NZ Warriors 2026 Round 23 Review: Warriors Send Premiership Message

After their big win over the Titans in Round 22, the Warriors returned to Mt Smart to host the Panthers, who also looked impressive last weekend with a 42-18 victory over the Raiders.

The Warriors produced a statement performance, defeating the Panthers 28-12 at Go Media Stadium. They dominated the opening half and held on despite a late Penrith fightback to secure a memorable victory in front of a capacity crowd.

What Went Down

The night began with a historic and goosebump-inducing moment as the Warriors unveiled their Haka, Ngā Tamatoa ("The Warriors"). Led by co-captain James Fisher-Harris in front of a sold-out Go Media Stadium crowd, the Haka was a powerful celebration of culture during the NRL's Indigenous Round. It was a moment that captivated players, fans and viewers alike, setting the stage for one of the biggest games of the season.

The Warriors could not have asked for a better start, dominating possession and field position from the opening whistle. Their early pressure paid off in the 4th minute when Erin Clark stepped past Moses Leota with a simple piece of footwork before powering over for the opening try. The home side continued to control proceedings and doubled their lead in the 11th minute. Luke Metcalf took advantage of a missed tackle from Nathan Cleary and sliced through the line before putting Kurt Capewell into a huge gap. The veteran back-rower linked up with Metcalf, who backed up on the inside to finish off a superb team try.

Penrith's problems deepened in the 23rd minute when Paul Alamoti was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous throw on Leka Halasima. The Panthers initially handled the numerical disadvantage well, but Halasima soon began causing havoc. After busting through multiple tackle attempts across consecutive carries, he produced a brilliant offload to Chanel Harris-Tavita, who crossed in the 30th minute to extend the Warriors' lead. The Warriors looked set to take an even bigger advantage into halftime after a Harris-Tavita bomb caused chaos in the Panthers' in-goal area. The ball bounced kindly for Leka Halasima, but a knock-on denied the Warriors another four-pointer as they headed to the sheds leading 18-0.

The second half started much like the first. Just three minutes after the restart, Metcalf launched a cross-field kick towards Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. The winger outleapt Tom Jenkins, regathered the ball and brilliantly offloaded to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who scored in the 43rd minute to push the lead beyond three converted tries.

Penrith finally found some reward for their efforts in the 67th minute. Izack Tago burst through the Warriors' defensive line on the left edge before linking up with Tom Jenkins, who found Nathan Cleary backing up on the inside for the Panthers' first try of the night.

The visitors suddenly found some momentum and struck again just three minutes later. After producing a crucial 40/20, Cleary took control of the attack and helped create space for Jaxen Edgar, who crossed in the 70th minute to give Penrith a glimmer of hope.

The Panthers thought they had another try shortly afterwards when a bomb was allowed to bounce by Nicoll-Klokstad and Paul Alamoti raced through to score. However, the Bunker ruled Liam Martin offside in the lead-up, denying Penrith a potentially game-changing four-pointer.

Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the 76th minute. After weathering Penrith's late surge, Luke Metcalf produced a moment of individual brilliance, stepping off his left foot and then his right before slicing through the defence for a sensational solo try that sealed an impressive Warriors victory.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a statement. Coming into this game, there were plenty of questions about whether the Warriors could genuinely compete with the best teams in the competition when the pressure was on, and I don't think they could have answered those questions much better. I had plenty of hope that the Warriors could get the job done, but I predicted a Panthers win in my review last week. I have never been happier to be wrong.

Beating the Panthers is one thing, but the way the Warriors went about it was what impressed me most. They didn't just scrape past Penrith; they took control of the game, dictated the tempo and looked like the better team for large parts of the contest. Against a side that has set the standard in the NRL for so long, that is a pretty significant statement.

The night kicked off with the debut of the Warriors Haka, and being there live, almost right in front of the team as they performed it, was something I will never forget. It was an awesome sight, and you could see just how locked in the team was. There was a real feeling that this wasn't going to be just another game.

That belief carried straight into the opening exchanges. There was no hesitation, no feeling their way into the contest and no waiting for Penrith to make the first move. The Warriors backed themselves from the opening whistle and played with the confidence of a team that genuinely believes it belongs at the top end of the competition. We've seen glimpses of that throughout the season, but doing it against the Panthers, on a night with so much riding on it, makes this result feel different.

What also stood out was the way the Warriors pack approached the game. It felt like they made it their mission to manhandle Penrith and win the middle of the field. For so long, the Panthers have been the team that physically dominates opponents, but on this occasion the Warriors matched them and, at times, got the better of them. The forwards laid the platform, bent the defensive line and gave the spine the space they needed to play their game. It was exactly the sort of performance you want to see from a Warriors pack when the intensity of the game goes up a level.

Luke Metcalf also deserves plenty of credit. Stepping into such an important role in a game of this magnitude could easily have disrupted the team's rhythm, but he slotted in like he had been there the whole time. There was no obvious drop-off, and the Warriors were able to continue playing their game without missing a beat. To me, that says just as much about Andrew Webster and his coaching staff as it does about Metcalf himself. They have built a system and a game plan that allows players to step into key positions without the whole team having to change the way it plays. That's a sign of a well-coached side with a clear identity, and it is becoming one of this team's biggest strengths.

There are still things that need cleaning up, and that 10-minute period where Penrith scored twice showed that this team isn't quite the finished product yet. But I'd much rather be looking at how the Warriors can improve from a performance like this than trying to work out where the confidence has gone. They showed they can handle adversity, they showed they can go toe-to-toe with one of the competition's benchmark teams and, perhaps most importantly, they showed they have players capable of producing something special when the game is on the line.

The timing of this performance couldn't be much better. We're getting to the point of the season where every game starts to carry more weight, and the Warriors now have a genuine opportunity to control their own destiny. The challenge is making sure this isn't just one great night. The best teams find a level and stay there, and that's what I want to see from this group over the next few weeks.

If they can take the confidence from this win, clean up the lapses and continue building, there's no reason why the Warriors can't be right in the premiership conversation when September arrives. For me, this was more than just another two competition points. It was a reminder of just how good this Warriors side can be when everything clicks. Penrith came to Go Media Stadium as the benchmark, and for large parts of the night, the Warriors looked like the benchmark instead.

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

Match Positives

The Warriors could not have asked for a better start, coming out with plenty of energy and immediately putting the Panthers under pressure. They won the early field-position battle, forced Penrith to defend repeat sets and made the most of their opportunities when they came. Against a side as experienced and disciplined as the Panthers, getting on the front foot early was always going to be crucial, and the Warriors did exactly that. Starting hard and fast will need to become a non-negotiable for the remainder of the regular season and into the finals. If the Warriors want to control their own fate and give themselves the best possible chance of making a deep finals run, they need to bring this level of intensity from the opening whistle every week.

The Warriors' forward pack laid the foundation for the win, winning the physical battle through the middle and giving the backs plenty of room to work with. Mitch Barnett led the way with 163 metres, followed by James Fisher-Harris (160m) and Erin Clark (138m), while Tanner Stowers-Smith (109m), Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (108m) and Kurt Capewell (101m) all made valuable contributions. Against a Penrith pack that prides itself on winning the middle, the Warriors not only matched them physically but got on top early, setting the platform for the rest of the side. When the forwards are producing numbers like this, it gives the Warriors the go-forward and field position needed to let their attack flourish.

Holding Penrith scoreless in the first half is an achievement few teams can claim, and the Warriors' defensive effort was one of the biggest positives to come out of the game. For the majority of the contest, they were right in the Panthers' faces, constantly making them work for every metre and rarely allowing them to build any real momentum. Even when Penrith did manage to make inroads, the Warriors scrambled extremely well and showed plenty of desperation to shut down opportunities. My highlight was James Fisher-Harris producing a massive effort to stop the Panthers when they looked certain to break away. There was one brief 10-minute period where the Warriors switched off and allowed Penrith back into the contest. Still, outside of that spell, the defensive effort was outstanding against one of the competition's best attacking sides.

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

Match Negatives

At 24-0, the Warriors had the game firmly in their control and looked on track for a comfortable finish, but they allowed Penrith back into the contest with two tries in the space of three minutes. Suddenly, a game that had looked all but over had some pressure attached to it, and the Panthers were starting to believe they could fight their way back. It was a timely reminder for the Warriors that you simply cannot give finals-bound sides a sniff, because they have the quality and experience to make you pay. It also reinforces just how important that fast start will be for the Warriors over the remainder of the season. Building a lead is one thing, but maintaining that intensity and putting teams away is going to be just as important come finals time.

While the Warriors' defence was outstanding for the majority of the night, there were still a few moments that will give Andrew Webster something to work on. Penrith's first try came after a strong break from Izack Tago on the left edge, with the Warriors struggling to contain the damage once he got through the initial line. Their second try also came from a defensive lapse, with Leka Halasima caught out in the lead-up. It was a rare mistake from Halasima, who was otherwise outstanding throughout the night and one of the Warriors' best performers. Against a team like the Panthers, you can't afford to give their strike players those opportunities because they have the quality to turn half a chance into points. It was a good reminder that while the Warriors have made huge strides defensively, their edge defence will continue to be tested as they come up against the competition's best attacking sides.

The Warriors had enough attacking pressure throughout the game to put even more points on Penrith. The disallowed try was unlucky, but there were other opportunities where better execution could have added to the scoreboard. Against a side like Penrith, you don't always get many chances, so when you earn field position and put their defence under pressure, you need to make those opportunities count. The Warriors will be happy with the 28 points they put on the Panthers, but there was certainly a chance to make the scoreline even more convincing.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Luke Metcalf.

After being called into the side at the last minute, Metcalf delivered the type of performance that will have Dragons fans licking their lips for 2027. He was at the heart of many of the Warriors' best attacking moments, finishing the night with two tries, a line break, a line break assist and a try assist. 

He only had 6 runs, but he picked his moments perfectly, keeping the Panthers defence on their toes and capitalising when opportunities presented themselves. He did the lion's share of the kicking, and most of it was on point, helping the Warriors win the territory battle. It was simply a great night for Metcalf, and if this type of performance becomes his standard, that jersey should be his for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.

Warrior to Improve

I don't have a Warrior to call out this week. Every player who took the field played their role, and those with limited minutes simply weren't on the park long enough to be judged fairly. From one to seventeen, everyone contributed in some way, making it impossible to single out a player who had an off night.

Round 24 Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 24, the Warriors find themselves heading back across the ditch to face the Broncos at Suncorp for the second time this season. The Broncos squandered a 24-0 lead before going down 40-32 against the Dolphins this Round.

As for the team I'd pick, I wouldn't change a thing. This group has earned the opportunity to build on this performance, continue developing combinations and see if they can find another gear heading into the business end of the season.

The Broncos' 2026 season has fallen well short of expectations. After entering the year with plenty of hype, they have struggled to find any real consistency and have managed just six wins all season. Injuries and poor performances have contributed to a disappointing campaign, leaving them well outside the finals race. However, the Warriors would be foolish to take them lightly. The Broncos still possess plenty of X-factor across the park, with players like Reece Walsh capable of turning a game on its head in an instant. If Brisbane are in the right mood and their stars click into gear, they have more than enough talent to beat any team in the competition on their day.

For the Warriors to get the win here, the blueprint should be fairly simple. They need to bring the same intensity and physicality that helped them knock off Penrith, starting fast and winning the battle through the middle. If Mitch Barnett, James Fisher-Harris, Erin Clark and the rest of the forward pack can lay a strong platform, it will allow the likes of Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita to control the game with their kicking and create opportunities on the edges. Defensively, the Warriors must remain disciplined and avoid giving Brisbane's dangerous playmakers, particularly Reece Walsh, time and space to work with. If they can dominate possession, complete their sets and maintain the defensive standards they showed for most of last week, they should have too much class for a Broncos side that has struggled throughout the season. I'm backing the Warriors to get the job done, with my prediction being a Warriors win by 16 points.

So, that was an amazing Round 23, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

After beating the Panthers, do you now see the Warriors as genuine premiership contenders?

Are there any changes you would make to the squad?

Did you have a Warrior to improve?

What is your score prediction against the Broncos?