NZ Warriors v Burleigh Bears - NRL State Championship
Kick-off: 3.20pm Sunday 5 October NZT
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Live updates on RNZ
Believe it or not, the Warriors have won a trophy this season. Last weekend saw the reserve grade side lift the NSW Cup with a 30-12 win over the Dragons, which means the club has another chance to add to the silverware on grand final weekend.
The Warriors will play Queensland Cup champions the Burleigh Bears in the NRL State Championship as part of the day's festivities at Accor Stadium, the match on the bill before the NRLW final and NRL grand final between the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos.
Team lists
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Setu Tu, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Moala Graham-Taufa, 5. Edward Kosi, 6. Luke Hanson, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. Bunty Afoa, 9. Sam Healey, 10. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 11. Kayliss Fatialofa, 12. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 13. Kalani Going
Interchange: 14. Jett Cleary, 15. Jason Salalilo, 16. Tom Ale, 17. Freddy Lussick
Bears: 1. Nicholas O'Meley, 2. Troy Leo, 3. Sami Sauiluma, 4. Kea Pere, 5. Mitch Watson, 6. Josh Rogers, 7. Guy Hamilton, 8. Fletcher Baker, 9. Paul Roache, 10. Matthew Koellner, 11. Adam Christensen, 12. Ewan Moore, 13. Sam Coster
Interchange: 14. Cole Geyer, 15. Lorenzo Mulitalo, 16. Takitau Mapapalangi, 17. Lochlyn Sheldon
How did the Warriors get here?
Luke Hanson celebrates with teammates after scoring. NSW Cup Finals Week 3 - Warriors v Eels. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
One look at the Warriors side reveals a whole lot of familiar names that saw action with the first grade team this season, so it's no surprise they were a force in the NSW Cup. Tanah Boyd has been critical in the halves, while Sam Healey and Taine Tuaupiki complete a really experienced spine.
The Warriors absolutely dominated the NSW Cup regular season, winning 21 games. That was six more than their closest rivals, the Dragons, who they comfortably beat in the final last weekend at CommBank Stadium.
This will be the third time the Warriors' reserve grade side has played on grand final day, having made the old NSWRL reserve grade final in 1996 and NSW Cup final in 2011, losing both.
Why are they so good
The amount of talent the Warriors have been able to stockpile in recent years, especially in the halves, has meant that the reserve grade side has benefitted immensely. As well as Hanson and Boyd, Jett Cleary sits on the interchange and is being seen as a potential first grade star like his brother Nathan at the Panthers.
Is this the future of the first grade side?
Jett Cleary dives over for a try. The Knock On Effect NSW Cup Rugby League. One New Zealand Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Sort of. There are a few players heading in the other direction like Bunty Afoa, Ed Kosi and Tom Ale who are off contract at the end of this season, plus a few for whom this is the highest grade they'll likely play.
But it is hoped that players like Cleary, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Ali Leiataua can bring some experience of winning when they are gradually made part of the first grade side in the future.
There's a few familiar names in that Bears team
Nicholas O'Meley is the son of former NSW and Kangaroo prop Mark, Cole Geyer is the son of Storm premiership winner Matt and nephew of Panthers and Blues enforcer Mark, while Lorenzo Mulitalo is the brother of Sharks and Kiwis wing Ronaldo. Also on the Warriors team, Healey is son of Sharks veteran Mitch.
How many trophies will this be for the Warriors?
Junior Warriors arrive home with the Toyota Cup trophy and the Club Championship trophy in 2010. Photo: PHOTOSPORT www.photosport.co.nz
While the first grade side has infamously never troubled the engravers in their 31-season history, the Warriors have won three under-20 premierships in 2010, 2011 and 2014. The under-17 Harold Matthews Cup side has won their grade this year and last year. Last weekend's NSW Cup win was the first for the club in senior competition, so the pathway system is looking very successful right now.
Does this mean the Warriors are representing New South Wales?
The Warriors celebrate after beating St George. NSW Cup Grand Final. Photo: David Neilson
Technically yes, although there won't be any annexation ordered if they win. The Warriors aren't actually the first non-Australian team to play in the state championship anyway, with the QLD Cup winning PNG Hunters making the final in 2017, where they lost to the Penrith Panthers.
This is the third time the Burleigh Bears have made the state championship; they will be looking to make up for their heartbreaking loss to the Newtown Jets in 2019.
What's going to happen
It's pretty hard to say given that not only have these teams not played each other this season, they haven't even played their respective opponents either. However, a quick look at the Bears' lineup shows a real dearth of experience at first grade, with their most experienced ironically being former Warriors hooker Paul Roache.
So you'd think the Warriors will be favourites for this one, especially given the points a few of them will wanting to be proving to the club - both for the future and ones who will be playing their last game in Warriors colours.
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