TWL RD 1: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
On arguably the biggest Round 1 stage since their iconic 1995 debut against Brisbane Broncos, the Warriors went to Las Vegas and produced the rugby league equivalent of rolling snake eyes at the craps table, putting $100 on red AND black as the roulette dealer spins double-zero, and splitting 10s against a dealer’s ace at blackjack in the space of 80 diabolical minutes at Allegiant Stadium.
Canberra Raiders were comparative card sharps while the Warriors were still trying to master the chocolate wheel in a 30-8 mismatch that was every bit as bad as the scoreboard looked.
Limp attack, ragged defence and lack of direction headlined myriad negative takeaways in a display that surely prompted a few of the massive Warriors contingent in the crowd to embark on a reckless, Fear and Loathing-inspired, LSD-fuelled rampage along the Strip and beyond.
A long trip home and 12 days to regroup ahead of a Round 2 showdown at home to Manly awaits Andrew Webster, who has little option to stick with the following bunch of underperformers for the time being.
Watch all the highlights as Raiders take on the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/mPpwZ7XAjw
— NRL (@NRL) March 2, 2025
1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: Looked suspect in the first half with a new hands-to-the-sky bomb defusal technique, which backfired horribly early in the second to gift an embarrassing, vital try to the Raiders. Often little in attack besides getting in the way, finished with two errors and a penalty conceded, and ran for a paltry 78 metres on 11 carries. Too classy to play that bad regularly, but early question marks over whether he is the best option of four viable ones for the No.1 jersey. 4
2 TAINE TUAUPIKI: Few opportunities to impress on an impotent right edge, but did a reasonable job overall with 16 runs for 130 metres and eight tackles, and finishing as one of just four starting line-up players not to record an error. Dumb stripping penalty in the first half was not ideal. 5.5
3 ALI LEIATAUA: All at sea in defence, contributing significantly to the Raiders’ first try and to another couple of close calls. Strong on the carry with 124 metres on 12 runs, but by far his least impressive showing at NRL level to date. 4
4 ADAM POMPEY: A contender for the Warriors’ best on ground, which is saying something. Looked threatening on multiple occasions, classy assist for Capewell’s try and was busy with 15 runs for 129 metres. Offload error call against him was questionable. 6.5
5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Probably the Warriors’ most dangerous attacking player, making up for missing a very gettable try with a superb finish for their only four-pointer of the second half. Left his teammates in the dust with 23 runs for 201 metres (77 post-contact) and had an equal-team-high four tackle-breaks, but came up with two errors. 6.5
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Certainly the more promising performance of the halves. Had a hand in the first try, produced a lovely kick that should have resulted in a second-half try to RTS and showed brilliant quick hands to send the veteran in out wide later on. Also chalked up 22 tackles and kicked just as many times as Metcalf. 6
7 LUKE METCALF: A harsh lesson in the first step in his quest to become the Warriors’ new long-term No.7. Next to no authority or direction in attack in the first half – which unravelled with an intercept try pass to Xavier Savage – and sporadic after the break though had a tidy hand in Roger’s try. Kicking game on the poor side of average and was too often a turnstile defensively. 4
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: The new co-captain might be wondering what he’s got himself into after his first game following a fourth straight grand final victory, but about as much as could be expect to lead by example in 46 minutes on the park. Had 108 metres on 13 runs and led the forwards with 64 post-contact metres, was particularly busy inside the opposition 20 and racked up 32 tackles. One error (while lunging for a try), one penalty. 6
9 WAYDE EGAN: Hard to analyse the overall performance without fixating on getting hoodwinked by Tom Starling’s long-range dummy-half break at his expense, which led to the Raiders’ second try. Otherwise strived to get a spluttering attack going with some nifty running of his own – finishing with 62 metres from seven runs – and some creativity, while tallied up a game-high 49 tackles in playing out the 80 minutes. 5.5
15 JACKSON FORD: Not his fault, but being pitched into the front-row in a late change – and playing the first 51 minutes of the match at the coalface – did not work. Toiled with trademark lustre for 110 metres on 13 carries and 35 tackles, but wasn’t suited to be part of a trio to combat a Tapine-Horsburgh-Papalii triumvirate. 5
11 KURT CAPEWELL: Most notable contribution was wrapping around to the wing to be on the receiving end of Pompey’s nice work and dot down for the Warriors’ only try of the first half. Four runs for 23 metres, 28 tackles with eight misses. 4.5
12 MARATA NIUKORE: Let’s get real – would we keep persevering if a player without the same reputation and pay-packet was continually dishing up such mediocre performances? Eight runs for 60 metres, 21 tackles, an error and a ruck infringement…but the glaring lack of impact is the piece that is so different to the 2022-23 Niukore. 4.5
10 MITCHELL BARNETT: Moved to lock in a reshuffle and made 37 tackles without a miss and a moderate 10 runs for 83 metres in 52 minutes, but it’s hard to recall a less effective performance from the Blues and Kangaroos rep in a Warriors jersey. Horrendous chip-kick in the second half summed up an out-of-sorts display from the reigning Simon Mannering Medal winner. 5
13 ERIN CLARK: Bumped from the starting side but looked to make up for lost time with 15 runs for 130 metres – leading the Warriors’ forwards in both departments – in 47 minutes. Made 23 tackles but a poor miss on Tamale as he made a long break was a jarring moment. 5
14 DYLAN WALKER: Attempted to spark the attack in the middle of the park with limited results, though had a hand in Capewell’s try. Eleven runs for 74 metres, 21 tackles, a couple of kicks, and no errors or penalties – a rarity. 5.5
16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Chucked on for the last 14 minutes when the game was already well gone. Looked lively with five carries and eight tackles. 5
17 LEKA HALASIMA: Made his presence felt in 26 minutes off the pine, making 56 metres on six runs and 10 tackles without a miss. 5.5
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