TWL Rd 13: Kingz Container Crew Warriors Player Ratings
Epic match, agonising result - and a host of individual standouts for the gallant visitors at CommBank Stadium.
The absence of five State of Origin players could not detract from Sunday night’s top-of-the-table showdown as Penrith and the Warriors delivered arguably the match of 2026 so far — but it was the Panthers that came away with a pulsating 20-18 result.
The Warriors fought back from a 16-6 deficit after a first half of missed opportunities and surged into the lead, but ultimately they could not quite get enough of the pivotal, knife’s edge moments right.
A Casey McLean masterclass — exacerbated by a rough 40 minutes for opposite Ali Leiataua — and a pair of justifiably disallowed Warriors tries told the story of the first half. The Warriors’ ability to rally and do everything but win it was massively encouraging. Te Maire Martin and Taine Tuaupiki came up with huge plays, their scramble defence shone and their middle forwards again stood tall.
The Panthers just did enough of the same things a little better, a fraction more often.
As a spectacle, it was a belter and top-shelf quality. Both teams completed at around 90 percent and there was almost nothing in virtually every stat category.
It emphatically cemented the Panthers as the premiership favourites, while very strongly suggesting the Warriors are the next best team in the NRL right now…with a bit of daylight between them and third.
Some will contend both teams were weakened, but there’s no question the Panthers were compromised more by being without Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o than the Warriors were by the non-appearance of Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell.
From that point of view, it’s disappointing the Warriors couldn’t quite come away with the W. But if both teams continue on this trajectory, it sets up a monumental showdown, with the rivals presumably at full strength, in Round 23 at Mount Smart — and highly likely again sometime in September or early-October.
It’s an overwhelmingly positive edition of the Kingz Container Crew player ratings for you despite the defeat.
ENTER YOUR WARRIORS RATINGS HERE
1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: It’s almost impossible to envisage the livewire not holding onto the No.1 jersey for the rest of 2026, barring injury or a catastrophic form slump. Absolutely brilliant again, with 23 runs for a game-high 225 metres, a sizzling kick-return line-break in a set that ended with him backing up to score a superb try, a game-high 10 tackle-breaks and some customary big and brave defensive plays. The error on the Warriors’ last throw of the dice was a cruel way to finish the night. 8.5
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: The tryscoring streak ended at an equal-club-record seven with few chances to get over the stripe and probably finished on the debit side in his duel with ‘Milky’ Jenkins. But another wholehearted effort nonetheless with nothing too glaring to speak of (though a bad challenge was less than ideal), taking a ton of tough carries among 19 runs for 132 metres and producing a magnificent try assist only for his centre to ruin it by being offside. 7
3 ALI LEIATAUA: A diabolical first half for Ali as his opposite ran riot, making a horrible defensive read for the Panthers’ first try and ambling along in no man’s land as McLean leaped to grab his second. Inexcusably being offside for an attacking bomb (one of two penalties he conceded) — thus denying himself a try — was the capper. But repsonded well after the break and largely contained McLean, while he was aggressive with the ball, tallying seven tackle-breaks among 11 carries for 70 metres. 5
4 ADAM POMPEY: Came in for RTS and while he is unlikely to ever replicate the exiting legend’s dynamic impact, he did his best to compensate for the loss of his work-rate — 22 runs for 177 metres, including a line-break in the second half. Fared well defensively in his match-up with Tago and went three-from-three off the tee in a promising sign for the rest of the season ahead. 7
5 ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA: Gee it’s good to have someone with elite pace in our backline. Blazed through on opposing winger Alamoti’s mistake to score, made a string of other exciting, searching runs among 17 carries for 146 metres with four tackle-breaks, and had a line-break assist. Not sure if it was a tactical thing, but jammed unsuccessfully on the Panthers’ centre with Pompey sliding out to cover defend as opposing winger Alamoti scored both of his tries. 7.5
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Put up the kick for Laban’s early try, was a forward pass away from a laying on a great try for Pompey with an offload, almost put Laban away for what would have been a vital four-pointer in the second half, and produced a line-break assist. Took on a solid share of the kicking and always looking to spark that left-edge attack. 7
7 TE MAIRE MARTIN: A few wrong running options on the last near the Panthers’ line, but a dazzling break and assist for Taine’s try and some high balls that got results saw TMM finish very much on the positive side of the ledger once again. Kicking lacks length but does a decent job in that department nonetheless, while was defensively strong with 22 tackles. 8
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8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: The four-time premiership-winning Panther’s best game against his former club to date, outpointing Leota with 15 runs for 122 metres and 34 tackles. Got his passing game going a bit, too. Ludicrous that referee Sutton reprimanded the skipper for giving Alamoti a bit of a curry for his blunder. 7.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Shelved his running game but nice heads-up play to take the short side in the lead-up to Tuaupiki’s try. Racked up a game-high 55 tackles. Not that it was necessarily a contributor, but the Warriors gave back the lead during the 11 minutes Egan was off the field before he returned to finish the game. 7
10 JACKSON FORD: Yet another huge 80-minute shift for the NSW Origin hopeful. Made 17 runs for 134 metres (64 post-contact) and a mighty 51 tackles, while his kick-chase continues to be a burgeoning feature of his game. 7.5
11 LEKA HALASIMA: Took an early knock and didn’t return after halftime due to a hammy. Made four strong runs for 30 metres in the first half and 18 tackles, looking up for the contest — and the Warriors missed him in the second stanza. 5
12 JACOB LABAN: Another standout display stepping into Capewell’s starting spot, powering over for the Warriors’ first try after a spectacular grab of a bomb. Ran strongly all night with 12 runs for 97 metres and was agonsingly close to getting away for a try that would have seen the Warriors put one hand on a victory. Great in defence too with 36 tackles. 8
13 ERIN CLARK: Led all forwards on the field with 164 metres (65 post-contact) from 18 runs and toiled for 38 tackles in 57 minutes on the field. Consistently bent the Panthers’ line back in the middle, ramped up his ball-playing and was just generally top-class. 8
14 SAM HEALEY: Came on for an 11-minute stint during the last quarter of the match without contributing anything of note — zero runs, seven tackles. 4
15 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Keeps on impressing with interest every time he takes the field in 2026. Nine runs for 86 metres (47 post-contact), consistently troubling the Panthers with his late footwork and leg drive, and 34 tackles in 40 minutes on the paddock. A 10-year Warrior in the making. 8
16 DEMITRIC VAIMAUGA: Only got 23 minutes, during which time he made 18 tackles, four runs and showed some enterprise with his passing game. 6
17 MARATA NIUKORE: Returned after a seven-week absence and played the entire second half in Halasima’s spot, making six runs for 40 metres and 14 tackles. Solid, but certainly not enough to suggest he is set to climb back ahead of Laban or TSS in the pecking order when Barnett and/or Capewell are back on deck. 5.5