TWL RD 19: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
Life after Luke is looking pretty seamless for the 2025 Warriors, with a pair of spine replacements spearheading a comfortable – if, at times, scrappy – 34-14 victory over Wests Tigers, their first at Mount Smart Stadium since Round 7.
After leaking an early try, the Warriors led from the ninth minute onward and never looked in too much danger of letting the game slip.
Club debutant halfback Tanah Boyd and Taine Tuaupiki, making his first fullback appearance of the season, were among the hosts’ best, working off a platform laid by a pack that dominated the ruck and steamrolled the Tigers through middle.
Ahead 22-8 with half an hour to play, they lost their way somewhat and the Tigers had ample opportunity to set up a very nervy finish, until Leka Halasima exploded for a flourishing conclusion as the Warriors ran in two late tries.
The upshot is the Warriors have tasted victory for the first time in five weeks, stay within four points of the competition lead and have maintained a four-point gap from the chasing pack as their bid for a top-four finish got a massive boost. A road trip to Newcastle and a home clash with Gold Coast provide gilt-edged opportunities to consolidate further.
Here’s your Kingz Container Crew player ratings.
1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: For all Charnze’s admirable, I’m yet to be convinced the Warriors are a better side without Taine in the No.1 instead – and a performance like this only reinforces that. Had a key hand in two first-half tries as his silky ball-playing nous came to the fore, and was consistently busy and elusive from the back, which culminated in a long break in the dying stages to set up the last try. Finished with 223 metres and a game-high 11 tackle-breaks in his fourth win from his last five games as a starting fullback. 8
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: A couple of sketchy jams aside, this was by far the closest to the DWZ we know and love. Trademark diving finish for the Warriors’ third try and made another searing line-break among 17 carries for 161 metres, as well as a total of six tackle-breaks. 7
3 ADAM POMPEY: Solid outing from the left centre, racking up 10 runs for 95 metres despite looking in serious injury trouble at one stage in the second half. Combined well with RTS on attack in the first half. 6
4 ROCCO BERRY: Scored a Steven Bradbury-esque try in between a pair of pretty ordinary looking defensive reads in the Tigers’ first two tries, before failing to finish the match for the third time in four outings – this time due to a recurrence of his shoulder problem in the 33rd minute. 4.5
5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Another dynamic, workaholic showing from the veteran, running for a season-best 271 metres that included two line-breaks and his seventh try from 11 appearances in 2025. A couple of handling errors – which is easier to forgive when he made 24 carries. 7.5
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Found a nice balance with a new halves partner and his support play was rewarded with a try in each half, while he produced the assist for RTS’s try. Paired with a dominant kicker, CHT only kicked four times but made them count, including a forced dropout. 7
7 TANAH BOYD: Has had some great days at Mount Smart as a Titan and shone at the venue with the home fans behind him at NRL level for the first time. Boyd’s ability to dig into the line and create space was directly responsible for three tries, while a terrorising all-round kicking game produced a game-sealing try with eight minutes left – and then there’s his five-from-six off the tee. Early days, and there was a couple of concerns defensively on that right edge, but it’s not inconceivable the Warriors could be better team overall with Boyd rather than the dynamic-but-flighty Metcalf in the saddle. 8
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Led from the front in an aggressive and tradesmanlike display, churning out 13 runs for 114 metres and 26 tackles. One handling error. 6.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Made a game-high 53 tackles, but his cleverness around the ruck came to the fore, luring the Tigers into giving away penalties and helping set up CHT’s first-half try. Classy. 7
10 JACKSON FORD: A rare start in the front-row and produced a mammoth 65-minute effort, making 166 metres from 18 runs and 49 tackles. Pinged for one penalty and a poor attempted tackle gave Adam Doueihi a saloon passage to his second try, but overall an impressive display from the workhorse. 7
11 LEKA HALASIMA: Played the full eight and racked up 110 metres on 10 runs and a huge 43 tackles. Went into overdrive in the last 10 minutes, with his elite kick-contesting ability leading to Chanel’s second try but producing a sensational solo try down the sideline in the dying seconds – his seventh of the season. 7.5
12 MARATA NIUKORE: Not overly industrious with eight runs for 83 metres and 19 tackles (five misses) in 68 minutes, and he was a big part of a defensive edge that was found wanting in the first half. On the bright side, probably his most dangerous edge-running display since 2023, including a line-break among several big surges. 6
13 ERIN CLARK: Another big shift, chewing through 39 tackles and 13 runs for 120 metres, along with a try assist for CHT in the first half as his ball-playing continues to grow. So consistent. 7
14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Thrown in at centre late in the first half and took about eight seconds to eclipse Berry’s 2025 try assist tally in the position, dishing for Dallin to cross out wide. Made a line-break on a rare run in the second and was sound defensively. Valuable gap-plugger. 6.5
15 JACOB LABAN: Only given 16 minutes after a string of standout displays, making four runs and nine tackles. 5
16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Very strong again in 39 minutes on the park with 12 runs for 105 metres and 18 tackles, along with two offloads and some ball-playing in the middle. 7
17 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: The Cantabrian’s busiest NRL showing to date, with eight runs for 71 metres and 20 tackles in 27 minutes. Gets a quick play-the-ball and looks the goods. 6.5
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