NZ Warriors 2026 Round 7 Review: A Game of Two Halves, But Points in the Bank

After an amazing victory over the Storm in Round 6, the Warriors returned to Go Media Stadium to host the Titans, who also impressed in Round 6 with a 52-10 blowout over the Eels.

The Warriors did the damage early, and a dominant first half built a commanding lead, but a second-half lapse invited the Titans back into the contest. What looked comfortable quickly turned tense, yet the Warriors steadied when it mattered to secure a 28–20 win.

What Went Down

The Warriors came out in control and made that early dominance count. Alofiana Khan-Pereira opened the scoring in the 5th minute, finishing a slick left-edge shift in the corner. The Titans struggled to settle and kept handing over possession, allowing the Warriors to build pressure.

That pressure told again in the 22nd minute, with Khan-Pereira grabbing his second, after another sharp attacking movement. Tanah Boyd nailed the sideline conversion to push the lead out to 10-0.

The Warriors continued to dictate terms through the middle, and in the 29th minute, Chanel Harris-Tavita crossed next to the posts after the ball was kept alive. Boyd converted for a 16-0 advantage.

The Titans had a brief window, forcing a dropout through Jayden Campbell and thinking they’d hit back through Kurtis Morrin, only for the bunker to overturn it. Instead, it was the Warriors who struck again, going the length and finishing through Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the 34th minute to extend the lead.

Boyd then added a penalty goal in the 39th minute to cap off a dominant first half, sending the Warriors into the break with a commanding 22-0 lead.

The Titans came out of the sheds with far more intent and were rewarded in the 50th minute, with Jojo Fifita finishing strongly in the corner. Campbell couldn’t convert in the tough conditions, but momentum had started to shift.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly checked. From the ensuing set, the Titans made an error, and the Warriors capitalised almost immediately. In the 52nd minute, Erin Clark crashed over beside the posts after a short offload from James Fisher-Harris, with Boyd converting to make it 28-4.

From there, the Titans began to find success on the edges. Sialetili Faeamani crossed in the 68th minute after a lengthy bunker review confirmed the grounding, though the conversion was missed.

The pressure kept building, and in the 72nd minute, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui came up with a big aerial take before offloading to Arama Hau, who dummied his way over under the posts. Campbell converted to close the gap to 28-14.

The late surge continued in the 78th minute, with Kurtis Morrin scoring beside the posts off a short-side play. Campbell added the extras to bring it back to 28-20 with just minutes remaining.

But despite the momentum swinging hard against them, the Warriors held firm. They defended the final set and took the last tackle as the siren sounded, closing out a match they had effectively won with their dominant first-half performance.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a strange one. The first half was just about everything you could ask for. The attack had flow, the timing looked right, and the edges were lethal. Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak caused constant problems out wide, and it all came off the back of a forward pack that laid a strong, direct platform through the middle. It genuinely felt like they were building towards one of those statement performances.

Then, halftime hit, and it was like a different team came out. The tempo dropped, the polish disappeared, and suddenly everything looked harder than it needed to be. The Titans weren’t doing anything overly special, but they didn’t need to; the Warriors invited them back into the contest with loose carries, softer defensive contact, and a noticeable dip in urgency. Where last week’s performance was built on sustained intensity, this one drifted away from that standard pretty quickly.

What stands out most is how quickly momentum can swing in this competition. The Warriors didn’t just take their foot off the gas; they lost control of the game, and against better sides, that’s the sort of lapse that costs you two points, not just makes things uncomfortable late. There’s a difference between managing a game and letting it drift, and this felt a lot like the latter.

In saying that, good teams still find ways to win when they’re not at their best, and that’s exactly what they did here. The first-half effort gave them enough of a buffer, and they showed just enough composure late to close it out. It’s far from a performance to hang your hat on, but it’s a result you take every day of the week.

If anything, this feels like a timely reminder rather than a warning sign. The standards they hit against the Storm are clearly there, but they’re not automatic. If this side wants to stay near the top of the ladder, it’s going to come down to maintaining that level for the full 80 minutes, not just when everything’s clicking early.

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

Match Positives

The Warriors set the tone from the outset, turning early dominance into points on the board. Rather than letting that control go to waste, they executed well and took their chances, capitalising on the Titans’ slow start. That forced the Titans onto the back foot straight away, chasing the game instead of settling into it. It also allowed the Warriors to control the tempo early and build a platform that ultimately proved decisive. They seem to have found the secret to starting well after being slow starters for the first few rounds; now it’s about turning that mindset into a full 80-minute performance.

The Warriors’ edge attack looked dangerous throughout, with both sides of the field creating genuine opportunities. Their shape and ball movement stretched the Titans’ defence, allowing them to find space out wide and capitalise. When those chances came, the finishing was strong, turning half-opportunities into points. With genuine strike finishers on both wings who need very little room to score in the corners, the Warriors become a real threat whenever they enter the opposition's red zone. It added another dimension to their attack and made them difficult to contain, particularly in the first half when everything was clicking.

The forwards impressed again, laying a strong platform through the middle and consistently winning the yardage battle. Their work rate and go-forward allowed the Warriors to play on the front foot, particularly in the opening stages. That effort is reflected in the numbers, with five members of the pack hitting triple digits, Jackson Ford leading the way with a massive 239 metres, followed by Mitchell Barnett (165m), James Fisher-Harris (131m), Erin Clark (119m), and Leka Halasima (104m). It’s that kind of output from the middle that gives the backs space and time to do their job, and when this pack delivers like that, it makes winning that much easier.

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

Match Negatives

The second-half drop-off is the biggest concern to come out of this performance. After controlling the game early, the Warriors lost their grip after halftime and let the momentum swing. There was a clear drop in energy and urgency compared to the first half, with intensity slipping on both sides of the ball. What had been a dominant performance quickly turned into a nervy finish, and while they held on this time, good teams put those games away long before it gets to that point. It’s hard to tell whether they simply put the cue in the rack after such a one-sided first half or whether the Titans genuinely hit the ground running after the break, but either way, the shift in momentum was too significant to ignore.

The Warriors’ ill-discipline started to creep in at key moments, with small errors and six-agains giving the Titans extra opportunities and field position. Instead of easing pressure when they needed to settle, those moments only added to it, keeping the game alive longer than it should have been. While none of it was catastrophic on its own, the accumulation allowed the Titans back into the contest and contributed to the nervy finish. When things start to slip away like that, they need to refocus and keep doing the little things right to stop momentum shifting so quickly.

The Warriors struggled to deal with the Titans’ offloads and short passing game, with 19 offloads helping the visitors keep the ball alive. The Titans also mixed up their angles well, shifting the point of attack and forcing the Warriors into slow lateral defensive movements. Once that rhythm was established, it allowed the Titans to exploit the edges and use their pace more effectively, particularly in the second half, when momentum was already swinging. Defending second-phase football has been a weakness for the Warriors this season, and they’ll need to get better at wrapping up the ball carrier to stop teams from generating that extra momentum.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Jackson Ford.

Ford was outstanding once again, leading the side with a massive 239 running metres and backing it up with 49 tackles in another full 80-minute performance. He added real impact with 5 tackle breaks, while keeping his defensive work largely solid with just 3 missed tackles. Importantly, he stayed controlled throughout, finishing the match with no errors and only one ruck infringement. While there’s an argument for managing his minutes so he can consistently produce this level of output each week, he’s currently showing no signs of slowing down in what has been a genuine breakout season to date. Performances like this also ease some of my concerns around Mitchell Barnett’s departure at the end of the year, with Ford clearly making his mark in the middle and stepping into a bigger role with confidence.

Warrior to Improve

I don’t have a single Warrior to call out this week because none of the 17 that featured let the team down, or they simply didn’t play enough minutes to be judged fairly. They weren’t all perfect, and a few did fade a bit in the second half, but by that stage they had already done enough damage in the first to build a healthy buffer. Every player still gave it everything in their own way, and ultimately, that’s all you can really ask for in a performance like this.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 8 sees the Warriors remain in New Zealand, heading down to Wellington to host the Dolphins, who went down 23-22 in Golden Point against the Panthers in Round 7.

Regarding the team I’d pick, just like I said last week (although Andrew Webster didn't listen), I would stick with the same squad. I know Adam Pompey will be back from suspension, but I'm liking the Chanel Harris-Tavita, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Alofiana Khan-Pereira combination on the left edge. The pack is pretty solid, too, so just leave it as is.

The Dolphins haven't really lived up to their potential yet this season, sitting at 2-4, but aside from their heavy loss to the Sea Eagles, they’ve been in the fight every week. What makes them dangerous, though, is their ability to create scoring opportunities from anywhere on the field. With strike weapons across the park, they can shift the ball, play with speed, and generate chances left, right and centre, meaning even the smallest lapse in defence can quickly turn into points. However, they have struggled to defend this season, so there is potential to punish their edges.

For the Warriors to get the win here, it starts through the middle. Their forwards need to lay a strong platform, win the ruck, and build momentum early to get the team on the front foot. If they can do that, it gives their spine the chance to shift the ball and create opportunities out wide, where they can really test the Dolphins on the edges. Defensively, it’s all about control and discipline, wrapping up the ball carrier, limiting second-phase play, and, most importantly, denying Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Herbie Farnworth any time or space. Give those two even a half chance, and they can turn a game in an instant. Playing in Wellington has been kind to the Warriors in recent years, and I’m not making the trip down there expecting a loss, so I’m backing the Warriors to get it done by 12.

So, that was a nerve-racking Round 7, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

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

Did you have a Warrior to improve?

Was the second-half drop-off a concern for you, or was the game already done?

What is your score prediction against the Dolphins?

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?