THE RIVALRY: WARRIORS V TIGERS
The Warriors' record in this rivalry is their best against any current NRL club.
Historically regarded as two of the most unpredictable, occasionally exciting and overall underachieving sides in the NRL, the 26-season rivalry between the Warriors and Wests Tigers has been marked by high-scoring try-fests and extraordinary comebacks. But the Warriors have dominated in recent years to take a commanding overall lead and edge to their best winning record against any current NRL side.
Overall record: Played 39 – Warriors won 23, Wests Tigers won 16; Warriors scored 855 points, Wests Tigers scored 843 points.
Biggest wins: Wests Tigers – 50-4 at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 2004; Warriors – 42-18 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 2014.
Longest winning streaks: Warriors – 9 matches (2020-25); Wests Tigers – 4 matches (twice – 2000-01 and 2015-17).
Finals: Played 1 – Warriors won 1.
Most appearances: Simon Mannering (Warriors) – 18; Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers) – 15; Ben Matulino (Warriors and Tigers) – 15; Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers) – 14; Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers) – 14; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 14; Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) – 13; Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers) – 13; David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers) – 13; Lance Hohaia (Warriors) – 12; John Skandalis (Wests Tigers) – 12.
Most tries: David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers) – 8; Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers) – 7; Shaun Johnson (Warriors) – 7; Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers) – 7; David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers) – 7; Clinton Toopi (Warriors) – 7; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 7; Simon Mannering (Warriors) – 6; Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers) – 6.
Most points: Shaun Johnson (Warriors) – 74; Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers) – 58; Brett Hodgson (Wests Tigers) – 48; Pat Richards (Wests Tigers) – 42; David Nofoaluma David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers) – 32; Lance Hohaia (Warriors) – 30; Tuimoala Lolohea (Warriors and Wests Tigers) – 30.
2000-05 – Joint venture worries Warriors in early seasons
Wests Tigers achieved their first premiership win as a joint venture against the Warriors, with a field goal by Craig Field proving the difference in a 17-16 Round 2 success at Leichhardt Oval in 2000. The Tigers carved out an emphatic 30-4 victory on their first visit to Auckland later that year and chalked up another pair of wins in 2001 – despite their sophomore season troubles and the Warriors’ surge to a maiden finals berth.
The Warriors enjoyed a run of three wins over the Tigers in 2002-03, before the Tigers took their 2004 and ’05 home games against the Warriors to Christchurch and racked up two mighty wins. Brett Hodgson scored 22 points in a 50-4 rout in ’04, while former Auckland Warriors centre Paul Whatuira crossed for two tries in a 24-6 win the following season.
