WFR News
SILVERSTREAM WILD SHOCK DEFENDING CHAMPIONS LEEDS TIGERS 60–31 TO SNAP THREE-MATCH SLUMP AHEAD OF GALWAY CLASH
2026-10-19 16:23:37
WELLINGTON, NZ – The Silverstream Wild have roared back into winning form with a spectacular, statement-making 60–31 victory over the defending champions, the Leeds Tigers, effectively snapping a frustrating three-match losing streak in the WFR Premiership.
Entering the clash under immense pressure following a difficult fortnight—which included tough defeats to the Wellington Dolphins (49–14), the Brisbane Pirates (46–26), and a gritty 26–13 loss to rivals the Peninsula Whalers—the Wild displayed the fierce intensity and tactical brilliance that defined their Earthquake Trophy-winning campaign. The 60-point masterclass injects vital championship points into their Premier Conference campaign and signals to the rest of the league that the powerhouse franchise is back to its lethal best.
The victory comes at a crucial time as the Wild wrap up training at their Upper Hutt facilities and prepare for a blockbuster mid-week home fixture this Wednesday at Wellington Stadium, where they will host the dangerous Galway Greyhounds. The Irish side arrives in the capital full of confidence following a staggering 42–0 demolition of the very same Wellington Dolphins side that troubled Silverstream a week ago.
Head Coach Scott Waldrom expressed immense pride in how his squad responded to recent adversity while keeping his eyes firmly on Wednesday's challenge:
"We've had a tough couple of weeks, and when you drop three on the bounce at this level—especially coming off those disappointing results against Wellington, Brisbane, and the Whalers—your character gets tested," said Waldrom. "But the boys didn't blink. We knew exactly what we had to fix, and to put 60 points on a quality outfit like the Leeds Tigers shows what this group is capable of. We played with that true 'Wild' edge today.
"This isn't just a win; it’s a blueprint for how we need to perform moving forward. We enjoy tonight, but our focus immediately shifts to Wednesday. Galway putting 42 points on Wellington while keeping a clean sheet is a massive statement. They are dangerous, and we need to back up today's performance in front of our home crowd."
The match saw the Wild's star-studded roster click into gear, spearheaded by braces from Tyrel Lomax, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, and explosive loose forward Peter Lakai. Lock Scott Barrett, loose forward Devan Flanders, and hooker Jacob Devery also crossed the whitewash to complete a dominant 9-try display, while All Black midfield star Jordie Barrett kept the scoreboard ticking over by slotting 6 of 9 conversions alongside a crucial penalty.
Lakai, who crossed the line twice in a powerhouse performance, reflected on the pack's clinical display:
"We knew we had to set the tone up front today after letting ourselves down the last couple of weeks," said Lakai. "To get across the line twice is great, but it really comes down to the shift the whole tight five put in to give us that front-foot ball. The Leeds pack is world-class, so matching them and opening up space for the backs gives us huge confidence. We've got a massive recovery turnaround now before Galway brings that same northern hemisphere physicality to Wellington Stadium on Wednesday."
Club captain and international icon Siya Kolisi praised the squad's resilience and credited the Silverstream faithful for keeping the faith during the slump:
"This jersey comes with high expectations, and we felt the weight of those past three games," Kolisi admitted. "But the belief inside this environment never wavered. We challenged each other during the week at training to stand up, physically and mentally, and every single player delivered. Defeating the defending champions 60–31 is huge for our confidence, but we aren't getting ahead of ourselves.
"We owe this one to our supporters who stuck by us, and we are going to need that Wellington Stadium crowd loud and proud this Wednesday. Galway is flying high after that 42–0 win, so we know the physical challenge that is coming to our backyard. The focus shifts entirely to building momentum from here."
The Silverstream Wild will look to carry this renewed momentum into Wednesday's home blockbuster in the Wellington as they continue their march up the WFR Premiership standings.
Back to News Centre
Entering the clash under immense pressure following a difficult fortnight—which included tough defeats to the Wellington Dolphins (49–14), the Brisbane Pirates (46–26), and a gritty 26–13 loss to rivals the Peninsula Whalers—the Wild displayed the fierce intensity and tactical brilliance that defined their Earthquake Trophy-winning campaign. The 60-point masterclass injects vital championship points into their Premier Conference campaign and signals to the rest of the league that the powerhouse franchise is back to its lethal best.
The victory comes at a crucial time as the Wild wrap up training at their Upper Hutt facilities and prepare for a blockbuster mid-week home fixture this Wednesday at Wellington Stadium, where they will host the dangerous Galway Greyhounds. The Irish side arrives in the capital full of confidence following a staggering 42–0 demolition of the very same Wellington Dolphins side that troubled Silverstream a week ago.
Head Coach Scott Waldrom expressed immense pride in how his squad responded to recent adversity while keeping his eyes firmly on Wednesday's challenge:
"We've had a tough couple of weeks, and when you drop three on the bounce at this level—especially coming off those disappointing results against Wellington, Brisbane, and the Whalers—your character gets tested," said Waldrom. "But the boys didn't blink. We knew exactly what we had to fix, and to put 60 points on a quality outfit like the Leeds Tigers shows what this group is capable of. We played with that true 'Wild' edge today.
"This isn't just a win; it’s a blueprint for how we need to perform moving forward. We enjoy tonight, but our focus immediately shifts to Wednesday. Galway putting 42 points on Wellington while keeping a clean sheet is a massive statement. They are dangerous, and we need to back up today's performance in front of our home crowd."
The match saw the Wild's star-studded roster click into gear, spearheaded by braces from Tyrel Lomax, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, and explosive loose forward Peter Lakai. Lock Scott Barrett, loose forward Devan Flanders, and hooker Jacob Devery also crossed the whitewash to complete a dominant 9-try display, while All Black midfield star Jordie Barrett kept the scoreboard ticking over by slotting 6 of 9 conversions alongside a crucial penalty.
Lakai, who crossed the line twice in a powerhouse performance, reflected on the pack's clinical display:
"We knew we had to set the tone up front today after letting ourselves down the last couple of weeks," said Lakai. "To get across the line twice is great, but it really comes down to the shift the whole tight five put in to give us that front-foot ball. The Leeds pack is world-class, so matching them and opening up space for the backs gives us huge confidence. We've got a massive recovery turnaround now before Galway brings that same northern hemisphere physicality to Wellington Stadium on Wednesday."
Club captain and international icon Siya Kolisi praised the squad's resilience and credited the Silverstream faithful for keeping the faith during the slump:
"This jersey comes with high expectations, and we felt the weight of those past three games," Kolisi admitted. "But the belief inside this environment never wavered. We challenged each other during the week at training to stand up, physically and mentally, and every single player delivered. Defeating the defending champions 60–31 is huge for our confidence, but we aren't getting ahead of ourselves.
"We owe this one to our supporters who stuck by us, and we are going to need that Wellington Stadium crowd loud and proud this Wednesday. Galway is flying high after that 42–0 win, so we know the physical challenge that is coming to our backyard. The focus shifts entirely to building momentum from here."
The Silverstream Wild will look to carry this renewed momentum into Wednesday's home blockbuster in the Wellington as they continue their march up the WFR Premiership standings.