NZ Warriors 2025 Round 6 Review: Warriors Wilt in Melbourne Mauling as Losing Streak Hits 17

After having their first Bye of 2025, the Warriors made the trip across the ditch to face the Storm.

The Melbourne Hoodoo continue here as the Warriors collapsed in a nightmare first half, conceding 36 unanswered points and losing Skipper James Fisher-Harris to injury in a 42-14 thrashing by the Storm.

What Went Down

The Warriors kicked off to start the match but managed to regain possession after the Storm made a lacklustre attempt to defuse the kick, setting themselves up deep in Storm territory. However, they let the home side off the hook with an error near the try line. The Storm pounced on the loose ball and surged upfield. After a few sets, they shifted it left, where Xavier Coates crossed in just the 2nd minute. Ryan Papenhuyzen converted to give Melbourne an early 6-0 lead.

Looking to build pressure, the Storm were halted briefly by an error from Jack Howarth, allowing the Warriors to start a set inside Melbourne's half. The Warriors couldn't break through the line despite a few strong carries. A clever grubber forced a dropout, and they recovered the short kick to earn another full set close to the line, but a loose pass on the last was intercepted by Coates.

Melbourne easily rolled up the field, but Jahrome Hughes mistimed a kick that sailed dead. The Warriors struggled to get into rhythm, with Erin Clark coughing up possession. Though they held strong defensively, another error handed the Storm another attacking opportunity. Again, the Warriors held firm, with Coates spilling a kick in-goal.

Finally completing a set, the Warriors looked to settle, but Hughes, despite carrying a shoulder knock, nailed a 40/20. The Storm wasted no time, with Josh King barging over in the 14th minute. Papenhuyzen made it 12-0.

After a brief back-and-forth, Melbourne blew the game open. Their offload game tore the Warriors apart, and a break from Coates set up Shawn Blore to score in the 20th minute. Another conversion from Papenhuyzen stretched the lead to 20-0.

On the very next set, the Storm went close again. Grant Anderson flew down the right edge and found Moses Leo, who looked sure to score, until Luke Metcalf pulled off a stunning try-saving tackle. However, the Warriors were penalised for Jackson Ford holding a player back, gifting Melbourne another chance. They made it count, with Trent Loiero diving over off an offload in the 23rd minute. The conversion made it 26-0, and Ford was sent to the sin bin for the infringement. To make matters worse, James Fisher-Harris was confirmed to be ruled out with a pec injury, leaving the Warriors with just three on the bench.

Down to 12 men, the Warriors couldn't hold the Storm out. Coates broke away again and handed it off to Harry Grant, who scored untouched in the 27th minute. Papenhuyzen's conversion pushed the margin to 30-0.

The onslaught continued. Melbourne went the length of the field on the next set, exploiting a bunched-up Warriors defence. They shifted right, and Anderson scored unopposed in the corner. Another Papenhuyzen conversion made it 36-0.

Melbourne kept the pressure on, winning a penalty deep in Warriors territory. A well-weighted early grubber from Papenhuyzen forced another dropout. The short restart didn't go to plan for the Warriors, giving the Storm more red-zone possession. They nearly scored again through Grant, but Demitric Vaimauga did well to strip the ball as the hooker dived over.

With time winding down in the first half, the Warriors finally got a penalty and looked sharper on the ball. Metcalf forced a dropout after a grubber was taken dead by Cameron Munster. The Storm's short dropout bounced awkwardly and stayed in the in-goal, giving the Warriors a golden opportunity 10 metres out. But they couldn't capitalise, with Rocco Berry spilling the ball as the halftime siren sounded. The Warriors went into the sheds trailing 36-0.

The Storm opted to rest Jahrome Hughes for the second half with the game pretty much in the bag. The Warriors looked focused early on, but handling errors continued to plague them. Adam Pompey spilled the ball on just their second set. However, their defense stood tall, and they earned a seven-tackle set when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad caught a Storm kick in-goal on the full. Unfortunately, Nicoll-Klokstad suffered a head knock on the very next play and was forced from the field for an HIA, he would not return.

Although the Warriors completed that set, they posed no real attacking threat. Both sides then traded sets until the Storm were awarded a penalty for a late hit on the kicker. The Warriors challenged the decision and were successful, with the bunker finding that Blore had illegally taken Rocco Berry out of play during his catch attempt. That flipped the penalty in the Warriors' favor.

A few tackles later, they earned another penalty for a high shot. Momentum seemed to be turning their way, but it didn't last. Vaimauga lost the ball near the tryline, wasting a promising opportunity.

A few sets on, the Warriors sparked to life after a powerful run from Ali Leiatua took them deep into Storm territory. Moments later, Chanel Harris-Tavita put a kick towards the goal line for Leka Halasima, who snatched it out of the air and muscled his way over the line in the 54th minute. Metcalf added the extras to make it 36–6.

With points finally on the board, the Warriors found some rhythm. A strong set followed by a Storm error from an intercepted pass gave them another chance. However, as pressure was building, Jackson Ford's handling error halted their momentum. The Storm made them pay, executing a smooth shift to the left that saw Xavier Coates streak downfield, brush off Taine Tuaupiki, and drag Metcalf over the line in the 58th minute. Papenhuyzen remained perfect with the boot, extending the Storm's lead to 42–6. Despite the margin, the Warriors kept fighting. In the 62nd minute, a cutout pass found Pompey, who powered his way over but was held up over the line. They then swung the ball right, only for Tuaupiki to spill it. The Storm nearly punished them again with some dangerous runs, but the Warriors hung on.

A strong burst from Erin Clark put the visitors back on the front foot. Metcalf tried to capitalise with a chip-and-chase but couldn't regather. On their next set, the Warriors were again on the Storm's line, but execution failed them; Capewell's mistimed pass to Berry flew into touch.

Melbourne then surged back upfield, only to lose the ball near the tryline. The Warriors returned the favor when Berry lost possession in a tackle. They challenged the call, but it was upheld.

The Storm threatened again with some half-breaks, but the Warriors defended gamely and earned a seven-tackle set when Munster's grubber went dead. The Warriors made it back to the Storm's red zone, a clever grubber from Clark almost resulted in a try for Vaimauga, but he lost the ball over the line.

With the result beyond doubt and several Storm stars resting, errors crept into their game, and finally, some fortune came the Warriors' way. A kick into the in-goal was picked up by Moses Leo, who lost the ball in contact, allowing Berry to pounce and score in the 74th minute. Metcalf missed the conversion, leaving the score at 42–10. In the final minute, a high shot on Metcalf gave the Warriors one last attacking set. This time, they executed perfectly, shifting the ball right until Metcalf spotted a gap and darted through to score in the 79th minute. He missed the conversion, and the match ended in a 42–14 defeat, marking the Warriors' 17th consecutive loss to the Storm.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a disappointing display. This losing streak is becoming too much of an anchor around the neck of this club. The Warriors started well with a nice kickoff, but the Storm tore them to shreds when they had to defend. It became hard to watch as the Storm turned the first half into a training run, making easy work of the Warriors' Defence. The loss of James Fisher-Harris early on did not help the Warriors' cause, but they had already conceded three tries before he left the match, so it wasn't like his injury caused this collapse. They just struggled against the Storm's second-phase football, an issue that was exposed in Vegas against the Raiders, too and something that needs to be sorted ASAP. They looked rattled and played like it, making plenty of silly errors. The second half did show signs of improvement with the Warriors looking more competitive; however, the Storm had taken off their key playmaker at that point. Leka Halasima made a significant impact but was only brought on in the second half; perhaps bringing him on earlier in the contest could have helped stop the Storm barrage, but we will never know. I said last round that there was still plenty to work on, but at least the Warriors showed slight improvements in each performance. But they took a big step backwards here, and the season only gets tougher, so they need to dust it off, focus on fixing what went wrong and get back to work.

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

Match Positives

As I already mentioned above, the Warriors showed some fight in the second half. The game was already over, but they didn't give up and continued to try to claw their way back into the contest. It's a shame they waited until it was 36-0 before that fight appeared, but at least it did, and we didn't have to witness another 70-10 smashing like we had to suffer in 2022. 

Hopefully, this heavy defeat provides a wake-up call to the team. I'm not in the inner circle, so I can only speculate, but perhaps after three wins in a row, the team started to buy into their own hype and got an embarrassing reminder of how far behind the top sides they still are. This performance should ground them and refocus them on the task at hand. It may be the ever-present optimist in me, but I want to see this team succeed, and the only way is up from here. They cannot let this loss derail them.

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

Match Negatives

The Warriors killed so many of their opportunities with silly errors that they ended the match with 14 in total. With no respect for the ball, they could not build any pressure, and as I've said countless times over the years, you cannot afford to hand any team in the NRL 14 extra sets. Most of the errors were simple schoolboy ones that showed a lack of concentration. They have been decent so far this season in keeping their mistakes low, so if they can return to their previous form, they can return to the winner's circle.

The attack still looks clunky and disjointed at times. Admittedly, most of the first half, they were either dropping the ball or defending, so we only got to see the attack properly in the second half; however, they struggled to ask many questions on the Storm's defensive line and had to rely on individual efforts to create thier opportunities, Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita are still learning to work together and while it doesnt look very cohesive right now the Warriors just need to stick with it and let their combination grow. Hopefully, the attack will start to look more dangerous soon.

Lastly, the injuries, losing James Fisher-Harris and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, did not make this match any easier. Still, I'm more concerned with the next few weeks. Fish is a massive loss upfront, but the young forwards in the club are eager for more responsibility, so I'm confident they will step up until he returns. It's the outside backs I'm more concerned with, the Warriors already have low back stocks, and now adding CNK to the injury ward sees the Warriors without any of their first-pick back three, which takes away plenty of firepower out of the Warriors' attack. I have my fingers crossed that they all return sooner than predicted.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Erin Clark.

Not the way Clark would have wanted his 100th NRL match to go, but he was only one of a select few who looked dangerous out there. Finished the game with 144 running meters and 31 tackles in his 44 minutes of playing time. Showed a bit more of his playmaking side with a nice little grubber that almost secured a try. He never showed any signs of giving up, even with the game out of reach, and he consistently bent the defensive line when he got hold of the ball. I was skeptical of Clark's signing when it was announced, but he has impressed me every week and is making that Lock position his own and becoming a key figure in this Warriors pack.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Marata Niukore.

After this performance, there were many options for this category, but I went for Niukore because I barely noticed him out there. He made nine runs for 74 metres and made 26 tackles with only two misses. However, when the Warriors lost James Fisher-Harris early, I expected to see him step up and play a more significant role, and he just didn't rise to the occasion. He can be a devastating ball runner, but the Warriors need him to contribute more consistently, especially with James Fisher-Harris potentially missing many matches.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 7, the Warriors return to Mt Smart to host the Broncos, who also suffered defeat in Round 6, going down 26-16 to the Roosters.

As for the team I'd select, with the likely absences of James Fisher-Harris and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, there needs to be some changes. For CNK, I would move Taine Tuaupiki to fullback and bring Ed Kosi back onto the wing. For JFH, I would move Bunty Afoa or Jackson Ford to the starting lineup and bring Jacob Laban onto the bench. Rocco Berry looks set to miss a week or two with a ban for a head high, so if he is out, I don't know who else to bring in with the current low back stocks so perhaps Moala Graham-Taufa gets the callup.

The Broncos have been inconsistent this season. They are almost unbeatable at their best, but when they have an off day, they have weaknesses that can be exploited. To walk away with a victory here, the Warriors must wrap the ball carrier up and stop the offloads. The Warriors will be missing some talent, so the rest of the team needs to step up to fill the void, especially in the pack, as they need to shut Payne Haas down, in the backs, they just need to mark up and reduce the time and space that Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh have, do that and reduce thier errors then they do have a chance. However, I think the Broncos will be too strong with the Warriors down on men and confidence, and I'm picking the Broncos to win by 16.

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

Who was your player of the match?

Did this loss dampen your finals expectations?

Who are you bringing in to replace the missing players?

What is your score prediction against the Broncos?

NZ Warriors 2025 Round 4 Review: Warriors Dig Deep to Edge Tigers, Extend Streak to Three

After their hard-fought victory over the Roosters, the Warriors travelled to a wet and windy Sydney to face a Wests Tigers side coming off a 30-18 win over the Dolphins.

It was another gritty contest as the Warriors found themselves trailing on the scoreboard several times. However, a standout play from one of their emerging young forwards and a clutch 40-meter penalty goal from their young halfback helped them secure a 26-24 victory, extending their winning streak to three.

What Went Down

The Warriors forced a dropout early but couldn't capitalize. They kept the pressure and were rewarded in the 4th minute, when Adam Pompey broke through, fending off multiple defenders to score, with Luke Metcalf converting for a 6-0 lead. A penalty against Jarome Luai gave the Warriors momentum, but an error from Marata Niukore handed possession back. After sustained pressure, the Tigers earned a penalty and leveled the score in the 11th minute when Fonua Pole crashed over. Api Koroisau converted to make it 6-6.

Both sides traded sets in wet conditions, with handling errors creeping in. The Warriors earned multiple penalties, camping on the Tigers' line. Wayde Egan burrowed over from dummy half but was held up before Marata Niukore powered over a few plays later in the 33rd minute. Metcalf converted, putting the Warriors ahead 12-6.

Just before halftime, the Tigers struck back. Lachlan Galvin sent Alex Seyfarth through a gap, who offloaded to Starford To'a for a runaway try. Tallyn Da Silva's conversion leveled the scores at 12-12 to close the half.

The Warriors struck early in the second half when Wayde Egan spotted a gap, linking with Chanel Harris-Tavita to send Luke Metcalf over in the 41st minute. Metcalf converted to give them an 18-12 lead.

A high shot from Jarome Luai on Ed Kosi gave the Warriors good field position, but Kosi was forced off for an HIA. They built pressure on the Tigers' goal-line, but Bunty Afoa was held up before a loose pass ended their attack.

A penalty against Marata Niukore helped the Tigers push forward, and in the 49th minute, a Lachlan Galvin grubber was pounced on by Solomona Faataape. Api Koroisau converted to level the scores. Minutes later, the Tigers struck again, with Latu Fainu slicing through in the 52nd minute. Another Koroisau conversion made it 24-18.

The Warriors struggled for momentum, with errors and poor last-tackle options keeping them on the back foot. The Tigers almost extended their lead, but Terrell May lost the ball over the line, and moments later, a Jahream Bula try was denied for obstruction.

Momentum shifted when Leka Halasima sprinted down the sideline in the 69th minute, breaking tackles to score. Metcalf converted, tying the game at 24-all. A high shot on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad minutes later gave Metcalf a 40-metre penalty attempt, which he nailed to put the Warriors ahead 26-24.

The Tigers, feeling the pressure, lost their composure. A late attacking chance ended when they had no dummy half, allowing the Warriors to dive on the loose ball and seal a gritty victory 26-24.

My Thoughts

Well, this was another character-building performance from the Warriors; they definitely made it hard for themselves at times. Around the hour mark, they looked almost certain to remain winless away from Auckland; they looked rattled for a spell, but they found a way to turn the momentum in their favor and get the job done.

The weather was awful, which caused a few more errors than either side would have liked, but both sides put together some nice attacking plays with some second-phase football and threw caution to the wind, making for an exciting yet nerve-racking match to watch. This was another match where the Warriors didn't panic even when behind on the scoreboard; they just kept pushing forward. This side's resilience since Round 2 has been the most pleasing aspect for me of this squad; they have faced adversity and pressure and found a way to still wind up on top. As I said last week, the true mettle of this side will be tested when they face a top-four side, which is just around the corner, so we don't have long to wait to see how much fight this team actually has. 

Back to the match, the forwards did their job well. Six of the pack ran for over 100 metres. For most of the contest, they won the battle up front, giving the backs more time and room to make attacking plays. Unfortunately, a combination of the Tigers' solid defence and the Warriors' attack left wanting at times, there were plenty of missed chances. However, with some fine-tuning, those missed opportunities will become points. The Warriors' defence was good for most of the game. Still, there were moments where there was either missed communication or they just switched off for a spell, which was all the Tigers needed to score some easy points, and if they had been a bit more clinical, they may have wrapped the game up with those two tries that were disallowed. But the NRL is full of what-ifs, and the Warriors found themselves on the right side of things this time. They find themselves 3-1 as they enter the bye and in a pretty sweet spot, but things will get more challenging after that with matches against the Storm, Broncos and Knights so they will need to use the bye week to rest up those niggles and work on improving the facets of thier game that are lacking a bit, if they do that and secure a win or two in those next three rounds, a finals spot is not as crazy as I thought it would be before the season kicked off. However, I want to see this side continue to improve each week without looking too far ahead.

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

Match Positives

This side just keeps finding a way to win the tight ones this season, which is the polar opposite of the Warriors team we saw in 2024. They don't seem to panic as much when they are chasing games. A more composed mindset is keeping them in the fight, and that needs to continue as you cannot expect to always be in front when you are playing in the NRL. In my end-of-year review last year, I said that if the Warriors had won a handful of the games they lost by a try, they would have been playing finals, so fingers crossed they continue to be on the winning side of these tight tussles.

The call-ups did their job. Rocco Berry was named, like I predicted, but he injured his hamstring, which saw Edward Kosi enter the lineup. As I said last week, I did not have a lot of faith in him being able to get the job done. He proved me wrong, running for 200 metres and only making two errors. He was safe under the high ball and did enough to keep his spot after the bye. Kosi is a confidence player, so I hope this performance allows him to find another level if he is named in Round 6. With the shock news of Dylan Walker leaving midweek to join the Eels, Bunty Afoa got the call-up to join the bench, had an active 25 minutes running for 114 meters and making 15 tackles. I had him in my Round One predicted team. While I was wrong there, I am happy to see him get his chance and not let anyone down, and I expect him to feature in the gameday 17 for the rest of 2025.

Lastly, Leka Halasima, man, this kid just continues to impress. He got another 30 minutes in this match but will be remembered for his 70-meter try, streaking down the sideline before bumping off two defenders to score in a great display of his speed and power. His power was also displayed in the rest of his performance, constantly being a handful for defenders to try and get to the ground. He is still very young and raw, but he is brimming with potential, and as exciting as his first NRL try was, we will surely see many more from the young forward. It's a matter of when, not if, that Halasima becomes a star in the NRL, and ensuring he remains a Warrior for a long time must be at the top of the front office's to-do list.

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

Match Negatives

As I mentioned above, there were moments in this game when it looked like the Warriors switched off. These were brief lapses, but they became scoring opportunities for the Tigers. The Warriors will need to work on being present for 80 minutes, as teams like the Storm, Broncos, and Panthers will run away with games if you give them a sniff. This side has heart and has shown they will not quit on each other, so if those lapses disappear, it will make them much tougher to defeat.

Some of the Warriors' fifth-tackle options were subpar, and some wayward passes and kicks saw them waste some scoring opportunities. The halves are still working on developing their partnership, and cohesion will come in time; they just need to keep fine-tuning. The forwards will continue to play their part and try to win the middle battle to give them enough time to create attacking plays; they will just need to make the most of it, and I'm confident they can do it.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Wayde Egan.

Another outstanding performance from Egan here, was electric running out of dummy half, never missing an opportunity to dart out of the ruck when the Tigers' markers were not paying attention. Also made 45 tackles with 5 misses and continues to remain healthy, which has always been his most significant issue. I'm unsure if he can continue playing for 80 every week. I don't know what the Warriors' plan is if he gets hurt during a match, but the Warriors' attack looks more threatening with him on the pitch, so long may his injury-free run continue. 

Warrior to Improve

I have no Warrior to improve this week, as I couldn't find any player in the 17 who let the side down.

Not everyone was perfect, but they all gave it 100%, which is all we can ask for.

Bye Round and Round 6 Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 5, the Warriors get their first bye of the season. It's a bit earlier than last season, but it's a good time to get some extra time for R&R and work on the issues I highlighted above as they prepare for the tough run of matches coming up. They are sitting in a good spot right now, but they can't get ahead of themselves and need to remain grounded as it's still very early days.

After the bye, the Warriors head to Melbourne to face the Storm, who play the Sea Eagles in Round 5.

As for the team I'd select, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will still be unavailable, so I am sticking with the same 17 that played in Sydney. None of the players in this game did anything to warrant a demotion, so I would reward them with another shot.

The Storm have been good this season, with strong efforts against the Eels and Panthers, but they did suffer a shocking defeat to the Dragons this Round. The match against the Sea Eagles hasn't happened yet. Still, it will be another tough one, but they will likely welcome the return of Jahrome Hughes when they face the Warriors in Round 6, which will make them very tough to beat. For the Warriors to end their Storm losing streak, which has seen them not record a victory over Melbourne since 2015, they need to not take a back step and make every scoring opportunity count; they cannot have any defensive lapses and give the Storm spine no time or room to play. I believe they have the ability to secure the victory, but unfortunately, I think the Storm are just too strong, so I am going with a Storm win by 12, but I hope I'm wrong.

So, that was a nerve-racking but positive Round 4, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Do you have a player to improve?

Would you make any changes to the gameday 17 for Round 6?

How confident are you that the Warriors could be a finals team this season?

What is your score prediction against the Storm?

NZ Warriors 2025 Round 3 Review: Warriors’ Grit Shines in Hard-Fought Roosters Win

After their surprising but pleasing upset victory over the Sea Eagles, the Warriors remained on NZ Soil to host a Roosters side riding the high of their own upset win over the Panthers in Round 2.

It wasnt a pretty performance, but the Warriors showed their grit and determination to overtake the Roosters, walking away with their first win over the Sydney side since 2018, 14-6.

What Went Down

The match kicked off with both teams showing plenty of energy but struggling to turn their attacking raids into points. Early errors and stout defensive efforts kept the game scoreless through the opening 20 minutes, as neither team could establish a rhythm.

The Roosters finally broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, courtesy of Naufahu Whyte’s powerful determination. Executing a well-timed hit-and-spin move near the posts, Whyte crashed over the line, giving the Roosters a much-needed breakthrough.

But the Warriors weren’t rattled. They hit back almost immediately, responding four minutes later when Leiataua slid over the line to score his second try in as many weeks. The try highlighted the Warriors’ ability to strike quickly, even when under pressure.

Despite a growing HIA toll that saw Victor Radley cleared to return while Connor Watson was ruled out, the Roosters continued to press. They nearly extended their lead when Mark Nawaqanitawase made a blistering run down the sideline, chipping ahead and regathering the ball with remarkable skill. However, his effort went unrewarded as the former Wallaby slid over the dead-ball line before grounding the ball, leaving the Roosters frustrated.

The narrow escape kept the scoreline tight, with the Roosters holding a slim 6-4 lead as the teams headed into the halftime break.

The second half began much like the first, with both teams locked in a physical battle, neither willing to give an inch. The Roosters attempted to seize control following a brilliant 40/20 kick from Chad Townsend, setting them up with a prime attacking position.

However, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had other plans. In a moment of brilliance, the Warriors’ fullback produced a sensational try-saving tackle on Dominic Young, denying what looked to be a certain try. Unfortunately for the Warriors, RTS's heroic effort came at a cost, as he limped off the field with a hamstring injury, dealing the visitors a significant blow.

The Warriors’ woes continued when James Tedesco’s desperate defensive effort held Adam Pompey up over the line, preventing another golden opportunity for the home side. Both teams continued to battle for dominance as the tension mounted, knowing the next score could prove decisive.

Finally, in the 65th minute, the Warriors broke through. Chanel Harris-Tavita chased down his own bomb, leaping to snatch it out of Tedesco's grasp, to the delight of the 23,219 fans in attendance. The try gave the Warriors the lead and injected them with renewed energy and belief.

Just five minutes later, Leiataua struck again to seal the win. Latching onto a crisp pass from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was celebrating his 50th game for the club, Leiataua powered his way over the line, pushing the Warriors’ lead beyond a converted try and effectively putting the result beyond doubt.

In the final moments, the Warriors maintained control, and their defence held firm to secure a hard-earned victory in a match filled with drama, resilience, and brilliant individual efforts.

My Thoughts

Well, it wasn't the prettiest game, but I left the stadium feeling reasonably happy with the Warriors' performance. Despite their attack looking disjointed for large parts of the match, the Warriors dug deep and kept grinding away.

Neither side was at their best, but the Warriors capitalized more effectively on the Roosters' mistakes. That's now two weeks in a row where the Warriors didn’t panic or drop their heads. Although it’s still early in the season, their resilience gives me more confidence that they could be genuine finals contenders. When the going gets tough, this team shows it can stay in the fight. Of course, it’s still early days, and the real test will come when they face a top-four side.

Overall, it was a solid effort. Players I had doubts about, like Kurt Capewell and Jackson Ford, put in strong performances, and most of the squad stepped up, apart from one or two who didn’t quite meet expectations. Still, I’m hoping that’s just a blip rather than the start of a bigger issue. 

The forwards played hard, while the backs, though looking a bit lost at times, still posed a real threat.

I know some people are calling it a bludger of a match, but I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Maybe being in the live crowd amplified that feeling, but it was a tight tussle with the game hanging in the balance until about the 70th minute. It wasn’t try-a-minute footy, but it was thrilling for me just the same.

The pace issues are still concerning, especially with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s injury. However, the scrambling defence has been steadily improving, successfully shutting down the Roosters’ speedsters or pressuring them into making mistakes.

There’s still plenty to work on, which isn’t unusual three weeks into the season. Honestly, I’d be more worried if the Warriors looked perfect from the start without any room for growth. But the fact that they’re building on their performances each week makes me more excited for this season, especially since I came into it feeling pretty low on optimism.

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

Match Positives

The youngsters, particularly Ali Leiataua, are starting to shine. 

The Warriors only made three linebreaks in this match. Two of them were by Leiataua, who was constantly a threat with the ball in hand and showed great defensive efforts with a handful of bone-rattling hits. It's great to see him finally getting his chance to impress after several injury-affected runs in previous seasons. He has a superstar written all over him, and it's great to see him gain confidence.

Leka Halasima also fits in this positive, with an outstanding 30 minutes from him while the game was in the balance.

I talked last week about how the Warriors need to ensure that either Barnett or Fisher-Harris remain on the pitch at all times, and that didn't last a week with Webster parking them on the bench together for an extended period. However, instead of the usual lull we see from the Warriors when the starting front-rowers are off the field (I include the previous seasons when AFB was with the club, too), the rest of the forwards fronted up and didn't let the Roosters pack gain the upper hand. Jackson Ford silenced my criticism about him lacking impact off the bench, running for 151 metres; if Ford and the rest of the pack can fill the hole left by the skippers, then the Warriors will be a stronger outfit and more challenging for teams to take down so long may it continue.

Lastly, is Mt Smart (Go Media Stadium) becoming a fortress again? In 2024, the Warriors only had 4 wins at their official home ground despite sell-out crowds every week trying to get them across the line. This season, so far, they are now two from two. Winning the majority of your home matches makes climbing that ladder easier, and the vocal crowd seems to make the environment intimidating, so the Warriors need to continue to take advantage of it, especially when the next three matches at their traditional home are going to be challenging (Broncos, Raiders and Panthers).

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

Match Negatives

The Warriors won, but their performance was far from polished. Their attack often lacked cohesion, and poor execution and miscommunication led to missed chances and errors. The kicking game also lacked precision, failing to build pressure or create scoring opportunities.

Despite these issues, they managed to get across the line thanks to moments of individual brilliance. Flashes of skill and creativity from key players broke the game open when their structured play couldn’t. However, their struggles near the try line and inability to consistently build pressure remain concerns. Against a more clinical opponent, these flaws could have been costly. The Warriors need to sharpen their attack and improve their kicking game to stay competitive.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s injury is a significant concern, especially given the current depleted state of the Warriors’ outside backs. He suffered a hamstring injury, and while the exact severity remains unclear, he'll likely be sidelined for at least this week’s clash against the Tigers. With the Warriors fortunate enough to have a bye the following week, it provides Roger with a valuable window to focus on his recovery. Hopefully, the extra rest and rehabilitation will be enough for him to return to full fitness in time for the Round 6 matchup, as my confidence in the players that may replace him is not that high.

Warrior of the Match

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

After a few weeks of heavy criticism over his performances, I was eager to see him respond with a display that reminded us of his capabilities. In his 50th game for the Warriors, he more than delivered. With 316 running meters, seven tackle breaks, and sent Leiatau over for both of his tries, he was everywhere. His energy never faltered, especially in the final 10 minutes, when he elevated his impact. Solid in defence and always charging forward, CNK’s performance was a perfect reminder of his relentless commitment. It showed that while milestones are meaningful, his true value lies in his work ethic and heart.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Luke Metcalf.

Being a young halfback in the NRL comes with its challenges, and Metcalf had a tough night. He made a few errors, made some poor decisions on his last tackle options, struggled with his short-kicking game and had a bad night at the kicking tee, kicking 1/3. He also shied away from his running game, only making two runs for 9 meters. A few weeks ago, Shaun Johnson mentioned that Metcalf needs to maintain a run-first mindset, as that’s when he plays his best and can create openings in the defence.

It wasn’t all bad, though. Metcalf did contribute to Leiatua’s tries with some nice passes, but overall, it was a disappointing performance for the young half. While the Warriors came away with the win, the coaching staff will undoubtedly review his performance in detail this week. Metcalf must bounce back strongly against the Tigers to regain his confidence.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 4, the Warriors travel across the ditch for the first time this season to take on the Wests Tigers, who secured a come-from-behind victory over the Dolphins, winning 30-18.

As for the team I'd select, I'm sticking with the same 17 players, with one change, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck likely being out. I would bring in Rocco Berry and move Adam Pompey to the wing. I have more confidence in Pompey and Berry than I would in bringing Ed Kosi or Morgan Harper into the side.

The Tigers have had a strong start to the season, with the additions of Jarome Luai, Terrell May, and Sunia Turuva having a significant impact on their performance. They defend solidly and create plenty of scoring opportunities through second-phase play. For the Warriors to secure a win, they need to wrap up the ball carriers to prevent offloads, contain May, and apply pressure on Luai to limit his time and ability to set up his strike weapons. It won’t be an easy task, especially playing in Sydney, but I believe the Warriors are up for the challenge and will come away with a 10-point victory.

So, that was a hearty Round 3, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who would you replace RTS with?

Do you back Metcalf to bounce back this week?

How crucial was this win for the Warriors in terms of building confidence early in the season?

What is your score prediction against the Wests Tigers?

NZ Warriors 2025 Round 2 Review: Warriors Recover from Vegas Stumble, Soaring Past Sea Eagles

After their disappointing Vegas showing, the Warriors returned home to New Zealand to host a Sea Eagles side buoyant after their dominating Round 1 victory over the Cowboys.

My lack of confidence in the Warriors' ability to stay competitive with Manly proved unfounded. After a scratchy start, the Warriors took control of the match and showed more of their attacking potential, cruised to a 36-16 victory.

What Went Down

Manly made it look like it was going to be a tough watch for the 21,212 fans watching live in the stadium, taking only 4 minutes to get on the scoreboard after Reuben Garrick sent Jason Saab into open space before he got the ball back to Tom Trbojevic who finished the play untouched, Garrick missed the conversion but added a penalty goal in the 10th minute to give Manly a 6-0 lead. The visitors then squandered a couple of opportunities via a dropped ball and a forward pass, the Warriors capitalized on these when Luke Metcalf put Chanel Harris-Tavita over in the 18th minute to level the scores. The home side then looked to take control of the match scoring two more tries in the space of four minutes, the first in the 25th minute when Taine Tuaupiki received a cutout pass from Metcalf and stepped back inside, evading several defenders to dive over near the posts, then in the 29th minute Metcalf was involved again throwing a shortball to Ali Leiataua who crashed over, handing the Warriors a 18-6 lead as both sides entered the sheds for halftime.

Manly started the second half the same way they started the first, taking advantage of some errors and poor discipline from the Warriors. They were rewarded in the 45th minute when Luke Brooks threw a long pass to Saab, who flew down the edge and dived over in the corner. It appeared that he lost control of the ball while grounding; however, the Bunker deemed that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision. The Warriors didn't let the decision rattle them and were back on the scoring sheet after Wayde Egan scooped up a dropped ball from Taniela Paseka and sprinted down the field, he was caught, but the Warriors continued to pile on pressure. A few plays later Egan sniped out of dummy half and burrowed his way over the line in the 49th minute. Both sides traded sets for a spell before Manly reduced the lead in the 55th minute after Tom Trbojevic sent Saab down the sideline, the winger then kicked into the ingoal area where Garrick tapped the ball back to Daly Cherry-Evans who grounded the ball. It was another questionable try with the Bunker taken several minutes to review the play before once again giving the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team in a decision that showered the field with boo's from the crowd. Those boo's changed to cheers with 15 minutes left when Jake Trbojevich was sent to the sin bin after Mnaly conceded thier 11th set restart of the match. During his absence, the Warriors found the tryline again in the 70th minute after they shifted to the left before Adam Pompey threw a slick offload to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who cut back inside and charged over the line through several defenders. In the match's dying stages, Manly saw Tom Trbojevich and DCE leave the field with injury complaints that appear to be minor, but with the game out of reach, it was not worth pushing through. With the game winding down, the Warriors finished in style with Tuaupiki intercepting a Brooks Harbour Bridge pass, he offloaded to Leiataua who then sent Metcalf away to score under the posts with his conversion securing the Warriors their first win of 2025, 36-16.

My Thoughts

Well, I have never been happier to be wrong. Last week, I predicted a 12-point Sea Eagles win. After their impressive 42-12 win over the Cowboys in Round One, I expected a similar scoreline here. After Tommy Turbo scored in the first five minutes, those fears lingered. However, the Warriors stayed composed and fought their way into the contest before taking control, it wasnt the best performance with some patchy moments, but they took advantage of Manly's ill-discipline and punished them for it. 

While sticking with the same 17 did rub some of the fanbase the wrong way, the players stood up and improved from their Vegas performance, which is all we can ask for at this point in the season. 

It looks like Andrew Webster took note that the changes he made an hour before kickoff in Round One did not work, and thankfully, he did not tinker and allowed Erin Clark to start. He did not disappoint, he also figured out a better way to use Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris as a unit, roughly giving both 60 mins each and ensuring that at least one of them was on the field at all times. This is a must if the Warriors want to be successful in 2025 with the rest of the prop rotation either not being able to cover for both of them being off the field or Webster not trusting his young players to do that job just yet, however it was promising to see Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima both get some decent stints on the pitch. 

I still worry about the lack of pace the side has and they were found wanting when the Manly speedsters found open space, but in fairness, players like Saab and Turbo are elite regarding speed, but it is still something to be concerned about long-term. However, while there is plenty that the side needs to work on, it was their best performance at home since their Round 17 win over the Broncos last season, that they won 32-16 so it was good to see them win and win well and hopefully it's a confidence booster that leads to more wins on the bounce.

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

Match Positives

After being bullied in Round One, the Warriors pack looked more formidable in this match with four of the pack hitting my triple digit target, (Erin Clark 150m, James Fisher-Harris 130m, Mitchell Barnett 120m and Jackson Ford 110m), this is only one more than last week but the rest of the forwards despite not hitting the big numbers they kept the Warriors rolling forward. This allowed the Warriors more time and space to create scoring opportunities. It's not rocket science, but if the pack can get the edge in the battle in the middle, it makes winning easier, so if they can build on the platform from this performance, then the Warriors should be in the fight every week.

The Warriors' attack looked better this week but was still very clunky in patches. However, they had more ideas with the ball in hand. They heaped pressure up the middle of the field, which created gaps out on the edges, and more often than not, they turned those into scoring opportunities. There still needs to be fine-tuning as there were still a few mistimed passes and poor choices, but I think this is an attacking system that they can build on and make more dangerous, they just have to keep working on the combinations.

I was critical of Webster's interchange usage last week, but I thought he was better with it this week, ensuring that Barnett or Fisher-Harris was always on the field helped keep the Warriors in control of the battle. Dylan Walker had fewer minutes this week, but the way Erin Clark performed didn't impact the overall performance. Jackson Ford still seems like the tricky option, starting him takes the sting out of the pack and bringing him off the bench doesn't provide a lot of impact either, so I would look at swapping him out for a more impactful bench forward like Bunty Afoa or Tom Ale. However, it was promising to see the bench being used a bit better. Some tinkering is still needed, but it was a hell of an improvement from Vegas.

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

Match Negatives

I didn't have many negatives this week, but the Warriors had some issues defending out wide. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck rushed several times, giving the Sea Eagles open space down the edge. I'm unsure if this was an issue in the middle of the defensive line or if he lacked confidence in Adam Pompey. Still, whatever the problem was, it needs to be addressed and fixed now, as all opposition sides will have that marked in their game plan and will be attacking that edge heavily until they sort it out.

Lastly, the Bunker. Two of the Sea Eagles' three tries were questionable, and I am biased, so I thought they got both calls wrong. Thankfully, this did not change the result, but it feels like the Bunker never improves, as those were not the only shocking calls that happened in Round 2. It always sounds like sour grapes when you complain about officials, but they still need to be held accountable if they make mistakes, I'm happy that the game wasnt ruined by some poor decisions.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Wayde Egan.

Egan had a great game. He led the Warriors in tackles, making 41 in his 80 minutes. 

He also kept himself busy on attack running for 143 metres of 10 carries. When Egan is lively around the ruck, it opens up many attacking avenues everywhere in the park. He needs the pack to do their part to open the gates, but when they do, he needs to deliver more performances like this. 

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Adam Pompey.

This was a tough one as I struggled to pick out any player that let the side down, and I may be harsh picking Pompey, but he was the back with the least amount of running metres with only 39, add to that the defensive issues with him and RTS (although he may not be at fault as I mentioned above). It was just a quiet night for him, but he delivered a fantastic offload for RTS to score and I expect him to bounce back this week with more significant numbers.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 3, the Warriors will remain at Go Media Stadium to host the Roosters, who scored probably the biggest upset of Round 2, defeating the Panthers 38-32.

Regarding the team I would pick, I would still stick with the same 17, unless they want to drop Ford for Afoa. However, the team showed improvement this Round, and I expect that after another week, we will see more improvement again.

The Roosters are a hard team to predict right now, I expecting them to get crushed by the Panthers, but they played with heart and just refused to quit. Their defence was a bit suspect and they almost let the Panthers steal the win, so as good as the win was, there were still weaknesses that the Warriors can exploit. For the Warriors to win here, they just need more of what we saw against Manly, the pack needs to control the tempo and give the halves time and space to test that suspect Rooster defence. The Rooster's have dangerous players on the edges so they will need to restrict the amount of open field they give them. I am more hopeful this week so I am picking the Warriors to get the win here by 16.

So, that was a better Round 2, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Did you have a player to improve?

Would you make any changes to the 17?

Are there any players in NSW Cup that you would like to get a chance in the top side?

What is your score prediction against the Roosters?

NZ Warriors 2025 Round 1 Review: Warriors’ Vegas Nightmare as Raiders Deliver Brutal Defeat

With the preseason officially behind us, the NRL is back, and Round 1 saw the Warriors start their campaign over in the big lights of Las Vegas against the Raiders.

The Warriors were out of sync from the start, as the Raiders took control early and dominated their way to a convincing 30-8 victory.

What Went Down

Canberra wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Sebastian Kris opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Charging towards the line, he fended off multiple defenders before stretching out to plant the ball down.

The Warriors struggled to find any rhythm, with the Raiders' aggressive line speed and punishing defence forcing costly errors. Tom Starling then burst out of the ruck into open space, setting up a slick backline move that saw Xavier Savage cross in the 26th minute for a 10-0 lead.

The Warriors finally had a chance inside Canberra's red zone, but a misplaced Luke Metcalf pass was pounced on by Savage, who sprinted 80 metres untouched to bag his second try in the 31st minute. Suddenly, the Raiders were up 16-0.

The Warriors hit back in the 35th minute when Luke Capewell finished off a well-executed left-edge attack, but a missed conversion left them trailing 16-4 at halftime.

Needing a fast start to the second half, the Warriors found themselves under more pressure instead. A towering bomb from Jamal Fogarty led to a Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad error, and Kris was there to scoop up the loose ball for his second try just four minutes in.

By the 55th minute, the game was slipping away. Matthew Timoko powered through a tiring Warriors defence to score untouched, with Fogarty's conversion pushing the lead to 28-4.

A Joseph Tapine sin-bin in the 65th minute gave the Warriors a glimmer of hope, and they eventually capitalised when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck muscled his way over in the 71st minute, carrying multiple defenders to score in the corner. But any thoughts of a comeback were short-lived, as a Fogarty penalty goal in the 75th minute sealed Canberra's 30-8 victory.

My Thoughts

Well, that wasn't the performance I was expecting. I expected this match to be a tight contest, with the Warriors' pack giving them the edge and ultimately the victory. However, I was way off the mark. The Raiders controlled this match from start to finish, with a barrage of offloads with the ball in hand and a massive defensive effort, shutting down most of the Warriors' attack. It was a hard watch and shows that there is plenty of work to be done for the squad.

Overall, the Warriors looked slow and appeared to lack direction. The changes to the starting 13 did not work, and the use of the interchange left plenty to be desired, but I will discuss that more below. They showed glimpses of their potential but struggled without the forwards' platform. It's a long way to travel and lose; however, it provided a suitable lesson on what needs to be improved in the week and a half before round two. 

My biggest concern with the side currently is its general lack of speed. They looked to be running at half pace compared to the Raiders; if that theme continues for the rest of the year, the Warriors will be in trouble.

I know there is a lot of noise from the fan base about selections and who needs to be dropped however I think there is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water just yet, in this new era of the Warriors perhaps some consistency in the game day 17 would be more beneficial to the teams overall success, but if the team shows no signs of improvement in the next few rounds then Webster may need to rethink his plans.

It wasn't the best start to the season, and there wasnt much to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

Full credit to the fans who travelled to the States for this match. From everything I've seen online, it looked like a blast, and it isn't cheap, so it's a great commitment for those who made the journey. Unfortunately, the team didn't respond in the way we all expected, which may make for a dreary flight home. However, seeing all those Warriors jerseys in the crowd was incredible.

Hopefully, this performance was precisely what the doctor ordered to kick the side in the pants and wake them up, as plenty of the issues can be worked on and fixed. Perhaps the occasion got to them, but that may be my optimism coming out. I want to see this team succeed; the only way is up from here.

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

Match Negatives

The forwards were just outright bullied in this match, only three forwards managed to crack 100 metres (Erin Clark 130m, James Fisher-Harris 117m and Jackson Ford 103m). With the pack unable to get the Warriors marching up the field the halves did not have the platform to put the backs into scoring situations, I think some of that maybe down to the rotations but in essence The Warrior's pack we're just overpowered and will need to get that sorted before the next game, how they do that I am not sure yet but if they don't sort this then we're in for a long season.

The Raiders' second-phase football just murdered the Warriors' defence. They ended the match with 17 offloads, leaving the Warriors' defensive line in tatters. It's schoolboy stuff, but you must wrap the ballcarriers' arms and eliminate that offload game. Add to that the lack of speed. The Warriors will be in trouble whenever a team has the freedom to offload at this level. Communication and trust will be key, as well as improving the defence and shutting down the second phase.

Lastly, Webster's use of his bench, I have long been vocal about Webster's struggles with his rotation and had hoped it would be one of the things he worked on in the offseason, however, we appear to be seeing the same head scratching changes. The late change to the starting 13 did not work and ultimately messed up all the future interchange uses. If Jackson Ford is going to be in the 17, he needs to either be starting second row or on the bench, Mitch Barnett needs to go back to prop, and Erin Clark starting at lock. Then you can bring Dylan Walker on for Clark when some of the forwards are beginning to fatigue. Also, if you are going to have Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima on the bench, you need to bring them on earlier instead of throwing them on when the game is out of reach, with the forwards getting bullied in this match either of these young players may have helped turn the tide at the end of the first half.

Warrior of the Match

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

There you weren't many options so I went with one of the only players that looked dangerous, he led the side with running metres (191m) and was the only back that had a line break, he almost scored in the first half and probably should have to be fair but made up for it with a try and the second. He did have a few errors but looked more comfortable on the wing compared to being in the centre last year. They found lots of opportunities to inject themselves into the match, but the Raiders' defense was just too good, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak out for some time, RTS will be the Warriors' most dangerous attacking player and the team will need to get them into scoring situations more often.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

This one was hard to pick as several players could have gotten the nod here, but I have gone with the fullback, and I'm not sure what it was. Still, CNK just looked a bit uncomfortable out there, after being penalised when he jumped the catch a kick, he started to stay on the ground to diffuse the kicks which unfortunately led to a Raiders try that essentially sealedVictoryctory. He also seemed quieter with the ball in hand and offered very little on attack, perhaps it was nerves under the big lights, but he will need a big round two to stop the move RTS to full back chatter.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 2 sees the Warriors return to New Zealand, where they will host the Sea Eagles who have yet to complete their Round 1 match because it is a split round.

Regarding the team, I would pick the same side. The only change I would make right now is dropping Jackson Ford and bringing in Bunty Afoa since Webster still seems hesitant about giving Vaimauga and Halasima more minutes and Afoa could help the pack build momentum.

Manly are a dangerous side at the best of times, and they have all the big guns available at the time of writing. They will also have Jazz Tevaga, who will be looking to put on a big performance against his former club. If the Warriors can work on the issues they had in Vegas, they have a chance at getting the win here, however, it would be by a tight margin. Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening, and I think the Sea Eagles will win here by 12, but I hope I'm wrong.

So, that was a deflating Round 1, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who was your player of the day?

Would you make any changes to the 17?

Does this performance change your expectations for this season?

What is your score prediction against the Sea Eagles?

NZ Warriors 2025 Season Preview: The Start of a New Era or Just Another Rebuild?

We are finally here. The NRL is back, and the Warriors Round 1 Match is now just days away.

Over the past few weeks, I have discussed the five players who will stand out and improve in 2025. Now, I will examine the upcoming season and give my prediction on how the Warriors will fare. As I did last year, I will divide my preview into sections outlining my views on the preseason and trial results, my key signing, the 2025 squad, and my Gameday 17 before rounding it up with my 2025 ladder prediction.

As always, these are just my thoughts and opinions. I'm also interested in hearing yours, so let me know what you think, and let's chat some footy.

Preseason News: Fresh Changes Set to Shape 2025 Campaign

After the surprising success of 2023, my optimism for 2024 was through the roof, but after a disappointing year where the Warriors ended the year 13th, I come into 2025 with a more balanced outlook.

While the fans had time to switch off, the Warriors kept busy in the offseason, continuing to build and strengthen their pathways with their team involved in the Harold Matthews Cup, who are looking to defend their championship, Jersey Flegg, SG Ball and NSW Cup. They are also finalizing the roster for the NRLW squad's return to the NRLW competition with some great pickups, including Apii Nicholls and Black Fern Michaela Blyde, who I can't wait to see in a Warriors jersey. These sides are all internal in creating sustained success for the Warriors for years to come, and while we have already seen some young players stand out, I'm excited to see some new potential stars rise through the ranks.

We also had the unfortunate news of the immediate retirement of Tohu Harris after he struggled to recover from his wrist surgery. It's not how he or the fans wanted his career to end, but in sports, you are never guaranteed a fairytale finish. He is a massive loss to the squad both on and off the field; however, I'm sure his story with the Warriors is not over just yet and I expect him to play a part off the field once he has decided what direction he wants his life to go next.

The fan support continues to impress after becoming the first NRL team to sell out every home game last season, and you can bet the Warriors will be hoping for a repeat of that achievement this season. The crowd of 23,000 that showed up to the trial in Hamilton shows that the support has not waivered, so more sellouts are not out of reach. The team has to get results, of course, but if the fans continue to pack out any stadium they play in, it will make for an intimidating arena for their opposition, and I can't wait to be part of that atmosphere again.

The roster has had a few changes but I will keep that for my 2025 squad section below.

Lastly, let's talk about the trials.

The first preseason outing saw the Warriors head across the ditch to face the Sharks, where they battled to a 12-all draw. It was a rusty performance, which comes with the territory being the first hitout of the year. The injury to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the early stages took some sting out of the Warriors' attack, but we did get to see Luke Metcalf stake his claim as Shaun Johnson's successor, and he looked good showing off some of his kicking skills with a nice 40/20. The rest of the backs showed glimpses of what makes them dangerous, with the only disappointing efforts coming from Ed Kosi, who had a big case of the dropsies, and Te Maire Martin, who struggled to find his feet and disappeared in key moments.

The forwards impressed me. Mitch Barnett crashed and bashed like it was a regular-season game, and Erin Clark, Sam Healey, Jacob Laban, and Dylan Walker all showed more than enough. They should all play a part in the 2025 campaign. 

The errors and a few defensive lapses were concerns, but both can be quickly addressed and fixed as the team prepares for Las Vegas. Overall, it was a decent hitout to kick off 2025.

The Warriors wrapped up their final trial in style, cruising to a 36-10 victory over the Storm at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. Melbourne left their big guns at home, including coach Craig Bellamy, while the Warriors, fielding plenty of first-graders, took full advantage with a dominant first half, piling on 36 unanswered points.

After a scrappy performance the week before, the Warriors cleaned up their errors and looked sharp with the ball. The forwards dominated their inexperienced opposition, laying the platform for the backs to run riot. Both edges clicked into gear, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Taine Tuaupiki each bagging doubles. Tuaupiki, in particular, did more than enough to hold down the wing spot until DWZ returns. Ali Leiataua was a powerhouse, also crossing twice and showcasing some slick hands to help set up Tuaupiki's tries, surely locking in his ticket to Vegas. Luke Metcalf impressed again with crisp passing and another pinpoint 40/20, forming a more dangerous combination with Chanel Harris-Tavita than what we saw with Te Maire Martin the previous week. However, with TMM slotting in at fullback this time, the Warriors had an extra playmaker on the field, making their attack even more potent.

The second half saw most of the big names take an early rest, and while the scoring dried up, the defence held firm, conceding just two tries.

It was a strong finish to the preseason, but with much tougher challenges ahead in Las Vegas, the Warriors will need to keep building and stay injury-free to have a successful 2025.

Key Signing: James Fisher-Harris

James Fisher-Harris stands out as the Warriors' pivotal signing for 2025, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. Known for his bone-crunching defence and fierce presence in the middle of the park, he was instrumental in the Penrith Panthers' fourth consecutive premiership victory, showcasing his consistency and high-level performance. Throughout the season, Fisher-Harris maintained an impressive average of 128 running metres per game and executed 27 tackles per match, reflecting his dual-threat capability in both offence and defence. His defensive prowess is further highlighted by a remarkable 96% tackle efficiency, with only 26 missed tackles over 23 games. His experience as a multiple Premiership winner and a key figure in the New Zealand national side brings a championship pedigree that the Warriors will lean on in high-pressure moments. Fisher-Harris's ability to dominate the ruck, control the game's tempo, and intimidate opponents makes him invaluable on both sides of the ball. His return to New Zealand strengthens the Warriors' forward pack and brings a leader with a championship mindset, poised to mentor emerging talents and elevate the team's competitive edge in the upcoming season.

2025 Squad: New Faces, Same Vision

The Warriors saw six players exit after the 2024 season. Addin Fonua-Blake, Jazz Tevaga, Marcelo Montoya and Zyon Maiu'u all left to join other clubs, while Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris announced their retirements. They also welcomed four players with the signings of James Fisher-Harris, Tanah Boyd, Erin Clark and Samuel Healey.

The Warriors head into the 2025 season with a squad that retains its core strength but still faces some questions about depth. The spine will be pivotal, with Luke Metcalf and either Te Maire Martin or Chanel Harris-Tavita expected to lead the attack. Their ability to control the tempo and create opportunities will be crucial for maintaining consistency throughout the season. Wayde Egan will again play a key role, providing the halves with time and space to unlock the potential of the backline. The addition of Tannah Boyd and Sam Healey offers valuable depth in case injuries strike.

In the backline, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ali Leiataua, and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak bring plenty of strike power, though depth is a concern. Beyond the starting group, reliable options are limited, meaning injuries or form slumps could test the squad's resilience. 

The forward pack remains a major strength, offering both power and defensive solidity in the middle. James Fisher-Harris and Mitch Barnett must set the platform and lead the way. Young talents like Jacob Laban, Demitric Vaimauga, and Leka Halasima may need to be leaned on, but their lack of NRL experience could present challenges over a long season.

If the squad stays healthy and combinations click early, the Warriors have the potential to make a deep run into the finals.

My Round One 17 has changed significantly from my initial selection before the trials. Some changes are due to injuries, while others are based on player performances across the two matches. The outside backs were straightforward choices. I've kept Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback, just like last season. On the wings, I've gone with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Taine Tuaupiki. RTS looks more comfortable in that role, and with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak out injured, Tuaupiki is the next best option and deserves a spot in the 17. For the centres, I've selected Ali Leiatua and Adam Pompey. Ali impressed me during the trials, and Pompey is the best healthy option to partner with him. In the halves, I'm running with Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita. I had doubts about Metcalf at halfback, but he showed significant progress in the trials and earned the spot. I chose CHT as his partner because they looked the most threatening combination during the trials, with Te Maire Martin still struggling to stay locked into games.

The forward pack pretty much selects itself. My starting front row features James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, and Mitch Barnett, no surprises there. In the second row, I've got Marata Niukore and Kurt Capewell. While they didn't stand out during the trials, their experience could be vital in setting the right tone for the 2025 season. Erin Clark takes the lock position; he impressed me in the trials and looks like a solid choice to start in that role.

The bench was a tough call with so many options to choose from, but here's how I've lined it up. I've chosen Sam Healey as my bench hooker since we're used to Egan not lasting the full 80 minutes, and Healey showed plenty of promise in the trials. Dylan Walker is next, and I'd bring him on at lock around the 20-minute mark. I've gone with Demitric Vaimauga and Bunty Afoa as my bench props. Demitric hit the ground running in the trials and seems primed for a big season, while Bunty impressed me with his fitness and looks ready to fight for a regular first-grade spot. Some first-grade worthy players, including Jacob Laban, Leka Halasima, and Jackson Ford, miss out, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Laban named in the 17.

My 2025 Prediction

Continuing my season preview trend, I was wrong with my prediction last season when I said the Warriors would finish fourth and reach their third-ever Grand Final.

It's a mixed bag across the ditch with the NRL Pundits; some believe the Warriors can return to the finals, while others predict the Warriors to be Wooden Spoon contenders.

Given the squad's changes and my concerns about depth, I'm less confident about the 2025 season than I was about 2024.

The Warriors have a relatively favourable draw against the NRL's heavyweights in 2025, facing Penrith, Melbourne, and the Roosters only once while avoiding a double clash with the Rabbitohs. Among the teams they play twice, only Newcastle and Manly made the top eight last season, though they will have to contend with a Broncos side expected to be strong in 2025. Travel-wise, they dodge the tough trips to Townsville and Canberra, and after opening the season in Las Vegas, they benefit from back-to-back home games at Mt Smart to settle in.

 

However, the first half of the season will test their resilience. They have just four home games at Mt Smart, all against formidable opponents (Sea Eagles, Roosters, Broncos, and Raiders). They also travel to Melbourne, Wollongong, and Campbelltown, plus a clash with the Rabbitohs in Sydney. On the upside, they get two trips to Suncorp, where they'll enjoy strong Kiwi support, and they will be tough to beat in Christchurch on Anzac Day. 

If they can navigate this stretch successfully, the back half of the season offers six matches in Auckland, including winnable fixtures against the Titans, Dragons, and Eels. A particularly gruelling period looms between late April and the end of May, when the Warriors embark on four consecutive road games, Christchurch, Brisbane, Wollongong, and back to Brisbane, to face the Knights, Broncos, Dragons, and Dolphins. With the team set to travel approximately 75,000km over the season, three times the NRL average, this stretch will be especially taxing.

The scheduling of byes isn't ideal. The first comes early, after just four games, following the Las Vegas opener, two home fixtures, and a trip to play the Tigers. The next two are squeezed into a four-week window in mid-June and mid-July, during the State of Origin period, typically a crucial time for the Warriors to build momentum. This setup also leaves them with an unbroken nine-game run to close out the season.

If the Warriors can pick up a few wins in the first ten weeks, stay injury-free, and build momentum with a strong run at the back end of the season, especially in those winnable home games, they have a real shot at returning to finals football. 

That said, this season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years, making predictions difficult. I've had a tenth-place finish in mind for the Warriors for months, and I'm sticking with my gut. While they have the potential to improve and push for a finals spot, so do many other teams. Plus, I don't see many of last year's top-eight sides dropping out.

So, my prediction for 2025? Tenth place

What I want to see from this team is simple: with the roster changes this year, it feels like a reset. I want to see them build new combinations and push teams to their limits. Last season, 8 of their 14 losses were by less than two tries. They'll climb up the ladder if they can turn those close losses into wins.

So, let's bring on the season. The Warriors begin their new chapter on the big stage in Las Vegas, taking on the Raiders. While my expectations aren't as high as they were for 2024, anything is possible if the team stays fit.

Once again, I will be writing weekly game reviews and releasing them every Monday throughout the season. I will also attend all the Warriors games at Mt Smart, so if you are there, come say hi.

I'm also continuing to host my show, The Stand-Off, on New Zealand Sport Radio with my good friend Richie every Wednesday night at 8pm NZ time, so come join us there as we discuss everything going on in League and answer your questions live. I am sure that I will still be joining several other podcasts that work on Warriors content throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye or ear out for me on all platforms.

If you like what I do here, please share my blog with your friends and comment on how you think the season will go.

So that's my take on the Warriors' upcoming season, and I just can't wait for Round One. As usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What position would you be putting RTS this season?
Which player do you think will be the standout performer?
Who would be in your gameday 17?
Where do you think the Warriors will finish in 2025?