NZ Warriors 2025 Round 20 Review: Halasima Magic Seals Last Second Win for Warriors

After their Round 19 victory over the Wests Tigers, the Warriors made the trip to Newcastle to face the Knights, who went down 32-14 to the Storm in Round 19.

It was a clunky performance from the Warriors who struggled to match the Knights intensity for most of the contest, a series of missed field goals and penalty goals had Warriors fans lamenting missed chances and a costly defeat until Leka Halasima scooped up a charged down field goal attempt to run 40 metres to score the match winner after the siren blared, seeing the Warriors sneak away with a 20-15 win.

What Went Down

The Warriors opened the scoring after seven minutes, with back-up halfback Tanah Boyd continuing his strong form at NRL level. His well-placed grubber sat up perfectly for Adam Pompey to dive on and score the opening try.

Despite barely touching the ball and facing a lopsided 70/30 possession split, the Knights somehow avoided falling behind by 12 early on, a minor miracle. But eventually, the weight of possession told. Wayde Egan darted from dummy half and looked to have scored, only for the Bunker to rule a double movement and deny the try.

That decision turned the momentum. A penalty marched the Knights upfield, and a well-placed cross-field kick targeted Dom Young. The Warriors couldn’t clean it up, and Fletcher Hunt pounced to score Newcastle’s first points in the 21st minute.

Newcastle started building pressure, though they squandered several chances. Then, after an error by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, the Knights hit their favoured left edge. Greg Marzhew pulled off a brilliant offload to Dane Gagai, who sent the home side into the lead.

The Warriors then imploded. A simple yardage error by Jackson Ford handed Newcastle another opportunity, and they again went left. This time, after slick ball movement, Marzhew crossed for the try he’d fluffed earlier in the 30th minute. Desperate defence from both sides kept the margin to just six, with the Warriors going into the sheds trailing 12-6.

The Knights began the second half strongly but failed to capitalise with some poor execution. A relieving penalty gave the Warriors a rare attacking set, and Egan found Demitric Vaimauga close to the line for the levelling try in the 49th minute.

Newcastle hit back with a frantic attacking movement that went through at least nine pairs of hands before Gagai broke through and linked with Jayden Brailey. An attempted intercept by the Warriors was ruled a knock-on, and a scrum penalty allowed Gagai to slot a penalty goal and regain the lead in the 56th minute.

But it didn’t last. Watene-Zelezniak was hit high by Jack Cogger after a bomb was spilled, and Boyd stepped up to nail the penalty, tying the game with just over ten minutes to go.

With five minutes left, Cogger slotted a field goal that clipped the post on the way over, giving the Knights a 15–14 lead. Boyd tried a two-point field goal that missed, but a successful captain’s challenge gave the Warriors one more shot. Boyd couldn’t land the penalty goal, but the drama wasn’t over.

In the dying seconds, Boyd had another go at a two-point field goal. It was charged down, but the ball bounced straight into the arms of Leka Halasima, who sprinted 40 metres to snatch a dramatic win for the Warriors.

My Thoughts

Well, what do you even call that?

I went into this match feeling confident the Warriors would get the job done, but that belief started to slip away as the game wore on. That said, there were flashes where they dragged me back in, giving hope that they’d pull through. The final few minutes were among the most stressful I can recall. First came the heartbreak of Tanah Boyd’s field goal being charged down, then the pure elation of watching Leka Halasima pull off yet another miracle run to steal the win. It was a chaotic finish to a game that will be talked about for a long time.

As for the rest of the contest, if I’m being honest, the Warriors probably didn’t deserve to win. The Knights were the better side for most of the match. The Warriors blew several chances and struggled to defend their right edge. Some gutsy scrambling defence and a few questionable decisions from Newcastle kept the Warriors in the hunt, and luck definitely played a part.

Still, a win’s a win. The Warriors will know they got away with one, and there’s plenty to fix before next week. But with Andrew Webster at the helm, I’m confident those issues will be addressed sooner rather than later. It was ugly, but it was a vital two points, keeping a buffer between them and the Broncos and edging them one week closer to locking in a top-four finish. They just can’t afford any banana skin games from here on out.

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

Match Positives

There’s no sugar-coating it; that was an ugly win. But it’s still another two points for the Warriors, and one they simply wouldn’t have pulled off last season. In a scrappy, see-sawing contest short on polish, the team dug deep and kept their composure, even as the game threatened to slip away. As the final minutes ticked down, they stayed focused and showed the kind of grit and resilience that comes from a side growing in confidence. It wasn’t pretty, but it was gutsy, and in years past, that’s a game they would have lost. Not this time. What’s different now is the self-belief running through this group, belief in themselves and in each other. That trust, that unity, is what’s giving them a real shot, even when the odds are stacked against them.

The Warriors’ scrambling defence was key to their win. Although their defensive line struggled at times to hold up under pressure, their quick ability to scramble and close down dangerous breaks kept them in the game. They repeatedly threw themselves into the gap, stopping several breakaways that looked set to become match-winning tries. Without that defensive grit, the opposition could have easily taken control of the match. Going forward, the Warriors need to strengthen their frontline defence, but their resilience under pressure gave them the edge to secure a hard-fought victory.

Both the experienced players and the younger ones remained calm under pressure and didn’t let the game's intensity shake them. The veterans led by example when it mattered most, while the younger players stepped up, showing the same focus and determination. This mix of steady leadership and fresh energy helped the team keep their composure in the most challenging moments. It’s a strong sign that the Warriors are building confidence and resilience throughout the whole squad as they prepare for bigger challenges ahead.

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

Match Negatives

The Warriors’ right edge defence was an evident weakness during the match, with gaps that the Knights repeatedly tried to exploit. The players on that side struggled to stop quick runs and sharp plays, which put extra pressure on the rest of the defence. This weakness presented the Knights with several dangerous opportunities and made it more difficult for the Warriors to maintain control. To improve, the Warriors will need to tighten their right edge defence and stop giving away easy yards and scoring chances in future games.

The Warriors kept their errors to single digits, making nine mistakes in total, but those errors proved costly. Several came at crucial moments, including mistakes right when they were about to score. These errors disrupted their momentum, allowing the Knights to stay close and making the game tighter than it needed to be. To close out games more comfortably in the future, the Warriors will need to reduce these costly mistakes and show more respect for the ball.

The Warriors’ attack struggled at times to make an impact. They spent long stretches inside the Knights’ red zone but often couldn’t turn that pressure into points. Their play sometimes felt out of sync, with miscommunication and hesitation breaking their momentum. Adding to their frustration, costly errors gave the ball back to the Knights just when the Warriors looked set to break through. To convert pressure into points in future games, the Warriors need to improve their communication and reduce mistakes.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Leka Halasima.

Halasima played 67 minutes, running 94 metres from just 8 carries, including that brilliant 40-metre match-winning run that sealed the game. He was always tough to bring down, finishing with 4 tackle breaks, and contributed strongly on defence with 31 tackles and only 3 misses. Additionally, he made no errors, delivering a powerful and well-rounded performance. At just 19 years old, the sky’s the limit for him; he truly has superstar written all over him.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to Improve goes to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

DWZ had a disappointing game, making 4 costly errors and often being out of sync in defence, which made him an easy target for the Knights. Although he was active in attack, running 15 times for 136 metres, his impact was limited. Without his usual spectacular finishes, he didn’t add much value to the team. He’ll need a big bounce-back in the coming games to regain his form and confidence.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 21, the Warriors return home to host the Titans, who went down 21-20 to the West Tigers in Round 20.

For my team selection, if Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is cleared to play this round, I’d bring him straight back in at fullback. I’d then shift Taine Tuaupiki to the wing, replacing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak — that would be my only other change. I don’t expect Webster to drop DWZ, but if he’s named, hopefully he delivers a big bounce-back performance.

The Titans have had a rough 2025, currently stuck in a four-game losing streak. But for whatever reason, they seem to lift when they face the Warriors, having won both meetings in 2024, including a humiliating 66-6 blowout on the Gold Coast.

That said, this Warriors side is a much-improved version of last year’s team, and I’m expecting a different result this time around. To get the job done, the Warriors must avoid underestimating the Titans and sharpen up their edge defence, especially with the Titans boasting serious pace out wide.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is under an injury cloud and might not play, but even if he’s out, the Warriors forwards need to set the tone and control the tempo early. The backs, meanwhile, must play direct and make the most of their scoring chances.

The Warriors should come into this one with a point to prove. I’m tipping them to win by 16.

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

What would you do with DWZ?

How confident are you that the Warriors are still a top 4 lock?

Do you have any concerns about this side come finals time?

What is your score prediction against the Titans?