TWL RD 26: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
If it was a movie, you’d almost scoff at how formulaic and corny it was.
But in the unscripted world of the NRL, the Warriors’ Shaun Johnson-helmed 30-28 boilover against in-form, top-four-bound Cronulla after spiralling to an 18-point halftime deficit was rugby league cinematic genius.
The what-could-have-been factor after arguably the 13th-placed battlers’ best effort of a torrid 2024 campaign – and the difficulty in replicating that type of display in 2025 without a top-shelf talisman – is a discussion for another day.
For now, bask in what in has to be the greatest regular-season farewell for any player in the history of the premiership.
Johnson’s virtuoso performance could have been plucked straight out of any purple patch from his previous 13 seasons and was unquestionably his finest of an injury-ravaged final year. Producing the big-time, match-winning play in the dying seconds at the end of a game brimming with classy moments felt like a fever dream.
One last piece of game-on-the-line magic from Mr. Clutch.
But it could not have been achieved without a gutsy collective effort and some huge plays from the support cast. A blowout threatened after customary stirring Warriors start/alarming drop-off turned a 4-0 lead after 23 minutes into a 22-4 deficit just 14 minutes later. Two disallowed Sharks tries early in the second half left the door ajar…and Johnson, Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ali Leiataua, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Luke Metcalf ripped it off its hinges by conjuring five of the last six four-pointers.
Departing club greats Addin Fonua-Blake and Jazz Tevaga typified the engine-room grit as the Warriors plugged up the gaps in the middle of the field either side of halftime that appeared destined to sink any hopes of a fairytale win.
Some backline changes make for some intriguing off-season debate about the make-up of Andrew Webster’s 2025 line-up – and at the very least rendered the last TWL Kingz Container Crew Warriors player ratings of 2024 a highly enjoyable one to write.
Match Highlights
Shaun Johnson engineered a fairytale end to his illustrious career after laying on the match winning try in the dying seconds to complete a stunning Warriors comeback to down the Sharks. pic.twitter.com/GOjyzV8wgt
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2024
1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: Remarkably, this was just the second NRL game the livewire had started and finished since Round 2. And like the unbelievable Magic Round win over Penrith, he was instrumental to the result. Two try assists combining with Johnson made for the most effective performance in the opposition half by a Warriors fullback this season, while he handled everything thrown at him at the other end (except for a rampaging Tom Hazelton) in a faultless display and finished with 204 metres from 27 runs with five tackle-breaks. Six months out, should at least be neck-and-neck to wear the No.1 in a full-strength side in Vegas – and has a NSW Cup finals campaign as the Warriors’ most important player to look forward to in coming weeks. 8.5
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Copped a battering from the Sharks before crafting a match-winning hat-trick in an action-packed second half, with each try more impressive than the last as he passed 100 NRL tries and 50 four-pointers for the Warriors. Just 109 metres on 15 carries but a brilliant response after rookie opponent Sam Stonestreet had the better of their battle for 45 minutes. 8
3 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: In conjunction with Tuaupiki’s showing in Charnze’s customary fullback spot, Nicoll-Klokstad provided a veritable feast of food for thought for 2025 in an excellent night at centre. Held his own in the one-on-one showdown with breakout Shark Kayal Iro, scored a powerful try a minute after his opposite went to the bin and racked up 120 metres with six tackle-breaks on 13 runs. Yes, he’s played a handful of Tests for New Zealand there, but CNK’s first NRL start at centre strongly suggested adapting to the position shouldn’t be as hard as RTS has made it look at times in 2024. 8
4 ALI LEIATAUA: That 50-metre bust with 16 minutes to go encapsulated why Leiataua’s place at centre should be, along with Dallin’s on the wing, the only backline positions locked in for 2025. It was the high point of a superb night, making 172 metres with a staggering 10 tackle-breaks from 14 runs, along with a solid defensive display in only his seventh NRL appearance. Leiataua’s time is now – fingers crossed he can string some games together in 2025. 8
5 MARCELO MONTOYA: Was all fired up from the start and a tone-setting standout in the opening quarter of the match. Stormed over for a great try in the second half to put the Warriors in front, before giving away an escort penalty the led to the Sharks reclaiming the lead. Made 107 metres from 13 runs with four tackle-breaks. Probably the most vulnerable member of this backline selection-wise still, but will never get dropped due to a lack of effort. 7
6 LUKE METCALF: Backing up Johnson to score the first try and delivering a peach of a pass to put Montoya over suggested Metcalf should be part of the Warriors’ 2025 halves pairing. Some largely anonymous periods still leaves a big question mark over his capacity to take over in the No.7, though. But with 101 metres and 20 tackles on top of those couple of big moments, plus a minor hand in another try, it was an encouraging finish to a season largely wrecked by injury. 7
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: After the way this season has unfolded, SJ’s trademark show-and-go to set up Metcalf’s try would have been enough to leave me satisfied – one last piece of farewell magic. What unfolded in the second half is still sinking in. Two more exquisite try assists – one with the boot, one via that match-winning pass – and expertly creating the space for Tuaupiki to set up another two, a couple of electric runs, a generally excellent kicking game (with the odd miscue) and some sideline conversions…it was everything we’ve come to love about Johnson as a player and it seemed the busted legend had saved it all up for one final masterclass. Yet another clutch last-minute moment to add to the career library of them still doesn’t seem real. 9
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE: Ended his Warriors tenure in style and provided a tantalising first-hand preview of the player his new club is getting. A team-high 211 metres from 22 runs, a monster tally of 111 post-contact metres, four tackle-breaks, three offloads, 25 tackles and just a handling error in the debit column in a 61-minute shift. Arguably only longevity now holds him back in the ‘greatest Warriors prop’ debate. 8
14 FREDDY LUSSICK: Elevated to the run-on side for the Warriors’ strong start, then played another half an hour as a middle forward. Four runs for 20 metres, 33 tackles, a penalty and an inside-the-10 six-again. 6
16 JAZZ TEVAGA: Another stirring farewell performance after getting the start for the second week in a row. A typically dogged showing across two short-ish stints with some big tackles – including a superb try-saver – among 22 stops, bouncing back from being on the receiving end of bell-ringers, and making 82 metres from 13 runs in 36 minutes. Will hold a cherished place in Warriors history and is sure to give excellent value to the club that picks him up. 7
10 MITCH BARNETT: Played just 36 minutes in the last match of a career-best season, packing in 13 runs for 88 metres and 21 tackles. Nothing wrong with the skipper’s game, but was a bit-part player rather than the out-and-out star he has been regularly in 2024. 6.5
12 KURT CAPEWELL: The continuation of a high-quality finish to his first campaign as a Warriors after a patchy start. Played the full 80 (all in the second-row, a rarity in recent times) and made 132 metres from 12 runs and 34 tackles against the club he debuted for in 2016. Certainly starting to show his value. 7.5
13 DYLAN WALKER: Gave away some early penalties but more than made up for it with a high-energy 72-minute display. Ran the ball 25 times for 174 metres, chewed through 33 tackles, put in an excellent grubber that would have earned a repeat set if the chasers were alert, and his 25 passes including the second-last pass for the Warriors’ last two tries. 7.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Rode the pine for the first 26 minutes and took a while to leave an imprint on the match, but his dummy-half crispness was key to the Warriors’ avalanche of second-half tries. Picked his times to run well and made 28 tackles in a good finish to an up-and-down campaign. 6.5
11 MARATA NIUKORE: Bumped to the bench again, this wasn’t quite the redemption performance the back-row giant would have been hoping for at the end of an underwhelming season. Five runs for 38 metres, very solid defensively with 29 tackles and no misses, and gave away a penalty in 49 minutes. Went off for an HIA, which he passed but was not brought back on. 6
15 TOM ALE: A handy 23-minute stint for the underrated prop, making nine runs for 79 metres during a period where the Warriors were running downhill. Has kept himself right in the 2025 mix despite the rise of a host of younger forwards. 6
17 DEMETRIC SIFAKULA: After a breakout game last week, it was an 11-minute learning curve for the 20-year-old, who made one run and nine tackles but was hooked after a miss on Hazelton as he scored under the posts. 4
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