The Warriors overcame a sin bin and a game-ending injury to a pair of their recently restored spine stars to pump the Broncos 40-6. Accordingly, a host of players kept up their stellar season averages in TWL’s Kingz Container Crew player ratings.
1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: Sent to the bin after 17 minutes for a hip drop that will likely see him suspended, CNK returned at five-eighth and played a starring role. Soared to take a kick and score the first try of the second half and had a hand in Leiataua’s four-pointer, while his match highlight — a line-break and assist for Sam Healey to race away — was called back for a teammate’s obstruction. But very solid with 11 runs for 139 metres and 18 tackles. 7
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELENZIAK: The veteran’s quietest game in weeks after a string of 200-metres-plus performances, though 13 carries for 140 metres in a big win is nothing to sneeze at. Got his chance to shine with a spellbinding aerial putdown in teh second half — his 19th try in 20 games. 7
3 ALI LEIATAUA: A scratchy first half that included a simple error coming out of yardage, but atoned after the break by sending DWZ in and powering over for his own try soon after. Finished with 11 runs for 123 metres and 19 tackles with just one miss. 7.5
4 LEKA HALASIMA: Fewer chances to shine than his previous two appearances at centre, yet still finished with 15 runs for 127 metres and a team-high five tackle-breaks. Great kick-chase and grabbed the spotlight in the last five minutes with a grassing tackle on star opposite Kotoni Staggs, an in-goal clean-up and a late try — all with the taste of pickle juice in his mouth as he battled cramp. 7.5
5 ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA: Racked up a game-high 196 metres — largely thanks to his sizzling 90-metre intercept try off a Reece Walsh pass, a crucial play with his team only just down to 12 men. Strong on his other nine carries and error-free. 7.5
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: A hot-stepping try and a rib-rattling hit on Tom Duffy made for a highlight-heavy first half for CHT. Jumped into the halves hotseat after Metcalf’s injury with poise, putting the pinpoint kick up for CNK’s try and having a key hand in Leiataua’s and Halasima’s. Guided the team well in general for the last hour. 8
7 LUKE METCALF: The melodrama continues. Metcalf made a strong start returning to the scene of his 2025 ACL heartbreak, helping lay on CHT’s try. But the sub-70-percent goalkicker did a hammy slotting the conversion of AKP’s intercept try and immediately hobbled off Suncorp Stadium for the second time in as many visits. A crushing blow in the wake of his spectacular NRL return against the Panthers and a genuine dent to premiership prospects that seemingly went through the roof after that game…but apparently another sorry chapter in the career narrative of one of the competition’s most injury-prone stars. 5
8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Another solid captain’s knock from Jimmy Fish, racking up 15 runs for 117 metres and 27 tackles. Typically ferocious intent on both sides of the ball and fired a long ball in the lead-up to Leiataua scoring. 7
9 WAYDE EGAN: Another crafty hour on the park for the dummy-half puppeteer. Brilliant work to lay on the opener for Laban, probed for 57 metres on seven runs and reeled off 23 tackles as he helped orchestrate a huge lead before getting an early mark at 36-0. 7.5
10 MITCH BARNETT: The front-runner for the lion’s share of the Dally M votes after overshadowing fellow NSW bookend Payne Haas and even his co-captain. A mighty 154 metres (second among all players) — including a game-high 65 post-contact — and made 32 aggressive tackles. A high-quality preview of what the Broncos can expect in 2027. 8.5
11 KURT CAPEWELL: A quiet one with the ball (six runs for 40 metres) but made 28 tackles and was in the thick of the clean-up work as per. 6
12 JACOB LABAN: Ran a great line to crash through for the opening try and ended up with 107 metres on 15 runs, along with a team-high 41 tackles. Marked down slightly for a couple of errors, a head-slam penalty and an inside-the-10 infringement. 7.5
13 ERIN CLARK: One of the gun lock’s quieter night’s optically, but sound numbers with 16 runs for 126 metres and 24 tackles. 7
18 TAINE TUAUPIKI: Thrust back into the custodian role by Metcalf’s injury and resumed his attacking livewire and calm clean-up functions at the back without producing anything too spectacular. Twelve runs for 86 metres and a try assist for Leka in the latter stages. 6.5
15 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: A busy 40 minutes that inlcluded 10 runs for 96 metres and 24 tackles was tinged negatively by a disappointing minute that featured two penalties and a burned Captain’s Challenge. Quality work otherwise. 6.5
17 EDDIE IEREMIA-TOEAVA: Really staking a claim ahead of the finals, playing 48 minutes and contributing 13 runs — several of them eye-catching — for 122 metres and 30 tackles. A big improver over the past month. 7.5
14 SAM HEALEY: Played the last quarter of the match and was mowed through for the Broncos’ only try almost straightaway. Looked to have pegged one back when he backed up Charnze’s break, only for his try to be pulled back for an obstruction. Made 13 tackles. 5.5
"a genuine dent to premiership prospects" TAB have slashed our odds down to $4.50 for what it's worth.