The best moment of an action-packed weekend of rugby league was saved for last, when the Warriors pulled off a miracle in Newcastle on the final play of Round 20.
Young back rower Leka Halasima has made plenty of fans in what has been a sensational rookie season, but he put his name up in brighter lights after his stunning 40 metre try downed the Knights and saved the Warriors’ bacon.
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Trailing 15-14 with time expiring, Warriors half Tanah Boyd attempting a two-point field goal but the Knights charged it down. At that moment, it appeared all hope was lost and the Knights would recover the ball to end the game, but Halasima had other ideas.
The 19-year-old future star had the presence of mind to reach back and grab the bouncing ball before showing off an impressive turn of speed to sprint 40 metres and beat several tackles to score the matchwinning try.
The improbability factor Halasima would score was through the roof when he picked the ball up. Simply put, it was a play the majority of NRL players could only dream to pull off.
“We’ve come up with a freakish play by a young guy who has heaps of talent and that’s what he’s got in his tool kit,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster said post-game.
Helasima burst onto the scene last season, impressing in four games at the back end of 2024.
The teen sensation is technically in his rookie season this year, eligible for the Rookie of the Year award given he entered the season with less than five NRL games under his belt.
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While Roosters gun Rob Toia is the red-hot favourite to collect the award, Helasima is a live chance.
The Warriors have won their last two with Halasima in the starting line up. In those two games, he’s run for over 180 metres, scored two tries, made 61 tackles and recorded nine tackle busts.
The last-gasp try will be what fans remember out of the game, but Webster was keen to praise other aspects of the young gun’s game.
Webster pointed out one moment in particular when Halasima came up with a try saving tackle on Newcastle’s Fletcher Hunt in the first half.
The Knights had the Warriors shot to pieces in that play, but Halasima made a desperate tackle to stop Hunt in his tracks just before the try line.
It was a growth moment in Webster’s eyes, who admitted Halasima has had to work hard over the past 12 months to improving his defence
“He’s his own toughest critic with his defence. He works really hard at it but he’s got a long way to go with it,” the Warriors coach said.
“We all know how brilliant he can be but I thought that was a really inspirational passage of play when Taine Tuaupiki turned around twice off a Knights line break and found a way to make a tackle, then they shifted it and Leka made a huge stop on his line.
“We all celebrate the one at the end but he’s got some other brilliant stuff in him.
“The sky’s the limit for him. I think for a very exciting player like that, they’ve just got to stay grounded and not get ahead of themselves.
“I haven’t seen signs of that from him yet.”
