NZ Warriors 2026 Round 13 Review: Warriors Rue Missed Chance Against Panthers

Fresh off their win over the Dragons in Round 12, the Warriors remained in Australia for their fourth match in a row to face the Panthers, who had a Bye in Round 12.

In a tight contest at CommBank Stadium, the Warriors pushed Penrith all the way but fell just short in a 20-18 thriller. After trailing 16-6 at halftime, the Warriors fought back strongly in the second half to briefly hit the lead, before the game turned into a tense arm-wrestle full of momentum swings, desperate defence and missed chances, with Penrith striking late to seal the win.

What Went Down

Penrith made the early running and were rewarded in the sixth minute. A penalty and set restart gave the Panthers field position, and Casey McLean crossed on the left edge after Ali Leiataua rushed in off his wing. Paul Alamoti missed the conversion, but Penrith continued to control territory and possession.

The Warriors worked their way back into the contest and struck in the 17th minute when Jacob Laban leapt above McLean to claim a perfectly placed kick. Adam Pompey's conversion gave the visitors a 6-4 lead.

The Panthers responded before halftime. McLean grabbed his second try in the 31st minute after another well-weighted kick found his wing, with Alamoti converting to restore Penrith's advantage at 10-6. The Warriors then lost a captain's challenge, and Penrith capitalised almost immediately. Slick hands to the right created space for Alamoti to score in the corner, and he added the difficult conversion to send the Panthers into the sheds leading 16-6.

The Warriors emerged from halftime with far greater energy and intent. Chanel Harris-Tavita went close before Taine Tuaupiki finished off a sweeping attacking movement in the 54th minute. Pompey's conversion reduced the deficit to six points, and moments later the visitors struck again. Te Maire Martin's kick caused chaos when Alamoti slipped, allowing Alofiana Khan-Pereira to pounce on the loose ball and level the scores. Pompey's conversion put the Warriors in front 18-16 with 20 minutes remaining. From there, the match became a tense arm wrestle. Dylan Edwards produced a remarkable ankle tap on Laban to prevent a certain try, while Leiataua answered with a try-saving tackle on Edwards at the other end. Penrith continued to build pressure and eventually found a way through in the 70th minute, with Alamoti finishing a scrappy but effective shift to the right for his second try of the night. He missed the conversion, leaving the Panthers ahead by just two points.

The Warriors had opportunities to steal the game late. A potential try to Jackson Ford was ruled a double knock-on, and a high kick earned them a fresh set inside the final three minutes. However, Tuaupiki lost possession with 90 seconds remaining, allowing Penrith to see out the match and secure a hard-fought 20-18 victory.

My Thoughts

Well, this was always going to be a real measuring stick for the Warriors, and in many ways, it showed exactly where they sit against the NRL’s best. They didn’t get the win, but they also didn’t look out of place against Penrith, which feels like a step forward compared to previous meetings. It was a game shaped by momentum swings, fine margins, and moments where the Warriors were right in it but just couldn’t land the decisive blow.

They had me worried at half-time, but there was plenty of determination in the way they fought their way back into the contest. At one stage, they had real control and had Penrith on the ropes, which speaks to the belief and resilience building in this group. The frustration is that they had chances to push further ahead but weren’t quite clinical enough to put the game to bed. Both sides played the high-completion footy we’ve come to expect this season, with the Panthers finishing at 92% and the Warriors at 89%. That made it even tougher for the Warriors to capitalise on pressure, because Penrith simply didn’t hand over many errors.

There were moments where the Warriors could have really taken control, but they couldn’t quite execute in the red zone. A few questionable last-play options left plenty of what-ifs. The forward pack more than held its own through the middle and gave the backs a platform to create opportunities; they just needed to finish more of them. Against the top teams, those small margins are often the difference, and it showed here.

It’s also worth noting the context of both line-ups, which has come up a lot with the Pundits across the ditch. Penrith were without Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o, while the Warriors were missing their first-choice half in Tanah Boyd, along with Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. In that sense, the disruption probably evened itself out across both sides.

In the end, it’s frustrating because the Warriors were right there, but it's also another clear sign of progress. They’re no longer being overrun by Penrith; they’re matching them for long stretches and creating genuine chances to win. The next step is turning those moments into 80-minute performances and closing out games like this. 

Despite the loss, this should be a real confidence booster for the squad. They showed up and put in a huge effort in what felt like a finals-type matchup, and the lessons taken from this defeat should push them to another level when these two sides meet again in Round 23.

There was plenty to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

A lot of teams crumble against Penrith after conceding late tries before halftime, but the Warriors did the opposite here and completely flipped the momentum after the break. They came out with far more intent, lifted their physicality through the middle, and turned territory and pressure into points, scoring 12 unanswered to take an 18-16 lead. For a period, they didn’t just stay in the contest; they looked like the side in control and had Penrith scrambling to respond. However, there’s a lesson in what followed. They had a couple of chances to really ice the game and build scoreboard pressure, but weren’t quite clinical enough to put it away against a side like Penrith. Against the very best, those moments matter, and this game showed how quickly momentum can swing back when you don’t fully capitalise. Even so, the comeback itself highlighted real resilience and belief in this group.

A 89% completion rate against a Penrith side that thrives on forcing errors is no small achievement, and it really underpinned the Warriors’ ability to stay in this contest for as long as they did. They played with patience, built their sets properly, and avoided the sort of unforced errors that usually give Penrith easy field position and momentum. That discipline allowed them to apply pressure of their own and stick to a game plan that kept them right in the arm wrestle. Against a team like the Panthers, that level of control is exactly what you need to be competitive, even if it ultimately wasn’t quite enough to get the win.

Even without Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell backing up, the Warriors more than held their own physically through the middle against one of the toughest packs in the competition. They stayed in the contest with Penrith’s forwards rather than being overrun, which is no small feat in a game of this intensity. Erin Clark led the way with 164 metres, while Jackson Ford was immense again with 135 metres and 51 tackles, underlining just how much work was being done in the middle. Jacob Laban also continued his breakout season with another strong contribution. Overall, the forward pack refused to be intimidated and consistently gave the spine and edge players a platform to compete right until the final whistle, and that was great to see in what was this pack’s toughest assignment of the season to date.

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

Match Negatives

My biggest concern was the Warriors' issues converting pressure into points, as this was probably the defining difference in the match. They had long periods where they looked the better side, but didn’t always come away with anything on the scoreboard. Against Penrith, those wasted opportunities almost always come back to hurt you, and this game was no exception. The match ultimately swung on a handful of key moments, including the lost captain’s challenge that led to a Panthers try, the Jackson Ford no-try, a late error from Taine Tuaupiki, and a couple of other missed attacking chances when the game was there to be taken. At this level, the margin between winning and losing is razor-thin, and the Warriors found out just how costly those small lapses can be against elite opposition.

Flowing on from that first concern around converting pressure into points, their red-zone efficiency was another key issue, as the Warriors worked themselves into strong attacking positions multiple times but didn’t always come away with points or even force repeat sets. Against a side like Penrith, those moments inside the 20 become crucial, and any hesitation or lack of execution is usually punished. There were also a few moments where a grubber into the in-goal looked like the right option but wasn’t used, which was slightly perplexing given it’s one of Te Maire Martin’s strengths and could have added another layer to their attacking threat in those situations. Too often, the set would end with a handling error, a last-tackle option that didn’t quite land, or a lack of pressure applied back onto the Panthers. In a game decided by just two points, those missed opportunities in the red zone ultimately became the difference between winning and losing.

This is kind of the same thing I’ve already mentioned in my first two negatives, but it really comes back to being more ruthless against the NRL’s best. And while it sounds harsh, given how well they played, premiership contenders take those chances when they come. The Warriors showed they absolutely belong in the same conversation as Penrith, pushing them right to the brink in a high-quality contest. However, the difference at this level is turning those strong performances into wins rather than brave losses. Games like this are often decided by a handful of moments, and the best sides consistently find a way to take control of them when it matters most.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Taine Tuaupiki.

Tuaupiki was a real standout for the Warriors, finishing with 228 running metres and consistently providing spark every time he touched the ball. He was dangerous on kick returns, including a massive break that swung momentum the Warriors' way, broke the line once, and produced 10 tackle breaks that kept Penrith’s defence under constant pressure. His footwork and energy made him one of the most threatening players on the field, especially when the Warriors were building momentum. That said, there were a couple of moments late where he went himself instead of passing with support available, and a costly error in the dying stages when the Warriors were chasing a match-winning play. Even so, he is clearly growing into the fullback role and finding real confidence there, and on current form, he should be trusted to hold that spot for the rest of the campaign.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve goes to Ali Leiataua.

Leiataua had a mixed night for the Warriors, with some strong moments in possession but also plenty to work on. He made 8 tackle breaks, showing his strength and ability to challenge the defence, but only ran for 70 metres overall, which suggests he wasn’t able to consistently turn that into meaningful yardage. Discipline was also an issue, with two penalties conceded, including one that cost the Warriors a try in a key attacking position. Defensively, he looked at sea in the first half against Casey McLean, struggling with positioning and reads as Penrith targeted his edge. To his credit, there was improvement after halftime, which is a positive sign of his ability to respond in-game, but overall it was a tough outing that highlighted both his potential and the areas he still needs to tighten up.

Bye Round Thoughts

In Round 14, the Warriors get their second Bye of the season, adding another vital two points, keeping them entrenched in the top four. It is also a chance for the squad to rest up from niggling injuries and use the week off to refocus and prepare for the Sharks in Round 15, their first game at Mount Smart since Round 7.

With no game next week, I’ll be putting together a mid-season review. I’ll cover the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2026 season so far, and also share my thoughts on the upcoming Round 14 match against the Sharks. It’ll be a good chance to reflect on what’s happened so far. Keep an eye out for it next Monday.

So, that was a heartbreaking Round 13, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who has been your Warrior of the season so far?

Did you have a player to improve?

Would you stick with Te Maire Martin at 7?

What grade would you give the Warriors' season so far?