TWL RD 12: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
The Warriors’ five-match winning streak came to an end via a 16-10 defeat to Canberra in one of the 2025 season’s most aesthetically unpleasant and spiteful encounters at a wet Mount Smart Stadium.
After leading 8-0, the Warriors were overrun thanks to a combination of dismal discipline with and without the ball, as well as a maddening inability to convert a ton of good ball into points.
Standout performers were few and far between, making for a pretty unsatisfying belated edition of the Kingz Container Crew Warriors player ratings.
1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: A grunty performance from the back with 204 metres from 16 runs – including a long line-break in the first half and five tackle-breaks for the match – and 11 tackles. But made two handling errors and his sin-binning was the pivotal moment of the match. 6.5
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Three games in and we’re yet to see anything like DWZ’s best in 2025. Ten runs for 79 metres was nowhere near enough given the Warriors’ depleted pack, while he finished with three handling errors – albeit a couple while leaping for the high ball on attack. Completely overshadowed by rookie opponent Tamale. 5
3 ADAM POMPEY: Delivered the last pass for RTS’s try but otherwise it was a fairly quiet night for Pompey, finishing with eight runs for 76 metres and 14 tackles. Made two errors and gave away the lazy penalty for being offside from a drop-out, handing the Raiders a free two points on halftime. 6
22 ALI LEIATAUA: Returned from injury in a late change and looked like he could’ve done with another week rehabbing. Eight runs for 63 metres and an error was an ordinary return, while he made 17 tackles but was thoroughly outplayed by opposite Sebastian Kris. 5
5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: One of the Wahs’ best on the night with an excellent finish to score their only try, 18 runs for 180 metres, a team-high eight tackle-breaks and a nice little line-break assist for Charnze. 7
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Shouldered an even load of the playmaking and kicking load, but wasn’t particularly impressive in either department. Five runs and 19 tackles, along with three errors and two penalties. 5
7 LUKE METCALF: Good willingness to take the defensive line on (10 runs for 81 metres) but a lack of imagination and creativity on attack proved frustrating. Long kicking was adequate, defensively sound with 19 tackles including a great cover effort that probably saved a try. Somehow picked up a Dally M vote. 6
12 MARATA NIUKORE: Bumped up to prop in a late reshuffle and put in a 32-minute shift, before returning for a 16-minute stint on the edge. Decent return of 11 runs for 107 metres and 22 tackles, along with three tackle-breaks. 6.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Largely parked his running game for the night (four runs for 30 metres) but reeled off 43 tackles and was sound around the rucks. 6
10 BUNTY AFOA: Played 33 minutes across two stints, soaking up plenty of defensive work with 25 tackles and making six runs for 68 metres. Reasonable, but gotta be under pressure from the likes of Tanner Stowers-Smith. 6
11 LEKA HALASIMA: Good numbers in 64 minutes – 12 runs for 109 metres and 36 tackles – but arguably one of his less impressive NRL appearances, caught out in defence a couple of times and struggling to have his customary impact as well as making three errors. 5.5
4 KURT CAPEWELL: Reverting to the second-row in his first game as skipper of the club, the veteran made 10 runs for 98 metres and 34 tackles, setting the tone energy-wise as usual. 6
13 ERIN CLARK: Picked up three Dally M votes after churning through 16 runs for 147 metres and 37 tackles without a miss. Probably one of his less eye-catching displays of the season, but industrious nonetheless. 7
8 JACKSON FORD: The Warriors’ best by some margin, leading the team for run metres (209 from 18 carries, including 90 post-contact metres) and tackles (43) in 55 minutes off the pine after switching from the starting line-up in a late change. Chalked up five tackle-breaks and was error-free. 8
14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Filled in at fullback while CNK was in the bin before switching to a ball-playing forward role, finishing with six runs for 49 metres and nine tackles. 5
15 JACOB LABAN: Four runs for 37 metres and 10 tackles in 21 minutes, but gave away two inside the 10 restarts and copped a fine for a dangerous contact incident. 4.5
16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Curiously given only 15 minutes, in which time he made 19 tackles without a miss and two hit-ups, as well as giving away a penalty. 5
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