TWL RD 16: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
Ouch, we’re not used to feeling like that after a Warriors game in 2025.
In easily their flattest performance since Las Vegas – with what seemed like a gift-wrapped two competition points in front of them – the Warriors were embarrassed 28-18 in their own backyard by a Penrith side missing its five-strong NSW contingent.
Despite fighting back from deficits to hit the lead twice, the hosts always looked a touch off the pace – and the plucky Panthers took full advantage of the Warriors’ unwillingness to lay a decent foundation and their lack of concentration on both sides of the ball, scoring three unanswered tries between the 55th and 69th minutes to put the contest out of reach.
Penrith enjoyed 55 percent possession and won the run metres count by more than 50 metres, made six line-breaks to three and had nine offloads to one, negating the fact they finished on the negative side of most other key statistical areas.
But it was also glaringly obvious a host of Panthers NSW Cup regulars outplayed their Warriors opposites who had been feted for carving out a 10-3 start to the season, reflected in a sombre edition of Kingz Container Crew player ratings.
Next week’s showdown against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium before another bye takes on an extra edge as the Wahs strive to bounce back from a dismal showing and an excruciating missed opportunity.
1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: Outstanding for the most part with some brilliant clean-up work in the first half, and finished with 215 from 23 carries and seven line-breaks. But a spilled bomb provided the opportunity for the Panthers’ first try of the second half, a butchered try via an intercepted pass led to their second at the other end, and was in no man’s land as they scored from another bomb to seal it. Bit of a lemon in the Penrith red zone in general, too. 6
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Hate to see a fan favourite and all-round good guy go down with injury – especially from a hip-drop tackle – but DWZ’s ankle problem did mercifully cut short a fairly shambolic 39-minute performance. Five runs for 47 metres, errors and some headless-chook stuff was a bit of continuation of his performances since returning from the last layoff, but that had been masked by the team winning. 4
3 ADAM POMPEY: Half a game in his usual left centre spot and half a game on the right wing – and was pretty decent really. Eleven runs for 91 metres, 13 tackles, a few classy touches and no bungles. 6.5
4 MOALA GRAHAM-TAUFA: Oh boy. Brad and I have pumped this guy’s tyres up for a couple of years, but poor old MGT deflated them in a blunder-filled return to NRL level. Made two errors, came up with a dreadful read then poor attempted tackle on Casey McLean for the Panthers’ first four-pointer, and was half asleep for a short kick-off and Sorensen’s second try. On the plus side, racked up 26 tackles, carried the ball strongly and scored a superb 50-metre try in garbage time…but ultimately a game he’d prefer 2026 coach Wayne Bennett to skip. 4.5
5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Sizzling start to the game and racked up 171 metres on 15 runs with five tackle-breaks, but had a shaky moment or two under the high ball and gave away a shocker of a penalty by being five metres offside from a kick-off. 6.5
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Wound back the clock with some big hits in the first half, among 18 tackles for the match and on the whole looked the better of the halves from a ball-running, playmaking and kicking perspective. 6
7 LUKE METCALF: Pinpoint kick for Ford’s try and lovely short ball to put Laban over, but that’s largely where the positives start and finish. The Warriors were crying out for a general and the Dally M darling wasn’t up to it on the night. Had his thigh bandaged in the second half and was clearly well short of 100 percent, running the ball just four times and putting in a succession of ordinary kicks in the second half. 5.5
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Was up for the fight against his former club but came away disappointed. Racked up a mammoth 44 tackles and made 95 metres from 12 runs, but was arguably outpointed by former bash brother Moses Leota. 6.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Back in the saddle after missing the rout of Cronulla and was solid as always, but lacked the usual dynamic influence around the rucks. Six runs for 59 metres and 44 tackles, but made an error and was pinged for being inside the 10 metres twice. 6
10 MARATA NIUKORE: Lasted 12 minutes before being rubbed out by friendly fire, being which time he’d made one run and reeled off 14 tackles. 4
11 LEKA HALASIMA: Started with great intent but the game unfolded increasingly poorly for the teenaged phenom. Slipped to open up a huge gap for Brad Schneider in the first half, coughed up the ball on the first tackle hot on attack in the second and was outjumped by Sorensen for a crucial try. Eight runs for 69 metres, 35 tackles with six misses. 5.5
12 JACOB LABAN: Perhaps the biggest individual positive of the night as he built on something of a breakout game at Cronulla. Twelve runs for 97 metres with five tackle-breaks, ran a great line to score his second NRL try and made 38 tackles in a career-high 72 minutes. 7.5
13 ERIN CLARK: Just keeps on keeping on, toiling for 43 tackles and 13 runs for 131 metres – easily the best of the Warriors’ forwards – with seven tackle-breaks in 66 minutes. Never has a bad game and will be hard to stop in the TWL Player of the Year stakes. 8
14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: A genuine utility but TMM’s no centre, where he was forced to plug a gap for half a game. Did a fair job with no real highlights or lowlights. 5
15 JACKSON FORD: Entered the fray earlier than usual after Niukore’s exit and cashed in with a try, as well as racking up 42 tackles and 111 metres on 10 carries in 65 minutes. Conceded an absolute joke of a penalty for tackling a player who had the ball and was fair game. 7
16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Like Laban, built on a career-best showing against the Sharks. Busy in 39 minutes with eight runs for 84 metres, 24 tackles and a lovely short ball to put Graham-Taufa away. Heating up as a ball-player with some more short passing at the Panthers’ end and produced the Warriors’ only offload of the night. 7.5
17 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Four runs for 45 metres and 13 tackles in 20 minutes from the third-gamer. Gave away a penalty but made a valiant attempt to prevent Talagi’s try. 5
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