NZ Warriors 2025 Round 16 Review: Warriors Let Opportunity Slip Against Depleted Panthers

After their 2nd bye of the season, the Warriors were back at Go Media Stadium, hosting a Panthers side fresh off the bye without their Origin stars.

After a close first half where the Warriors trailed by just two points, the Panthers took control in the second and cruised to a comfortable 28-18 victory, handing the Warriors back-to-back defeats at home.

What Went Down

The match began with high intensity, with both teams showing they came to play. Strong defence dominated early, including a desperate effort from Daine Laurie to deny Luke Metcalf a 40/20 attempt in the 4th minute. From there, the sides traded sets through the opening 15 minutes, with the most significant point of note being the exit of Marata Noukore in the 11th minute after a head clash, which would see him fail his HIA and not return.
By the 16-minute mark, Penrith had controlled 62% of possession and completed 15 tackles inside the Warriors’ 20-metre zone, compared to just three for the home side. They eventually made their dominance count, swinging the ball left to Thomas Jenkins, who crossed in the corner for the opening try. The Panthers led 4-0.
The Warriors hit back quickly. A sharp step from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck earned a penalty, marching them upfield. Metcalf then put up a high kick that Izack Tago failed to handle, with Jackson Ford pouncing on the loose ball to score and level the match at 4-4 in the 20th minute.
Penrith responded immediately. In the 22nd minute, deep in their own half, Brad Schneider exploited a slip from Leka Halasima to break away downfield. He linked up with Laurie, but the Warriors scrambled well in defence, managing to hold Moses Leota up over the line.
The game settled into a grind until just before halftime, when some slick ball movement from Blaize Talagi opened up the right edge, allowing Scott Sorensen to cross for a try in the 37th minute. With Dallin Watene-Zelezniak off injured, the Warriors' edge was changed with Adam Pompey moving to wing and Te Maire Martin coming on as a centre. 

Both teams had chances to add points, but fullbacks Laurie and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad came up with vital one-on-one tackles to prevent certain tries.

The Panthers led 8-6 at halftime, after Paul Alamoti missed both sideline conversions, and the Warriors went into the sheds down to a two-man bench. 

The Warriors started the second half strongly and were rewarded when a Matt Eisenhuth error gave them a full set on Penrith’s line. Metcalf took advantage, laying on a pass for Jacob Laban to crash over in the 47th minute. The Warriors hit the front 12-8. Penrith didn’t panic and showed their resilience. 

In the set after the try, Sorensen made a critical one-on-one tackle on Wayde Egan, who had shaped to dart through a gap. In the 55th minute, Sorensen struck again, latching onto a well-placed kick from Schneider to score his second try and give the Panthers a 14-12 lead.
Moments later, defence turned into attack when Tom Jenkins blocked a potential Warriors try and took off downfield. Schneider then drew in defenders before releasing Talagi, who stepped through some flimsy defence to score in the 62nd minute, extending the lead to 20-12.
The Panthers sealed the result in the 69th minute when a last-tackle kick saw the ball bounce over Nicoll-Klokstad's head, and Paul Alamoti pounced to extend the lead to 26-12.
They added a penalty goal in the 72nd minute after Jackson Ford was penalised for a late tackle on Schneider, who had spilled the ball. Despite the error, the whistle went against the Warriors for playing on.
The Warriors had the final say in the match when Demitric Vaimauga threw a crisp pass to Moala Graham-Taufa, who sprinted away to score his first NRL try in the 78th minute.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a tough one to take. It feels like forever since the last home game, and I was really looking forward to being back at a live match. Confidence was high, the Warriors looked sharp before the bye, and the Panthers have been pretty underwhelming this year, even with their stars. So when they came to New Zealand without their big names, I was expecting at least a narrow Warriors win.

But I should’ve known better; there’s no such thing as a guaranteed victory in the NRL. The Panthers showed up with intent and looked like a team with a point to prove. You could almost imagine Ivan Cleary had last season in mind when a weakened Warriors side upset a full-strength Penrith and used it as motivation.

From the stands, the Warriors looked a bit flat, which we’ve seen before after a bye. They were competitive for the first hour, but the Panthers’ relentless pressure eventually took its toll. Having only two players left on the bench didn’t help, and Luke Metcalf’s injury limited his impact. Still, the game was there to be won, and the Warriors let themselves down in key moments.

It’s not the first time they’ve crumbled under pressure this season, but it’s another lesson to take on board as they push towards finals footy. As disappointing as the result was, I still believe this team can bounce back and remain a genuine premiership threat.

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

Match Positives

The Warriors started the game with clear intent, showing some of their best defensive resilience this season. Many times in the first half, they were pinned down on their own line, defending repeat sets. But their scramble defence held strong. The players worked hard for each other, shutting down overlaps, making desperate tackles, and supporting one another at every opportunity. It was a gritty, determined effort that set the tone early and showed this team has the character to dig in and fight under pressure. Unfortunately, a few brief lapses later in the match let the Panthers break through and shift the momentum their way.

The team’s problems are obvious and, importantly, fixable. In this performance, the main issues were slow line speed, defensive lapses, and awkward choices in key last-tackle moments. These aren’t about culture or attitude but simply areas where the team can improve. With key players like Capewell and Niukore set to return soon, the Warriors will regain the physical presence and leadership needed to strengthen their defence and sharpen their attack. Their comeback should also bring more structure and clarity on the field, helping the team execute game plans better and build momentum going forward.

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

Match Negatives

The 35 to 55-minute period was crucial, as the Warriors struggled to match Penrith’s intensity through the middle. The Panthers’ “Bridge Brigade” came on strong, dominating the ruck and physical battles.

The Warriors looked flat and lacked the aggression needed to respond. James Fisher-Harris's absence left a leadership gap when he went to the bench. Marata Niukore’s failed HIA and early exit also further weakened their middle defence.

The Warriors couldn’t contain Penrith’s power game, and key players were missing. To compete this season, the forward pack must step up and fill the void left by Mitch Barnett, a big challenge but essential for their premiership chances.

The Warriors struggled to adjust their defence against the Panthers’ second-phase attack, especially their offloads and quick short passes around the ruck. Penrith’s skill at keeping the ball alive and building momentum through these offloads repeatedly caught the Warriors off guard. This failure to adapt allowed the Panthers to apply constant pressure and break through the Warriors’ defensive lines more easily, revealing weaknesses in their defensive structure. Unfortunately, defending against second-phase play has been a problem for the Warriors all season, and this game highlighted how their inability to contain sustained attacking pressure continues to hurt them. Ultimately, their lack of adjustment to Penrith’s dynamic play was a key reason they struggled to stop the flow of points and keep control of the game.

This loss felt like a game where the Warriors may have underestimated their opponents. Riding high on confidence and expectations, they seemed to rely too much on their own hype and failed to match the Panthers’ hunger and intensity. Although the Panthers were seen as understrength, they showed more desire and physicality, outworking the Warriors when it mattered most. In the end, it felt like the Warriors just didn’t “want it” enough, and that lack of urgency cost them against a team that fought harder and smarter.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Erin Clark.

In an otherwise disappointing performance, Erin Clark was a clear standout, though at this point, his consistency makes it no surprise. He led the forward pack with 143 running metres, matched Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad with 7 tackle breaks, and made 43 tackles with only 3 misses. He’s become a rock-solid presence in the middle and continues to improve his ball-playing with each game.

If the Warriors can build him up to play the full 80 minutes without losing his impact, it would be a huge boost, especially with the current injury toll exposing how much the side struggles when he’s off the field. Clark has had a superb return to the club and should absolutely be in the conversation for both Signing of the Year and Dally M Lock of the Year.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Leka Halasima.

It was another tough week, with several players falling short of the standards we've come to expect. With Niukore and DWZ unable to finish the game, I had fewer players to choose from, so I’ve gone with Halasima. He had some dangerous moments, but overall, the Panthers easily contained him.

His slip in the first half led to a major Panthers break and swung the momentum their way. Then in the second half, a costly error stalled the Warriors' attack just as they were starting to build pressure.

Halasima is full of superstar potential, but like many young players, consistency is still a challenge. If he can focus on nailing the basics each week and staying involved, there's no limit to how far he can go.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 17, the Warriors travel to Suncorp Stadium for the third time this season, this time to face the Broncos, who defeated the Sharks 34-28 in Round 16.

As for the team I'd select, I would only consider replacing the injured players. For DWZ, I would bring Taine Tuapiki back in, replace Marata Niukore with Bunty Afoa, and bring Kurt Capewell back into the centres. I would prefer to have him in the pack again, but right now, they have more forward cover than backs, so he is needed there, unless Rocco Berry is ruled fit, then I would bring him in, and Capewell goes into the pack with Tanner Stowers-Smith being dropped from the bench. Everyone else, I would keep the same.

The Broncos have been a tough team to get a read on this season. Many, including myself, expected them to be near the top of the ladder and genuine title contenders, but inconsistency has let them down, with a few surprising losses in games they should have won. That said, they’ve started to build some momentum and remain a serious threat in attack; they’ve scored the fourth-most points in the comp and lead the league in linebreaks. Their offloading game, which has troubled the Warriors in the past, combined with a powerful forward pack, makes this a real test.

For the Warriors to get the job done, they’ll need their forwards to match Brisbane through the middle and bring real intensity on defence, especially when it comes to shutting down second-phase play and wrapping up the ball. If they can limit the Broncos’ attacking chances and take theirs when they come, there’s every chance they can notch up a third win at Suncorp this year. It won’t be easy, but I’m backing the Warriors to get it done by six.

So, that was a lacklustre Round 16, and I will leave you with some questions as usual.

Do you think the Warriors simply took the Panthers lightly?

Who would you bring in to replace the injured players?

How confident are you that the Warriors will keep a spot in the top four?

What is your score prediction against the Broncos?