NZ Warriors 2025 Round 27 Review: Costly Errors Sink Warriors in DCE’s Farewell

After their Round 26 loss to the Eels, the Warriors made their way back across the ditch to face the Sea Eagles, who defeated the Dragons 40-24 in Round 26.

The Warriors burst out of the gates but soon slipped back into the same error-ridden habits that have plagued them in recent weeks, allowing the Sea Eagles to take control. A spirited second-half comeback reignited hope, but Daly Cherry-Evans, in his farewell game for Manly, sealed the result with a clutch field goal, handing the Warriors a 27-26 defeat.

What Went Down

The game started in dramatic fashion. Daly Cherry-Evans failed to defuse the opening kick-off, with Jason Saab then spilling the ball into the arms of James Fisher-Harris, who scored after just nine seconds, the fastest try in NRL history.

Manly quickly struck back in the 4th minute, with Cherry-Evans earning redemption via a pinpoint 40/20. The ensuing shift to the left exposed the Warriors’ shaky right edge as Lehi Hopoate crossed in the corner. To make matters worse, Rocco Berry dislocated his shoulder in a failed tackle attempt during the play. Still rattled, the Warriors cracked again in the 9th minute, when an Adam Pompey error and back-to-back ruck infringements gifted Jake Simpkin the chance to burrow over from dummy half. Manly’s bright start continued in the 15th minute, when Luke Brooks linked with Tom Trbojevic, who delivered a superb ball to send Hopoate in for his second. That made it three tries in the opening quarter hour. The Warriors, though sloppy for much of the half, found a response. Strong runs from Sam Healey out of dummy half created momentum, and in the 34th minute, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad combined with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who redeemed his earlier disallowed effort with a try just before half-time, seeing the Warriors go into the sheds trailing 14-10.

Any chance of momentum carrying into the second half was crushed immediately for the Warriors. In the 41st minute, Brooks sold a dummy to beat Demitric Vaimauga and Erin Clark before sprinting away to score. The Warriors then compounded their problems in the 48th minute, when a towering Brooks bomb forced an error from CNK under pressure from Clayton Faulalo. Corey Waddell scooped up the loose ball and sent Ethan Bullemor racing away for another Manly try.

A Manly mistake inside their own 20 finally gave the Warriors a lifeline in the 53rd minute, with Te Maire Martin finding CNK to slice through a yawning gap. The comeback looked alive when Healey, who had been dangerous all night, fooled the defence with slick deception out of dummy half to score in the 72nd minute, cutting the margin to six. But Manly steadied late, with Cherry-Evans calmly nailing a 75th-minute field goal to push the lead back out. 

The closing stages were chaotic. Tom Trbojevic was sent to the sin bin in the 78th minute after taking out DWZ, who had made a scorching run down the sideline, before Jazz Tevaga followed in the 79th. In the same set, DWZ crossed for his second try in the corner in the 79th minute, reducing the deficit to just one. In the end, though, that Cherry-Evans field goal proved decisive. He signed off as a Sea Eagle with a 27-26 win, leaving the Warriors to limp into week one of the finals with plenty to fix and morale at a low point for both the team and their fans.

My Thoughts

Well, this match started off with a hiss and a roar, and it brought this old prop's heart some joy seeing James Fisher-Harris score the fastest try in NRL history. However, that joy was short-lived, as Manly scored almost immediately after a 40/20 and swung momentum back in their favour for the rest of the first half. The Warriors showed some fight to stay in the match, but kept shooting themselves in the foot with errors. Every time it looked like they were on the cusp of stealing the win, they would falter, and Manly would make them pay. 

It was a horrible watch, to be honest, and yes, while the Warriors ended up only losing by one, this was a match that they should have put away early. I know Manly would want to send DCE out on a high, but they also played terribly. All of the issues I raised last week were still here with no sign of improvement, and if they don't sort them out quickly they will be for a rough night against the Panthers this weekend. However, it may be my optimism sneaking in but if there is any team that will defy the odds and win a match most people give them no chance to win it is the Warriors. So I have my fingers crossed for a miracle or two.

I will go into the season on a whole in my season review in a few weeks but as poorly has it has become the team overshot my expectations, so hoepfully they can suprise me again.

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

Match Positives

The Warriors showed glimpses of attacking potential, particularly through Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who looked dangerous whenever they received the ball. Too often, however, the team failed to feed their strike players, limiting opportunities to build momentum. Leka Halasima, playing at centre, in particular, had few chances to run on his edge, leaving much of the team’s attacking threat untapped. This is an area the Warriors will need to correct this week if they want to be more threatening in attack.

The Warriors displayed patches of resilience in the second half, gradually fighting their way back into the contest at key moments despite a first half full of errors. There were stretches where their sets clicked, their defence held firm, and they looked capable of turning the game around. Their determination to gain every metre and keep applying pressure showed a level of grit that will be valuable heading into the finals. That said, ideally, they would avoid falling behind in the first place, as relying on comebacks can be a risky way to approach high-stakes matches.

While the loss was frustrating to watch, it offered a valuable learning opportunity for the Warriors. Admittedly, some of the issues highlighted in this performance have been ongoing, and one more week may not completely fix them, but it’s better to have these problems exposed in Round 27 than in a sudden-death final. The coaching staff now have a clearer picture of what needs tightening, giving the team a chance to head into the finals better prepared and more focused on executing when it matters most.

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

Match Negatives

Errors and being ill-disciplined once again proved costly for the Warriors, with 14 handling mistakes, four penalties, five ruck infringements, and two inside-10 calls disrupting their rhythm. While they made fewer errors than Manly, throwing the ball away so carelessly while chasing a lead is costly. These mistakes stalled momentum and repeatedly gave the Sea Eagles good field position, allowing them to build pressure. The Warriors will need to stay focused and show more respect for the ball, or similar lapses could prove costly in the finals.

The Warriors’ right-edge defence has been a concern for much of the season, and it was again exposed as Jason Saab and the Sea Eagles’ outside players found too much space. The early exit of Rocco Berry didn’t help, but the lapses ultimately came down to communication and trust across the defensive line. Moving forward, the team will need to work on talking more and relying on the players on either side to do their job if they want to be more secure in high-pressure matches.

The Warriors missed a chance to head into the finals on a high, with back-to-back losses raising questions over both form and confidence. Not only did they lose consecutive games, but their performances in both were below par, highlighting areas that need urgent attention. A win in this match could have provided momentum and reassurance, but instead, the team must address lingering concerns and regain composure if they hope to compete effectively in the finals.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Erin Clark.

He delivered another standout performance, playing the full 80 minutes for the first time this season and making a big impact on both sides of the ball. He ran for 192 metres, broke eight tackles, produced six offloads, and made 41 tackles with just one miss, all without giving away a penalty or making an error. Clark has been one of the Warriors’ best this year, consistently stepping up to help fill the gap left by Tohu Harris. He has surprised me in the best way, and I’m excited to see him continue to grow into a key figure in the Warriors pack for years to come.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve goes to Rocco Berry.

It may seem unfair to mention Berry after he lasted only five minutes before injury, but his durability has become a genuine concern. His only contribution in this match was a missed tackle, and while he clearly has plenty of upside when healthy and adds real quality to the backline, staying on the field has been a challenge. As the Warriors look ahead to the offseason, there may need to be some honest discussions about how best to manage his spot in the top 30 while also ensuring the squad has the reliability it needs.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Finals Week One, the Warriors return to Auckland to host the Penrith Panthers, who soundly defeated the Dragons 40-20 in Round 27.

For the team I'd pick, with Berry out, I’d return CNK to centre and move Taine Tuaupiki back to fullback. I’d do everything possible to keep Sam Healey in the 17, even if it means shifting TMM into the starting lineup; he could even slot at fullback or centre instead. Jackson Ford is available again, so I’d bring him back in for Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, who looks to have done his AC Joint.

The Panthers didn't start the year well and have had a few down weeks recently, but they responded with a big statement win in their last outing, reminding everyone of their quality. The Panthers have proven time and again that they are a different beast in finals football, making them one of the toughest challenges any side can face. Not to be forgotten, the baby Panthers have already made the trip to Auckland this season and walked away with a victory.

For the Warriors to beat the Panthers, they’ll need their most disciplined performance of the season. Errors and penalties must be minimised, and defensively, they must hold strong through the middle while staying connected on the edges. In attack, repeat sets and involving strike players like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and Leka Halasima will be crucial. Above all, they must match Penrith’s intensity for the full 80 minutes. That said, I just can’t see the Warriors improving enough to cause an upset, so I’m predicting a Panthers win by 18, although I really hope I'm wrong.

So, that was a frustrating Round 27, and I will leave you with some questions as usual.

Are there any young players you think could step up and make a big impact in the finals?

What would your 17 be this week?

Would you look to move Berry on or persevere with him?

What is your score prediction against the Panthers?