NZ Warriors 2025 Finals Week 1 Review: Warriors Stand Tall but Panthers’ Class Proves Decisive

After their Round 27 loss to the Sea Eagles, the Warriors returned home to host a finals elimination match against the Panthers, who defeated the Dragons 40-20 in Round 27.

In a tough, physical contest where both sides defended strongly, the Warriors looked much improved compared to recent weeks and kept themselves in the game for a long stretch. But the Panthers’ finals experience shone through in the final twenty minutes, as the defending champions pulled away to seal a 24-8 win and bring the Warriors’ season to an end.

What Went Down

It was a tense start to the Warriors’ first elimination final, with the Panthers looking rattled by their own ill-discipline in the opening quarter. In the 8th minute, Tanah Boyd punished the visitors with a penalty goal, giving the home side a 2-0 lead.

Both forward packs went toe-to-toe in a bruising battle, but the difference was Nathan Cleary’s kicking game. His forced dropouts and clever touches kept turning the screws. Then in the 27th minute, Cleary shifted from boot to hands, throwing a superb pass to Isaiah Papali’i, who powered over to score and put the Panthers ahead 6-2. That score held until halftime, though a late linebreak from Boyd gave the Warriors a glimmer of hope heading to the sheds.

The Panthers came out firing after the break and quickly found reward. In the 46th minute, Brad Schneider darted from dummy-half, catching the Warriors napping before crashing over. Despite calls of a double movement, referee Grant Atkins and the Bunker confirmed the try.

The Warriors finally hit back after a misjudged Cleary kick gifted them field position. In the 52nd minute, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad delivered a perfectly timed pass to Leka Halasima, who burst through Dylan Edwards’ tackle to score and close the gap. But just past the hour mark, the match swung on one pivotal moment. In the 65th minute, a Cleary clearing kick was left to bounce by a Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak miscommunication, allowing Luke Garner to swoop in. He offloaded forward, missed by the officials, to Blaize Talagi, who toed the ball ahead. Brian To’o reached it first, flicked it to Casey McLean, and suddenly the Panthers were back in control at 18-8.

With under ten minutes to play, Penrith iced the result. In the 71st minute, as the Warriors tried to throw the ball around, Halasima lost possession, and To’o pounced. The winger streaked nearly 60 metres to score, sealing a 24-8 victory and bringing the Warriors’ season to a close.

My Thoughts

This one was tough to take. I’d predicted an 18-point win for the Panthers, and in the end, I wasn’t far off, with Penrith taking it by 16. All week, my thoughts swung back and forth. At first, I expected a blowout, then I convinced myself the Warriors could pull off an ambush.

To their credit, the Warriors turned up and made the Panthers work hard. There were plenty of controversial calls, with two tries awarded that probably shouldn’t have been, which helped the premiers stretch the margin. But even without those, Penrith still did enough to get the win.

The Warriors brought intensity and intent but lacked the polish to turn pressure into points. They started to chance their arm late, looking for ways to break through. It didn’t come off, but it was encouraging to see them trying to play with more freedom. Hopefully, next season, they’re given more license to use second-phase footy.

There are still issues to iron out. I liked Andrew Webster’s late call to get Sam Healey onto the bench, but his use of the interchange again left plenty to be desired, something he’ll need to improve in the offseason. Still, it was a gutsy effort. Against this Panthers side in finals footy, you have to be close to perfect to win, and while the scoreboard blew out, the Warriors were much better than it suggested.

Walking out of the stadium, I felt a mix of emotions. Heartbroken to see the Warriors’ season end, but proud of the way they went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the competition and never gave up.

At the start of the year, I had little expectation, so just making the finals was already a success. Right now it hurts, but the future looks bright. With Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf returning next season, the rumours of a genuine speedster in Alofian Khan-Pereira potentially joining the club and the younger players gaining more first-grade experience than expected, this team is building nicely. That leaves me heading into the offseason disappointed, yes, but ultimately hopeful for 2026.

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

Match Positives

Despite the 24–8 scoreline, the Warriors’ defence was strong and committed for much of the contest. They absorbed multiple sets on their own line and scrambled effectively to deny what looked like certain tries. Off the ball, players worked tirelessly to shut down Penrith’s shifts, keeping the Panthers’ trademark left-edge attack relatively quiet for long stretches. Even the much-talked-about right edge, which had faced heavy scrutiny during the season, held firm and showed real improvement under finals pressure. It wasn’t until fatigue and relentless pressure in the final quarter that cracks began to appear, but for the opening hour, the Warriors demonstrated they could stand up to Penrith’s intensity. That resilience provided a platform to stay competitive and will be a key building block for the team moving forward.

One of the standout performances from the Warriors was their ability to match the Panthers in the middle. Penrith are known for its powerful forward pack, often rolling through opposition forwards and giving Nathan Cleary the platform to control the game. On this night, however, the Warriors refused to be dominated. James Fisher-Harris led from the front with strong carries, while Jackson Ford’s work rate and Marata Niukore’s toughness in contact set the tone for the pack. Every collision had purpose, and the Warriors consistently met Penrith’s forwards head-on, even winning the ruck at times. This physical approach kept the Warriors competitive for long stretches. It demonstrated that when they bring intensity and commitment, they can go toe-to-toe with the best forward packs in the competition.

While the result stung, one of the hidden positives was the experience it gave the Warriors’ younger and less experienced players. For many, this was their first real taste of finals football, a step up in pace, physicality, and intensity compared to the regular season. They were forced to adapt to the relentless grind of a knockout match, where every set matters and every mistake is magnified. Players like Leka Halasima, Demitric Vaimauga, and Tanner Stowers-Smith will take plenty of lessons from this experience, particularly around game management, composure, and staying switched on for the full 80 minutes. The benefits may not be immediately obvious, but over time, this match could prove a turning point in their development, giving them the confidence that they belong on the finals stage.

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

Match Negatives

One of the main issues for the Warriors in this match was their inability to consistently build pressure in attack. While they moved the ball and showed flashes of creativity, they struggled to string together sets and were frequently held up by Penrith’s disciplined defensive line. The team found it difficult to break through the middle or create overlap opportunities on the edges, relying instead on isolated moments, such as Leka Halasima’s try in the 52nd minute. Errors at key moments and a lack of cohesion in the spine meant the Warriors rarely converted field position into points. Against a team of Penrith’s calibre, even small lapses are punished, and the Warriors’ inability to maintain clean, sustained attacking sets ultimately limited their scoring chances.

Costly mistakes were a recurring issue for the Warriors and ultimately gave the Panthers far more opportunities than they needed. In finals footy, completion rates are crucial; a single dropped ball or misread play can swing momentum and put a team on the back foot. While the Warriors did manage to work into Penrith’s 20 on a few occasions, they struggled to turn that field position into points, as errors and handling mistakes disrupted attacking sets. Against a team as clinical as Penrith, these moments are rare and are punished immediately. Each turnover or dropped ball allowed the Panthers to regain control and relieve pressure, leaving the Warriors fighting an uphill battle for much of the contest. Ultimately, their inability to maintain clean, structured sets directly limited scoring opportunities and contributed to the 24–8 deficit.

The Warriors’ spine was unable to consistently influence the game, which was a key factor in their struggle to build sustained pressure. Under the intensity of finals footy, Wayde Egan, Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad were largely contained by Penrith’s disciplined defensive structures. The Panthers’ markers limited space and time for the Warriors’ playmakers, preventing them from dictating the tempo or creating line-breaking opportunities. The early exit of Boyd didn’t help, reducing options at critical moments, though the presence of experienced playmaker Te Maire Martin helped to lessen the impact. Without a spark from the spine, the team struggled to link forwards and backs effectively, limiting attacking options and forcing reliance on individual moments rather than structured sets. With Luke Metcalf expected to return in 2026, the Warriors should have the tools to strengthen their attacking spine in future campaigns.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Erin Clark.

Clak had just 37 minutes on the field, far too little time in my opinion, and it’s hard not to point to Andrew Webster for not giving him more minutes to influence the game. Even in that limited time, though, Clark made a huge impact. He ran for 116 metres, broke two tackles, made 24 tackles with none missed, and committed no errors or penalties. He’s been a lynchpin and a leader in this Warriors pack all season, consistently impressing and exceeding expectations. His work ethic, defensive reliability, and ability to carry the ball effectively make him a standout, and I’m excited to see him take his game to the next level in 2026.

Warrior to Improve

This week, it’s hard to single out any Warrior for criticism. Every player in the 17 either contributed fully to the team effort or didn’t log enough minutes to be fairly judged. The performance wasn’t flawless; there were moments of missed opportunities and small errors, but no one let the team down enough to be called out. Every player gave their all, working hard in defence, making tackles, chasing kicks, and supporting each other throughout the match. That kind of collective effort is precisely what finals footy demands. While the scoreboard didn’t reflect it, the commitment and attitude across the squad were clear for all to see. I may just be biased, because although I was disappointed in the result, I was proud of the effort.

Seasons done; What's Next for me?

So that's a wrap on the 2025 season, and it's been an interesting year. I came into the season not expecting the Warriors to even reach the finals, and despite spending most of the season in contention for a top-four finish, the season felt a bit lacklustre with some patchy performances and plenty of what-ifs. However, there was enough shown to have me excited for 2026, but before we get there, I will be back with my 2025 season review. I usually wait to release it just before the Grand Final, but it may be a little sooner due to the Warriors' early exit this year. In that review, I will unpack the entire year, highlight certain players and moments, and look at what's to come in 2026.

Then, I will take a little break, perhaps writing a few articles about the Warriors if the inspiration hits me. I do have an offseason idea of compiling my favourite players from each season since 1995 and discussing what I liked about them and how they performed in the year they earned the honour of being my favourite player. However, my partner will be expecting me to give her a bit more attention, with the Warriors not consuming my day-to-day for a few months.

Last but not least, my show, The Stand-Off, will continue to stream live on Facebook and YouTube every Wednesday at 8pm NZ time; we haven't decided on a season finale time yet, as we will be covering the rest of the NRL season and internationals, so come join us there as we discuss the footy.

So, that was a Heartbreaking Finals Week 1, and I will leave you with some questions as usual.

What changes does Andrew Webster need to make with this team to take it to the next level in 2026?

How would you grade the 2025 season overall?

Who has been your biggest surprise from the squad?

Who do you think is going to win the 2025 premiership?