The Wahs game over the weekend was a perfect example of it’s not over ‘til it’s over.
Despite many fans losing hope in those final 10 seconds, one young boy in the crowd showed his support for star player Leka Halasima throughout the match.
Any serious supporter of the Wahs will tell you, hearts were pounding and screams were belting as 19-year-old Leka scored the crucial final try that secured the Warriors’ 20-15 win over the Newcastle Knights.
And one kid had backed his favourite player from the second he walked into the stadium - almost foreshadowing something big on the horizon.
Zay Katipa stood in the crowd with a sign that read: “Please, Leka, [let] me have your boots?”
After the game-winning moment, Leka walked over to Zay, dapped him up, then unlaced, signed, and handed over his boots.
“Something that’ll make sure they never forget about THAT moment 💙💚❤️,” the Warriors wrote alongside the video.
And it was clear those boots meant EVERYTHING to Zay.
His mum, Brooke Katipa, later shared with the team that once they got the boots home, he didn’t let them leave his side.
She even posted a photo of Zay sleeping next to them, with the caption: “Thank you, NZ Warriors, our boy is absolutely beside himself.”
Fans have been praising Leka for the wholesome gesture.
“Leka is a champion on and off the field… imagine owning those boots! Special,” one person commented on Instagram.
“Save this in the archives for when this kid debuts for the Warriors in a couple of years,” said another.
“Pulling the heartstrings 😢😭,” added a third.
It was definitely an unforgettable moment - for the team, for Zay, and for every Wahs fan who chewed their nails to raw watching that match.
