NZ Warriors 2023 Round 14 Review: Warriors turn Black Out into Blow Out with Strong Finish over Dolphins

After their disappointing loss to the Broncos in Napier, the Warriors returned home to the newly named Go Media Stadium to host the Dolphins in their first-ever clash.

The Warriors started slow but grew in confidence as the game progressed, which saw them run in four tries in 18 minutes to walk away with a commanding 30-8 victory.

What Went Down

A dominant second half has seen the Warriors blow the Dolphins away 30-8 in a physical contest at Go Media Stadium in front of over 23,000 fans.

Wearing a heritage jersey, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 2003 season, Shaun Johnson wasted no time turning back the clock for the Warriors with a show-and-go to open the scoring in the sixth minute. He converted his try to make the score 6-0.

They went close to scoring again six minutes later, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad stopped just short of the line.

Rocco Berry was forced from the field in the 14th minute after a head clash due to a shoulder charge from Jarrod Wallace.

The Dolphins had their own chances; however, errors prevented them from scoring.

They finally broke through five minutes before halftime when Kodi Nikorima managed to get a pass over to Tesi Niu to score in the left-hand corner, despite a touch by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

A double movement from Luke Metcalf in the dying seconds of the half denied the Warriors their second, leaving the halftime score at 6-4.

A late tackle by Anthony Milford saw him sin-binned early in the second half, with Marcelo Montoya forced off for an HIA.

The Warriors continue to build pressure, being denied when Mitch Barnett was held up over the line. From the next play, Watene-Zelezniak crossed in the right-hand corner, only for the bunker to overturn the try due to an obstruction.

An error by Mark Nicholls in the following set immediately put the Warriors back on the attack, and it was left for Johnson to again rewind the clock with some fancy footwork to score near the posts.

They made it two tries in as many minutes when Marata Niukore broke through and sent Luke Metcalf away to score under the posts, pushing the score to 18-4 in the 58th minute.

Watene-Zelezniak finally got his try in the 69th minute when a quick shift found the winger. Johnson converted from out wide to push the margin out to 20.

An intercept shortly after saw Watene-Zelezniak run 50m to score his second try under the posts before Jamayne Isaako added a late consolation try for the Dolphins, cutting the final margin to 30-8.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a better performance to watch; I was nervous in that first half with the Dolphins hanging in there, but after Luke Metcalf crossed, I took a massive sigh of relief as I couldn't see the Dolphins stringing enough together to make a comeback, perhaps if they had Jeremy Marshall-King and Hmaiso Tabuai-Fidow out there it would have been a different story but I think we all know what having key players out can do as the Warriors have dealt with that almost every round this season.

This side is a backend team; if they are in the hunt for the first 50 minutes, you know they will get some points on the board in the final 30, which is precisely what we saw here. 

They never conceded the lead in this match, but their fitness and self-belief just shined through the further the game went on.

It was hard to pinpoint any player that let the side down; they all made an impact in some form, with some, like Josh Curran having to play out of position in what turned out to be a great showing for the second rower in his stint at centre.  

With injured players starting to return, the Warriors are building nicely; they are still far from the finished product, but with a healthy squad and a decent run home, I am getting more confident of a return to finals football; we just can't get too far ahead of ourselves as there is plenty of work left to be done, but this season feels special.

Before I move on, I want to praise yet another bumper crowd, it's great to see all the support for the Warriors, and if they continue to perform, you know that those massive crowds will continue to march through the gates. The club announced that this match was another blackout, just like the one we had against the Roosters in the 2008 semi-final. It was a great idea, although it may have been better when it was dark as turning all the lights off didn't really have the impact they hoped for.

However, the Warriors came out with new music and fancy lighting in their tunnel, wearing those awesome heritage jerseys. It made for an exciting presentation, so full credit to the club for putting it together, and I hope the new Warriors entrance stays.

 

There were aspects of the game to smile about, leading to my positives from the match.

Match Positives

The forwards continued to earn them keep churning out the metres, with 5 hitting my triple-digit target, Addin Fonua-Blake leading the way once again with 195 metres, followed by Marata Niukore (159m), Mitchell Barnett (147m), Jackson Ford (123m) and Tohu Harris (117m). This saw the side keep the edge during the battle and tired out the Dolphins, which created more opportunities for Shaun Johnson and the backs to make their mark in the second half. If they can keep this up, then the Warriors will be a difficult team to overcome.

Defence was my biggest issue last season, and I seldom mention it now, which shows how much they have improved this season, and this match was no exception; they made 365 tackles, only missed 17 and nabbed 3 intercepts, restricting a strong attacking team like the Dolphins to only 8 was a massive effort. Admittingly the Dolphins were missing some serious firepower, but you can only play the people in front of you, so it was good to see the Warriors not take them lightly. They communicated well and worked together to shut almost all the Dolphin's attacks; when things broke down, they scrambled well to fix their mess. Defence is paramount to NRL success, so long may it continue.

Lastly, the welcome returns of Wayde Egan and Mitchell Barnett. Egan being back in hooker, saw the spine look more dangerous; his delivery out of the ruck was quick; he picked his moments to snipe and kept the Dolphins on their toes. He is a crucial figure in the Warrior's chances of success, so fingers crossed he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season.

Then there was Barnett; after his neck injury, there were rumours that his career may have been over and thankfully, that wasnt the case. After 11 weeks off the pitch, I was expecting less impact from him in his first game back, but he exceeded my expectations with an epic performance, running for 147 metres and making 29 tackles. He will no doubt be moved into the starting 13 this week, and rightfully so.

However, two things concerned me, bringing me to my negative from the game.

Match Negative

I'm still not happy with the Warrior's respect for the ball; they made 10 errors which is down from the 13 made in Round 13. Most of them happened when the Warriors started to try and up the tempo, which makes for an exciting game but makes winning more difficult.

As I said last week, every error is a free set given to the opposition and with the ladder being so close this season, you just can't give anyone a leg-up. Playing error-free footy is not easy and not what im looking for, but if the Warriors can reduce the errors to single digits, I will be happy.

I still have concerns about the Warrior's attack when they get into the opposition's red zone, a few individual efforts in that region saw the Warriors get points, but they still seem clunky when trying to set up scoring opportunities closer to the line. It will improve if the Warriors can field the same players week in and week out, but it needs to be a lot better if the Warriors wish to stay in the eight and make an impact in the finals.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Shaun Johnson.

Once again, several players put their hands up for selection this week, but I have gone with SJ. 

When the Warriors were struggling to get themselves on the board, SJ struck, scoring their first two tries with some excellent solo efforts, making me flashback to his younger days. He kicked reasonably well, even if some of his last tackle options were not up to scratch, and he was 100% at the kicking tee. His biggest improvement this season continues to be his defence, ending this game with 27 and only 1 miss. It has been a welcome return to form for the halfback, and it has me wondering if he is giving everything he has this season because he has already decided to hang up the boots at the end of the year? Only time will tell, but I'm hopeful we will see him back on the field in 2024.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve was Bunty Afoa.

I'm still not sure what Andrew Webster's game plan is for Afoa, but his impact is barely making a dent; this could be due to the game plan or perhaps he is uncomfortable as a starter. Whatever it may be, his hit-ups and running metres have been low for some time, managing only 6 runs for 56 metres in this match; he also made a pretty ordinary error towards the end of the match. On a positive note, his defensive output is still solid, with 22 tackles without a miss in the middle. Maybe his role is to shore up the middle defensively and let the other forwards charge up the field; if that is the case, then I may not be as critical of him in the future.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 15 sees the Warriors head back across the ditch to Canberra to face the Raiders, who defeated the Tigers 20-19 in Round 14 and will be celebrating Jarrod Croker's 300th match.

Regarding the team I would pick, I would keep it the same, except switching Afoa and Barnett around, and if Walker is available, he comes onto the bench for Bayley Sironen. 

Rocco Berry will be sitting out due to his 11-day stand-down, so I would bring Brayden Williame back in for him.

The Raiders have been on a roll lately, winning 7 of their last 8 matches and with it being Croker's 300th, they will be tough to beat, especially at home.

If the forwards can keep their momentum going and have another big night, Johnson and the rest of the backs should be able to get enough points on the board, and I'm expecting a big night from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in his first game against his former club. 

If the Warriors kept the Raiders pack quiet and contain Jack Wighton, then half the battle is already done. I am confident that the Warriors will get the job done, so I am backing them to upset Croker's party and walk away with a 10-point win.

So that was an improved Round 14, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Do you want to see SJ play next season?

How are your confidence levels for a Warriors finals run?

Who would you bring in to replace Berry at centre?

What is your score prediction against the Raiders?

NZ Warriors 2023 Round 13 Review: Warriors lament missed opportunities in Napier Defeat

After their Round 12 Bye, the Warriors travelled to Napier to play host to the Broncos.

The Warriors had plenty of opportunities to start well but shot themselves in the foot, and despite a strong finish and almost stealing the win, they were their own worst enemy as they went down 26-22.

What Went Down

An emotional Māori Welcome to Country kickstarted proceedings in Napier as the Warriors celebrated their Indigenous round. Both sides had opportunities to score, but the dewy surface made execution difficult. Multiple try-saving efforts from the Broncos kept the scores level in the first 20 minutes. Eventually, it was a length of the field try for the Broncos that broke the deadlock. Deine Mariner cleaned up a loose ball and ran 80 metres to score.

Following the Mariner try, there were several close calls for the Warriors as they searched for their first points. The Bronco's defence held firm, but with three minutes remaining in the half, they were finally broken. A backline shift to the right put Dallin Watene-Zelezniak over in the corner for the equaliser. However, an error of the following kick-off gifted the Broncos a late opportunity.

A short ball from Billy Walters put Jordan Riki over for a try of a questionable pass in the shadows of halftime, handing the Broncos a 12-6 lead at the break.

Early in the second half, the Warriors lost Freddy Lussick and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to HIA. Taking advantage of the reshuffle, the Broncos extended their lead when Adam Reynolds made a break and set up Ezra Mam for a try. A penalty right in front added insult to injury as Adam Reynolds converted for a 14-point lead.

In need of points, the Warriors’ energy lifted. Shaun Johnson combined with Marata Niukore, and Johnson batted the return pass out to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for his second try. However, the surge of energy didn’t last. The Broncos forced an error out of the Warriors, and in the next set, Deine Mariner grabbed his second try off a Triston Sailor kick. Despite being down 14, the Warriors refused to give up.

They scored two quick tries to Nicoll-Klokstad and Marcelo Montoya, respectively, cutting the lead back to four points. They almost scored the equaliser through Montoya again in the final minutes, but the bunker denied a grandstand finish. Adam Pompey was penalised for a jersey pull on Deine Mariner, which sealed the game for the Broncos.

My Thoughts

Well, that was a frustrating performance, I can admit that I was nervous about this match, and those nerves didn't go away as I drove down to Napier. Unfortunately, those nerves proved correct, ending my undefeated run of successful road trips. I felt while watching live, and then when I watched the replay, that the Warriors had the edge overall but did not convert their chances, while the Broncos made almost every shot a winner. And on that note, I believe the right team won; if you can't ice those opportunities, you should take the loss and hopefully learn a valuable lesson in the process. It just seemed like the simple game plan that has led the Warriors to so many victories this season was pushed to the side, and the team decided to try and put on a show, spreading the ball wide early without earning the right to do so. This led to more errors and plenty of botched tries; add to that some lapses in their defence reads and some ill-timed poor discipline, and it left the Warriors with an uphill battle that, to their credit, they almost overcame with two tries in the final ten minutes, and then that try in the final seconds that was denied after Adam Pompeys jersey pull.  

I can't speak for the players, but perhaps they took this match too lightly or were overawed by the occasion; however, It was a clunky match for the Warriors and has to be in the discussion for the worst performance this season and with the ladder as tight as it is, losses like this can seriously affect your playoff aspirations, so I am hopeful that Andrew Webster can redirect the players focus and make sure that this type of performance doesn't happen again.

 

There were aspects of the game to smile about, leading to my positives from the match.

Match Positives

There was a significant effort from the starting forwards, with all of them hitting the triple digits, led by Addin Fonua-Blake (264m) and Tohu Harris (212m). Jackson Ford (128m), Marata Niukore (128m) and Bunty Afoa (101m) all played their part, and hopefully, we will see more of this in the future as AFB and Harris cannot do it all on their own. This level of effort made it appear like the Warriors were on a roll, but their respect for the ball ruined it, so if that error rate improves while keeping the middle effort like this, the points will start to flow.

We saw a massive effort from the back three, mainly Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (240m) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (241m). Montoya (163m) had a quieter game, but these three are so crucial in getting the Warrior's return sets starting on the right foot, and how they run that ball back without regard for their own safety makes me wince. If they are playing well, it allows the Forwards more impact for longer periods of the match, which in turn makes getting the win easier, so fingers crossed they all stay fit for the remainder of the season. DWZ and Montoya both had a few missed tries, but they made up for them in the long run.

Lastly, just the Napier experience, there were some things about this game that put Napier in a bad light (more on that later). Still, I loved the road trip, getting to walk around town, seeing other fans enjoying the day and then getting to catch up with other supporters like The Warriorholic, Daniel Wharakura from Warriors Anonymous and Lancelot Muaiava, who is a massive Warriors fan living in Germany who was back in NZ for a few weeks. Doing this for as long as I have, I love getting to meet other people who spend their limited spare time discussing the Warriors and chatting about the team is what I love to do more than anything, so despite coming away with the loss, it was good getting to meet up with some people I have listened to for a while.

However, some things concerned me, bringing me to my negative from the game.

Match Negative

The respect for the ball was severely lacking, with the Warriors ending the match with 13 errors. Every time it looked like the Warriors were getting into the groove, they went backwards with a poor carry or blown try. Every drop is another set given to the opposition, and 13 free sets given to any team in the NRL is a big no-no and sets you up for defeat. This is something that they can fix quickly, just take a breath and don't panic, and the errors will come down.

The attack was out of sync for a large portion of the match; the Warriors were rushing and trying to force things to happen instead of allowing them to develop like we have seen so often this season. Some kicking options left much to be desired, and everything seemed slightly off. However, a positive is that this issue can be turned around quickly, so I expect an improvement to show this week.

Yet another halves combination doesn't help matters, but I think Metcalf and Johnson is a combination that will work it just needs some time; however, I still think SJ and Te Maire Martin is the combo the Warriors need to stick to once TMM is healthy again. 

Lastly, the Pitch Invaders, I can admit that I had a laugh for the first few, but when it kept happening, I got over it quick. It allowed both teams a chance to catch a breather, which helped the Warriors stop some of the Bronco's momentum, but watching back, it messed both teams up, with both sides scoring quite easily after these breaks. Maybe it is me just being a grumpy old man screaming at the sky, but I go to the footy to watch the actual game. I enjoy seeing games being taken to the small sections of New Zealand. But, if this happens when you venture out of Auckland, we will see the Warriors and all other NRL clubs think twice about taking games on the road, hurting the fans who want to enjoy watching live NRL in their hometown. I may be in the minority but I want to see it disappear.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Was a toss-up between CNK and AFB this week, but I have gone with the gutsy fullback. 

Ran for 240 metres, broke 10 tackles and played a big part in the Warrior's attack, playing his part on Dallin Watene-Zelaniak's first try and scoring one of his own. All this is on top of being taken off the pitch for an HIA. CNK is full of heart and always rolls up his sleeves to do the hard work for the Warriors, with the ability to create attacking opportunities at any time. He is a vital member of this squad, and as long as he stays on the field, I am more confident in the Warriors walking away with the win, just not this time, unfortunately.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve was Freddy Lussick.

A few players could have gotten the nod here, but the others I was looking at had some positive facets to their performance, which helped them avoid selection.

Lussick had an off night that ended early with a failed HIA, meaning he will miss the upcoming game against the Dolphins. However, his passing out of the ruck was inconsistent when he was on the field, letting the Bronco's defence off the hook with some forward passes. He had a few runs, including being held up over the line and defended reasonably well, but if he can't deliver quality service out of the ruck, it affects the whole attacking structure, so when he returns from his stand-down, that aspect of his game needs to be better.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 14 sees the Warriors return to Mount Smart to host the Dolphins, who defeated the Dragons 26-12 in Round 13.

Regarding the team I would pick, Wayde Egan and Mitch Barnett are meant to be ready to go, so I would bring them back, Egan swapping with Lussick and Barnet moving into the Front Row. This sends Afoa back to the bench, with Sifakula dropping out. Everyone else I would keep as is, except perhaps bringing Brayden Williame into the centre for either Rocco Berry or Pompey.

Luke Metcalf didn't have the greatest showing, but the potential is there, so I want him to have another chance to link with Shaun Johnson in the halves.

The Dolphins have exceeded my expectations and have been playing well; I assume that their origin stars will back up for this match, but it will be a difficult encounter even if they don't. The Warriors have done well when they stick to their simple gameplan, so if we see them control the middle, which may be easier with Barnett in the mix and utilise the short-ball game, then they should be able to open up some holes as the match unfolds, allowing SJ to get the backs into scoring opportunities. If they can do that, I see them being able to nail the win, so I am going for a close Warriors win by 8.

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

What changes would you make to the lineup this week?

Do you think the Warriors shot at a top-eight finish is slipping?

What are your thoughts on Pitch Invaders?

What is your score prediction against the Dolphins?

NZ Warriors 2023 Round 11 Review: Warriors Strong First Half Seals Victory Over Bulldogs

After their Round 10 loss to the Panthers, the Warriors made their way to Accor Stadium to face the Bulldogs for the second time this season.

After a dominant first half saw the Warriors stroll out to an 18-0 lead, the Warriors left the door slightly ajar, allowing the Bulldogs a shot at stealing the win but showed some staunch defence when it mattered and a tremendous solo effort try from Ronald Volkman to end their losing streak with a much needed 24-12 victory.

What Went Down

With both sides coming off losses at Magic Round, there was plenty of anticipation around which team could bounce back with a win. In the opening 10 minutes, the Warriors gained the ascendancy through the boot of Shaun Johnson. First, he forced a line drop-out, then in the next set, he grubbered through the line for Josh Curran to score untouched.

The pressure remained on the Bulldogs as they struggled with execution and ball control. A seven-tackle set saw the Warriors march the length of the field and score again. Dylan Walker threw a flat pass to Addin Fonua-Blake, who charged through a gap to score his fifth try of the year. The bounce of the ball was against the Bulldogs too, when Adam Pompey intercepted an attempted flick pass.

Pompey was eventually run down by the Bulldog's cover defence, but Shaun Johnson’s skill was on show again when he chipped a kick out to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who caught the ball and scored in one motion. The Warriors cruising into halftime with a comfortable 18-0 lead.

Following the break, the Bulldogs came out showing plenty of energy. An early line drop-out forced the pressure back on the Warriors, and as a result, the Bulldogs broke through. Harrison Edwards put on some footwork close to the line to score next to the posts. With a renewed sense of confidence, the Bulldogs found their momentum as the intensity of the game lifted.

However, the Warriors were up for the challenge and found their first points of the second half. Ronald Volkman kicked for himself off a sloppy pass from the dummy half and regathered after a ricochet. He stepped around Hayze Perham to score a solo try, extending the lead back to 18 points. A consolation try to Jayden Okunbor gave the Bulldogs fans something to cheer about late, but the lead was unassailable. The Warriors ultimately proved too good as they outlasted the Bulldogs 24-12.

My Thoughts

Well, the losing streak is over, and the Warriors are back in the top eight; this was also their sixth win of the year, equally the total amount of wins they got last season.

That first half highlighted how much this side has improved in a short period of time, utilising their mobile pack and short passing game to probe the Bulldog's defensive line, and this allowed them to strike with some sweet kicking plays that caught the home side napping. They made the most of their opportunities and made me wonder how dangerous this side could be when their injured stars return. 

They let the foot off the pedal in the second half (more on that later), which was dishearting but I never felt like the Warriors were not in control, and while they couldn't pile on the points, they limited the Bulldog's chances and strangled them out of the match. Still, plenty to work on, but as they enjoy their first bye, they have time to recuperate and prepare for the next stage of the campaign, knowing that the toughest stretch is now over. 

 

There were aspects of the game to smile about, leading to my positives from the match.

Match Positives

The Warrior's discipline was back in check, conceding only 3 penalties and giving away 4 ruck infringements. You can say what you want about the officiating, but the key to winning the battle with referees is to find their line and stick to the right side of it, figure out quickly how much leeway you have and then adjust your style to how they call the match and I think we saw that from the Warriors here, I thought Cummins was a bit quick on the six again calls at times but you saw the Warriors defenders start to get off the tackle quicker and reduce those six again calls. If they can keep this mindset moving forward, they will find themselves on the right side of calls more often than not.

Dylan Walker is back where he belongs, coming off the bench and adding some dimension to the Warrior's middle at the right time. This is his best position in the squad, and while he did what he could in the halves, the Warriors are a lot stronger with him in the middle. His pass to Addin Fonua-Blake was classy, and I don't think AFB has had an easier try in his career. Walker is an integral part of the Warrior's gameplan, and if he can remain in that interchange slot, expect to see the Warriors scoring plenty more tries up the middle.

The back three had a solid night out; getting out of your own half as quickly as possible is vital in getting in the winner's circle in the NRL, and the Warriors have some of the best outside backs when it comes to that aspect. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (210m), Marcelo Montoya (185m) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (152m) all throw caution into the win and just surge up the field; this also relates to the early carries they make in the sets before the forwards can get back. When they start the sets with a few strong runs, the whole side looks more energised and cruises up the field. 

So I have my fingers crossed that these three keep doing what they are doing, as it certainly helps the Warrior's chances of victory.

However, some things concerned me, bringing me to my negative from the game.

Match Negative

AFB (162m) and Tohu Harris (162m) were massive in the middle, but they need help as Bunty Afoa (57m) and Tom Ale (40m) didn't really add much punch in this match. With the Warrior's current set-up, those four players are the ones that are looked to for the grunt work, and as great as Harris and AFB are, they cannot continue to do the lion's share every week as this is when we will start to see injuries happen. The Warriors cannot afford to lose AFB at all or Harris for the third time this season, the pending returns of Mitch Barnett and Jazz Tevaga will help, but until then, Afoa and Ale have some work to do. 

The Warrior's goalline attack is still clunky, and they don't seem to look steady when attacking close to the line. I don't know why they struggle when they get to the red zone, but the coaching staff need to fix it sooner rather than later if the Warriors want to play finals this season. The short balls close to the line have worked in the past, but it needs to be used only with players that know how to time their run; AFB has perfected it, but Afoa was struggling with the play leading to a few errors. The upside is that we saw some nice plays inside the red zone this week, so the Warriors can do it; they just need to stretch this from moments in a match to an 80-minute effort.

The Second Half drop was an issue but not an unexpected one. To be honest, it was just a team running out of juice after a tough few weeks. With a decent lead, perhaps the thought of the bye started to enter the minds of the players, and it let them relax. I can't say that for sure, but the positive is that while they let their foot off the gas, they didn't lose control.

The NRL season is brutally tough, and there are always peaks and valleys, but the best sides know how to minimise the valleys and capitalise on the peaks; I hope that when I look back on the 2023 season, I can say that the Warriors have done that.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Shaun Johnson.

Another big night from SJ here, setting up some nice tries for Curran and DWZ, he did have one or two missteps, but the good definitely outweighed the bad here. He directed the side around well and paired up better with Volkman here and made me comfortable with that combination until Luke Metcalf is ready. Still, the most impressive thing about Johnson in 2023 is his defence; he made 20 tackles with only 2 misses and was always one of the first players there on the kick chase. I know these rumours are floating around about the Tigers sending him offers for 2024, but I am sure he will be a Warrior next season if he decides to play on.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve was Tom Ale.

It was hard to pick a player yet again, with essentially all the players doing a serviceable job, but I have gone with Tom Ale.

Ale has been great this season, but he was kept quiet here with only four runs for 40 metres and 11 tackles in 22 minutes of work. He is commonly known for being defensively sound, and while he only had one miss, it was a big one that led to the Bulldog's first try.

It was just an off night for the youngster, who is probably fatigued after the past month of intense football; after the bye, you can expect a big bounceback. 

Bye and Round 13 Thoughts and Prediction

Round 12 sees the Warriors get a bye, so an easy two points and a deserved break after a brutal month.

A time to rest and plan for the next block of matches couldn't have come at a better time for the club before Round 13 sees the Warriors back on home soil, making the trip to Napier to face the Broncos.

It's hard to pick a team two weeks out, but I am happy with the side that played the Bulldogs, so I would keep it the same with the exception of any injured players that can return. 

I also want to see Luke Metcalf come into the halves; Volkman had a good night out, especially when you consider that he broke his finger badly early on in this game; however, Metcalf makes for a better pairing with SJ.

The Broncos have been good this year, but with the timing of this match, they will be without their Origin players, which means they could be without around 5 players or perhaps more. This doesn't make the Broncos easy beats by any stretch, but they have yet to travel much this year, so heading to Napier is a big task for them.

So I am backing a rested Warriors to get the job done against a depleted Broncos outfit with a 12-point win.

I'm also going to Napier for the match, which I am looking forward to, and if you are going and happen to see me, say hi.

So that was an enjoyable Round 11, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What changes would you make to the game day 17?

Do you see the Warriors cementing a spot in the top eight?

Are you heading to Napier, and would you like to see more games taken around NZ?

What is your score prediction against the Broncos?