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?