Cookie boys shine as NZ Warriors eye finals

Cook Islands international Dominique Peyroux and Cook Islander Ben Henry were standout players for the New Zealand Warriors as they dismantled the Gold Coast Titans 42-0 over the weekend.Peyroux, who played at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup for the Cooks, was called into the side for only his fourth NRL match of the season. He has been biding his time in reserve grade and leapt at the chance to play in first grade again.After eight and a half minutes he had made a line break that lead to a try and scored one himself.NZ Warriors coach Andrew McFadden praised Peyroux’s performance and credited him with shoring-up the left-edge defence which was badly exposed by the Sydney Roosters last week. "He [Peyroux] was terrific, I know that on our left-side defence his talk and enthusiasm was great and he certainly added something for us and gave us a spark out there," stated McFadden. Ben Henry, who scored the first try for the warriors, was selected in both the Cook Islands and New Zealand squads for last year’s world cup. A serious injury ended his 2013 season and he missed out on the tournament. This year, Henry has been one of the Warriors most consistent players and is one of their key forwards. Observers say this has been his best season to date and being injury free has been a big part of that. A win this weekend against the Penrith Panthers should see the NZ Warriors make the top eight. Peyroux and Henry will be looking to join fellow Cookies like Dylan Napa at the Roosters, Alex Glenn at the Brisbane Broncos and Tepai Moeroa (whose Parramatta Eels are also looking to scrape into the top eight) in the 2014 NRL Finals.

Cook Islands international Dominique Peyroux and Cook Islander Ben Henry were standout players for the New Zealand Warriors as they dismantled the Gold Coast Titans 42-0 over the weekend.Peyroux, who played at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup for the Cooks, was called into the side for only his fourth NRL match of the season. He has been biding his time in reserve grade and leapt at the chance to play in first grade again.After eight and a half minutes he had made a line break that lead to a try and scored one himself.NZ Warriors coach Andrew McFadden praised Peyroux’s performance and credited him with shoring-up the left-edge defence which was badly exposed by the Sydney Roosters last week. "He [Peyroux] was terrific, I know that on our left-side defence his talk and enthusiasm was great and he certainly added something for us and gave us a spark out there," stated McFadden. Ben Henry, who scored the first try for the warriors, was selected in both the Cook Islands and New Zealand squads for last year’s world cup. A serious injury ended his 2013 season and he missed out on the tournament. This year, Henry has been one of the Warriors most consistent players and is one of their key forwards. Observers say this has been his best season to date and being injury free has been a big part of that. A win this weekend against the Penrith Panthers should see the NZ Warriors make the top eight. Peyroux and Henry will be looking to join fellow Cookies like Dylan Napa at the Roosters, Alex Glenn at the Brisbane Broncos and Tepai Moeroa (whose Parramatta Eels are also looking to scrape into the top eight) in the 2014 NRL Finals.