NZ Warriors 2026 Round 22 Review: Warriors Back in Business After Titans Thrashing

After their embarrassing defeat to the Bulldogs in Round 21, the Warriors remained across the ditch, heading to the Gold Coast to face a Titans side who defeated the Dragons 38-18 that same weekend.

The Warriors produced one of their most complete performances of the season, overpowering the Titans 42-6 at CBUS Super Stadium. Scoring eight tries to one, Andrew Webster's side controlled the contest from the outset and never looked threatened on their way to a dominant victory.

What Went Down

The Warriors wasted little time asserting themselves, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak crossing in the 6th minute before former Titan Alofiana Khan-Pereira added another just four minutes later to give the Warriors an early 10-0 advantage. The points continued to flow in the 16th minute when Khan-Pereira burst clear from inside his own half and linked up with Chanel Harris-Tavita, who finished the movement to extend the lead to 14-0.

The Titans briefly gave their supporters something to cheer about when Arama Hau crossed in the 23rd minute, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly shut down by the Warriors. Leka Halasima, rewarded with a starting role in the centres after originally being named on the bench, repaid Andrew Webster's faith by scoring in the 28th minute following a Khan-Pereira tap back. The Warriors finished the opening half emphatically when Jacob Laban crashed over in the 36th minute, sending the visitors to the sheds with a commanding 26-6 lead.

Any thoughts of a second-half fightback were quickly erased after the break. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava ran onto a superb Mitchell Barnett pass to score in the 47th minute as the Warriors picked up where they left off. The visitors thought they had another shortly afterwards when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad crossed the line, only for the bunker to rule an obstruction in the lead-up and deny the fullback a four-pointer. With AJ Brimson spending time in the sin bin, the Warriors took full advantage of their extra man. Te Maire Martin added his name to the scoresheet in the 63rd minute before producing a classy show-and-go to grab his second try in the 69th minute and put the finishing touches on a comprehensive 42-6 victory.

There was also a memorable moment late in the contest when Riley Price made his club debut in the 67th minute. In doing so, he became part of the first father-son combination to represent the Warriors, following in the footsteps of his father Steve Price, who played 91 matches for the club between 2005 and 2009.

My Thoughts

Well, that was exactly the response we were hoping to see. After last week's disappointing loss to the Bulldogs, there were plenty of questions surrounding the Warriors and how they would bounce back, especially with a huge clash against the Panthers looming. While the Titans have struggled for consistency this season, you can only beat the team in front of you, and the Warriors undoubtedly did that. From the opening whistle, they looked focused, determined and eager to make a statement, racing out to an early lead and never allowing the Titans a way back into the contest.

What impressed me most was the mental response. One poor performance can happen to any team, but the real test is how you react the following week. After the Bulldogs' defeat, there were concerns that the performance might be a sign of deeper issues. Instead, the Warriors answered those questions in the best possible way. Good teams aren't defined by never having a bad game; they're defined by how they respond when things don't go their way. Throughout this season, the Warriors have consistently shown an ability to bounce back, and this was another strong example of that resilience.

The forward pack returned to its dominant best, laying the platform for everything that followed. The young players also stood tall, further proving that the future of this club is incredibly bright. More importantly, they showed they aren't just players for the future; they are already making valuable contributions at NRL level. With the pack winning the middle, the halves looked far more dangerous and controlled the game well. That said, I still have some concerns about how the Warriors will handle finals football if they come up against a pack capable of matching or beating them through the middle. Hopefully, the coaching staff are continuing to develop a Plan B for those situations because they are likely to arise later in the season.

The challenge now is backing this performance up. As impressive as a 42-6 victory is, the Panthers will present a completely different test and won't hesitate to expose any weaknesses. The positive is that this win should provide a significant confidence boost and serve as a reminder of what this team is capable of when they play with intensity, confidence and belief. The Warriors remain firmly in the premiership conversation and showed once again why they are one of the competition's most dangerous teams. However, the Panthers and Roosters also produced impressive performances this round, and the biggest tests are still ahead. If the Warriors want to be genuine title contenders, they now need to show they can produce this level of football against the competition's elite sides when it matters most.

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

Match Positives

The Warriors’ forward pack laid the perfect platform for the dominant victory, delivering the response they needed after being bullied through the middle in last week’s loss to the Bulldogs. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava led the way with 191 metres. At the same time, Tanner Stowers-Smith (177m), Mitch Barnett (146m), Jacob Laban (146m), Erin Clark (141m) and Kurt Capewell (118m) all made valuable contributions through the middle. Their ability to win the battle for territory and consistently get the team on the front foot created the space and time for the halves and outside backs to shine, proving once again that when this Warriors pack is rolling, they are extremely difficult to contain.

The Warriors continue to receive strong contributions from players outside their regular 17, highlighting the depth they have built throughout the squad. Leka Halasima rewarded Andrew Webster’s faith after being shifted into the centres, producing a strong performance capped off with a try. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava was outstanding off the bench, making an immediate impact with 191 metres and plenty of damaging carries. Tanner Stowers-Smith also continued his impressive rise with another strong showing, while Riley Price’s debut provided a memorable moment as he became the first father-son combination to represent the Warriors alongside his father Steve. With injuries and Origin disruptions testing the squad throughout the year, having players ready to step up when called upon could prove invaluable heading into the back end of the season.

While the eight tries will grab the headlines, the Warriors’ defensive effort was just as impressive. Despite building a commanding lead, they didn’t switch off after conceding to Arama Hau in the 23rd minute, shutting the Titans out for the remainder of the match. They scrambled well when opportunities opened up for the Titans, maintained their intensity for the full 80 minutes and limited Gold Coast to just one try. After some periods this season where their defensive focus has wavered, this was a timely reminder of the resilience and discipline required from a genuine premiership contender.

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

Match Negatives

While a 42-6 scoreline makes it easy to overlook, the Warriors’ goal-kicking remains an area that needs improvement. A conversion rate in the mid-70% range will get you across the line more often than not, but the margin for error becomes much smaller in tight finals matches where every point matters. With strike weapons on both wings, the Warriors are regularly scoring tries from wider positions, meaning many of their kicks are coming from difficult angles near the sideline. Finding greater consistency with the kicking tee will be important, and perhaps a few extra sessions each week for Chanel Harris-Tavita could help turn those missed opportunities into valuable points.

Despite the big scoreline, and this is probably a case of nitpicking from me, there were still moments where the Warriors left opportunities on the field. The disallowed Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad try was certainly unlucky, with the bunker ruling an obstruction in the lead-up. Still, there were other occasions where better execution could have resulted in an even bigger scoreline. The Warriors were dominant for long periods, and this didn’t affect the result, but against the competition’s top sides they will need to be more clinical when opportunities present themselves.

This was a brilliant performance from the Warriors, but it is important to acknowledge the opposition they were up against. The Titans entered the match sitting 13th and have struggled defensively throughout the season, so while the Warriors deserve full credit for taking care of business in such a dominant fashion, the biggest challenge will be carrying this level of execution into matches against the competition’s top sides. The signs are extremely encouraging, but the Warriors will need to replicate this intensity and consistency when the pressure of the finals arrives.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Wayde Egan.

This was hard to pick this week with so many players putting thier hands up with impressive performances, but I thought Egan was outstanding here, once again showing why he is such an important part of the Warriors’ success. The hooker did a fantastic job of targeting lazy defenders around the ruck, repeatedly catching the Titans’ markers off guard and earning the Warriors crucial six-agains and penalties that allowed them to build pressure and turn the screws. Egan finished with 85 running metres, a line break assist and 29 tackles with just one miss, but it was his football IQ and ability to control the momentum of the game that stood out most. His understanding of when to attack and how to exploit defensive weaknesses is a huge asset, and his performances could be vital in determining how far the Warriors can go this season.

Warrior to Improve

I don’t have a single Warrior to call out this week because none of the 17 who featured let the team down, or they simply didn't play enough minutes to be judged fairly. They weren’t all perfect, but every player gave it their all, and that’s all you can really ask for.

Round 23 Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 23, the Warriors return home for the much-anticipated clash against the Panthers, who defeated the Raiders 42-18 in Round 22.

As for the team I’d pick, I'd keep it the same, with the only change being bringing Demetric Vaimauga back for Riley Price if he has recovered from his rib injury. I liked having Halasima out at centre combining with Khan-Pereira, so that combination stays for me; it is just such an attacking threat that will trouble defenders with Halasima's tackle-breaking ability and AKP's pace. Either one can punish the opposition if they are too focused on the other.

The Panthers may not be as intimidating as they have been in years past, but they continue to be the benchmark that all NRL teams strive to reach. Their defensive structures, ability to control the middle and discipline without the ball continue to be their biggest strengths, while their experience in big moments means they rarely beat themselves. However, this Penrith side does have some weaknesses, with their attack not always looking as dangerous as in previous seasons and their reliance on winning the middle battle creating opportunities for teams that can withstand their early pressure and challenge them on the edges. Their previous clash with the Warriors this season was arguably the game of the year so far, with both sides producing a thrilling contest that showcased the quality of the two teams. While the Panthers’ composure saw them escape with the win, the Warriors proved they can match it with the best, and this rematch will provide another opportunity to show they belong among the competition’s elite.

To get the job done against the Panthers, the Warriors will need to bring the same level of physicality and intensity that they showed against the Titans, particularly through the middle of the field. Winning the forward battle will be crucial, as Penrith thrive when they can control the ruck and build pressure through repeat sets. The Warriors will also need to be disciplined, limit their errors and complete their sets, because giving the Panthers cheap possession is a recipe for trouble. In attack, they need to continue using the width of the field and challenge Penrith’s edges, while defensively they must remain connected and shut down their dangerous ball runners. This is a huge test of where this Warriors side sits among the competition’s best, and while I believe they are more than capable of pushing the Panthers all the way, I’m predicting Penrith to get the job done by 6 points. Hopefully, I’m wrong, and the Warriors can deliver another statement victory. 

So, that was a much-improved Round 22, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What was the biggest positive you took out of the Warriors' performance?

Do you see the Warriors back as a premiership contender?

Did you have a Warrior to improve?

What is your score prediction against the Panthers?