TWL RD 20: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
The Warriors got out of jail to end a six-year drought in Newcastle, snatching a 20-15 victory on the buzzer via a instantly iconic 40-metre solo try from teen freak Leka ‘The Wrecker’ Halasima.
Most signs throughout the 80 minutes pointed to a frustrating defeat to rank alongside their most disappointing of 2025 against a Knights side that has been a rabble all year but showed a bit of backbone today.
After an early Adam Pompey try, the Warriors failed to convert a mountain of good ball into further points, before contentious try calls at both ends favoured the Knights and (along with some itchy-footed defensive decisions from Dallin Watene-Zelezniak) saw the hosts head into the break 12-6 in front. Only some stunning last-ditch efforts from Taine Tuaupiki prevented the scoreline from blowing out further.
Demetric Vaimauga plunged over for the only try of a dour second stanza, with a penalty goal apiece sending the match into the last 10 minutes at 14-all – whereupon Jack Cogger buried a superb field goal as opposite number Tanah Boyd’s trusty boot betrayed him in handy field goal position and from the tee from 30 metres out dead in front with a minute left.
But a subsequent charge-down of a Boyd field goal attempt on the last play of the game provided rookie phenom Halasima the opportunity to don his cape and etch his name into Warriors match-winning folklore.
Debatable whether Andrew Webster’s side was the better side on the day – probably not – but on a weekend where Canterbury edged St George Illawarra with a 78th-minute try and Melbourne were rolled at home by Manly, it’s two points to be supremely grateful for, crucially maintaining the fourth-placed outfit’s four-point buffer to the chasing pack for at least another week.
It’s a veritable 50c mixture for your Kingz Container Crew Warriors player ratings this week, with some veterans struggling and tyros shining.
1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: The highlight was a pair of remarkable try-saving tackles in the first half running opponents down from seemingly hopeless positions. Just 12 runs for 87 metres but looked dangerous with the ball at both ends and spent 15 minutes off getting an HIA. Three tackle-breaks and an error. 7
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Diabolical first half including two shocking errors inside the Warriors’ 20 and two awful jams, one which handed a try to opposite Greg Marzhew and one that should have. Decent stats of 15 runs for 139 metres but no real impact, with his biggest play a trademark corner put-down from a forward pass. 4
3 ADAM POMPEY: One of the Warriors’ more solid performers, chasing through on a grubber to grab the first try, making nine runs for 73 metres and defending well (16 tackles, misses). Good but unspectacular and gave away a penalty. 7
4 KURT CAPEWELL: Got a bath from hotshot Knights centre Bradman Best in the first half but was sound after the break. Seven runs for 72 metres and 17 tackles (four misses). Plugs a gap, but would much prefer a specialist like Ali Leiataua when available. 5
5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: A monster ball-carrying display again with a game-high 266 metres from 24 runs, including a first-half line-break and six tackle-breaks. No real opportunities and the Knights end and had a couple of errors against his name. 7.5
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Down on last week’s star showing, struggling to create much on attack and getting bundled into touch on a rare foray down the Knights’ end in the second half. Big defensive shift with 27 stops. One error. 5.5
7 TANAH BOYD: Deft grubber to set up the opening try but variety in good ball was lacking. General play kicking is an upgrade on Metcalf, invariably landing it on a dime. Rarely ran the ball and had 20 tackles with four misses. The game unravelled for the poor bloke in the last 10 minutes with a bad field goal miss, a kick-off dead on the full and hooking a sitter of a penalty goal that looked like it cost the Warriors the win. Fortunately, Leka saved the day before Boyd found his radar again with his third conversion of the day. 6
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Gritty effort up front from the skipper, always taking the tough carry among his 13 runs for 101 metres and reeling off 27 tackles without a miss. Good battle with Kiwis teammate Leo Thompson. 7
9 WAYDE EGAN: Contentiously denied a clever dummy-half try by a double-movement call but troubled the Knights all day with his running game (nine runs for 88 metres) and laid on Vaimauga’s try, as well as topping the Warriors’ tackle count with 37. Gave away two penalties. 7.5
10 JACKSON FORD: Solid 63-minute outing for the workhorse, making 116 metres on 12 runs and 29 tackles, though probably in the lower range of his performances in a stellar season to date. 6.5
11 LEKA HALASIMA: What a highlights reel this kid is accumulating already. Another powerful display on both sides of the ball (88 metres, six tackle-breaks, 33 tackles) in his 21st NRL game, before conjuring an unbelievable 40-metre match-winning try on the buzzer that any self-respecting Warriors fan will watch at least 50 times in the next 24 hours. Furthermore, it was the second-rower’s eighth try of the season – equal-first for the team with the injured Metcalf. 8
12 MARATA NIUKORE: Occasionally looked threatening in his eight runs for 67 metres, while he chalked up 28 tackles in 61 minutes. 6
13 ERIN CLARK: Led the Warriors forwards by a mile with 155 metres from 15 runs, including a massive 77 post-contact metres with that trademark leg drive. Also contributed 28 tackles in an excellent performance from the Simon Mannering Medal front-runner. 7.5
14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Played the last 32 minutes, firstly as a fullback fill-in then in the middle of the park. Decent without any notable highlights. 5.5
15 JACOB LABAN: Made his presence felt in 33 minutes with seven runs for 61 metres. 6
16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Huge impact again in 36 minutes, making eight runs for 73 metres, scoring the only try of the second half from close range and making 23 tackles. Important role in the dying stages with a couple of offloads as the Warriors battled to get out of their own end. 7.5
17 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Played 32 minutes – his most yet in the NRL – and made it count with nine runs for 88 metres and 21 tackles. Pinged for a high shot. 6.5
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