NZ Warriors 2026 Round 6 Review: Warriors Break Storm Streak in Statement Win

After a disappointing Round 5 loss to the Sharks, the Warriors stayed in Australia to take on a Storm side reeling from a 50–10 thrashing by the Panthers and riding a three-game losing streak.

The Warriors struck early, and unlike the past couple of weeks, they stayed in the contest. They built pressure, took control, and eventually ran away with a dominant 38–14 win, their biggest ever over the Storm, snapping a 17-game losing streak vs Melbourne and getting their season back on track.

What Went Down

Before kickoff, the Warriors announced a rejigged lineup with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck moving to the centres to join Ali Leiataua. This saw Leka Halsima move back to the second row, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira make his debut for the club.

An early penalty goal in the 3rd minute gave the Storm an early lead, but it didn't last long. The Warriors quickly targeted the right edge, and it paid off with back-to-back tries to Ali Leiataua in the 9th minute and Marata Niukore in the 14th, handing the Warriors a 12-2 lead. An error from Jackson Ford gave the Storm the chance they needed to get back into the contest, and they took it with both hands. Cooper Clarke, after being exposed defensively when Niukore scored, responded in style, powering his way over in the 16th minute for his first NRL try. The Storm didn't stop there with Jack Howarth scoring in the 23rd minute, finishing off a lively passage of second-phase footy to see the home side reclaim the lead following Meaney's conversion.

Ill-discipline then hurt the Storm, and the Warriors made them pay. A cut-out pass from Tanah Boyd took a fortunate bounce straight into the hands of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who crossed in the 30th minute, which saw the Warriors back in front before Boyd added a penalty goal in the 39th minute to give the Warriors an 18-14 lead as they went into the sheds at halftime.

The second half was all one-way traffic. The Warriors hit the Storm hard and fast with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck crossing in the 43rd minute, followed by Jackson Ford in the 47th minute and Watene-Zelezniak grabbing his second in the 51st minute, blowing the game wide open and leaving the Storm with no answers. Boyd added another penalty goal in the 58th minute to extend the lead even further.

From there, the Warriors tightened their grip, dominating even without the ball. A heavy shot from Chanel Harris-Tavita on Josh King, which sparked a late scuffle, but by then, the result was beyond doubt. However, the Warriors' attitude in defence did not relent, with the performance capped off by a desperate defensive effort from Tuivasa-Sheck, who denied future Warrior Will Warbrick near the line to seal the Warriors' biggest win over the Storm and finally ending the longest active losing streak against a club.

My Thoughts

What a bounce back. I came into this one hopeful but expecting the worst. The Storm looked vulnerable, but given the last 11 years between these sides, it felt safer tipping Melbourne. Thankfully, that call couldn’t have been more wrong. The Warriors delivered a statement performance to finally snap that losing streak, and did it in style.

They started fast with two early tries, but a Jackson Ford error let the Storm back into the contest and brought back some nerves. The difference this time, though, was how they responded. Instead of letting things unravel as in previous weeks, they reset, stuck to what had worked in those first three weeks, and gradually took control. From there, they squeezed the life out of Melbourne and made them look well off the pace.

The forward pack set the tone, returning to their bullying best. Jackson Ford and Demitric Vaimauga stood out, laying a strong platform that gave Tanah Boyd time to control the game. His combination with Chanel Harris-Tavita clicked nicely, with CHT showing why he’s such a good fit at six, not overplaying his hand, just doing his job and letting Boyd steer things around. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s move to the centres had its question marks, but he slotted in seamlessly, while the inclusion of Alofiana Khan-Pereira added a new dimension out wide. We didn’t see him fully open up, but the glimpses of his pace were enough to show what he can bring.

The standout for me, though, was the defence. It was physical, aggressive, and committed all night. Even after conceding back-to-back tries, the Warriors didn’t drop their intensity. Their line speed stayed high, they kept turning Melbourne back, and whenever the Storm looked threatening, the scramble defence shut it down. What really impressed was that even with the game in hand, they didn’t switch off; they kept landing big shots and held Melbourne scoreless in the second half. That kind of defensive effort comes down to attitude, and it was clear everyone was locked in. Hearing the Warriors fans take over AAMI Park just made it even better.

After two tough weeks, this was a much-needed reminder of what this team is capable of. When they’re in sync, they look like a genuinely dangerous side. Now it’s about turning that level of performance into the standard if they want to be taken seriously as contenders.

There was plenty to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

Defensive resilience and attitude were a major highlight. Holding the Storm to just two tries and keeping them scoreless in the second half is no small feat. When Melbourne pushed late, the Warriors’ goal-line defence stood strong, especially in the final 15 minutes when you could argue that the win was already in the bag. They scrambled well, made key tackles, and showed real desperation under pressure. It wasn’t just structure, it was effort and commitment, the kind you need to beat top sides.

Composure after conceding points was a big improvement. In recent weeks, back-to-back tries have rattled them, but this time they reset quickly and stayed in control of the game. Instead of panicking or forcing plays, they stuck to their structure and worked their way back into the contest. They didn’t let momentum swing too far, which shows real growth in their confidence and mental resilience.

The clunkiness from the past fortnight looked to be gone, with Chanel Harris-Tavita appearing to fit in much more naturally. The attack had better flow and cohesion, and his presence brought more control and balance to the side. It certainly helped that the forwards returned to being dominant, giving the halves time and space to operate. It all felt less forced and more connected, which is a really encouraging sign moving forward, but it does create a new headache around Luke Metcalf and what his role looks like in this team right now, as I would be sticking with the Boyd and CHT combo.

However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

The mid-game lapse in the first half is still a concern. After building a 12–2 lead, the Warriors allowed Melbourne to hit back with two quick tries in the space of seven minutes, swinging momentum back the other way. It’s a pattern we’ve seen before: when things start to slip, they can unravel quickly. Tied into that was discipline, which, while improved, still wasn’t perfect, with errors and small lapses inviting pressure and giving the Storm a way back into the contest. Thankfully, the team were able to reset, get back into their groove, and take control again, but against stronger or more clinical sides, those swings can be far more costly.

They did let a few opportunities slip, which is something that could’ve really blown the game wide open earlier. The most obvious moment was when Taine Tuaupiki chose not to send Dallin Watene-Zelezniak over in the corner for what looked like a simple hat-trick try. Instead of taking the clear option, the chance went begging, and it’s those small moments that can make a big difference. While it didn’t cost them on the day, against top sides, you need to be clinical and take those opportunities when they’re right in front of you.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

It’s been a shaky few weeks for RTS, so I’ll admit I had some concerns when he was named in the centres after the failed experiment in 2024. But he was outstanding here. He stayed heavily involved, running for 145 metres, grabbed a nice try, and held his own defensively, keeping his edge solid and coming up with a huge hit on Warbrick to stop what looked like a certain try.

He also showed a strong combination with Chanel Harris-Tavita, and while there’s still room to improve in getting his winger more involved, he looks like a solid centre option while Adam Pompey is suspended. It also allows the Warriors to bring in Alofiana Khan-Pereira and his pace out wide, which feels like a win-win. If RTS can stay in this kind of mindset and form, the Warriors will continue to find a lot of success with him in the side.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve was Marata Niukore.

It was hard to pick a player after such a strong team performance, but I’ve gone with Marata Niukore. He was moved into the starting side and made an immediate impact with a nice try, but as the game went on, he faded into the background while the rest of the pack lifted to another level. He finished with just 46 metres from 7 runs, which is fairly quiet given the platform the forwards had. Defensively, he was solid, making 16 tackles with only 2 misses, so it wasn’t a bad performance by any means. However, with a lot of experience missing from the pack, you probably expect a bit more impact from him, especially when some of the younger forwards ended up outshining him.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 7 sees the Warriors return to New Zealand to host the Titans, who looked impressive in their 52-10 victory over the Eels in Round 6.

Regarding the team I’d pick, I know players are coming back from injury, and Andrew Webster will likely be tempted to bring them straight back in. But if it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it. We’ve already seen that approach cause issues earlier this season, so I’d be keeping the same side that took the field in this match.

The Titans have been an interesting watch this season. Outside of a 50–10 loss to the Sharks in Round 1, they’ve stayed competitive in all their defeats. On their day, they’re one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the competition, but their defence remains their main issue. While it has improved this year, there are still clear weaknesses to target. On top of that, they’ve had a knack for troubling the Warriors regardless of ladder position, so this is never a match you can go into too confidently.

For the Warriors to get the win here, they need to bring the same defensive intensity we saw against the Storm and wrap up ball carriers to stop the likes of Keano Kini, Jayden Campbell and Phillip Sami from getting into open space against a scrambling defensive line. With the ball in hand, they just need to stick with what has been working this year, roll up the middle, build pressure and target the Titans' edges. I think the Warriors will come into this match with the right mindset and will walk away with a 16-point victory.

So, that was a fantastic Round 6, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Would you make any changes to the lineup?

What did you think of Alofiana Khan-Pereira's Warriors debut?

What would you do with Metcalf?

What is your score prediction against the Titans?

NZ Warriors 2026 Round 5 Review: Warriors Left Sinking by Sharks

After their first defeat of the season in Round 4 against the West Tigers, the Warriors returned and made the journey back over to Australia to face the Sharks, who defeated the Raiders 34-22 in Round 4.

The Warriors scored first but failed to convert opportunities, making too many errors and allowing the Sharks to control the tempo and ultimately cruise to a 36-22 victory, handing the Warriors their second straight loss.

What Went Down

The Warriors struck first in the 5th minute, spreading the ball quickly to the right edge where Dallin Watene-Zelezniak finished nicely in the corner to give the visitors the early lead. Just three minutes later, the Warriors added more points when Jackson Ford was taken out off the ball during an attacking raid. Tanah Boyd stepped up in the 8th minute and calmly slotted the penalty goal to push the score out to 6–0.

Cronulla hit back soon after. In the 13th minute, William Kennedy showed his pace and footwork, slicing through the Warriors’ defensive line to score and bring the Sharks right back into the contest. The momentum continued to swing their way just four minutes later. Off a scrum in the 17th minute, Kennedy again proved too quick for the defence, racing through to grab his second try and hand the Sharks the lead. The Sharks kept building pressure, and in the 24th minute, they struck again. KL Iro helped spark the movement before linking with Sam Stonestreet, who returned the ball for Iro to finish the play and extend Cronulla’s advantage.

Needing a response, the Warriors found one just a few minutes later. In the 27th minute, Watene-Zelezniak read the play perfectly, plucking an intercept and racing away untouched to score his second try of the afternoon. However, the Sharks had the final say before halftime. In the 33rd minute, Nicho Hynes produced a clever short ball that sent Billy Burns crashing over, giving Cronulla a 24–10 lead heading into the break.

The Warriors came out with intent in the second half, and once again it was Watene-Zelezniak making an impact. In the 42nd minute, after a penalty, the visitors marched downfield, and the winger finished off another slick attacking shift in the corner to complete his hat-trick and keep the Warriors within striking distance. Cronulla responded again to maintain control. In the 50th minute, Blayke Brailey put a grubber through on the last tackle, and Teig Wilton was there to dive on the ball and extend the Sharks’ lead. The hosts pushed further ahead in the 63rd minute. With Jesse Ramien off the field injured, Siosifa Talakai shifted into the centres and finished off a smooth backline movement to add another try for the Sharks. The Warriors did manage a late consolation in the 76th minute. Interchange hooker Sam Healy grubbered into the in-goal for Erin Clark, who was unable to ground the ball. However, the bunker ruled that KL Iro had illegally pushed Clark in the contest, awarding the Warriors a penalty try to round out the scoring.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a tough watch. I came into the match confident the Warriors would bounce back after the slip-up against the Tigers, and for the first 10 minutes, things looked promising. They were playing with intent and seemed to have the upper hand. But after opting for a penalty goal rather than pushing for another try, the Warriors' momentum stalled, and once the Sharks hit their stride, the Warriors struggled to keep up.

What frustrated me most was that the game felt like it was theirs to control early on. When the Warriors needed to fight back, as we’ve seen at Shark Park many times before, instead of another fairytale comeback, errors started creeping in, the defensive line broke down, and the team looked a step slow and out of sync. Against a team like the Sharks, giving away extra sets and field position will always hurt.

Rather than slowing things down, resetting, and sticking to the game plan, the Warriors tried to force plays and do too much too quickly, which only increased the errors. A strong side knows how to manage those moments, complete sets, and make the opposition earn every point, but the Warriors just dug themselves a deeper hole.

I thought last week’s loss would serve as a wake-up call, but it clearly didn’t sink in. The players need to check their egos at the door, and the coaching staff need to rethink their lineup, because some of the gambles they’ve tried clearly aren’t working. It’s still early in the season, and the first three wins have given the Warriors a bit of a buffer; however, if they don’t start finding ways to win again soon, those early victories will feel like a distant memory.

There wasn't much to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The Warriors once again made a strong start, showing good energy and taking early control of the game. However, after about 10 minutes, they allowed the Sharks to work their way back into the contest, perhaps electing to go for the penalty goal in the 8th minute rather than pushing for another try, gave the Sharks the mental boost they needed to take control. It’s becoming a worrying trend: the Warriors show they can compete early but fail to sustain it for the full 80 minutes. Fitness shouldn’t be the issue, which raises questions about whether attitude or concentration is playing a role once momentum starts to shift. Turning these promising starts into complete performances will be key if they want to start winning games.

The Forward pack is not yet returned to the level they showed in the first three rounds, but there were still some strong individual efforts in the middle. Four forwards managed to hit my triple-digit target in running metres. Led by Jackson Ford and Tanner Stowers-Smith, who both got 143 metres, followed by Erin Clark (121m) and James Fisher-Harris (119m). Now, while it wasn’t quite the dominant platform we saw earlier in the season, those efforts still show the pack was willing to roll up their sleeves and take the tough carries. That said, the Warriors would benefit from a few more of their forwards getting more involved and sharing the workload to build stronger momentum through the middle. If they don't get the job done upfront, the halves will struggle, as we saw in this match.

Despite a rough performance, the New Zealand Warriors still managed to score 22 points, showing they can be dangerous even when things aren’t clicking. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak led the way with multiple tries, proving the Warriors have the firepower to score even on an off day. It wasn’t enough to win, but it’s a small positive to build on as they work to improve defence and consistency.

However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

Errors were a massive concern for the Warriors, ending this match with 12, admittedly the same amount that the Sharks made; however, the issue the Warriors had was that as the game went on, it looked like panic started to set in. Instead of sticking to their structures, they tried to force something from every play, which only made things worse. Those mistakes gave the Sharks extra opportunities and momentum, and the Warriors ended up digging themselves a deeper hole they couldn’t climb out of. Sticking to the game plan worked well in the first three weeks, and they just need to get back to that mindset to reduce errors and stay in control of matches.

The Warriors had some serious defensive issues on their right edge, with the combination looking completely out of sync for much of the game. There were too many poor reads and gaps in the line, which the Sharks were able to exploit. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, in particular, looked out of position at times and was caught drifting, which unfortunately turned him into a bit of a liability in defence. That becomes an even bigger concern when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is the winger outside him, given the question marks already surrounding his defensive decision-making. At this stage, the Nicoll-Klokstad centre experiment probably needs to come to an end. I was one of the people pushing for that move in the preseason, but it’s clear I was off the mark with that call, and coach Andrew Webster may need to rethink his lineup to fix that edge.

The halves combination of Tanah Boyd and Luke Metcalf still doesn’t appear to be clicking. At times, they appear to be playing as individuals rather than as a true partnership, which makes the attack feel disjointed. Part of the issue may be that both players look like they need to be “the guy” in the halves, the one leading the team around the field, and playing second fiddle doesn’t seem to suit either of them. Because of that, the direction and control you expect from a halves pairing haven’t really been there, especially when the Warriors needed someone to steady things. Right now, the combination just isn’t bringing the best out of the team, and Webster has a big decision to make, although a hamstring injury for Metcalf gives him some time before that call needs to be made.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

In a complete turnaround from last week, my Warrior to improve really stepped up when many others didn’t. DWZ led the Warriors in both running metres (188m) and linebreaks (2), scoring the fourth hat-trick of his career and his second at Shark Park. The highlight was a clutch long-range intercept try that breathed some life into the team, and every carry showed real intent. He was one of only a handful of Warriors who looked genuinely threatening, and while the right-edge defence was a mess all night, most of the problems came from the men inside him. It also looks like he’s working hard on his defensive issues and upping his game, especially with AKP breathing down his neck in NSW Cup.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve was Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 

Also, another complete turnaround from last week, with Round four's Warrior of the match falling to my Warrior to improve. Unfortunately, my optimism about CNK becoming a full-time centre for the Warriors seemed like a pipe dream, as he looked way out of his depth defensively, being made to look like a rookie multiple times while the Sharks targeted him and made try-scoring look easy. He did have some nice touches with the ball in hand, playing a part in two of DWZ's tries and tried to stay involved with his running game. It's another tough decision for Webster, as I think if CNK is to be in this side, it needs to be at Fullback with Tuaupiki having to bide his time either on the bench or in reserve grade.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 6 sees the Warriors remain in Australia to face the Storm, who were soundly defeated 50-10 against the Panthers in Round 5.

Regarding the team I would pick, Luke Metcalf is out, so I would bring Chanel Harris-Tavita back in his place. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad may also be out, but even if he is fit, I'm still bringing Ali Leiataua back into the centres. Kurt Capewell is also expected to return this round, so if he is ready, I would bring him in for Leka Halasima, who I assume will go to centre, as it also looks like Adam Pompey will miss the match due to suspension

The Storm come into this match off the back of three straight losses, despite that, they are still a dangerous side with strike weapons all over the park. Another edge they have here is the 17 straight matches they have won over the Warriors, so even if they are in bad form, this gives them a mental edge. They have a solid pack, which will prove a challenge for the Warriors, and Jahrome Hughes loves to find another level in these clashes, so you can expect him to target the Warriors' problematic right edge.

For the Warriors to get the win here, they need to get back to the game plan that was working, target the young players in the pack, build that pressure, and, most importantly, hold on to the ball and not panic. Defensively, they just need to keep the talk up and stay on their man. If they tick all those boxes, then they give themselves a good shot at getting back in the winner's circle. Unfortuantely I just don't see a situation where the Storm lose four in a row so I am going with a Storm win by 20.

So, that was an embarrassing Round 5, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Where do you think the Warriors have gone wrong?

Should Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad move back to fullback?

What changes would you make to the lineup?

What is your score prediction against the Storm?

NZ Warriors 2026 Round 4 Review: Tigers Hand Warriors Reality Check

After another strong display in Round 3 against the Knights, the Warriors returned home to host the Wests Tigers, who went down 20-16 to the Rabbitohs in an exciting contest in Round 3.

The Warriors started strong, with everyone excited to see Luke Metcalf return for the first time in 2026, however a lack of cohesion and a dip in overall team performance saw the Warriors suffer their first defeat of 2026, going down 32-14.

What Went Down

The Warriors capitalised on some early ill-discipline from the visitors to open the scoring in the 9th minute. The switch of Taine Tuaupiki to fullback immediately paid dividends, with his speed causing confusion in the Tigers’ defensive line. Taking advantage of his move to right centre, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad backed up the play and crossed for the first try of the contest.

The hosts struck again just six minutes later. In the 15th minute, a clever short pass from Tanah Boyd sent Jacob Laban crashing through Jock Madden and Heamasi Makasini to give the Warriors their second try and early control of the match.

The Tigers struggled to capitalise while Adam Pompey was in the sin bin for a professional foul, but they eventually found success down the right edge after the Warriors were back to 13 men. In the 32nd minute, Adam Doueihi sliced through some shaky defence from Pompey, fended away from Luke Metcalf and found debutant Faaletino Tavana, who crossed for a try in his maiden NRL appearance.

Momentum continued to swing the Tigers’ way soon after. After a terrific scramble to regain possession following a Warriors break, Kai Pearce-Paul looked to have levelled the scores in the 35th minute. A towering Jock Madden bomb was contested well by Tavana, who appeared to bat the ball back before quick hands sent the English international over. Following a lengthy bunker review, referee Chris Butler eventually awarded the try.

With the Warriors beginning to make errors, the Tigers finally made their field position count just before the break. In the 39th minute, Royce Hunt powered over beside the posts to give the visitors the lead, their first half-time advantage in New Zealand since 2005.

The second half began tightly, with both sides guilty of squandering attacking opportunities. Eventually, Doueihi again troubled the Warriors’ right edge defence with a sharp show-and-go. Breaking clear in the 59th minute, he linked up with Jahream Bula in support, who crossed next to the posts to extend the Tigers’ lead.

The Warriors were then held scoreless for nearly 50 minutes, a stark contrast to their strong start to the season. However, after spending long periods camped inside the Tigers’ 20-metre zone, they finally broke through. In the 68th minute, Nicoll-Klokstad powered across for his second try of the night, setting up a tense final ten minutes.

The Tigers responded quickly to shut the door on any comeback hopes. In the 73rd minute, Doueihi again sparked the play, sending Luke Laulilii racing down the sideline before the ball was worked inside for Jock Madden to score the decisive try.

There was still time for one more blow, with Sunia Turuva crossing in the 79th minute to add the finishing touch to an emphatic 32-14 Tigers victory.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a humbling thump back to Earth. I came into the match brimming with confidence, believing that while the Wests Tigers had shown improvement this season, the absence of Jarome Luai would make it difficult for them to create enough attacking opportunities to stay in the contest. Unfortunately, it's possible the Warriors arrived with the same mindset. After racing out to a 10-0 lead in the first 15 minutes, they appeared to ease off the gas pedal. After three weeks of comfortably playing from in front, they didn't look ready to chase the game once momentum swung the other way. 

For me, what made the Warriors' performance frustrating was that the game felt like it was there to be controlled early. The Warriors started well, looked sharp with the ball, and built good pressure. Once the Tigers found their rhythm, the momentum shifted quickly. Errors crept in, the defensive line lost its shape, and suddenly the Warriors looked a step slow. Against a team that loves to attack, giving them that confidence and field position was always going to hurt them.

As the Tigers built pressure, the Warriors struggled to wrestle back control. Instead of steadying the ship, the game seemed to speed up around them. Good sides recognise those moments, slowing things down, completing their sets and forcing the opposition to earn their way back into the contest.

That said, putting my positivity hat on, this loss might not be the worst thing this early in the season. After three strong wins to start the year, expectations were beginning to rise quickly. Sometimes a defeat like this is the reminder a side needs that the competition is too tough to take any opponent lightly. If the Warriors learn the right lessons, it could be a valuable wake-up call rather than a defining setback.

There wasn't much to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The Warriors made their best start to a match this season and looked sharp with the ball in the early stages. They took advantage of a few Tigers errors and quickly turned that pressure into points, with tries from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jacob Laban giving them an early lead. It showed how dangerous their attack can be when they build pressure and finish their chances. While the Warriors have often produced their best football after slow starts this year, this game proved they can begin strongly as well. The key now is to ensure they maintain the same intensity and execution throughout the full 80 minutes.

I had been keen to see Tuaupiki at fullback with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad moving to centre, and I thought this ploy largely worked. Tuaupiki added speed and unpredictability to the Warriors’ attack early in the match, helping create the opening try and showing he can inject himself effectively into attacking plays. While he did have a few shaky moments defensively, it’s clear he still has some work to do to round out his game if he wants to hold the fullback role long-term.

Even after being held scoreless for a long period, the Warriors didn’t completely drop their heads. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s second try gave them a brief lifeline and showed there was still some fight in the side. They just need to keep that resilience and make sure they capitalise on any opportunities they create in the future. The Warriors showed last year that they can pull off fightbacks, and they need to bring that back whenever the situation calls for it.

However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

The Warriors’ pack didn’t control the middle of the field as they had in previous rounds, limiting their attacking opportunities. Four forwards still reached my triple-digit metre target: James Fisher-Harris (139m), Jacob Laban (112m), Jackson Ford (110m), and Tanner Stowers-Smith (101m),  but these totals were at the lower end compared to earlier weeks. They weren’t overpowered, but in the middle, they struggled all night to gain the upper hand. If the Warriors want to be consistently successful, their forwards need to become bullies in the middle again, and sooner rather than later, because so much of the team’s success depends on their go-forward.

The Warriors struggled at times to find cohesion with the changes made to the gameday squad, especially with the first-time halves pairing of Luke Metcalf and Tanah Boyd. Their combinations didn’t always click, and some attacking plays looked disjointed as they adjusted to each other’s timing. All the changes were the ones I suggested last week, and in the long run, I think they will make this team successful. A few teething problems are to be expected, but with time to gel, this squad has the potential to click and reach its best form.

Several of the Tigers’ tries came from defensive misreads, especially on the edges. Players often seemed unsure whether to jam in or slide across, leaving gaps that the Tigers’ playmakers could exploit. One moment stood out when Leka Halasima and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak were completely out of position and were made to look foolish by Adam Doueihi. I know there are new combinations in the side, but the players need to trust the man on either side to do their job. With time and experience together, the defensive line will improve, and these kinds of lapses should become less frequent.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

CNK stepped up in a nig way after a late switch to the centres and delivered a strong performance. Despite playing out of his usual position, he was one of the Warriors' most dangerous attacking threats, scoring two tries and leading the side with two linebreaks and four tackle breaks. His ability to find space and inject himself into the attack gave the Warriors some much-needed spark. The move to centre limited some of the high-effort areas he usually excels in at fullback, and his defensive reads were a bit patchy, but he still did a very serviceable job in the centres when the team needed him. Performances like this show just how valuable CNK is to the side and his willingness to step up wherever he's required. I still like the idea of keeping both him and Tuaupiki on the field at the same time, but I have a feeling Andrew Webster will change back to the status quo after this defeat and move CNK back to fullback.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve was Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

DWZ worked hard coming out of yardage, finishing with 114 running metres, but his night was hurt by a team-high three errors. Those mistakes halted momentum at key moments and put extra pressure back on the Warriors. There were also a few shaky defensive reads on his edge. While some of that came from poor efforts and communication from the players inside him, he still needs to make better decisions in those situations. Watene-Zelzniak has been solid through the first three weeks of the season, but if he can't get those handling errors under control, he risks becoming more of a liability than the attacking weapon we know he can be. I have been on team Alofiana Khan-Pereira since preseason, but I think DWZ deserves the right to a redemption match in Round 5.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 5 sees the Warriors head back across the ditch for an Easter Sunday clash vs the Sharks, who defeated the Raiders 34-22 in Round 4.

Regarding the team I would pick, I would stick with the same side. While the loss was disappointing, I don’t think wholesale changes are the answer. The best way for this group to build cohesion and improve their combinations is to continue getting reps together, especially with some new partnerships in the backline. Some areas need tightening up, particularly defensive communication and handling errors, but those can be addressed without changing the lineup. Giving this group another week together should help them respond after a tough performance.

The Sharks have been a difficult team to predict this season. They’ve produced impressive wins over the Titans and Raiders, but also turned in disappointing performances against the Panthers and Dolphins. On their day, they’re a dangerous side to face. If Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall are clicking in the halves, they can cause plenty of headaches for the opposition by unleashing their dangerous backline. Up front, Addin Fonua-Blake will no doubt be highly motivated and eager to get one over his former club.

For the Warriors to get the win here, the formula is simple: stick with what has worked over the opening rounds. Control the middle, build pressure, and take their chances when the opportunities come. The Sharks have plenty of attacking weapons, so the Warriors must stay disciplined, communicate well in defence, and limit offloads to stop second-phase play from building momentum. If they can win the ruck, complete their sets, and maintain their defensive structure, they’ll give themselves every chance of securing the two points. I’m backing them to bounce back from this week’s effort, so I’m tipping the Warriors to win by 8.

So, that was a disappointing Round 4, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Would you make any changes to the lineup?

What were your thoughts on Metcalf's return?

Who was your player of the match?

What is your score prediction against the Sharks?