TWL RD 25: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS

A diabolical start and a slack final 10 minutes notwithstanding, the Warriors produced a dominant performance to temporarily quell a hoodoo and keep their top-four bid on track, putting away the last-placed Gold Coast Titans 32-18.

The visitors – though they seemed anything but at a Kiwi-stacked Cbus Super Stadium – bounced back quick from Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s early try, clincially building an 18-6 halftime lead with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck blazing over for a double.

Two more tries in a five-minute burst midway through the second stanza put the result beyond doubt, before the Titans posted a couple of late consolation efforts.

The Warriors dominated possession (54 percent) and metreage – and that translated to the scoreboard accordingly. While the performance may be a shaky yardstick given the dubious resistance put up by the wooden spoon-bound Titans, it nevertheless represented back-to-back pressure wins at a time of the year the Warriors have traditionally got the wobbles when the acid’s been on.

The Warriors have also chalked up 14 wins in a season for just the seventh time and have officially qualified for their 10th finals series in the club’s 31st campaign.

It’s a bright and breezy edition of the Kingz Container Crew player ratings this week.

1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: For the most part, justified Andrew Webster’s call to restore him to his favoured fullback spot after a few weeks in the centres. Big ball-carrying night with 22 runs for 192 metres (70 post-contact) and strong defensively, though made a few handling errors and didn’t feature at the attacking end a la Taine. 7

2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Not the busiest or most highlight-laden night for DWZ – making 11 runs for 109 metres and unable to convert a tough diving-for-the-corner chance – but no major snafus either. 6

3 ADAM POMPEY: Returned to the left side and had a neat first-half try assist, then scrambled over for his 10th try of the season after the break. Finished with 10 runs for 85 metres, four tackle-breaks and 17 tackles on a satisfying night, clearly winning his battle with Jojo Fifita. 7.5

4 ROCCO BERRY: A contentious selection for this match essentially at Tuaupiki’s expense, Berry had his best game of a patchy, injury-hit 2025 – and one of his busiest games on the carry in his 50th NRL appearance, tallying 123 metres on 13 runs with four tackle-breaks. Sound in the effort errors he is valued for but the night finished on a disappointing note when Brian Kelly breezed past him for a late try. 6.5

5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Another monster night in a vintage year on the flank from the 32-year-old. A first-half double took him to the top of the Warriors’ tryscoring pops with 11 from just 16 games, while his tap-back of a bomb set up Pompey’s try and he churned out game-high tallies of six tackle-breaks and 245 metres (86 post-contact) from 19 runs. A shortlist candidate for Simon Mannering Medal honours. 8.5

6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Two superb quick-hands try assists (one after his bomb had created the scoring opportunity) and a key role in another try, challenged the Titans’ defence with his running game, took out a good chunk of the kicking load and made 18 tackles. Clearly the best No.6 option at the club. 8

7 TANAH BOYD: A heartening display at his former home ground, steering the team around well (albeit with a couple of kicking miscues) and digging into the line bravely to set up Roger’s first try. Made 16 tackles with six misses and went six-from-six off the tee, including a couple of sideline conversions. 6.5

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Disastrous start with a play-the-ball fumble on the first tackle of the match and was exceedingly lucky to get the Captain’s Challenge go his way when he came up with a very similar one in the second half. Those gaffes aside, the skipper was massive in the middle of the park with a team-high 34 tackles and a season-best 148 metres from 16 carries. 7

9 WAYDE EGAN: Lovely assist for Niukore’s try – not the first time this season he’s found the big second-rower with a flat pass from dummy-half – in what was ultimately only a 50-minute night for the elite hooker. Five runs and 20 tackles, slick as always. 7

16 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: The Canterbury product had a horror start to his first NRL run-on appearance with a terrible goal-line miss on big Tino. Made 10 runs for 73 metres and 17 tackles with four misses in his 41 minutes, arguably his first step backwards since arriving in the top grade. 5

11 KURT CAPEWELL: Worked hard in 80 minutes on the edge, with 10 runs for 86 metres and 33 tackles (five misses). Also came up with an error, a penalty and an inside-the-10 set restart. 6

12 MARATA NIUKORE: Crashed over impressively for his fourth try of 2025 – a new career-high season tally – but a relatively nondescript outing otherwise. Seven runs for 69 metres and 19 tackles in 60 minutes, with two penalties conceded. 6

13 ERIN CLARK: Just keeps chewing through the work, making 15 runs for 127 metres and 31 tackles in his return to his old stomping ground, and got his playmaking game going. 7.5

10 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Reverting to the bench after being named to start, Demetric made a typically strong impression on the contest despite being afforded on 31 minutes of gametime – making nine runs for 89 metres and 21 tackles without a miss. Two penalties conceded was a bit more disappointing. 6.5

14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: A sound half-hour stint at dummy-half, making 18 tackles and put Ieremia-Toeava under the posts. 6

15 EDDIE IEREMIA-TOEAVA: A breakout performance from the three-game rookie, racking up 13 runs for 147 metres and 20 tackles in 44 minutes with his maiden NRL try. Such an exciting prospect. 7.5

17 LEKA HALASIMA: Perhaps it was a workload management thing, but interesting to see Leka got only 26 minutes. Four strong runs and 14 tackles during that time. 5.5

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