Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Netball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
‘There were so many positives’: Wins come with losses according to Wahine Warriors coach
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • July 11th, 2025 2:14 pm
Patricia Maliepo and Tasha Ikenasio | Photo: Photosport
The Wahine Warriors lost their first game to the defending champs last weekend, however coach Ronald Griffiths only sees positives in his newly formed team.
Speaking on Sport Nation's Six Again Podcast, Griffiths said that 75% of the team hadn’t played NRLW in the past year and five of the girls are union converts, having never played NRLW.
He also said while NRLW doesn’t offer pre-season games, some of the Roosters side played in the State of Origin, giving them an advantage.
After watching back game footage with the team, Griffiths said he is confident they walked away with an understanding that they were really close to being dominant.
“This week gave us an opportunity to look at our attack and then break that down a little bit more and see the opportunities that we created that we didn't actually take advantage of.”
No matter how fatigued the team were during the game, Griffiths said he was impressed how tough the girls were as they didn’t give up and worked hard for each other.
“You look at the back end of the game and we certainly didn't concede points when we were probably at our most fatigued, so really positive signs from that perspective.”
He referred to it as a “testament to the team and their toughness and their resilience.”
Pip and Tia speak with the Wahine Wahs ahead of NRLW return | The Six Again Podcast
Griffiths said there are a few things left to accomplish which will take the team to a new level, and by at least round six, the team will be an entirely new unit.
“There were so many positives, we're just really proud of what they left out there on the weekend.”
As NRLW is only a semi-professional game, Griffiths said he admires the players who either have day jobs, are studying or have families, however still come to training and try their best.
“The restrictions are difficult and no doubt over time it will change,” he said.
He however says the NRL have done a good job of expanding the women's competition with adding a Magic Round to the calendar as well as the State of Origin and an Indigenous round.
“From a club perspective we want to change the landscape of female rugby league in New Zealand,” he said.
Looking to Sunday’s game against the Eels, Griffiths said he has no doubt it will be a surreal feeling for the girls running out of their home tunnel for the first time in 2025.
"I can't wait. I've been to a few games already - the fans are so parochial. I have no doubt with our ladies running out of the tunnel on Sunday, they'll experience something different, It will be a surreal moment for them." He says with a smile.
"It will be a memory thats going to be etched in their mind forever."
Listen to the full interview below:
