy game that saw the Bulldogs play with 12 due to the number of injuries in their squad. This week, the Warriors see big squad movements due to injuries. Michaela Brake continues to be unavailable for personal reasons. Joining her are Apii Nicholls (Pec), Patricia Maliepo (calf), and Emily Curtain (knee). Shakira Baker returns from injury and takes Maliepo’s place in the 6 jersey. Lydia Turua-Quedley moves from hooker to half, and Capri Paeku moves to hooker from the bench. Two fresher faces fill out the Warriors bench.

With Madi Bartlett out for the season with a fractured collarbone, Darrin Borthwick moves Mackenzie Wiki to the wing and Chey Robins-Reti returns to the centres. Relna Wuruki-Hosea keeps her wing spot. Amelia Pasikala adds some size to the bench.  All known properties to the Raiders who should be used to playing alongside each other by now.

The Raiders will be buoyed by the improvements shown in their 44-28 point loss to the Broncos last week. There was a 20-minute period where the Raiders put on 3 tries. This began just before halftime and got us within one score of the Broncos before they ran away with the lead again. This is an improvement, and the Raiders need to harness that attacking energy for the full game.  

Not to sound like a broken record, but the girls need to hold onto the ball. The most frustrating thing about last week was watching game-changing moments like Jordyn Preston stripping the ball off Ali Brigginshaw only to watch her teammates make an error on the next tackle.

So how can the Raiders win? Our forwards have more experience than the Warriors. They will need to be physical and make their tackles. Zahara Temara should be looking at this Warriors lineup and making a list of fresh targets for her kicks to gain field position and points. For Wiki, Robins-Reti, Kere Matua, Pasikala, and Leianne Tufuga, the opportunity to play back home will be a massive occasion, and they will want to lift. Our edge defence will need to be rock solid to contain their backs, but with the Warriors missing all of their key spine players, there should be more opportunities for the Raiders if they can keep a cool head and execute.

The next three weeks see us play the newly depleted Wahs, a severely depleted Bulldogs, and a winless Wests Tigers; if we are going to have some joy this season, now is the time.

Raiders by 2!

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