NZ Warriors 2025 Round 19 Review: Warriors muscle up and dominate Tigers

After their 3rd and final bye of the season, the Warriors were back at Go Media Stadium, hosting a Tigers side fresh off an upset win over the Roosters in Round 18.

All eyes were on Tanah Boyd, making his Warriors club debut, replacing the injured Luke Metcalf. 

Despite a slight wobble at the start of the contest where the Tigers capitalised, the Warriors quickly took over the match and never looked back, ending their losing streak with a dominant 34-14. 

What Went Down

The Tigers opened the scoring before the Warriors even touched the ball, capitalising on an early penalty that set up Jeral Skelton to dive over in the corner in just the 2nd minute.

The Warriors hit back quickly, with Rocco Berry slicing through the Tigers’ edge defence in the 8th minute and improving the position for the conversion. They then found their attacking rhythm, with a pinpoint pass from Erin Clark creating space for Chanel Harris-Tavita to stroll through untouched in the 18th minute, giving the home side a 12-4 lead.

The Tigers responded by building pressure on the Warriors' line, and it paid off when Adam Doueihi slid over in the 27th minute for his third try of the season.

Just before halftime, the Warriors executed a crisp scrum play that sent Dallin Watene-Zelezniak over in the 33rd minute, sending the teams to the sheds with the Warriors leading 16-8.

The hosts extended their lead early in the second half, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck finishing in the corner after a sustained period of pressure on the Tigers’ line in the 49th minute.

A successful captain’s challenge gave the Tigers a rare attacking opportunity, and Doueihi took full advantage in the 57th minute, stepping through some flimsy defence to keep the visitors in the game.

But the Tigers' hopes of a comeback were dashed by handling errors and a lack of polish. The Warriors sealed the result with two late tries, Harris-Tavita’s second in the 73rd minute and a last-minute effort from Leka Halasima in the 79th, closing out a dominant 34-14 victory.

My Thoughts

The Warriors needed a bounce-back win, and they delivered. It wasn’t a flawless performance by any means, and the Tigers aren’t exactly the most formidable opposition, but the Warriors applied constant pressure and wore them down.

I came into the match confident, though I had a few doubts when the Tigers scored early. Thankfully, the Warriors responded almost immediately and never looked back. After failing to show up against the Broncos, the forward pack came out firing, dominating the middle and largely shutting down Terrell May. That platform gave the halves time and space to create some sharp attacking sets.

This felt like a much-needed reset for the team. Everything that was missing in the Broncos' loss showed up here. That said, there's still room to improve. This needs to be a turning point, a line in the sand moment to build from as they head toward the finals. There's still a decent buffer between them and fifth place, but with the Broncos and Panthers gaining momentum, the Warriors can’t afford to ease off.

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

Match Positives

The Warriors forwards came out with purpose and didn’t take a backward step, bringing constant intensity that kept the Tigers under pressure from start to finish. Their dominance through the middle laid the platform for victory, with five players racking up over my triple-digit target. Jackson Ford led the way with a powerful 165 metres, Erin Clark was sharp out of dummy half with 119, and James Fisher-Harris brought his usual aggression to notch up 113. Leka Halasima added substantial impact with 108 metres, while Demitric Vaimauga chipped in with a relentless 105. It was a statement performance from the pack, and if the Warriors want to build momentum, this kind of physicality and work rate has to become the norm.

Tanah Boyd made a strong impression in his first game for the Warriors’ top side, bringing much-needed direction to their attack. His calm presence in the halves helped guide the team around the field, with smart decision-making and solid game management standing out right from the start. Boyd’s kicking game was especially effective, consistently putting the Tigers under pressure with well-placed kicks deep in Tigers territory.

While he may not have Luke Metcalf’s explosive running ability, Boyd’s skill in managing the game and controlling the tempo more than makes up for it. This balance keeps the Warriors a dangerous side to face. As a big fan of Boyd, who’s been eager to see him get a real chance in first grade, it was incredibly satisfying to watch him make the most of this opportunity. His composed and confident debut hints that he could become a key player in the Warriors’ spine going forward.

The Warriors’ win has solidified their spot in the top four, keeping a vital four-point gap between them and the Broncos. With no byes left to offer free points, every remaining game is even more critical. While many of their upcoming matches are winnable, the Warriors can’t afford to underestimate any opponent or let chances slip away. Staying consistent and focused will be crucial for them to finish the regular season strong and secure the best possible position for the finals.

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

Match Negatives

The Warriors let themselves down a few times by switching off defensively, allowing the Tigers to score some soft tries. Although these lapses didn’t cost them the match this time, they revealed a weakness that can’t be ignored. To remain competitive against tougher opponents, the Warriors must eliminate these moments of complacency and stay focused for the full 80 minutes. Stronger teams will punish any defensive mistakes, so it’s vital they tighten up and fix these issues moving forward.

The Warriors made nine errors in the game, which was a bit too many for my liking. Although this was a slight improvement on their performance against the Broncos, it’s still concerning. Giving away that many extra sets to any top-eight team makes winning much tougher, as it gives the opposition more chances to attack and gain momentum. If the Warriors want to compete consistently with the best sides, they’ll need to improve their ball control and cut down on these costly mistakes.

Rocco Berry sustaining yet another injury is truly devastating for the kid; luck just hasn’t been on his side. He clearly has a lot of talent and potential, but if he can’t start putting together consistent games, the Warriors might have to make some hard choices about his future. It’s a harsh truth, but at this level, being durable and available regularly is just as important as skill.

Warrior of the Match

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

There were plenty of players I could have picked here, but I went with RTS. He was outstanding in this match, constantly putting the Tigers’ defence under pressure and creating numerous problems for them. He led the Warriors with an impressive 271 running metres, crossing for a try himself while also breaking the line twice and busting through four tackles. Although he did make two errors, Roger more than made up for them with his relentless effort and attacking threat, proving once again why he’s such a vital player for the team.

Warrior to Improve

I don’t have a single Warrior to call out this week because no one in the 17 let the team down or didn't play enough minutes to be judged fairly. They weren’t all perfect, but every player gave it their all, and that’s all you can really ask for.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 20, the Warriors head back across the ditch to face the Knights, who went down 32-14 against the Storm in Round 19.

The only change I’d make to the team is bringing Kurt Capewell in at centre to replace the injured Rocco Berry. The forward pack and bench all did a solid job, so there’s no reason to drop any of them to fit Capewell in. He’s filled in well at centre this season when needed, so to me, it’s the logical move

The Knights have had a disappointing 2025 season so far, currently sitting 13th on the ladder and coming off back-to-back losses. Consistency has been a major issue for them, and with Kalyn Ponga sidelined, they've lost some of their attacking spark. However, the return of Dominic Young has added a genuine threat out wide. Their unpredictability makes them dangerous; you never quite know which version of the Knights will show up.

For the Warriors to come away with the win, their forward pack needs to dominate the middle again, giving Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita the time and space to bring their outside backs into play. Defensively, the key will be wrapping up the ball carriers and putting pressure on the halves to shut down opportunities for the Knights’ lethal outside backs, who can punish teams when they’re switched on. Winning in Newcastle is never easy, but I’m backing the Warriors to get the job done. I’m tipping them to win by 12.

So, that was an improved Round 19, and I will leave you with some questions as usual.

How did you think Tanah Boyd went?

Who would you bring in for Berry?

Do you think the Warriors will keep a top-four spot for the finals?

What is your score prediction against the Knights?