NZ Warriors 2025 Round 23 Review: Warriors Washed Out as Bulldogs Dominate in the Wet

After their Round 22 defeat to the Dolphins, the Warriors made the trip back across the ditch to face the Bulldogs, who lost to the Wests Tigers 28-14 in Round 22.

After scoring the first points via a penalty goal, the Warriors were barely in the contest as injuries and the weather played their part in keeping the visitors on the backfoot, seeing the Bulldogs break their rain curse with a 32-14 victory, handing the Warriors their third loss in a row.

The Warriors struck first in the third minute when Adam Pompey slotted a penalty goal, but the Bulldogs quickly replied through Stephen Crichton. Ten minutes later, Crichton added another penalty to give Canterbury the lead.

Sloppy discipline from the Warriors kept handing the Bulldogs easy metres, and it finally bit them in the 21st minute. Viliame Kikau attacked down the left short side, slid over the line despite being tackled short, and opened the try-scoring. Crichton couldn’t convert from out wide.

Things got worse for the Warriors when Te Maire Martin left with a concussion in the 26th minute, followed moments later by Leka Halasima after a head clash with Lachlan Galvin (though Halasima was later cleared). The Bulldogs kept rolling after some great defence from the Warriors when Matt Burton kicked early in the tackle deep in his own half to nail a 40/20. A quick shift from right to left moments later in the 31st minute set up Jethro Rinakama to score in the corner, and Crichton nailed the extras. Just before halftime, Crichton broke through and sent Enari Tuala over untouched. Another sideline special from Crichton made it 20-2 at the break.

Ten minutes after the restart, Crichton went himself, taking the ball from a scrum, double-dummying, and muscling through Adam Pompey for a solo try. Crichton took the kick but hit the upright.

The Warriors finally hit back in the 54th minute thanks to some persistence from Samuel Healey. His grubber was blocked, but he regathered, kicked again into the in-goal, and chased through to score. Pompey converted.

Any momentum was short-lived. From the restart, James Fisher-Harris gave away a penalty, and Crichton added another two points. Then, with 12 minutes to go, Jacob Kiraz produced a beauty, juggling a low pass, stepping inside, and splitting two defenders for a try. Crichton converted from the sideline. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gave Warriors fans something to cheer about late, snapping up an intercept and sprinting away to score in the 77th. Pompey added the extras, but the Bulldogs were well in control, sealing a 32-14 win in heavy rain.

My Thoughts

That was a tough watch, and probably one of the hardest reviews to write this season. I went into the week expecting a loss, but as game day got closer, I started to believe the Warriors could bounce back and grind out a win. For the first 20 minutes, they were right in the fight. Then came the one-two blow: a huge Matt Burton 40/20, followed by Te Maire Martin failing his HIA. From that point on, the Warriors were on the ropes and barely landed a punch.

As a fan watching from home, it felt like nothing was going their way. They were starved of possession for most of the 20 minutes before halftime, and the Bulldogs made them pay by building a comfortable lead. In the second half, the possession evened out, but the damage was done. The Warriors looked either out of gas or lacked the right halves combination to dig themselves out of the hole. I think Andrew Webster’s lineup gamble didn’t work. Personally, I would have stuck with Boyd; he’s got the best kicking game of the available halves, which could have been valuable in the wet conditions. Still, maybe it would have worked if TMM had stayed on the field.

In the end, it was a disappointing loss, made worse by the fact that it drops the Warriors out of the top four. With the ladder so tight, more defeats could see them miss the finals altogether, which would be a nightmare ending to what had been a promising season. That said, I still think they can steady the ship and fight for a finish between fourth and sixth. The fight isn’t over. They just need to dust themselves off and get back to work.

There wasn't much to smile about, but I found a few, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The Warriors began with plenty of energy, earning early field position and taking the lead through a penalty goal. For the first 20 minutes, they matched the Bulldogs physically and defensively, holding their own in the middle and forcing a few mistakes. They looked organised and capable of building pressure, showing signs of the discipline and structure needed to trouble a top side. However, as the half wore on, the Bulldogs began to take control, and the momentum slowly slipped away.

I'm clutching at straws, really, but even with the game slipping away, the Warriors kept working hard right to the final whistle. They chased kicks, fought for every tackle, and kept looking for ways to break the Bulldogs’ line. A few late attacking chances showed their pride was still there, and they weren’t willing to simply give up, no matter what the scoreboard said. I still want to see them play better and win, but there's nothing worse than watching a team just throw in the towel, so at least that didn't happen.

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

Match Negatives

The Warriors made life hard for themselves with too many mistakes and lapses in discipline. Eight errors, seven penalties, and five ruck infringements gave the Bulldogs a steady stream of possession and field position. While a few of the officials’ calls could be labelled questionable, the reality is the Warriors have no one to blame but themselves. Their own mistakes stalled their momentum and stopped them from building pressure, letting the Bulldogs control the game’s tempo.

The Warriors’ defence struggled at key moments, letting the Bulldogs break through more often than they should have. Missed tackles and slow line speed gave the Bulldogs space to make breaks and score. These mistakes put extra pressure on the Warriors’ forwards and made it harder for the team to reset and control the ruck. Because of this, the Bulldogs were able to build momentum, making it tough for the Warriors to get back into the game. Fixing these defensive issues will be crucial if the Warriors want to compete with strong teams consistently and avoid slipping out of the top eight.

Losing Te Maire Martin was a tough blow that really disrupted the Warriors’ attack. Without his experience and creativity, their play became flat and struggled to gain any momentum. Chanel Harris-Tavita and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad didn’t manage to step up and lead when it mattered most. Looking back as a Hindsight Hero, I wonder if dropping Tannah Boyd was the right move, since his experience might have helped steady the team in a difficult moment. It also feels like the Warriors have been hit by an injury curse lately, with key players going down at critical times, making it even harder for them to find consistency.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Erin Clark. In a match where many of the Warriors were less than stellar, Clark once again provided a relentless work rate and all-round contribution. In 61 minutes, he topped all Warriors forwards with 111 metres gained, constantly taking tough carries to get the team moving. He broke two tackles, delivered an offload to keep the attack alive, and got through 32 tackles on defence. While he did miss five, he kept his game error-free with no penalties conceded. To top it off, he even threw in a surprise bomb, showing there’s more to his skill set than just the hard yards. In a match where the Warriors struggled to match the Bulldogs’ intensity, Clark’s effort stood out.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to Improve goes to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

There were plenty of players I could have picked here, but in the end, I went with CNK down to the fact that he disappeared. I couldn't even find a picture of him from the game to use for this segment. His influence faded after an unplanned shift into the halves, a role he likely hadn’t prepared for. Even so, the team needed him to step up and make an impact, but he finished with just 21 running metres, nine passes, and 14 tackles with three misses. He also conceded a penalty and didn’t put in a single kick, which left the Warriors short on attacking options, making their flat attack very predictable. Usually a spark of energy and creativity, this was a quiet performance in a position that required him to take control.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 24, the Warriors return home to host the Dragons, who defeated the Sharks 22-14 in Round 23.

For my team selection, Te Maire Martin is out after failing his HIA. In the press conference, Andrew Webster confirmed that Tanah Boyd would return, though there have been murmurs about Jett Cleary possibly making his debut. I still think Boyd is the smarter choice, Cleary doesn’t seem quite ready for first grade yet, and the Warriors need an experienced game-managing half right now.

Other than that, I’d keep the lineup the same, except for swapping Sam Healey and Freddy Lussick. If Wayde Egan is available, I’d start him, move Healey to the bench, and drop Lussick out.

The Dragons have been on a roll in recent weeks with back-to-back wins over the Raiders and Sharks, utilising their strike weapons and staying relatively error-free. They are a gritty side right now that isn't afraid of grinding out a win if necessary, with the experienced additions of Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook adding some dimension to their attack and a sense of calm when the side is under pressure. It's no secret that I am not a fan of the Dragons, and if there is any side I hate seeing beat the Warriors, it is them, so I really need to see the Warriors end their losing streak here.

For the Warriors to win, they need to improve their defence and stay disciplined to avoid giving away penalties. They should focus on controlling the middle of the field with strong forward runs and quick ball movement to break through the Dragons’ defence. It’s essential they create smarter set plays and reduce handling errors. Their playmakers must manage the game well and perform under pressure. Starting strong and maintaining intensity throughout the match will be key to beating the Dragons’ tough defence, as right now this Warriors side does not have the skill level needed to play catch-up footy. I think it will be tough, but I'm backing the Warriors to get out of their current funk, so I am picking a Warriors win by 6.

So, that was a dreadful Round 23, and I will leave you with some questions as usual.

Where do you think the Warriors will end up on the ladder at season's end?

What did you think of Websters last minute changes?

Would you bring Jett Cleary into first grade this week?

What is your score prediction against the Dragons?