NZ Warriors 2024 Round 21 Review: Imperfect Yet Victorious as Warriors End Losing Streak against Wests Tigers

After their disappointing Round 20 defeat to the Raiders, the Warriors returned home to host the Wests Tigers. With yet another reshuffled team, the Warriors were less than stellar but put together a strong enough performance to end their two-game losing streak, handing the Tigers their fifth loss in a row with a 28-16 victory.

What Went Down

The Warriors wasted no time asserting their dominance, with the forwards rolling up the middle. This momentum was rewarded in the 10th minute when the Warriors elected to run on the last, spreading the ball out to the right to Kurt Capewell. He made the most of some shotty Tigers' defence, crossing untouched. Chanel Harris-Tavita was unable to convert, continuing his much-discussed lousy luck at the kicking tee. The Warriors continued to control the match and looked to have crossed again in the 15th minute with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak crossing in the corner, but he was unable to ground the ball in time as the Tigers pushed him over the sideline. The home side dominated the possession stats but struggled to capitalize on their chances, unable to add any more points until the 33rd minute when they targeted the left edge again, quickly shifting before a great tap-on pass from Ali Leiataua gave Edward Kosi enough space to sprint to the corner for the second try of the night, Harris-Tavita's poor luck continued with another missed conversion. 

The Tigers tried to get themselves into the contest, but an error from Charlie Staines, who pushed a pass to Jahream Bula deep inside their own half, handing the ball to the Warriors in excellent field position, and they wasted little time with Leiataua latching onto a Te Maire Martin short ball to cross for the third try of the match in the 37th minute, all eyes were on Harris-Tavita as he lined up for the conversion, which he nailed as the crowd erupted in support for the half who was all smiles in what was the final scoring play of the half, seeing the Warriors head into the sheds with a 14-0 lead.

The second half started with the Tigers being awarded a penalty early on, only for them to make an error via Luke Laulilii almost immediately. Despite that, they managed to keep the Warriors contained and started to attack with more intent; the Warriors did give them a fright when Capewell had an impressive run galloping into open space, but he let them off the hook by throwing an offload to no one. The visitors scooped up the loose ball and started to look dangerous, with several big runs getting them closer to the Warrior's line, and after a six again call, the Tigers finally found themselves on the scoreboard when Isaiah Papali'i burrowed his way over the line in the 51st minute, Api Koroisau converted to make the scores 14-6. On the next set, the Tigers surged up the field and, on the last tackle, put a grubber through that bounced off Capewell and was quickly grabbed by Bula, who flicked it to Staines for an impressive dive in the corner in the 55th minute to reduce the Warriors lead to four, and it would stay that way after Koroisau missed the sideline conversion. The game was up for grabs now after the Tigers fought back. Both sides traded sets for a period, with neither gaining the upper hand until the visitor's discipline let them down when Alex Seyfarth hit Te Maire Martin late in the 61st minute; the Warriors elected to take the penalty goal which Harris-Tavita slotted to push their lead back out to 6. With the wind back in their sails, the Warriors only took a few more minutes to increase their lead when Addin Fonua-Blake powered over in the 69th minute; Harris-tavita's successful conversion saw the lead extend to 12. The Tigers refused to back down and found themselves camped on the Warrior's line once again and put in another grubber, but this time, it was scooped up by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who sprinted down the field and evaded defenders for 50 meters; the Warriors pounced on the opportunity shifted the ball quickly to the right where Dallin Watene-Zelezniak saw a mismatch and hit open space before passing to Moala Graham-Taufa who continue the play down the sideline before passing it back inside to DWZ who crossed and scored under the posts in the 74th minute, another conversion nailed by CHT saw the Warriors go out to a 28-10 lead. With the game all but over, the Tigers decided to have the last laugh after a successful Captains Challenge gave them one final set, and after regathering a wayward offload, Latu Fainu broke the line before feeding Koroisau the ball to score the final try of the night in the 79th minute, he converted his try as the final siren sounded with the Warriors coming away with a 28-16 victory that keeps their slim top-eight hopes alive.

My Thoughts

Well, this was an interesting game to watch and review. Sitting there in the same seat I have had in the stadium since 2005, I was not feeling great as the game progressed; it felt like the Warriors were playing well below what I expected to see; there were contributing factors, of course, three of the back five are regular NSW Cup players, the team as a whole is down on confidence after those past two defeats so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the team was a bit clunky. 

The puzzle pieces were there; the forwards ensured that the team spent a lot of time in the Tigers' half; however, the halves had issues taking advantage of the possession and territory. The team started to get into the groove as the game went on and began to show a bit more in regards to their attack but took their eye off the ball on the defensive side, leaving the door open for the Tigers to get a sniff. They righted the ship and got the much-needed win, which hopefully gets some confidence back into the camp as they look to keep their finals hopes alive. Still, the only way they can do that is to keep the wins coming, and the returns of some big names from the casualty ward in the next few weeks should help that happen, but they still need to improve their overall 80-minute performance.

There were a few things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The forwards put their best foot forward with another big night and really controlled the middle for large stretches of the contest; only three forwards cracked my triple-digit target, Addin Fonua-Blake (222m), Dylan Walker (163m) and Mitchell Barnett (138m) but several got really close. I still think the pack could do with another bigger forward on the bench to alleviate the drop when Addin Fonua-Blake goes off, as the bench is a tad light, and I'm not sure if Jackson Ford is able to add that much-needed impact from the bench. It will be a frustrating time for them still to see their hard work upfront being wasted by the halves but they just have to keep on trucking.

The young gun centres did not let anyone down. Ali Leiataua and Moala Graham-Taufa didn't set the world on fire by any stretch, but they had some good runs with both running over 100m; they also had the final pass in tries and defended well. They are still learning the ins and outs of first grade, but I'm confident in them giving their all and stepping up for this team when they are called upon. These games will help them improve when they become regular first graders in the future, and I expect them to become mainstays in this side when the time is right.

Lastly, Chanel Harris-Tavita finally overcame the yips and broke his missed conversion streak. He missed the first two, and that same old feeling started to sink in for me, but then he nailed his third. You could see the weight lifted off his shoulders with that big smile and fist pump, and the crowd eruption for him was great; it will do wonders for his mindset moving forward and hopefully will lead to bigger moments from him for the rest of this season.

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

Match Negatives

The Warrior's errors and discipline let them down again; they made 10 errors, gave away 4 penalties, 4 ruck infringements and 4 inside the 10 calls. Some of those calls were dubious, but it essentially handed 22 extra chances to any team, setting the Warriors up for failure. They just need to have respect for the ball and switch up the defensive game plan to match how the official is calling the game. It's easier said than done, but with every remaining game being a must-win, they need to be more composed and then things will fall into place.

The Warriors are still showing a fragile defence structure when under adversity. When the Tigers were able to get those six-again calls or earn a silly penalty, the Warriors' defence opened up and let them just waltz over. If they continue to do that in the upcoming weeks against the Dolphins, Bulldogs, and Sea Eagles, then they could be in for a rough few weeks. It's a big task for Andrew Webster and the crew, but they must sort it out ASAP.

Lastly, the bench rotation, It has been Webster's Achilles Heel since he started this role last season. At halftime, the Warriors had only used one interchange, and then, not long after the second half began, he piled the changes, which just didn't make sense to me. I'm definitely no coach, but I would be looking at adding some impact around the 20-minute mark in the first half because, despite plenty of the pack being able to play extended minutes, it doesn't mean you have to keep them out there for massive spells, plus throwing someone like Leka Halasima on for only 9 minutes gives them no time to actually contribute. It's a feeling-out process, I guess, but some smarter interchange use could be the difference between winning and losing.  

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Addin Fonua-Blake.

AFB was close to being picked last week, but I could not deny him this week after a mammoth effort, running for 222 metres, making 22 tackles for no misses and his 8th try of the season. Made one uncharacteristic error but was the standout forward on the night. It has been a rocky past few months for AFB, with many, including myself, questioning his attitude, but he has turned a corner and continues to prove what a massive addition he is going to be for the Sharks next season and as much as I am looking forward to seeing James Fisher-Harris in a Warriors jersey I am going to miss AFB dreadfully.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve Te Maire Martin.

For the third week in a row, I've gone for TMM, but to put it bluntly, he is not directing the Warriors' attack like a halfback should; he is taking a back seat, and that is a massive concern and causing plenty of issues with the Warriors' attacking structure. It's just more of the same in regards to what I said last week: If he wants to be the halfback of this team, he needs to step up and be the leader. However, he is just regressing despite the forwards giving him plenty of go-forward, which either meant his good performances a few weeks ago were just an anomaly and he has settled back into what he is capable of now, and we just have to wait until Shaun Johnson returns before the team can hopefully get back into attacking form.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

The Warriors remain at home, hosting the Parramatta Eels, who lost 32-14 to the Storm in Round 21.

Regarding the team I would pick, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki may be ready to return, which makes for an interesting selection headache for Andrew Webster. If both are fit, I would drop Edward Kosi and have RTS move back to the wing and CNK come back into fullback, but if they switch those two around, I wouldn't be mad, either. 

Then I would keep the rest of the team at the same bar, maybe switching Jackson Ford for either Bunty Afoa or Tom Ale, and bring back any other injured players who are ready to return. If Shaun Johnson is ready, then he comes in with Chanel Harris-Tavita dropping to Freddy Lussick's bench spot to add more versatility.

The Eels have been terrible this season, winning only 4 matches and struggling to put together an attack without their star halfback Mitch Moses. However, just like last week, this match has the potential to be a Banana Peel match for the Warriors if they don't come into the game with the right attitude; there's no such thing as an easy win in the NRL, so they need to show the ball plenty of respect, improve this kicking game and get their backs into open space to create some scoring opportunities.

If they tick all those boxes, I think they will win comfortably, so for the second week in a row, I am going for a Warriors win by 18.

So, that was a slightly better Round 21, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Do you think the Warriors can make the eight still?

Are there any changes you would make to the 17?

Who was your player of the match and your player to improve?

What is your score prediction against the Eels?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 20 Review: Warriors Stunned by Raiders, Season Left on Life Support

 After their Round 19 bye, the Warriors made the journey to Canberra to face the Raiders. With the season on the line for both sides, there was plenty to play for, but a less-than-stellar first half put the Warriors on the back foot, and despite showing signs of life in the second half, it was not enough as the Raiders got the job done with a 20-18 victory.

What Went Down

The Raiders started strong, with Jamal Fogarty making an impact early; his second bomb of the game forced Taine Tuaupiki to fumble, giving the Raiders prime position in the Warrior's Red Zone. Hudson Young wasted little time as he took advantage of some spotty Warriors goal-line defence to crash over in the 6th minute. The Warriors attempted to respond but faltered, conceding back-to-back penalties. Fogarty exploited the space up the middle, connecting with Young, who scored his second try at the 10-minute mark. Around the 13th minute, the Warriors suffered a setback as Tuaupiki left the game with a Category 1 HIA, forcing a back-three reshuffle for the second match in a row. The Warriors had plenty of possession but struggled to mount a threatening attack. Fogarty's precise kicking continued to trouble the Warriors' back three, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak knocking on and giving the Raiders excellent field position moments later a penalty for stripping that the Warriors unsuccessfully used their Captains Challenge on led to a successful penalty goal by Fogarty, extending the home sides leader to 14-0 at the 18-minute mark. The following 20 minutes saw both sides trading errors; the Warriors had a few opportunities but struggled with their execution and decision-making near the try line, but after forcing a mistake by Tom Starling and getting a six-again call, the visitors built some momentum and finally cracked the Raiders line when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck spied a hole and went over in the 37th minute to see the Warriors go into the sheds trailing 14-6 albeit with another injury as Adam Pompey was carried off with a knee injury forcing more shuffling of the backline.

The Warriors came out strong in the second half, with Dylan Walker making a significant break off the kick-off, unsettling the Raiders. A high ball from the Warriors forced Fogarty into an error near the try-line. Kurt Capewell, fresh from Origin Three, capitalised, scoring in the corner in the 46th minute, bringing the Warriors back into the contest. After trading a few sets, the Raiders got themselves deep into the Warriors' half but squandered their chance. A scrum feed and a six-again call gave the Warriors' momentum, and Mitch Barnett, backing up from the NSW Origin series win, powered over the line, levelling the scores 14 all at the 60-minute mark. Fatigue was starting to set in for the Warriors, playing with a two-man bench, and the Raiders took advantage, pushing a kick over the try-line and Xavier Savage beating some lacklustre Warriors chasers to score in the 70th minute to regain the lead. The Warriors didn't drop their heads and responded with a successful short kick-off, catching the Raiders off guard. A few plays later, Addin Fonua-Blake barges his way over the line in the 72nd minute, reigniting hope for a Warriors comeback; Chanel Harris-Tavita had a chance to level the scores and potentially force the game into Golden Point but missed the crucial kick (he was 0-3 in the match) and with time running out the Raiders did just enough to secure the 20-18 win with the Warriors now in a do or die situation to make the finals.

My Thoughts

Well, that was another game the Warriors let slip. It feels like something I have said far too many times this season. Another slow start that made their job so much harder than it really needed to be, the forwards did what they are paid for and won the battle in the middle, but despite that, the attack was clunky and disorganised. They managed to piece things together better in the second half and make a match of it, but confidence was low, with many of the players not backing themselves up to make the big plays that were needed. In addition, the injuries to Taine Tuaupiki and Adam Pompey continued the Warriors' lousy luck in the injury department. It just felt like everything that could go wrong did, which was highlighted in Chanel Harris-Tavita's shocking night at the kicking tee (however, the amount of abuse the poor kid is getting online is way over the line). The team is down on luck and confidence and appears to be out of time to make a finals run. They still have a mathematical chance, but even my ever-present optimism in this club is running out. 

There were a few things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

It was another big night from the pack against a pretty big Raiders pack. I thought the Warriors won this battle, with five of the pack hitting the triple digits: Addin Fonua-Blake (198m), Mitchell Barnett (159m), Dylan Walker (154m), Kurt Capewell (138m), and Jackson Ford (107m). The Warriors got into good field position, but unfortunately, the team couldn't convert that hard work into points. It will be hard for them as a unit to see their hard work getting wasted by the halves and backs, but if the Warriors want to start winning again, they just have to keep doing the hard yards up front and hope like hell the halves get back on track.

Trailing 14-0 after only 18 minutes put the Warriors under plenty of pressure, but to their credit, they didn't drop their heads and kept fighting and got themselves into the contest. As I already mentioned, this team is low on confidence, but to keep fighting is a good sign; I know there isn't a lot going right for them right now, but if they can keep this never-say-die attitude and improve in a few other areas they can swing things back in thier favor.

It's another week down, which means we are a week closer to some of the injured players' return dates; Shaun Johnson, Luke Metcalf, Rocco Berry and Marcelo Montoya could all be beneficial additions to this team right now. 

However, I had plenty of concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

I praised the Warriors' fight back, but that slow start set the tone for this contest; the Warriors needed to hit the ground running, especially with the season on the line, but they were found napping. Now, this isn't a new trend, as the Warriors of 2023 were slow starters, too, but the coaching staff need to figure out how to get this side to bust out of the gates early, as it is a lot easier to lead from the front instead of chasing games every week.

The Warriors' attack was poor and lacked cohesion; I know the changes to the backs did not help matters, but the halves looked out of ideas at times, and the game plan felt a little CHT-heavy; I don't know if that was by design or if TMM wasn't calling for the ball as much as he should have but I would have like to see him take control and for both halves to add some dimension to their kicking game, throw in a few grubbers, force repeat sets and build pressure. Hopefully, we see a bit more of that this week.

The Warriors' errors and discipline let them down in this match, with the attack struggling. Making 10 errors, giving away 5 penalties, and committing 3 ruck infringements just made their comeback attempt that much harder. They were just silly coach killers where the players tried to force things to happen when they weren't on, and you just can't do that in the NRL; they need to take a breath and reduce those 50/50 plays as they are not good enough right now to be playing all loosey-goosey.

Warrior of the Match

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

There wasn't much to praise about the Warriors' attack, but almost all of the good things we saw involved RTS; he did his best to try to swing momentum in the Warriors' favour, leading the side with 255 running metres and being the only Warriors back to make a line break. He defused plenty of the Raider's big kicks when he was moved to fullback; 

He never gave up and did plenty of hard work getting the Warriors out of their own end and will most likely have the chance to do it all again from Fullback in Round 21.

My only nitpick was his slow chase to the loose ball that Savage dived on; it looked like some miscommunication between him and Ali Leiataua, but as the experienced player, he should have ensured that the ball was knocked over the dead ball line. 

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve Te Maire Martin.

I know many will have gone with Chanel Harris-Tavita here, but besides the poor night at the kicking tee, I thought CHT was solid enough. I have gone with TMM because he was pretty quiet; he did play a part in two of the Warriors' tries, but he was not the dominant half, with CHT doing most of the kicking; I'm not sure if he had a niggle or if this was a gameplan but when we have seen TMM play his best this season it has been when he was in charge. There were times when he could have utilised his grubber kick but just didn't use it. He just didn't make the best choices with the ball in hand and seems to be regressing; with Shaun Johnsons' return just around the corner, he is making Andrew Webster's job easy when it comes picking between the two.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

The Warriors return home to host the Wests Tigers, who lost 42-28 to the Rabbitohs in Round 20.

Regarding the team I would pick, Taine Tuaupiki will be out after his failed HIA, and I am assuming Adam Pompey will not be available either. I don't know if Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad or Marcelo Montoya will be ready to return, but if they are, they come back in. If not, RTS stays at fullback, and Moala Graham-Taufa and either Ed Kosi or Setu Tu come in. I would keep the rest of the team the same unless other injured players are ready to return.

The Tigers have been one step forward and three steps back this season. They have had a few good wins surrounded by plenty of disappointing performances, but you can never take them lightly, especially considering how the Warriors have been tracking this season.

The Warriors just need to go back to the basics, reduce the errors, dominate the middle and get the backs into space to create scoring opportunities. If they can do that, I think they will win comfortably, so I am going for a Warriors win by 18.

So, that was a demoralising Round 20, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Is the Warriors' season over now?

What changes would you make to the Warrior's attacking game plan?

Who would you bring in to replace Pompey?

What is your score prediction against the Tigers?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 18 Review: Golden Point Heartbreak as Bulldogs Edge Out Warriors in Nail-Biting Finish

After their Round 17 victory over the Broncos, the Warriors made the journey to Sydney to face the Bulldogs. In a brutal match where the Warrior's adversity was tested, the Bulldogs broke the visitors fans' hearts, securing a 13-12 win in Golden Point.

What Went Down

The Warriors looked to have drawn first blood in the third minute when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck dived on a loose ball from a kick defusal. However, the Bunker deemed that Dallin Watene-Zelezniak had knocked the ball on in the process. After this call, both sides traded sets for the next 15 minutes, with neither side gaining the upper hand. The Warriors looked set to finally crack the Bulldog's goalline defence until Matt Burton swooped on a Te Maire Martin pass intended for RTS and scorched up the field before sending Bronson Xerri over to score the first try of the afternoon in the 20th minute. The Warriors wasted little time striking back, taking advantage of a Sam Hughes error on the next set and shifting immediately to the right from the scrum to DWZ, who dived over in the corner in his usual acrobatic style; Adam Pompey's missed conversion saw the visitors trailing by 2. The Warriors continued to apply pressure and found success once again in the 28th minute when Marcelo Montoya finished off a shift to the left, powering over in the corner; Pompey nailed the conversion to see his side lead 10-6. The Bulldogs had a few opportunities as the first half was winding down but couldn't capitalize and let the Warriors off with some poor discipline. Pompey extended the visitor's lead to 12-6 after the centre kicked a penalty to end the half.

The Warriors started the second half without their Fullback Nicoll-Klokstad, who injured his calf in the first half. He was joined by DWZ, who left the field in the 46th minute and would not return due to failing his HIA. Then Montoya joined them after injuring his groin and, despite trying to play on, exited the match in the 62nd minute.

Much like the first half, both sides went set for set without being able to take advantage of any scoring chances. The Bulldogs then took advantage of a penalty from their own hands, and after a few plays, a well-placed bomb from Toby Sexton allowed Viliame Kiaku to snatch the ball out of the air to score in the 56th minute to level the scores at 12 all. Both sides continued to struggle to find a decisive try near the goalline until a blockbusting run from Warriors rookie Leka Halasima almost stole the show, but he was held up in an impressive defensive display, moments later it looked like Chanel Harris-Tavita was certain to score off a Mitchell Barnett offload, but he lost possession, the Warriors used their Captains Challenge saying that CHT was tackled without the ball but the Bunker denied this claim. Seconds later, in a moment he would like to forget, Reed Mahoney was not paying attention and allowed Freddy Lussick to dive on the ball after it was played; with good field position, the Warriors threw plenty at the Bulldogs but could not find a hole in their defensive line, with the closest chance being Marata Niukore being held up over the line in the 73rd minute. Following that play came a controversial moment when Jaeman Salmon charged out of the defensive line to stop Te Maire Martin from attempting a field goal; the halfback shifted the ball to the left but was hit late in a play that saw Salmon leave the field with a suspected broken jaw, the official and the Bunker both cleared the hit and did not award a penalty to the Warriors (despite Salmon now looking at 2 to 3 weeks suspension for said tackle). With the game back underway and time running out, both sides had chances to secure the win with a field goal, but Te Maire Martins was charged down, and Matt Burton's shot ricocheted off the posts, which saw the match go into Golden Point.

During Golden Point, both teams played for field position. Chanel Harris-Tavita missed two attempts, while Burton missed one. With time running out and a draw looking likely, a charge down on Burton's third attempt gave the Bulldogs the field position they needed for the five-eighth to land the decisive score in the 87th minute.

My Thoughts

Well, this is a challenging game to discuss. On the one hand, the Warriors' incredible display of heart was fantastic, but on the other hand, it was a disappointing game with some missed opportunities and a shocking officiating error. The Warriors did a lot right here. The forwards were winning the middle, but the halves pairing made a few mistakes, which saw the attack struggle. Then the Warriors losing their back three took a lot of sting out of the Warriors sets, with the Warriors relying heavily on CNK, DWZ and Montoya to get them out of their own half with strong starts to the sets. The game was there for the taking, but unfortunately, it is just another game that the Warriors have let slip this season that could cost them a finals spot. I'm forever the optimist, so for now, I think they still have a shot if they put together a hell of a run, but time is running out.

Before moving on, let's discuss that missed call; I can't believe a call like that was missed; I delayed my review so I could tune into Graham Annesley's press conference, and he explained that the Bunker spent their review time of the incident trying to determine if the hit was high which they deemed it was not. However, they did not take into consideration that it was a late hit; the match review committee later deemed that it was a late tackle, which is why Salmon has been hit with a suspension. Annesley then confirmed that a penalty should have been given and that it was an unacceptable miss from the officials. I just don't understand how the Bunker can go back multiple sets and pick up little things but miss something as big as this moment. There was still time on the clock, and you could argue that the Warriors could have nailed the penalty and still lost after that, but with the season on the line, moments like this need to be officiated correctly; what happens if the Warriors miss out on the finals by a point and this mistake could be the reason. Don't get me wrong, they had more chances to ice this game, but the fact is they should have got the penalty and action like this just fuels the flames surrounding the belief that the officials are out to screw the Warriors. Still, perhaps I'm just bitter because I hate seeing the Warriors lose, and I had money on the game.

There were things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The heart on display was top-notch; losing your entire back three is a challenging situation to overcome, and to have forwards filling in some of those back spots, to be honest, had me expecting the Bulldogs to take advantage and run away with the match. However, the Warriors dug deep and defended their hearts out. This level of bravery is what we want to see every week, to see this side give it 100% regardless of how many obstacles are thrown at them; if they bring that mentality to every game, they will win more than they lose.

The forwards were on fire once again, with every player that had to play in the pack besides Marata Niukore and Freddy Lussick running for over 100 metres. Led once again by Mitchell Barnett (226m), he was followed by Addin Fonua-Blake (223m), Dylan Walker (190m), Kurt Capewell (126m), Jackson Ford (123m), Jazz Tevaga (122m) and Leka Halasima (108m). They just kept churning the metres and did their best to get the Warriors on the front foot; unfortunately, the halves struggled to take advantage of a lot of the pack's hard work, but I have to praise the team effort; the Warriors are no longer a team just carried by AFB, every forward is putting in the work and if they keep it up, things can turn around.

Lastly, Leka Halasima, what a debut from the 18-year-old, kicking it off with a solid hit up and then later on almost securing his side the win with a rampaging run down the sideline. Played more minutes than I think Webby originally planned and had to move out to the centres but did not shy away from digging in. Ending the match with 7 runs for 108m, 5 tackle breaks, 1 line break and 9 tackles; although he did miss 4, but I am giving him leeway after being moved out to centre. He is yet another impressive youngster we have watched this year, and it makes me hopeful for the future; fingers are crossed we get to see him a few more times this season.

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

Match Negatives

The lack of execution was a big letdown in this game. The forwards set the platform, but several plays ended with wayward kicks going out on the fool or silly no-look passes that missed the target. We also saw a penalty kick not reach the sidelines; it was just the little coach killers with the ball in hand that saw the Warriors not run away with this one. We can call it an off night, but the halves have some time before their next game to iron out the kinks and return composed.

There were too many errors from the Warriors here, making 13 in total, which was less than the Bulldogs 14. If they played with a bit more respect for the ball, then a couple more tires perhaps would have been scored, and the game would have been locked up before the final whistle. They just need to slow things down, don't push the passes and don't try to be too cute with silly plays. Get the basics right first, and the rest will follow.

Lastly, there are more injuries. We were given the news before kickoff that Tohu Harris was out, and then the Warriors lost CNK, DWZ and Marcelo Montoya, DWZ will be ready to return for the next game, but the others have no return date yet. The Warriors have been dealt an unlucky hand when it comes to the casualty ward this season, and hopefully, that ends soon. And we see these players return sooner rather than later, but if we want to put a positive spin on it, we have seen the youngster step up already this year so I expect them to do it again.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Mitchell Barnett.

Another standout performance from one of the Warrior's shining lights in 2024, had 24 runs for 226m, made 54 tackles, and had a try assist and almost a second if CHT kept hold of the ball. Has grown tenfold since joining the club and has to be in the conversation as a future captain of this side. He is one of the first names I would have down on the team sheet every week, and they just perform better when he is on the pitch. Has been rewarded for his efforts with a call-up to the New South Wales 17 for the game-three decider, which is well deserved and as much as I think he would deserve a break after that match, I think the Warriors need him to back up if they want to get the result.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve goes to Te Maire Martin.

I praised TMM last week, but this week, he was off his game. He was frank after the match about his performance, with his last tackle option not being the greatest this week, with some poor kicks and that pass that was intercepted. He defended well, but the Warriors need him firing on all cylinders with the ball in hand if they wish to make a run for the finals.

Bye Round and Round 20 Thoughts and Prediction

The Warriors have their second bye of the season in Round 19, which has come at the right time, given all the injuries they suffered against the Bulldogs. So it's a good chance to have some extra time for R&R and also a week to work on the issues troubling the side as they head into the finals stretch of the season. It also gives me a week off the reviews since I have already written my mid-season review.

After the bye, the Warriors head to the Australian capital to face the Canberra Raiders, who lost 16-12 to the Knights in Round 18. They also have a Bye in Round 19.

Regarding the team I would pick, I am going in with the assumption that Montoya and CNK will not be fit. So Taine Tuaupiki comes in at Fullback, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck moving to the wing and Ali Leiataua coming into the centres. I would keep the pack and bench the same (providing that Barnett and Capewell backup).

The Raiders have been on a decline and are currently on a four-game losing streak, but they can never be taken lightly, especially when they are at home. The Warriors just need to play it simple: Forwards control the middle and then the halves to get the backs into space. Defensively, if they can keep Kaeo Weekes quiet, then they should be able to reduce the Raiders' chances of piling on points. It's hard to predict the result two weeks out, but I am going in confident that the Warriors will use the bye week well and improve the small details and get the result, so I am going with a Warriors win by 8.

So, that was a heartbreaking Round 18, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What do you think of Annesley's explanation for the missed call?

Would you make any changes to the 17?

Can the Warriors go on a run after the bye?

What is your score prediction against the Raiders?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 17 Review: Warriors Ride Back Into Winners Circle With Victory Over Broncos

After their embarrassing Round 15 defeat to the Titans, the Warriors returned home to face the Broncos. The Warriors controlled possession early on and finished many of their opportunities, finding themselves back in the winner's circle with a 36-16 victory.

What Went Down

The Warriors hit the ground running, building pressure with their kicking game and defence, forcing the Broncos into making several errors, which handed the Warriors good field possession. They wasted little time, and in the 9th minute, Chanel Harris-Tavita broke the line and dived across the line for the first points of the evening. The home side kept forcing the Broncos to play from deep within their own half, and when they made a few more errors, the Warriors pounced again when Te Maire Martin finished off a strong Adam Pompey run by catching the markers sleeping, sniping out of the ruck for the second try of the night, seeing the Warriors lead 12-0 in the 16th minute. The sides started to trade sets and errors for a spell until a TMM grubber deflected off a Broncos player, and Harris-Tavita then beat Kotoni Staggs to the loose ball by cms for his second try of the night in the 27th minute. An error from the Warriors saw the Broncos finally get some possession in good field position and wasted little time when they put up a kick to the corner, which Marcelo Montoya dropped, which allowed Deine Mariner to scoop it and touch down for the Bronco's first try of the night in the 30th minute. The Warriors looked to regather the momentum as they surged up the field before, in the 36th minute, CHT evaded tacklers to cross for his third try; however, the Bunker deemed that Pompey had obstructed the Broncos and denied the try in what was the final play of note in the first half, seeing the Warriors go into the sheds leading 16-6.

The Broncos started the second half in a better mindset, running with intent in their first set, but the Warriors responded with a strong set of their own, ending with a big kick to the corner that Mariner looked to have knocked on. The official said play on, and the Warriors' defence saw the Broncos stuck within their own ten meters until a penalty for a high shot by Marata Niukore relieved the pressure. Selwyn Cobbo broke the line before flicking the ball to Ezra Mam, who was held up over the line, but the pass was deemed forward. Mam was involved again on the next set when he hit a 40/20, putting the Broncos in prime position again and, with the assistance of back-to-back six again calls, they were camped on the Warriors line for a spell, but they struggled to break through but earned themselves a dropout when they pushed a grubber through that was grounded by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the Warriors attempted a short drop out which was caught by Cobbo who turned and sprinted down the sideline and looked to have scored; however, the Bunker advised that he had knocked it on and the Broncos were awarded a penalty due to CNK not using arms in the try saving tackle. The Broncos kept pushing, and with another six again called in their favour, they spread the ball out to the right, with Tristian Sailor sending Mariner over in the 51st minute to reduce the Warrior's lead to 6. The home side got back on track and, a few sets later, extended their lead in the 58th minute when a TMM grubber bounced up perfectly for Tuivasa-Sheck to snatch and cross to extend their lead to 22-10. With a decent lead, the Warriors had control but left the door open for the visitors with another error and dangerous tackle penalty combo, and the Broncos looked to their giant Xavier Willison to bust the game open, charging up the middle to carry several defenders over the line as he scored in the 64th minute leaving the Warriors fans sitting on the edge of their seats of another potential last-minute defeat. The fans were able to lean back in their seats only a few sets later in the 68th minute when TMM kicked to the corner for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to pluck out of the sky before touching down. With a healthy lead and time running out, the Warriors decided they were not done yet as Freddy Lussick scored the final try of the night in the 72nd minute with a nice wrap-around play between him and Mitchell Barnett to see the Warriors end their 2-game losing streak with a 32-16 victory and extending the Broncos losing streak out to 4 matches.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a step back in the right direction after that dreadful after on the Gold Coast, I came into the match low on confidence, but as the game drew closer, that optimism started to sneak back in, especially when the Broncos announced that their Origin stars would not back up. The Warriors were not perfect, but against a team with many outs, they didn't just squeak out a tight win. They got a 16-point victory, which is precisely what the Doctor ordered. Many of the issues we saw last week improved, and the team seemed back on the same page. Despite being clunky at times, they worked as a unit, kept things relatively simple, and executed most of their opportunities. They missed a few scoring chances and need to reduce those six-again calls, but this is a good starting point as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive. The ladder is tight right now, and to stay in the mix, they just need to keep winning. It won't be easy, but if it was, then it wouldn't be the NRL. 

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

Match Positives

The forwards were back in a big way after missing the bus last week. Only three players cracked the triple-digit target I have set for them, Mitchell Barnett (184m), Dylan Walker (174m) and Addin Fonua-Blake (164m), all setting the platform, and most of the others in the pack were not far behind. We saw last week how poor the backs play if the big boys up front don't lay the platform, so as long as they play more like this from now on the Warriors will always have a fighting chance. 

The attack was still a bit clunky, but with the momentum the forwards built, we got to see Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita put the backs into scoring situations with a good mix of kicking options and passing plays. With SJ out for at least another three weeks, we will get to see the partnership of TMM and CHT build, and this should put them in the right spot to string wins together. 

The team's attitude improved tenfold from last week. Sitting at the game, I saw no bickering, and the teams all stood up and gave their all on both sides of the ball. This is all we really ask from the team week in and week out; if they give their all, everything else will fall into place. Putting my tinfoil hat on, I think the return of Barnett did wonders; you can see on the field that he is leading the troops in the huddles and just leads from the front and has to be almost a sure thing for player of the year honours at the end of the season.

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

Match Negatives

The Warriors' defence improved here, but they still struggled to defend on the back of penalties and errors. It wasn't a game-defining issue, but this could have turned the tide against a team with more strike power. It's just an attitude thing, and they need to be switched on from start to finish; on a positive note, it is something that they can work on.

The discipline was an issue; they conceded 7 penalties, gave away 2 ruck infringements and 2 inside the ten calls. That isn't the end of the world, and some of those calls were 50/50 at best, but several times during the contest, the Warriors just let off all the pressure they had created with a silly mistake. They just need to play to the whistle and keep squeaky clean as best as they can.

They just need to ice more of their opportunities; they left a few points on the field, and while it didn't cost them this match, it potentially could in the future. A few more weeks with the same squad named will help with the cohesion, and this should see them nail more of those scoring chances. It is just going to take some more reps.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the match goes to Te Maire Martin. Well, the Warriors are now 4-0 with TMM in the number 7, and he had a hell of a game here, playing a hand in 4 tries and scoring 1 himself. While he doesn't have the big boot of SJ, he is making up for it with his kick selection and just smart attacking plays. He is not as talented as SJ, but this team just seems to respond better when he leads the attack right now, which is all I care about. It will make for an interesting time for Webster when SJ is fit again.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve goes to Marcelo Montoya. It was hard to pick a player here this week, but I thought Montoya was the guy who pulled the short straw. He was busy running the ball out of the Warriors' half, ending the match with 127m, but he also made 2 errors, gave away a penalty, and had trouble marking Mariner. He is the only back at risk of demotion when the likes of Rocco Berry are ready to return.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

The Warriors head across to Sydney to face the Bulldogs, who defeated the Sharks in Golden Point in Round 17.

Regarding the team I would pick, I would keep the same 17, as they always say, don't change a winning side.

The Bulldogs have really turned things around this season and are edging closer to a top-four spot, but they have only earned one more win than the Warriors and have been playing a similar style, which may come from the former Panthers assistants having similar playbooks. They are no easy beats, and if the Warriors give away silly penalties again, then they could be in a world of trouble; however, if the Warriors pack can dominate the middle and the team can keep Matt Burton from unleashing his big boot, deny Stephen Crichton from any space and not get affected by Reed Mahoney's niggle, then they have a big chance of getting a much-needed win. It will be challenging, but I am backing the Warriors here, so I am picking a Warriors win by 6.

So, that was an improved Round 17, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who was your player of the match?

Would you make any changes to the 17?

Do you think the Warrior's finals dreams are over?

What is your score prediction against the Bulldogs?