Chanel Harris-Tavita in possession. South Sydney Rabbitohs v One NZ Warriors. NRL Rugby League, Accor Stadium, NSW, Australia, Sunday 1st June 2025 Photo: www.photosport.nz / David Neilson
Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had a try double and NZ Warriors survived yet another nailbiting finish to dispatch South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-30 at Sydney's Accor Stadium.
Trailling 12-4 late in the first half, the visitors put their noses in front on the break, with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scoring a try on the siren, and then had three tries in quick succession after the restart to open up an 18-point margin.
Souths came storming back, inspired by superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell and prolific tryscorer Alex Johnston, who galloped the length of the field for an intercept try in the first half.
Down 30-12, Mitchell found his winger with a long pass that put him over in the corner for a second try and then repeated the dose, as Johnson secured a hattrick to bring up 200 career tries in the NRL - only the second player to achieve that milestone.
Tuivasa-Sheck seemed to put the Warriors beyond reach with his second try, but Mitchell wasn't done, scoring one himself and converting to bring his team within striking distance in the dying moments.
As they had done so many times this season, the Warriors staved off their rivals until the final siren, bringing their record to 9-3 for the season and rising to second on the competition table behind Canterbury Bulldogs.
Canberra Raiders can pass them with victory over Sydney Roosters later on Sunday.
The Warriors face another trip across the Tasman to take on Cronulla Sharks next Saturday.
See how all the action went down, with RNZ's live blog:
Squad lists
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Isaiah Tass, 4. Campbell Graham, 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, 6. Jayden Sullivan, 7. Jamie Humphreys, 8. Jai Arrow, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. Euan Aitken, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Lachlan Hubner
Interchange: 14. Jye Gray, 15. Sean Keppie, 16. Davvy Moale, 17. Tevita Tatola
Reserves: 18. Liam Le Blanc, 19. Fletcher Myers, 20. Shaquai Mitchell, 21. Lewis Dodd
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Rocco Berry, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Tohu Harris
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Leka Halasima, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jackson Ford
Reserves: 18. Jacob Laban, 19. Samuel Healey, 20. Tanah Boyd, 21. Tanner Stowers-Smith
