League: Lions struggle despite high five

Even the Auckland Lions' five Warriors were not enough to swing a win against Balmain-Ryde in the NRL premier league game at Mt Smart yesterday.

Tigers centre Rhys Hanbury scored a hat-trick that kept the visitors in front throughout the contest for a 28-18 win.

The Lions twice profited from the hooker-halfback combination between demoted Warriors George Gatis and Grant Rovelli, one running from dummy-half and the other scoring.

But the home team couldn't get closer than four points adrift and never looked like winning.

The Lions have plenty to offer on attack but continue to struggle with the physicality of the defence, not having had the NRL-based training their opponents have since their teens.