Kingz Container Crew Warriors Player Ratings: Trial 1
Some encouraging displays amid a tough pre-season watch.
It’s only a trial…and the Warriors didn’t so much blow out the cobwebs in their first pre-season hit-out of 2026 as get tangled up in them in a subpar showing, comprehensively beaten 33-18 by a no-name Manly outfit in Napier.
The Warriors fielded eight players who travelled to Brookvale for a final-round assignment in September, plus likely Round 1 top-liners Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford and Ali Leiataua. The Sea Eagles had three survivors from that match and a total of four players with more than three NRL games to their name.
Poor handling, static attack and lacklustre goal-line defence from the home side allowed a committed Manly to take a 16-4 lead during the first half and kick away to 26-10 with 20 minutes to play.
A pair of opportunist Ali Leiataua tries from bombs the Sea Eagles failed to defuse were all the Warriors could muster for the first 70 minutes. But their sprightly next-gen contingent brightened a dreary day in the Hawke’s Bay during the latter stages, with Jack Thompson beautifully laying on a try in the corner for Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi and hooker Makaia Tafua scoring a superb solo four-pointer.
The year’s first edition of Kingz Container Crew player ratings highlight some solid and encouraging individual performances, along with a smattering of slightly concerning ones.
1 GERONIMO DOYLE: Typically energetic and solid in the custodian role and had the second-most run metres of any Warriors player, 95 from 14 carries. 6
2 HAIZYN MELLARS: Jammed in for one huge tackle but otherwise struggled, making three errors, giving away a penalty and getting bundled into touch. Nine runs for 63 metres. 4.5
3 ALI LEIATAUA: Exciting to see the injury-prone weapon back on the park ahead of likely Round 1 selection, taking advantage of a couple of first-half bomb fumbles to bag a double. Eight runs for 75 metres and five tackle-breaks. 7
4 LEKA HALASIMA: Finished with eight runs for 75 metres with four tackle-breaks, along with 14 tackles, a handling error and a penalty. Struggled for involvement in the centres and looked more at home during a stint back in the pack. 6
20 MOTU PASIKALA: A late starting line-up inclusion due to RTS’s twingy hammy and took the opportunity well, making a series of strong carries out of the Warriors’ end. Tallied nine runs for 80 metres with three tackle-breaks. 7
6 LUKE HANSON: A bit of a mixed bag, but made some incisive runs, did the bulk of the kicking (including the bomb for Leiataua’s second try) and made 14 tackles. 5.5
7 TANAH BOYD: For a game-managing halfback that looked a cut above in NSW Cup last year – and who we’re set to rely on to steer us through the early rounds without Luke Metcalf – Boyd was very underwhelming against a barely second-string Sea Eagles side. 4.5
8 DEMITIRC VAIMAUGA: Strong start before going off thanks to a head knock. Six runs for 41 metres and 11 tackles with no misses…and looking like an absolute hulk. 6
9 WAYDE EGAN: Plenty of zip early and racked up 15 tackles without a miss. The least of the Warriors’ spine concerns. 5.5
10 JACKSON FORD: Staked his claim for prop rotation retention with 11 runs for 84 metres and 29 tackles. One handling error and a penalty conceded. 6
11 KURT CAPEWELL: Made 17 tackles without a miss but barely noticeable on the offensive side of the ball. 5
12 MORGAN GANNON: Industrious on defence with 36 stops but will be disappointed not to shine more on attack, making six runs for 36 metres with two handling errors. 5
13 ERIN CLARK: Picked up where he left off in 2025 with 10 runs for 84 metres and 34 tackles. 6.5
14 SAM HEALEY: Probed a bit from dummy-half and reeled off 25 tackles, but no real standout moments. 5.5
15 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Made his intentions clear to Andrew Webster by topping the run metres (13 carries for 134 metres) and tackle (39) counts, looking pretty fearsome in the process. A mistake at the end of one particular strong run was about the only thing TSS could be faulted on. 7.5
16 EDDIE IEREMIA-TOEAVA: Another 2025 rookie and fringe Round 1 candidate to impress with his work-rate, the 20-year-old racked up 37 tackles and seven runs. 6
17 KAYLISS FATIALOFA: Five runs for 34 metres and 17 tackles for the 2025 NSW Cup standout. 5
18 MAKAIA TAFUA: The standout of the three dummy-halves used by virtue of a wonderful solo try, among four runs for 56 metres. A great prospect. 7
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21 RODNEY TUIPULOTU-VEA: A big unit and the most impressive middle forward of the latter stages, chalking up seven runs for 68 metres. Will watch this tyro’s progress with interest. 6.5
22 JACK THOMPSON: A busy playmaker who overplayed his hand a bit after being injected – including a dusty pass that saw Manly score a runaway try – but redeemed himself with a beautiful cut-out ball to set up the Warriors’ first try of the second half. 5.5
23 CAELYS-PAUL PUTOKO: Love the look of this 2025 NSW Cup debutant, making four runs for 45 metres (22 post-contact) – including a great carry that got the Warriors on the front foot for Tafua to weave his magic. 6
24 DAEON AMITUANAI: Four strong carries after coming on at fullback. 5
25 SIO KALI: A couple of eye-catching runs among five carries for 39 metres. 5
26 PAEA SIKUVEA: Dynamic lock who started 2025 in SG Ball took his chance with six runs for 67 metres and 12 tackles. 6.5
27 BRANDON NORRIS: One run, one conversion shank and one kick-off out on the full. 4.5
28 HARRY INCH: Doesn’t this kid have some presence for a novice? Two strong runs within a couple of minutes of taking the field, five tackles and six passes in an encouraging rugby league toe-dip. 6
29 HARRY TAUAFIAFI-IUTOI: Excellent finish in the corner to go with five runs for 67 metres. 6.5
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30 JACOB AULOA: A couple of runs and six tackles during a brief stint for the 2024 SG Ball Player of the Year. 5