NZ Warriors win New South Wales Cup
- Dave Worsley
- Sep 29, 2025
- 3 min read
For the first time in their history the New Zealand Warriors have claimed a senior premiership after beating the Dragons 30-12 New South Wales Cup grand final in Sydney.
The landmark victory followed defeats in reserve grade title deciders in 1996, 1997 and 2011 plus the club's NRL grand final losses to the Roosters in 2002 and the Sea Eagles in 2011.
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The Warriors reserves also became the first non-New South Wales club to take the title.
The five previous titles came in the NYC under-20 competition in 2010, 2011 and 2014 and the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) championship in 2024 and 2025.
It's also the first time the Warriors have claimed two titles in the same season.
The success iced a New South Wales Cup campaign in which the Warriors finished with an exceptional record of 23 wins, a draw and just three losses.
They now have the chance to secure a second piece of silverware in a week when they return to Sydney to face Queensland Cup premiership winners the Burleigh Bears in the NRL State Championship at Accor Stadium next Sunday.
Today's triumph was founded on a classy performance from halfback Tanah Boyd, named the man of the match.
The contest ultimately swung on Dragons halfback Lachlan Ilias being sin binned for a professional foul in the 48th minute when he tackled Freddy Lussick without the ball.
It sparked a 14-point surge which took the One New Zealand Warriors out to a match-winning 30-12 lead.
They had conceded a try in the opening minutes of the second half to have their 16-6 halftime lead trimmed to just four points.
Minutes later Ilias was off the field, the Warriors taking the two points on offer to go eight points in front.
With the Dragons down to 12, they then worked the ball right for winger Setu Tu to score his second try in the 52nd minute.
Boyd's splendid sideline conversion put his side ahead 24-12 and then, just as Ilias returned to the field, Boyd slid through a grubber for second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava to score, the conversion taking the Warriors 18 points clear.
Earlier they crossed first in the 11th minute through a Moala Graham-Taufa try from dummy half before conceding the lead when the Dragons responded four minutes later through centre Hayden Buchanan.
The battle then settled into a typical arm wrestle, the Warriors producing some terrific defence on their line to repel the Dragons.
Staying patient and sticking to their game plan, they found joy in the 31st minute, Boyd pumping up a bomb with Tu climbing superbly to snatch the ball and run around closer to the posts to score. Boyd converted to put the Warriors back ahead.
From the set after the restart, the Warriors struck going down a short side, Boyd put Ieremia-Toeava through a hole. He drew the defence to feed hooker Sam Healey inside for a long range try.
Boyd was successful with the straightforward conversion to open up a 10-point advantage at the break.
The result ensures the farewell goes on another week for departing players Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Edward Kosi and Graham-Taufa.
