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After another impressive win over the Rabbitohs in Round 25, the Warriors returned home to take on the Knights, who were looking to bounce back after a disappointing 44-24 loss to the Sea Eagles.
The Warriors overcame a fast start from Newcastle, trailing 14-0 before turning things around to take a 22-20 lead into halftime. They extended their advantage to 34-20 early in the second half, but the Knights fought their way back to within two before the Warriors steadied late to secure a 46-32 victory.
What Went Down
Fletcher Hunt opened the scoring in the 4th minute, finishing on the right edge before Francis Manuleleua crossed five minutes later after a sharp move through the middle. Sandon Smith converted the second try to give the Knights an early 10-0 lead.
The Warriors were given a huge opportunity in the 12th minute when Jacob Saifiti was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Luke Laulilii. Newcastle were suddenly down to 12 men, and the Warriors soon made the extra man count.
Before they could hit back, though, Jermaine McEwen crossed in the 14th minute to stretch the Knights' lead to 14-0. From there, the Warriors finally found their rhythm.
Jacob Laban powered over in the 18th minute before Wayde Egan crashed through the Newcastle defence four minutes later. Erin Clark then barged over from close range in the 26th minute to put the Warriors in front for the first time.
Newcastle suffered another blow when Francis Manuleleua left the field with a dislocated elbow, and Demitric Vaimauga crossed in the 35th minute to extend the Warriors' lead to 22-16 after Taine Tuaupiki's conversion. The Knights refused to go away, though. Fletcher Hunt grabbed his second try in the 39th minute after Newcastle earned repeat sets near the Warriors' line. Sandon Smith missed the conversion, meaning the Warriors went into the sheds with a narrow 22-20 lead.
The second half began with the Warriors taking control again.
Ali Leiataua scored in the 42nd minute after Jacob Laban won a high ball and produced a brilliant offload to keep the attack alive.
Adam Pompey then finished off a slick move in the 51st minute, taking a flick pass from Leiataua to extend the Warriors' lead to 34-20.
Just when it looked like the Warriors were starting to pull away, Newcastle hit back through Greg Marzhew in the 54th minute. It was one of the more bizarre moments of the match, with Marzhew's kick ahead rebounding off Taine Tuaupiki's head before the Knights winger regathered and scored.
Marzhew crossed again just three minutes later, bringing Newcastle right back into the contest at 34-32. What had looked like a comfortable Warriors lead had suddenly become a genuine arm wrestle.
The Warriors needed a response and got one in the 62nd minute when Alofiana Khan-Pereira crossed after Leka Halasima's intercept shifted the momentum back in the Warriors' favour. Tuaupiki converted from the sideline to make it 40-32.
With rain beginning to fall and Newcastle still pushing hard, the Warriors had to dig deep in the closing stages. They finally put the result beyond doubt in the 76th minute when Jacob Laban broke through multiple tackles to score his second try of the night under the posts. Tuaupiki added the extras to make it 46-32.
It wasn't always pretty, and Newcastle certainly made the Warriors work for it, but they showed plenty of composure to withstand the Knights' fightback and finish the job. The win lifts the Warriors to first place on the live ladder, adding another important victory to what has been an impressive season so far. However, there is still plenty of work to do, particularly after allowing the Knights back into the contest despite having a one-man advantage for most of the match.
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My Thoughts
Well, that was a strange and nerve-racking game. The Warriors found themselves 14-0 down inside the opening 14 minutes, and it looked like Newcastle had all the momentum. Then Jacob Saifiti was sent off, and the game completely changed.
From there, the Warriors slowly worked their way back into the contest, took control and looked like they were going to run away with it. Of course, Newcastle had other ideas and made things interesting again, but thankfully the Warriors found a way to steady themselves and finish the job.
It wasn't the best showing we have seen from the Warriors this year, but I would take a less-than-stellar win over a disappointing loss any day of the week; the key is that they learn from this and keep building.
One thing I continue to love about this Warriors team is the variety in attack. We saw tries scored through the middle, out wide, from kicks, broken play and some really good individual skill. Eight tries from seven different players showed just how many different ways this team can hurt you, and that variety is going to be incredibly important once the finals arrive.
The forward pack remains one of this team's biggest strengths. They set the platform once again, with six players cracking my triple-digit target, and gave the Warriors plenty of momentum through the middle. That allowed the backs and halves to play with more freedom and put Newcastle under plenty of pressure.
Even when the Knights started to find some momentum, the forwards kept taking the ball forward and helped the Warriors regain control. It's becoming a bit of a theme with this team — when the game gets tough, the pack keeps turning up.
There are obviously still things that need to improve. The start was poor, the edge defence was shaky at times, and allowing a 12-man Newcastle side to get back to within two points isn't something the team will be happy with.
But I'd much rather see those issues now, while the Warriors are still finding ways to win and missing a few big names who will return, than have them exposed for the first time in a finals game. They know what they need to work on, and there's still time to clean things up.
The biggest thing for me, though, is the position this team has put itself in. The Warriors are currently sitting in first place, and this win has pretty much secured a top-two finish, a position I never imagined at the start of the season.
That top two spot is a massive advantage heading into the finals. It gives the Warriors a second chance if they lose their opening finals match and, just as importantly, allows them to play two home finals, which could be the key to getting to the big dance.
There is still one regular-season game to go, so the Warriors need to stay focused on the job in front of them. But after everything this team has dealt with this season, to be sitting at the top of the ladder with a top-two finish all but secured is a fantastic position to be in. Now it's about making the most of it.
The Warriors have shown they can win in different ways, deal with adversity and find solutions when things don't go to plan. If they can clean up the defensive lapses, start games with the same intensity they show later on, and keep building on the attacking football we've seen, they'll head into the finals with plenty of confidence. The minor premiership is still there to be won, and the Warriors have put themselves in the perfect position to go after it. They've earned this opportunity. Now they need to take it with both hands.
There was plenty to smile about, which brings me to my positives.
Match Positives
The Warriors couldn't have asked for a worse start, with Newcastle racing to a 14-0 lead inside 14 minutes and looking dangerous in attack. The game changed dramatically when Jacob Saifiti was sent off in the 12th minute, leaving the Knights with 12 men for the remaining 67 minutes.
Who knows what would have happened if Newcastle had stayed at 13 players, especially given how well they started. The opening 14 minutes should certainly ring some alarm bells, but the Warriors deserve plenty of credit for making the most of the opportunity they were given. They settled down, scored four tries between the 18th and 35th minutes and completely turned the game around to take a 22-20 lead into halftime. The slow start is something they will need to address, but the composure they showed to fight their way back and regain control will be a nice confidence booster heading into the finals.
After building a 34-20 lead, the Warriors suddenly found themselves under pressure when Greg Marzhew scored twice in just three minutes to bring Newcastle back to 34-32. After doing so well to turn the game around earlier, it would have been easy for the Warriors to lose their composure and let the Knights take control again. Instead, they steadied themselves when it mattered. Alofiana Khan-Pereira's try in the 62nd minute restored some breathing room before Jacob Laban's second try in the 76th minute finally put the result beyond doubt. The Warriors won't be happy with allowing the Knights back into the contest, but their ability to remain composed and regain control when the pressure was on is another positive they can take into the finals.
Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson handled the pressure of a huge game remarkably well. Cleary was making his NRL debut, while Hanson was only playing his third NRL game, yet both looked composed and showed plenty of promise in the halves. Cleary was particularly impressive, setting up three tries on debut, while Hanson provided a steady hand alongside him. Credit also needs to go to Andrew Webster and his coaching staff. This was yet another brand-new halves pairing in first grade, but the changes didn't make the Warriors look any weaker. Webster's game plan gave the young halves the structure and confidence to do their jobs, and the Warriors once again found a way to secure another vital win. With both players set to move on at the end of the season, it was great to see them step up when the Warriors needed them. For Cleary in particular, making his NRL debut in such an important game and playing a key role in the win is something he'll certainly remember.
However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.
Match Negatives
The start was nowhere near good enough. The Warriors conceded tries in the 4th, 9th and 14th minutes to find themselves 14-0 down, and while Jacob Saifiti's send-off changed the game, the Warriors were already on the back foot before Newcastle were reduced to 12 men. You simply can't give a team that kind of start, particularly against a side you're expected to beat. The response was excellent and showed plenty of composure, but the Warriors made life much harder for themselves than they needed to. Against a full-strength side in the finals, a start like that could put them in a hole they might not be able to climb out of.
The defensive lapses continue to creep into the Warriors' game. Newcastle scored 32 points and made 11 line breaks, with the two Greg Marzhew tries in particular highlighting some of the issues in the Warriors' defensive line. What was even more concerning was how easily the Knights found inroads down both edges, despite playing with just 12 men for most of the game. Once Newcastle started throwing the ball around, the Warriors struggled to shut the door and allowed the Knights to find gaps far too easily. At times, the defensive line looked disconnected, and while the Warriors eventually regained control, those lapses are a real concern heading into the finals. Against a top-four side with a full complement of players, they could be punished much more severely.
This is probably my biggest concern from the game. Newcastle played with just 12 men for the vast majority of the match, yet the Warriors still allowed the Knights to score six tries and get back to within two points at 34-32. The Warriors eventually won by 14 points, but the final score doesn't completely tell the story. With a one-man advantage for so long, they should have been able to control the game much more comfortably and put Newcastle away earlier. It is great that the Warriors found a way to win, but against a full-strength side in the finals, they can't afford to let an opposition team hang around like that, especially after being given such a significant advantage.
Warrior of the Match
My Warrior of the Match goes to Jacob Laban.
Laban was once again a constant threat and played a huge role in the Warriors' win. He finished with a double, a try assist and two line breaks, while running for 102 metres and producing three offloads. Defensively, he was just as impressive, making 26 tackles with only one miss. He was a constant danger whenever a kick came his way and looked capable of making something happen every time he got his hands on the ball. He did make three errors, which is something he'll want to clean up this week, but overall it was another strong performance from Laban. He continues to grow in confidence and looks like a player who can be a real handful for opposition teams heading into the finals. It's been a great season from him so far, and performances like this show just how important he's becoming to this Warriors side.
Warrior to Improve
I don't have a Warrior to call out for this week. While there were some concerns around the edge defence, I'm not convinced it was simply an Adam Pompey and Alofiana Khan-Pereira issue. With another brand-new halves pairing, the changes may have disrupted the flow and communication of the defensive line. Beyond that, everyone who took the field played their role and contributed to the win, making it hard to single anyone out for an off night.
Round 27 Thoughts and Prediction
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In Round 27, the Warriors remain at home to host the Sea Eagles, who defeated the Dragons 44-10 this Round.
As for the team I'd pick, if Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin are fit, then I am bringing them back in; if they need another week, then I'm sticking with Cleary and Hanson. I would also bring Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back onto the wing in my only other change.
The Sea Eagles have started to find some form late in the season after a difficult few months. They snapped a six-game losing streak with an impressive 44-24 win over Newcastle in Round 25 before backing it up with another big performance against the Dragons in Round 26, running out 44-10 winners. With their finals hopes already gone, Manly are now playing for pride and looking to finish the season on a positive note. They'll come into this game with plenty of confidence after putting 88 points on the board across their last two matches, and the Warriors certainly can't afford to take them lightly. With nothing to lose, the Sea Eagles have shown they can be dangerous, and the Warriors will need to be switched on from the opening whistle.
For the Warriors to get the win here, they will need to start much better than they did against Newcastle. Manly have found plenty of attacking form in recent weeks, so the Warriors need to control the middle, limit the Sea Eagles' second-phase play and, most importantly, tighten up their edge defence. As always, the Warriors will need their forwards to dictate the tempo of the contest and give the attack plenty of opportunities to build pressure. With the finals just around the corner, this is a chance for the Warriors to put together a more complete performance and show they can maintain their intensity for the full 80 minutes. If they can do that and take their opportunities in attack, I think they have too much class for Manly, winning by 18.
So, that was a tense Round 26, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.
Do you have a Warrior to improve?
What did you think of Jett's debut?
Does that start worry you for finals?
What is your score prediction against the Sea Eagles?
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