TWL RD 14: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
It’s finally, genuinely starting to feel like 2023 again.
That four-match losing streak has been firmly put in the rearview mirror, with two of the gutsiest, unlikeliest wins in the Warriors’ history followed up by their most dominant victory of the season upon the cavalry’s return, a 42-12 beatdown of North Queensland on the road.
A dominant, relentless opening half-hour or so against a lethargic and error-riddled Cowboys side saw the Warriors breeze to a 22-0 lead. The hosts struck back with a long-range try against the run of play just before the break. But the Warriors rode out the arm-wrestle early in the second half, the Cowboys cracked first and the fired-up visitors crossed a couple of times (with the most farcical double sin-binning of all time sandwiched in between) to put the result to bed.
The Cowboys are among the NRL’s leakiest defensive outfits, but the magnitude of this away result should not be overlooked: it’s only the second time since 2007 they have been beaten by 30-plus in Townsville since 2007. But the Warriors’ work without the ball was comfortably as impressive as their free-scoring efforts with it.
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The poise, patience, defensive steel and ability to convert opportunity into points could have been plucked straight out of the peak periods of Andrew Webster’s rookie-year campaign with his Wahs.
Any concerns that the thinning out of the casualty ward would upset the backs-to-the-wall spirit a patched-up outfit found in the two weeks before the bye were allayed; there’s still some brutal selection calls to come with the two highest-profile Warriors still to make their way back in coming weeks, but the platform for another top-four charge has now been laid out.
Accordingly, there’s some tasty Kingz Container Crew player ratings scores to feast on in the wake of the Warriors’ sixth win of the season, which keeps them a tantalising three points away from fourth spot despite still sitting outside the Top 8.
Match Highlights
Warriors halfback Te Maire Martin steered the New Zealand team to within sight of the top eight with a five-star performance as they triumphed 42-12 against the Cowboys at QCB Stadium. pic.twitter.com/qRGsRmAW5A
— NRL (@NRL) June 8, 2024
1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: After superb, arguably best-on-ground showings at fullback in the Warriors past two games from Taine Tuaupiki and DWZ, respectively, CNK provided a blockbusting reminder of who this team’s best fullback is. Tremendous solo try to get the scoreboard rolling and was on the spot complete his first NRL double (after threading through an excellent grubber) since 2020 from a piece of Dallin magic. In between, he never let up on the Cowboys and finished with 251 metres from 22 runs, including a late line-break that led to the last try. Couple of minor errors but overall rock-solid. 8.5
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Ran it out of trouble with typical gusto (14 runs for 142 metres), strolled in for a try in the second half after having one pulled back in the first and was generally in the thick of the action. But saved his best for the 68th minute with a play equal parts effort and brilliance to back bat a deadball-bound kick for Charnze to dot down. Well and truly back after something of a form slump. 8
3 ROCCO BERRY: Fonzie (an unabashed RB fan) declared Rocco was playing for his spot in coming weeks – with good reason. But in his return from a broken hand, Berry bustled his way to the front of the Warriors’ centre queue again with one of his best top-grade performances. Notched his first NRL double with in style, and had eight runs for 85 metres with four tackle-breaks, while the competition’s most prolific one-on-one tackler pulled off a beauty on a flying Valentine Holmes near the Warriors’ line. Deft touch to put CNK away on a long break, too, which led to Rocco’s second try. Getting back to second marker too slow and contributing to Drinkwater’s try, and dropping a high ball were the only black marks on a fine game. 8
4 ADAM POMPEY: Seemed more involved than seven runs for 60 metres would suggest, while he had a solid game defensively with 17 stops on an edge that regularly shut down any signs of trouble. Sizzling left-foot step late in the piece should have produced a try but the offload was a dud. Kicked seven goals in a row after missing the first from the sideline – giving him 14 from 16 in 2024 (87.5%) after a modest 20 from 28 (71.4%) last year. 7
5 MARCELO MONTOYA: Shaped as the most vulnerable of the regular three-quarter line contingent but has been excellent in three successive games since being dropped. Few chances to impress on attack but wonderful under the high ball and chewed off 126 metres on 11 carries with four tackle-breaks. Will be hard to drop again. 7
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Sound performance as the halves lieutenant. Not many highlights in the playmaking department but was very good in defence and eased the kicking load on TMM. Sullied his good-guy reputation by viciously spiking the ball at ex-teammate Chad Townsend’s head – lucky the ref was feeling lenient and only gave him 10 in the bin but can expect a long holiday from the NRL judiciary. 6.5
7 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Prior to Shaun Johnson’s torn titty, the Warriors were an eye-watering 5-21 without him – but they’ve now won three straight without the talismanic linchpin on deck and his No.7 stand-in has been a major reason why. Another standout display from TMM that makes one wonder what might have been if career-threatening medical issues hadn’t intervened. Dished up four try assists (though one was a bit touch-and-go) with consistent ball-playing deception and keeping it simple, after throwing the last past for the first two tries (but not qualifying as assists). Made 10 runs for 77 metres, including a line-break, racked up 16 tackles in another great defensive effort overall (but could have done better on Dearden as he broke clear to set up Drinkwater’s try) and kicked well (with a couple of slight missteps). The riddle remains how to translate this sort of form into a partnership with SJ – but what Martin has done over the last month should give Webster and Johnson some food for thought style- and structure-wise moving forward. 8.5
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE: I’m happy to pretend the post-Magic Round snafu didn’t happen if you are. Great response to being stood down with 19 runs for 198 metres (98 post-contact) and 22 tackles without a miss, with his sixth barnstorming try of the season to boot. The uplift in performance of the Warriors’ engine-room as a collective in recent weeks will only help AFB do what he does best until he heads back to Sydney (which fingers crossed won’t be until October). 8
9 WAYDE EGAN: No question his peerless service from dummy-half contributed to the points avalanche in the first half, while he gave the Cowboys constant headaches with eight runs for 76 metres and his ball-playing subtlety. Topped the tackle count with 36 despite exiting the game with 23 minutes left. First class. 8
10 JACKSON FORD: Shit ay, has Wacko Jacko found a new position? A trademark miscued lead run aside, Ford took to his new middle role like a horse-sized duck to water – playing the first 62 minutes of the match and racking up 18 runs for 173 metres along with 33 tackles. But those stats only just reflect his extraordinary intensity and effort…he was into everything, be it taking the first hit-up from the kick-off or leading the defensive line-speed and cutting Cowboys down. 8
11 MARATA NIUKORE: Back starting on the right edge and was a menace during his opening stint in particular: punchy as a ball-runner and an enforcer without it. Overall stats of 10 runs for 90 metres and 22 tackles in 49 minutes are decent – but as is often the case with Marata, they don’t quite tell the story of the qualities he crams into them. 7.5
12 MITCH BARNETT: Magnificent as stand-in skipper before the bye and coming back from NSW Origin camp bouncing off the walls. Charged through a hole for a first-half try, consistently bent the line back in chalking up 147 metres on 15 runs, and made 29 tackles without a miss in 58 minutes. Barnett is a barometer for the Warriors’ intensity – and it was all pressure systems and no troughs from the blonde hardman in the tropics. 8
14 DYLAN WALKER: Got the start at lock for the third straight week in a late change, though ironically he played his second-least minutes of the season (46). That didn’t lessen his impact on the contest, however, playing a lovely hand in Barnett’s try, making 13 runs for 90 metres, 17 tackles and ball-playing up a storm. 7.5
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13 TOHU HARRIS: Started on the bench for just the second time as a Warrior but nevertheless turned up some big numbers in 50 minutes, making 14 runs for 143 metres, 26 tackles without a miss and having a hand in Berry’s first try not long after coming on. Whether he starts or rides the pine, reducing the skipper’s minutes seems the way to go. How baggy was that jersey though? 7.5
15 JAZZ TEVAGA: Playing for a contract and continues to let his form do the talking after being one of the team’s best in the previous two upsets. Only afforded 28 minutes in Townsville but fit a remarkable nine runs for 73 metres and 24 tackles without a miss into that fairly limited timeframe. I’d keep him. 7.5
17 KURT CAPEWELL: Returned from a five-week layoff and provided some punch that has been lacking in some of his starting performances since pulling on the jersey. Played 56 minutes, during which he racked up nine runs for 57 metres and 22 tackles. Yet to win over the fanbase but the reality is the Warriors are a better 17 for the veteran’s presence. 6
18 FREDDY LUSSICK: Was rather anonymous despite getting the last 23 minute of the game at dummy-half. Did his job with few standout moments. 5
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