NSW Cup & Jersey Flegg: Round Two Wrap

Canberra’s NSW cup side have concluded their two game away stretch to begin the season, going down to the Warriors 44-12 at Go Media Stadium, Auckland.

The game started off with both teams conceding early errors whilst in possession, before back-to-back set restarts saw Warriors winger, Alofiana Khan-Pereira open the scoring.

Shortly after the restart, Canberra fullback Ethan Alaia was unable to clean up the ball off the back of infield kick, allowing Warrior’s centre Caelys-Paul Putoko to score the second try of the match.

Errors made by the Raiders continued to gift the Warriors possession, with the home team running in a further two tries to take a 24-0 lead into half time.

Putoko picked up his second try for the game immediately after the break, with an error off the kick off gifting the Warriors a scrum 10 metres out from the Raiders line.

In the 44th minute the Raiders finally broke the Warriors defences, with Owen Pattie taking a swift dart from the base of the ruck to open proceedings from the visiting team.

The momentum swing was short lived however, after edge forward Jordan Uta was placed on report and sent to the sinbin following a dangerous tackle.

The Warriors continued to capitalise, scoring a further 14 points through doubles to Khan-Pereira and Haizyn Mellars.

Despite the lack of attacking possession, it was Canberra that had the final say on the scoreboard, with Shaun Packer setting up Jack Clydsdale for his first try of the 2026 campaign in the dying minutes of the match.

Jersey Flegg Cup

The Raiders Jersey Flegg Cup team conceded their first loss of the season on Saturday, falling to the New Zealand Warriors 48-28 at Aubrey Keech Reserve in Sydney.

The Raiders got off to hot start, opening the scoring in the ninth minute through front rower Jayze Tuigamala.

Both teams struggled with ball security in the following phases of the match, before a set restart saw the Warriors strike back in the 18th minute through Bishop Neal.

The Raiders benefited from a set restart of their own moments later, regaining the lead through captain Braydan Darmody, who successfully converted his own try to lead 12-6.

After levelling the match in the 32nd minute following a try to Harry Tauafiafi-lutoi, the Warriors scored two quick tries in the final 5 minutes of the half, taking a 22-12 lead into the sheds.

Following the restart, New Zealand scored a further two tries to extend their lead, before hooker Mitchell Brophy clawed Canberra back into the game with a try in the 50th minute.

A handling error and dangerous tackle stunted the Raiders comeback hopes, with the Warriors striking back minutes later, before adding a further two unanswered tries.

The Raiders centre pairing of Cooper Johnston and Mark Tuialii ensured the visitors finished the match on a positive note, both picking up tries to close the full-time deficit to 48-28.