LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a thrilling Preliminary Final at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon, the North Sydney Bears secured their place in the 2023 NSW Cup Grand Final with a pulsating 28-24 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.
The Bears made their intentions clear early on, with a scintillating try from five-eighth Jesse Marschke, who displayed blistering speed to beat two defenders and score in the corner after just seven minutes.
Continuing their relentless pressure, the Bears extended their lead in the 24th minute when centre Toa Mata'afa showcased immense strength to slice through the Warriors' defence and reach the try line, giving his side a 12-point advantage.
The Bears' dominance continued as Ben Talty barged over from cross range, scoring next to the posts and taking the Bears to a comfortable 18-0 lead at halftime.
However, a solo try from Warriors fullback Setu Tu just three minutes into the second half sparked a comeback for the New Zealand side, narrowing the deficit to 12 points.
Warriors captain Kalani Going further closed the gap when he burrowed over the line from dummy half, bringing his team within a converted try of the Bears.
Despite a late surge from the Warriors, the Bears held on to secure their ticket to the Grand Final.