LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
NSW Cup Match Report: Record Holders
In a thrilling encounter at North Harbour Stadium, Winger Sio Kali's remarkable second-half hat-trick led the NZ Warriors to a 32-18 victory over the North Sydney Bears.
This match marked a significant milestone as the Warriors secured outright ownership of the club's record for the most consecutive wins, achieving their 13th straight victory.
This feat surpassed the previous record of 12 consecutive wins held by the Auckland Warriors' reserve grade team, which reached the grand final in 1996.
With this win, the Warriors have accumulated a total of 38 points on the ladder, boasting 17 victories against just one loss.
They currently hold a seven-point lead over their closest competitor, St George Illawarra.
While the victory was ultimately convincing, the match had its tense moments.
The Bears, positioned seventh, narrowed the gap to just six points at 12-18 shortly after halftime.
With 13 minutes remaining, they were only 10 points behind at 18-28, despite the Warriors being down to 12 players following the sin-binning of prop Jason Salalilo for the last nine minutes.
Key players contributed to the Warriors' success, with Ali Leiataua, shifted to the halves due to an injury to Hanson, playing a pivotal role in breaking through North Sydney's defense.
He created an opening for second-rower Kayliss Fatialofa, who scored his 11th try of the season, followed by a strong close-range effort from interchange prop Toby Crosby.