NZ Warriors 2024 Round 26 Review: Johnson Ignites Warriors' Stunning Comeback to Topple Sharks

After their emotional and disappointing Round 25 defeat to the Bulldogs, the Warriors travelled back across the ditch for the final time in 2024 to face a Sharks side looking at cementing 2nd place on the ladder. The Sharks shrugged off a valiant Warriors start and looked to have victory in hand at halftime. However, the Warriors staged an incredible second-half comeback, just like the game played between these sides in 2023 at the same venue, to send SJ into retirement with a 30-28 victory.

What Went Down

Just like last week, the Warriors started purposefully and looked ready to take it to the Sharks. They struggled to create scoring opportunities as errors and penalties were traded between the sides. The game swung into action when Shaun Johnson turned back the clock, catching the home side off-guard with a jinking run before putting Luke Metcalf over for the night's first try in the 11th minute. Both sides traded sets, penalties and errors for a spell until the Sharks found themselves in good field position after an Addin Fonua-Blake error deep in the visitor's half. Moments later, Braydon Trindall threw a short ball to Teig Wilton, who crossed over untouched in the 24th minute. This injected life into the Sharks as they took control of the match and started a scoring spree with three tries to Kayal Iro (32nd minute), Sam Stonestreet (34th minute) and Tom Hazelton (37th minute) as the Warriors defence fell apart, seeing them go into the sheds trailing 22-6 and the prospect of ending the season with a heavy defeat.

Warriors fans started the second half concerned about what was to come and held their breath when the Sharks took only five minutes to cross the try line when Nicho Hynes squeezed through a gap to score on his first-grade return. However, the bunker denied the try due to obstruction. On the next set, the Sharks scooped up a loose Metcalf carry and ran the length of the field to score; the bunker once again intervened, advising that Sione Katoa knocked the ball on at the beginning of the counter-attack, letting the Warriors breathe a sigh of relief. The Warrior's defence started to firm, and they wrestled their way back into the contest and had the first official try of the second half in the 48th minute when some slick passing between Johnson and Taine Tuaupiki saw Dallin Watene-Zelezniak touch down in the corner. The Warriors kept the pressure on, and minutes later, DWZ had his second and 100th career try when Johnson pushed through a kick early in the tackle count that the winger outraced his opposite number to dive on. The game started to get a bit tense after a handful of high and late tackles against DWZ and Jazz Tevaga, including a high shot on DWZ that led to a scuffle and the sin-binning of Iro in the 60th minute. The Warriors took full advantage of facing 12 men and took only a minute to add points when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad crashed over in the 61st minute, reducing the Shark's lead to 2 after Johnson's successful conversion. A few minutes later, the Warriors found themselves back in front 26-22 after Marcelo Montoya barged his way over on the left corner in the 64th minute. A few sets later, Montoya went from hero to villain when he was penalised for an escort, which handed the Sharks the perfect chance to reclaim the lead. They did not have to be asked twice as they sent the ball to their left edge for Sam Stonestreet to cross untouched; Trindall's sideline conversion saw the Sharks ahead 28-26 with only ten minutes left to play. Both sides traded sets as time started to wind down with neither able to gain the upper hand; another break from SJ set up Metcalf for a two-point field goal, and while he had the distance, it sailed to the right of the posts, the game looked all done and dusted until an error from Jack Williams handed the Warriors the ball back and on the final play with just seconds remaining, Johnson delivered a pinpoint cutout pass to DWZ allowing him to complete his hattrick and seal a fantastic comeback victory 30-28, sending Johnson, Tevaga and AFB out on a high in what has been a poor season.

My Thoughts

This year has been a chore to watch and write about, but that was a hell of a way to sign off for the season. This match had me riding the waves of emotions with that solid start, followed by that shocking second 20 that had me preparing for a blowout in the second half. Then I was back on the edge of my seat for that final 40 minutes and jumping around my lounge when SJ threw that final pass to DWZ to secure the win. After a fortnight of second-half shutouts, it was great to see the team just refuse to quit and fight against the odds; who knows what would have happened if the bunker hadn't denied those two tries to the Sharks at the beginning of the half, but after those poor calls we have discussed at length this season, it was nice to see a few calls go the Warriors way.

The team just looked more confident, and who can blame them when, in 2023, at this ground, they put on an amazing comeback to get the win. They just needed to repeat that miracle again, and they nailed it. It wasn't the greatest performance, but it was a hell of an effort; the forwards did plenty of heavy lifting despite Mitchell Barnett playing only 36 minutes and Freddy Lussick having plenty of minutes as a forward (which I wasnt a fan of). The backs hardly put a foot wrong for 60 minutes of this match. Taine Tuaupiki was getting pounded all night but just kept going and added a nice dimension to the attacking structure; Ali Leiataua and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad looked great at centre, and DWZ and Montoya were just running, hitting the ball at pace and churning those early metres on each set. Then SJ and Metcalf just directed the attack well, with SJ picking his shots beautifully. 

It's a positive end to a very negative season, and while we can sit down and enjoy this victory, there is still so much work for Andrew Webster and the squad to do in the upcoming offseason to get back into the conversation as a finals side. It's not an easy task by any stretch. While they start to work that out, I will take time to enjoy the break and forget this season—well, after my season review is done, that is.

There were a couple of things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

I already mentioned it, but after back-to-back second-half shutouts, we finally got to see the Warriors score points in the second half, scoring 5 tries in that second 40. We are still waiting to see an 80-minute performance from the Warriors, but this fightback in the 2nd half is a step in the right direction. If they find a way to perform with that level of commitment for the entire 80 in 2025, they will find themselves in finals contention. 

Addin Fonua-Blake was in beast mode in his final game for the Warriors, facing his future teammates. He led the Warriors with 211 running metres, 111 post-contact metres, 3 offloads and 25 tackles with only 2 misses. I have not shied away from my appreciation of AFB in his time with the Warriors; he has been my favourite player that whole time, and I, like many, was concerned that he may phone it in this season, especially when a chance at finals was gone, but no he kept consistent, and he will be missed, James Fisher-Harris softens the blow a little, but it's hard to replace my personal pick as the best prop currently in the NRL.

It has been a rubbish season, but this was a perfect sendoff for SJ. He played in the stadium he called home for three years, and he played a critical part in the Warriors' getting the result. It was a fairytale-like ending to his career, and it was great to see him celebrated not just by his teammates and the Warriors fans but also by the NRL community. It is a true testament to the player he is, and I'm so happy that his final match was a win.

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

Match Negatives

The attack in the first half was clunky; the Warriors just struggled to convert their many opportunities into points, at times looking a little lost. They found their groove as the game continued, but it all ties back to looking for that elusive 80-minute performance. The attack has been very hit or miss all season, so I can't say I was surprised, but with some fine-tuning, they can hit the ground running with the attack in 2025.

That second 20 minutes of the first half were shocking; in an ongoing trend of 2024, the Warriors struggled to defend after adversity. It took a simple error in the 23rd minute to derail the focus, and for the next 17 minutes, it was one-way traffic as they allowed the Sharks to bully them and score 4 tries at a rapid pace. It leads me to believe that it is more a mental/attitude issue instead of a skill issue. Hopefully, the coaching staff will look to better prepare this squad for these situations, as adversity always happens. They just need to ride the storm and not let that adversity set them back.

Lastly, this was the last time we watched SJ, Jazz Tevaga and AFB play for the Warriors. Watching Tevaga and AFB run around next season in a different jersey will take some getting used to, but I hope they crush it with their new clubs, except when they face the Warriors. I have already talked at length about SJ earlier and in the next segment, and AFB got his props in my positives, so I will show Tevaga some love now. Jazz just bleeds Warriors, and while he was never the biggest or most skilful player on the field, he made up for it in pure heart, which is an asset you cannot train. I would have kept him on my roster if I was in charge, but I don't know enough of the details behind the scenes for the decision to let him go; however, I will back Webby, and I know Jazz will be a valuable pickup for whichever team has signed him (I've heard rumours but there has been no official announcement). 2025 is going to be different without these guys, man.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Shaun Johnson.

Some big efforts from a few key men on this side, but SJ was the standout by far. 

Vintage SJ was on display here, engaging the line and ending the match with 176 metres, 2 linebreaks, and 3 try assists, including that tremendous match-winning pass. He kicked and defended well, with the only blemish being his 50% at the kicking tee. In sport, it is rare to end your career on your terms and on a high, but besides a grand final win, I can't imagine a more fitting way for SJ's final game to go, coming up clutch to pull his side out of an almost certain defeat and secure the win with a last-second master play. It still doesn't feel real that we won't ever see him on that field again, and it will take some time to get used to. I'm sure I will go into it more in my season review, but it has been a privilege to watch SJ legend grow over the years, and the NRL and the Warriors will not be the same without him.

Warrior to Improve

I have no Warrior to improve this week, as I couldn't find any player in the 17 who let the side down.

Not everyone was perfect, but they all gave it 100%, which is all we can ask for.

Seasons done; What's Next for me?

So that's a wrap on the 2024 season, with the Warriors getting their final bye in Round 26, 

2025 brings a lot of change, with Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake and Jazz Tevaga all departing, and the only new addition named so far is James Fisher-Harris.

However, I will touch on the roster updates later when I write my season review. I usually wait to release it before the Grand Final, but it may be a little sooner due to the Warriors' early exit this year. In that review, I will unpack the entire year, highlight certain players and moments, and look at what's to come in 2025.

Then, I will take a little break and let these seasons' disappointments pass, perhaps writing a few articles about the Warriors if the inspiration hits me. However, my partner will be expecting me to give her a bit more attention, with the Warriors not consuming my day-to-day for a few months.

Last but not least, my show, The Stand-Off, will continue to stream live on Facebook and YouTube every Wednesday at 8pm NZ time; we haven't decided on a season finale time yet as we may stick around for the internationals, so come join us there as we discuss the footy.

So, that was an exciting Round 25, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What changes does Andrew Webster need to make with this team to take it to the next step in 2025?

How would you grade the 2024 season overall?

Who has been your biggest surprise from the squad?

Who do you think is going to win the 2024 premiership?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 25 Review: Bulldogs Second-Half Shutout Spoils SJ Farewell

After their disappointing Round 24 defeat to the Sea Eagles, the Warriors returned home for the last time this season. On a night dedicated to celebrating Shaun Johnson, with Go Media Stadium renamed in his honour, the Bulldogs spoiled the party by rallying from multiple deficits to clinch their first finals berth in eight years, winning 34-18.

What Went Down

After plenty of emotion on display, Shaun Johnson's night could not have started any worse when he fumbled his first touch of the ball. The Warriors dug deep and avoided being punished for that error, forcing the Bulldogs to make a mistake of their own. The Warriors got back on track and wasted little time; with the aid of some six again calls and a penalty, they found themselves deep in Bulldog's territory, and after a few chances, including Adam Pompey being held up over the line, the Warriors drew first blood when Luke Metcalf threw a short ball to Marcelo Montoya who barged his way over in the 9th minute. The Warriors kept the pressure on and, a few sets later, off the back of another Bulldogs error, were over again in the 14th minute when Metcalf hit Kurt Capewell with an, at best, flat pass before the second rower ran 20 metres untouched before scoring under the posts. The game started to settle into a back-and-forth battle, but the Warriors faced a setback in the 21st minute when Adam Pompey left the field injured and would not return. 

An error by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the 23rd minute, followed by a penalty against Addin Fonua-Blake, swung momentum in the favor of the visitors; the Bulldogs came close to scoring on the right edge but were stopped right on the line by a great tackle from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad; however, they went straight back to work shifting the ball left, sending Bronson Xerri over in the 26th minute. A few moments later, in the 29th minute, the Bulldogs were over again when the Warriors were unable to catch a crossfield kick, and it was scooped up by Stephen Crichton. Matt Burton's conversion saw the Warriors' lead reduced to 2. The Bulldogs continued to silence the sellout crowd when Viliame Kikau broke the line before sending the ball to Kurtis Morrin to score in the 34th minute, handing the Bulldogs their first lead of the match. The Warriors did have the last laugh of the first half after an error and penalty from the Bulldogs saw the home side in prime position to attack, and a quick snipe from Wayde Egan in the 38th minute was successful as he burrowed his way over the line, SJ conversion saw the first half end with the Warriors regaining the lead to go into sheds ahead 18-16.

The Warriors started the second half with plenty of aggression, driving the Bulldogs back with each tackle; however, Burton got his side out of trouble with a massive 40/20. The visitors bombarded the Warriors' goalline multiple times, but the home side's defence held firm and eventually forced an error. They were unable to capitalise on it, though, as a few plays later, they made an error of their own. They defended that mistake and regained possession, only for controversy to strike in the 45th minute when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was ruled out of the match and next week's game due to a shoulder hit to the head by Crichton, who survived going to the sin bin after the officials deemed that there was a high level of mitigation in the tackle. Both sides trade sets, with neither able to gain the upper hand and it wasnt until the 54th minute before the first points of the second half were scored when Harry Hayes scored the first try of his NRL career when he collected a Toby Sexton grubber kick. The Warriors had plenty of opportunities to regain the lead but struggled with their execution. The Bulldogs did not have the same issue as they marched down the field before Burton pushed through a grubber, which Josh Addo-Carr beat all the chasers to, diving on it just before it went over the dead-ball line in the 62nd minute, pushing the visitors lead to 10 after Burtons conversion. The Warriors' woes continued with back-to-back errors, and there was another situation with the officials in the 72nd minute, where Max King's shoulder connected with Mitchell Barnett's head, splitting the Warriors skipper's eyebrow. The referee was not interested in calling a penalty until Barnett's refusal to continue to play changed his mind. The penalty gave the Warriors more chances to reduce the lead but the Bulldogs defence continued snuffing anything the Warriors attempted to throw at it. An error from Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the 76th minute handed the Bulldogs a scrum from here; they secured their victory with a shift to the right, which saw Crichton break the line and surge down the field before sending Jacob Kiraz across for their sixth and final try of the night in what was the final scoring play of the night. Seeing the Bulldogs chase for a top-four finish still alive as well as earning their first victory at Mt Smart Stadium since 2012 with the 34-18 win.

My Thoughts

Well, that wasnt how we wanted this occasion to go; I predicted a Bulldogs win in my review last week but changed my mind during the week, ending up with a Warriors win prediction as I thought the boys would be up to sending SJ, Jazz Tevaga and AFB away with a win but it just wasn't to be.

I will admit that I was surprised at the emotions I felt as the boys came out on the pitch. I have been there for many club legends' final matches at that stadium: Stacey Jones (twice), Steve Price, Rueben Wiki, and Simon Mannering. However, watching SJ come out for the final time brought tears to my eyes. Never getting to watch him play live again will take time to get used to, but I will dwell on that more in my season review in a few weeks.

However, onto the actual match. The Warriors shot out to that early lead, but like so often this season, a 12-point lead is never secure. With more injuries seeing the Warriors' backline once again reshuffled, the Warriors' attack was clunky, and despite showing the will to throw the ball around, they just struggled to break through the much-talked-about Bulldogs defence. Say what you will about some of the calls that went against them (more on that a bit later), the Warriors had plenty of chances to get points here, but their attack is just not threatening enough right now, and at times, they simply looked out of ideas about how to crack the Doggies defence. There is a lot to work on for the club in the upcoming preseason, and it will be a big job for Andrew Webster and his coaching staff to reset and get things back on track. 

2024 has been a rough season of the promise that 2023 delivered. It hasn't been what we imagined it would be, and I am just looking forward to the break.

There were a couple of things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

They kept fighting, and the Warriors showed off some second-phase football and didn't give up despite the adversity of a few bad calls and losing both centres. Unfortunately, while the fighting spirit was there, the execution was not. However, the positive from that is that if they can keep that attitude and keep pushing forward and fighting, the rest will work itself out. You can teach game plans and strategy, but you can't train the heart.

Demitric Sifakula continues to impress me; he got through 32 minutes in this match, running for 118 metres and making 13 tackles with zero misses. Like many of the youngsters in the squad, he is filled to the brim with potential and with another preseason under his belt, he will be in a great position to secure a regular spot in the 17 in 2025.

Lastly, the season is almost over; there is only one game remaining in a season we all can't wait to put behind us and forget. The club doesn't have that luxury, as they need to comb through the data from the season and start making plans to ensure they don't fall into the same situation in 2025.

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

Match Negatives

Another second-half shutout, the Warriors had plenty of chances to take control of the match in the final 40 minutes but just kept letting the Bulldogs off the hook. On that list of things that need to be fixed, the coaches must address finding a way to get consistent 80-minute performances out of this squad. I could be better with the statistics, so I am stealing one from Will at This Warriors Life. This match was the fourth at home where the Warriors had a great start of 12-0 or more before losing; that is not acceptable anywhere, let alone at home. Fix that, and they will climb up the ladder next year.

The Warriors' errors increased this week to 13. Admittedly, the errors started to rise when the Warriors threw the ball around a bit more to try and create opportunities to get back into the match, but they just needed to show the ball more respect.

There was rain, but it wasn't heavy, and it didn't seem to matter the intensity of the rain because as soon as it started, the Warriors fell apart. I can't explain why since they should be used to the wet conditions now. Add it to the fix-it list, Webby.

Lastly, the officials, I hate when people blame the officials, and I think the Warriors had more than enough chances to get the result here, but the officiating in this match was dreadful; firstly, the hit on RTS that didn't not result in a sin-bin, I usually would be OK with just a penalty, but the NRL drew a line in the sand at the beginning of the season that moment like that is a sin-bin. It didn't help matters that we saw so many sin-bins giving out in other matches throughout the round for less impactful hits. Then, later on in the half, we saw another high shot that split Mitchell Barnett's head, and the official was not willing to blow even a penalty and finally gave in, with Barnett simply refusing to play. You could argue that should have been a sin-bin also. It's just unacceptable; regardless of how good or bad your side is going, they deserve to be treated fairly, and we didn't see that here. I have delayed releasing my review as I want to see what Graham Annesley says in his press conference.

Annesley confirmed that the Crichton hit should have been a sin-bin but spent the rest of the conference defending the mistakes, so there is not much to say there, but surely the officials and their boss have to be in the firing line if things don't change.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Addin Fonua-Blake.

Another big night from AFB, the least visibly emotional Warrior out of the three playing their final game at Mt Smart, but he could not be accused of not trying. Ran for 124 metres, had 60 post-contact metres, and led his side with 49 tackles with zero misses. As a former prop, I gravitate towards the big boppers when it comes to the discussion of my favourite players, and I have been a massive fan of AFB in his stint as a Warrior, and it will be difficult seeing him in a Sharks jersey next season, but it has been a privilege watching him represent the Warriors, and I hope he has one big performance left in the tank for the final match of the Warriors 2024 campaign.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

It was hard to pick, as a handful of players could have gotten the nod here (namely Marata Niukore), but I went with DWZ because the Bulldogs managed to keep him quiet. He only had 89 running metres, made 2 errors, and allowed that 40/20 that got the Bulldogs out of trouble at the start of the second half. In his defence, the Warriors were not sending the ball out his way a lot, which did not help him out, but not stopping the 40/20 was terrible and a big momentum shifter in this match. He is another player who has had a significant drop from his 2023 form, but hopefully, he can find his groove again in 2025.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

The Warriors head back across the ditch for the final time in 2024 to face the Sharks, who defeated the Dragons 38-10 in Round 25.

Regarding the team I would pick, Webster said that RTS will not be available for this match after his head knock, so I would bring Ali Leiataua in for him. If that is the only injury, I would keep the remaining 17 the same.

The Sharks have been the least desirable of the current top-four sides but have been building nicely, with a four-match winning streak. They will be looking at this game as another chance to solidify their top-four spot and will be looking to make a statement. The Warriors will want to end their season on a high and send the boys who are playing their final game in Warriors colours out with a win. I've been saying it a lot the past few weeks, but if the Warriors are to get the job done, they need to reduce those errors, convert most of their opportunities into points and keep the Shark's backs quiet as they have a lot of threats out wide. I desperately want to see the Warriors win here, but I can't pick it as I think the Sharks at home will just be too strong, so I am going with a Sharks win by 16.

So, that was an emotional and frustrating Round 25, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What's your favourite SJ moment?

How would you fix the officials and bunker situation if you were in charge?

Who was your player to improve?

What is your score prediction against the Sharks?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 24 Review: Sea Eagles Surge After the Break, Leaving Warriors Behind

After their heartbreaking Round 23 Golden Point defeat to the Dolphins, the Warriors remained on Australian soil to face the Sea Eagles. Not many, including myself, gave them any chance of walking away victors, but the return of Shaun Johnson, Luke Metcalf, Adam Pompey and Marcelo Montoya made the team look more competitive. After bringing the fight in the first half, which saw the game level at 10 all, Manly took control in the second half, holding the Warriors scoreless and cruising away to a 24-10 win.

What Went Down

After the Warriors controlled the early field position, a 40/20 by Daly Cherry-Evans swung momentum in favour of the home side. The Warriors then conceded back-to-back infringements before eventually cracking as Tom Trbojevic created an overlap that saw Jason Saab cross over in the corner after only 9 minutes. Manly kept the pressure on, but they were unable to convert their attacks into more points. The home side conceded a penalty which handed the Warriors an opportunity to get back into the contest and looked to have scored moments later when they shifted to the left before Adam Pompey barged over the line. However, bunker official Kasey Badger deemed that Cherry-Evans had been obstructed by Kurt Capewell, overturning the try. The Warriors did not drop their heads, and after Tom Trbojevic made an error, the Warriors went left again, this time to Addin Fonua-Blake, who managed to offload the ball to Shaun Johnson, who scored under the posts in the 20th minute, levelling the scores. Manly got back to work and were next to score in the 23rd minute after a great pass from Luke Brooks to Tommy Talau saw him take advantage of a gap created by Johnson and Marata Niukore before Talau sent Tommy Turbo away to touch down under the black dot. The points started to dry up as the match entered a messy period, with both sides trading ruck infringements until the Warriors wound back the clock to 2023 with a play down the right edge that saw Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad put Dallin Watene-Zelezniak over in the corner for one of his trademark dives in the 32nd minute, Luke Metcalf nailed the conversion from the side to see the scores level 10 all in what was the last scoring play of the first half.

The skies opened up at the beginning of the second half, making the game stop-and-start. The rain significantly dulled both sides' attacking efforts. Both sides traded sets, with neither able to find the much-needed points until a well-placed kick from DCE saw Reuben Garrick snatch the ball out of the air in the 53rd minute for the first points of the second half. Both sides had additional opportunities but were unable to ice them. A costly error from Pompey handed Manly the perfect chance to secure the win, and they did not let it slip when Turbo threw a cut-out pass to Lehi Hopoate, who dived over in the corner in the 68th minute; Garrick's conversion saw the Sea Eagles extended their lead to 12. With only 12 minutes to go and in conditions that did not favour comeback-style football, the Warriors were on the back foot, and it was a messy final stage of the contest with both sides trading penalties (eight players were put on report by the referee and the bunker) which saw the final scoring play of match being a penalty kick at fulltime by Garrick after Chanel Harris-Tavita was pinged for a dangerous tackle. This saw Manly the victors 24-10, keeping themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish, while the Warriors will head back to New Zealand with the goal of getting a win in Johnson's final game at Mount Smart next round.

My Thoughts

Well, it was another game where the Warriors fooled me. I came into the match ready for disappointment and a heavy, one-sided affair. However, the Warriors got my hopes up as they looked up for the game, and an upset could have been on the cards. Then, all that hope just slowly drained away as the team struggled to piece anything together in the second half. Rinse and repeat what I said last week; the attack disappeared, and they struggled to defend their mistakes and had no killer instinct. I knew they were in trouble the moment it started to rain, and it still puzzles me how this team struggles in the wet when they spend most of their time in Auckland, where it's always prone to rain. 

There is nothing but pride left to play for this season, and while I hope we see an increase in the team performances in the final two matches of 2024, I feel like they might just throw everything they have into the final home match for SJ and then not show up for the final game against the Sharks. It may just be my current pessimistic outlook, but there hasn't been much to praise in recent times, and the team continues to struggle in the same areas, so they are either unwilling or unable to adjust right now. Thankfully, the offseason reset is just around the corner, and hopefully, it becomes the turning point this club needs for the 2025 campaign.

There were a couple of things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The attack did look better in the first half. SJ and Metcalf looked to be on the same page, and the returns of Pompey and Montoya in the backs gave the attack more targets. It was still clunky, but hopefully, we will see the combinations grow for the final two rounds if they can keep the same side out on the pitch. Right now, they have to be one of the most lacklustre attacking sides in the comp, and I just want to see their attack taken seriously again. 

The finals dream was over with the exception of some divine intervention, with every game working in their favour. However, they did not throw in the towel, which has to be commended. That second half was dreadful to watch, but they were still swinging, which is precisely what I want to see from them until that final whistle blows in two weeks. 

The Warriors got through the 80 minutes with no injuries. I had concerns about SJ and Metcalf not making it through, but there were no major bumps or bruises. This is integral to this side ending the season on a higher note, as a consistent 17 is the only way this side will build cohesion. It's weird to say with the season almost over, but I want to see them bring the fight until the end.

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

Match Negatives

That second half, they started with promise but kept shooting themselves in the foot; they earned themselves a penalty and elected to run it instead of taking the two points, which, while I appreciate them wanting to put on the throat, they ended up losing the ball moments later with a poor pass/poor handling situation between SJ and Capewell. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but taking the points when they were on offer could have kept the pressure on Manly. Alas, it was a half-full of letting Manly off the hook. It feels like we haven't seen an 80-minute performance from this side for a while, and until they can deliver that, it will continue to be hard for the Warriors to put sides away.

Respect for the ball was still lacking, and the Warriors made 12 errors in this match; now, while the weather did not make things easy, plenty of the errors were coach-killers with wayward passes and poor play of the balls. Handing the Sea Eagles 12 extra sets was just setting them up for failure; the team is low on confidence, so the 50/50's that may have worked in the past are just not sticking right now, so just stick to basics until they nail that, then look to expand. It's the old cliche of learning to walk before you run.

Lastly, the Warriors discipline, I know they don't get a fair rub of the green when they have Chris Butler as the official, but they conceded 7 penalties in this match, and there were only a handful I would have argued with. In the same vein as the errors, the Warriors are not a good enough team right now to just hand a team an easy 7 extra sets. It's hard when you feel like the officials are not giving you a fair go, but you have to adjust in real-time to how the official you have is running the game and not allow them to ping you regardless of whether you think it is valid or not. That is easier said than done, I know, but the Warriors have to be extra squeaky clean every week if they want to avoid being penalized out of the contest.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Addin Fonua-Blake.

Another big game from the big bopper upfront. He played big minutes and had 149 running metres and 60 post-contact metres. He also had 35 tackles with only 1 miss and no errors. I had plenty of concerns that AFB would clock off this season, especially when finals started to look more like a dream than a reality. However, for the most part, he has consistently been one of the best forwards on the field every time he has been out there. A massive loss for the Warriors, and he will have a significant impact on the Sharks; it will be a shame to see him go in just a few weeks.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Marata Niukore.

A quiet night for Niukore here, the only starting forward to not crack the triple digits, making only 55 running metres. Did make 27 tackles with only 2 missed and conceded a penalty. It wasn't a horrible game, but it was a flat game; I just expected a bit more punch out of the big unit. 

He has the potential to be a game-breaker out on the edge. He just needs to deliver.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

The Warriors return home for their final home game of the season to face the Bulldogs, who defeated the Dolphins 30-10 in Round 24.

Regarding the team I would pick, I would keep it the same unless Wayde Egan is fit to play; if he is ok, I would bring him back into Hooker. 

The Bulldogs have been the fairytale team of 2024, similar to how the Warriors were last season. They are the only team yet to be defeated at home; however, their record away is poor (3-8), so the journey to New Zealand may not be as easy as you would think if you looked at the ladder. They will be coming desperate for a win to keep themselves in the hunt for a top 4 finish, but the Warriors will be looking at giving SJ a victory in his final match at Mount Smart. So this has all the makings of a special night. If the Warrior's combinations can click better, turn opportunities into points, and reduce their errors, then they can walk away victors. I think and hope the Warriors get the job done, but I am going with a Bulldogs win by 8; I just think the desire to make the top 4 will get them across the line.

So, that was a disappointing  Round 24, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who would be your halves pairing in 2025?

Would you make any changes to the 17 this week?

Who was your player to improve?

What is your score prediction against the Bulldogs?