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After their Round 21 defeat to the Titans, the Warriors remained at home to face the Dolphins, who had the bye in Round 21.
The makeshift Warriors outfit looked set to enter the winners' circle in a tight clash after earning a lead with 20 minutes to play, but the Dolphins refused to quit and snatched the victory in the final stages, sneaking away with a 20-18 victory.
What Went Down
The Dolphins struck first after a string of penalties against the Warriors. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow threw a crisp short ball to Farnworth, who powered through defenders to open the scoring in the 4th minute.
All eyes were on the Warriors' reshuffled spine this week, and fullback Taine Tuaupiki made an immediate impact. His speed and timing on the edge created space for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to finish in the corner in the 9th minute. Farnworth continued to dominate early with three linebreaks and over 100 metres before his night ended abruptly. Bursting into the clear, he pulled up clutching his hamstring and had to be helped from the field.
The Warriors tried to take control after Farnworth’s departure, but the Dolphins held firm and capitalised on a Tuaupiki error. A strong carry from Kurt Donoghoe set up Jeremy Marshall-King, who made up for an earlier mistake to dive over and reclaim the lead in the 25th minute.
Discipline issues again hurt the Warriors. A crusher tackle from Sam Healey gifted the Dolphins field position, and Jake Averillo’s run across the grain pushed them into attacking range. A looping pass went to ground, but Oryn Keeley was quickest to react and scooped it up to score at the 29-minute mark.
Eventually, the Warriors' weight of possession near the Dolphins' line paid off. Using a similar play to their first try, Tuaupiki linked again with DWZ, who beat the cover defence to notch his second. Despite dominating territory, the Warriors couldn’t add to their tally and trailed by four at halftime.
The second half began as a tight grind, but the Warriors piled on pressure. Just before the hour mark, a powerful Jacob Laban run set the stage for Tanah Boyd’s crossfield kick, which found Leka Halasima. The rookie extended his try-scoring streak to five consecutive games in the 58th minute.
The Dolphins nearly hit back when Kodi Nikorima created an overlap, but a crucial DWZ intercept saved the day. A careless penalty while in possession gave the Dolphins another chance. Katoa’s unexpected grubber looked to prove fruitful with Nikorima appearing to score, but the on-field try was overturned after review.
The Warriors earned a penalty moments later after Felise Kaufusi was pinged for a hip drop tackle that saw him sent to the bin; they elected to not take a shot at goal to extend their lead and were unable to score points on the next set.
Even with Kaufusi sent to the bin for a high shot, the Dolphins weren’t done. After earning a penalty for a high tackle, they went for the win instead of a draw. Spreading the ball through ten sets of hands, they eventually found Isaako on the right edge, who crossed in the final moments to steal the win.
My Thoughts
Well, this one really hurt. I went into the game with low expectations, already bracing for a loss, and seeing the team list on Tuesday only made things worse. By the time I walked into the stadium on Friday, I was expecting the worst. When the Dolphins scored within the first five minutes, it felt like they were going to blow the Warriors off the park. Herbie Farnworth was unstoppable early on, and the Warriors had no answer for him. His injury was unfortunate, but it evened things out a bit and allowed the Warriors to get back into the contest. The Warriors gradually found their feet. At times, the attack looked sharp and threatening, but it wasn’t consistent enough to take control of the game. By the closing stages, they looked exhausted, and that fatigue led to some costly errors, which opened the door for the Dolphins ' match-winning play. It was incredibly frustrating to watch the Warriors stand and wait on the Dolphins' final tackle instead of shutting it down. Maybe it was tired legs, or perhaps they were hesitant to rush up and risk creating a gap. Either way, the Dolphins shifted wide, seeing that the Warriors were bunched in the middle, and took full advantage.
It was another crucial game that slipped through their fingers. Yes, injuries have taken a toll, but the team needs to snap out of this slump and start stringing wins together. The ladder is so tight that a few more losses could see all the good work this season undone. My optimism has taken a hit over the past few weeks, but I still believe a top-four finish is within reach. That said, it’s going to be tough, especially with how competitive the bottom-half teams have been. Only one team in the top four won this week against so-called "weaker" opposition, so the Warriors’ run home will be anything but easy.
There were a couple of things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.
Match Positives
The Warriors’ reshuffled lineup did a solid enough job in their first outing together. With several key players missing, the new combinations still managed to create some good attacking chances, especially out wide. At times, the timing was off and things didn’t quite click, but that’s to be expected for a new combination. There were a few defensive lapses, but the effort was there. It wasn’t perfect, but there were enough positive signs to show they’ll improve as they get more games together.
After Herbie Farnworth, who was carving the Warriors up, left the field, the Warriors scrambled well in defence and showed plenty of grit to stay in the contest. They worked hard to cover for each other, shutting down several dangerous Dolphins sets close to the line. Their line speed and effort plays improved, with backs and forwards alike digging in to hold the middle and scrambling out wide when needed. While the Dolphins still found space at times, the Warriors’ desperation and scramble defence helped limit the damage and kept them in the fight. Unfortunately, they switched off in the final seconds, allowing the Dolphins to sneak through and steal the win right at the death.
The Warriors’ young players continue to impress, with Sam Healey, debutant Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, and Jacob Laban all standing out. Healey was strong at hooker, passing cleanly from dummy-half, defending well in the middle, and showing smart touches around the ruck. He played with great energy and confidence, making a strong case to be part of the game day 17 more often. Ieremia-Toeava had a solid debut, getting involved early and showing good effort in both attack and defence. Laban added impact off the bench with strong carries and tough tackles. All three looked comfortable in first grade and gave fans plenty to be excited about for the future.
However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.
Match Negatives
Errors and discipline let the Warriors down again. They made 9 handling errors, gave away 5 penalties, and were caught twice for ruck infringements. These mistakes often came at crucial times, either when they were building pressure or trying to get out of trouble, and gave the Dolphins an easy way back into the game. You can’t hand free sets to any team in the NRL, especially now when recent results have shown there’s no such thing as an easy win. If you let teams off the hook, they’ll make you pay. The effort was there, but the lack of control ultimately cost them. It’s something they’ll need to fix quickly if they want to turn close losses into wins and hold on to their top-four spot.
The Warriors missed a big chance to close out the game. With just under seven minutes left, they got a penalty right in front but chose not to take the easy two points that would’ve given them a four-point lead. It was a decision made by coach Andrew Webster, and looking back, it proved costly. Instead of building pressure and stretching the gap, they let the Dolphins stay in the contest, and it came back to bite them. The Warriors just didn’t show the killer instinct needed to put the game away, something they’ll need to work on if they want to win tight matches once again.
The Warriors have been hit hard by injuries again, adding to their list of worries. Jacob Laban looks like he’ll be out for a few weeks as he recovers from a hip-drop tackle. Meanwhile, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Leka Halasima, and Taine Tuaupiki all got knocks during the game that might keep them sidelined in the coming weeks. With key players already missing, the Warriors can’t afford to lose any more. These injuries put extra pressure on the squad and make it harder to build strong combinations on the field. Keeping players fit will be really important, and hopefully, the Warriors can catch a bit of luck soon.
Warrior of the Match
Another standout performance from RTS here, he led the match in running metres with a massive 335 metres and had 7 tackle breaks. He was full of energy and constantly put pressure on the Dolphins' defence. His ability to find space kept the Warriors moving forward, and he created plenty of chances for his teammates. Even when the team was under pressure, he kept working hard and led by example, giving 100% right until the end. If a few more of his teammates can get closer to his level, the wins will return.
Warrior to Improve
My Warrior to Improve goes to Tanah Boyd.
It was hard to single anyone out with most players doing a balance of good and bad, but I have gone with Boyd here. He did some good things, like playing a significant role in DWZ tries and setting up a nice kick for Halasima's try. He also went 3/3 with his goalkicking. But overall, his game was a bit uneven. He made a few kicking errors, gave away a costly obstruction penalty, and showed some limits when it came to ball-playing. Defensively, he struggled too, missing eight tackles and often being targeted by the opposition, which made things tougher for the Warriors' defensive line. With cleaner execution and more consistency, Tanah could have a much bigger impact on the game, and I still think he is the best halfback option right now with Luek Metcalf out.
Next Round Thoughts and Prediction
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In Round 23, the Warriors head back across the ditch to face the Bulldogs, who went down 28-14 to the Wests Tigers in Round 22.
For my team selection, the only definite return is Wayde Egan, who I’d slot back in at hooker. I’m working off the assumption that the knocks to CNK, Leka, and Taine were minor, so I’m keeping all three in the side. I’d drop Lussick, move Healey to the bench, and bring in Bunty Afoa to replace Laban.
The Bulldogs have been building nicely, and moving Lachlan Galvin into the starting halfback role has added a spark to their attack. Their defence has been solid for most of the season, but the recent loss to the Tigers exposed some areas of vulnerability. That defeat will have them fired up for a bounce-back performance, unfortunate timing for the Warriors, who need a win to stay in the top four with the Panthers closing in.
For the Warriors to get the job done, they need to shut Galvin down early and prevent him from settling into the game. If they can rattle him, the Bulldogs are more likely to make mistakes. From there, it’s about controlling the tempo and targeting the edges in attack, while staying switched on for the full 80. Do that, and they’re a real chance. But with key players still out, I think it might be a step too far. I’m tipping the Bulldogs by 8.
So, that was a heartbreaking Round 22, and I will leave you with some questions as usual.
Are there any changes to the 17 you would make?
Do you think the Warriors will remain in the top four come finals time?
Would you have taken the penalty to push the lead out to four?
What is your score prediction against the Bulldogs?
