Stats the spirit: Running the Round 19 numbers 📊📉
Dominance of Tigers rivalry resumes
Laban comes of age
AKP maintains historic strike-rate
Goalkicking merry-go-round continues
Saints face Mount Smart drought
The Warriors returned to the NRL winner’s circle in Round 19 with a scrappy yet convincing 32-6 win over hapless Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
Scoring three tries in each half, it was their equal-third-biggest win in terms of margin, as well as their equal-lowest points conceded in 2026
The Warriors had 49 percent possession and completed at an uncharacteristically low 74 percent (the Tigers completed at 84 percent), but they dominated the run metres count (1,878 to 1,374) and average set distance (43.67 metres to 31.25).
Missed tackles finished close enough to even, but the Warriors produced a season-high 12 line-breaks and conceded a season-low two line-breaks. Andrew Webster’s side will be keen to tidy up their discipline lapse moving forward, making 16 errors to the Tigers’ 10 and conceding six set restarts to one.
The Warriors remain in second spot thanks to their outstanding +194 points differential, keeping Sydney Roosters (+76) in third.
Paper Tigers
Wests Tigers may have snared a drought-breaking win in Auckland in Round 4, but Friday’s result restored the natural order of what has become a one-sided rivalry.
The Warriors have won 10 of their last 11 against the Tigers, and now three in a row at Campbelltown.
The Warriors’ overall 24-17 lead against the joint venture since 2000 is their second-best win percentage (58.5 percent) against any current club, after their record against Gold Coast (59.5 percent).
On top of wins in Wellington and Christchurch, the Warriors are 6-3 in Australia in 2026 — and 14-7 across the Tasman going back to the start of last season.
Fruits of his Laban
Second-rower Jacob Laban’s out-the-gate form saw him card the outright highest Kingz Container Crew player ratings score (8.5) for the second straight game.
The tyro led all forwards on the field with 160 metres from 13 runs, had two line-breaks, an equal-game-high six tackle-breaks and a try assist, and reeled off 35 tackles.
