TWL RD 4: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS

The Warriors have chalked up three wins from their opening four matches for just the fifth time in their history – and they sealed the notable milestone with another significant step on their progression, digging themselves out of second-half hole to snatch a nerve-shredding 26-24 win over Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.

Leading by six on three occasions only to let the Tigers level up with soft tries each time, the Warriors were hanging by a thread when Latu Fainu strolled through increasingly shaky-looking goal-line defence for a try and a 24-18 lead in the 52nd minute.

But the hosts blew a couple of couple of opportunities to go further in front – one via a knock-on over the line, another through an obstruction – and the Warriors found their way back into the grind. Then a flash of brilliance with 11 minutes to go: a rare attacking foray deep inside their own territory and an instantly iconic 70-metre solo try from rampaging teenager Leka Halasima.

Clutch goalkicking got the Warriors into the lead with Luke Metcalf burying a 40-metre penalty goal soon afterwards – and the remaining minutes were uncharacteristically calm as the visitors closed out a big result.

The discipline with and without the ball that marked the previous two wins over Manly and the Roosters fell away at times, while defensively it was more Vegas than Mount Smart at times. They dominated all run-metre categories but couldn’t quite convert that advantage into enough points to get right on top. But it was another victory full of character over a team that was travelling pretty well…and the biggest positive is there’s so much improvement left in this group.

Now let’s get into the Kingz Container Crew Warriors player ratings.

1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: Not quite the five-star showing of last week with his contribution at the attacking end a little clunky on the whole, but faultless at the back again, lionhearted with 28 runs for a game-high 238 metres in tough conditions, and shut down the Tigers’ last-ditch raid with a great tackle on Sunia Turuva. 7.5

2 TAINE TUAUPIKI: The makeshift winger’s livewire running was much more prominent in the first half, but he finished with 15 carries for 138 metres and showed his ball-playing nous to put Halasima into space down the sideline. Great little footballer, so reliable. 7

4 ALI LEIATAUA: The Warriors’ new Rolls Royce centre stayed in the garage for the most part with few opportunities to shine at the Tigers’ end and only six runs (albeit all eye-catching, racking up 63 metres. Also spied the blindside opportunity from dummy-half that set up Halasima’s fateful run. 6

5 ADAM POMPEY: Switched back to centre in a late change and produced one of his better games, starting with a sensational solo try in the fifth minute that left four Tigers strewn in his wake. Came up with a number of other big runs to finish with 113 metres and defended soundly. Would be a tough call to leave him out for Rocco Berry when the team’s veteran wingers return from the casualty ward. 7.5

23 ED KOSI: You have to give the maligned big fella his due – he was excellent in a game that seemed tailormade for his weaknesses to be exposed. Huge on the carry with 19 runs for 207 metres (despite spending 10 minutes off the park for an HIA), popped three good offloads and was safe under the high ball. Under the circumstances, arguably his best game in the NRL. 7.5

6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Not as prominent as previous weeks – particularly in a ball-playing capacity – but took the line on with gusto again, backed up Egan to lay on Metcalf’s try, did an even share of the kicking and was a trojan in defence with 29 stops. 6.5

7 LUKE METCALF: Again the result – along with some ice-cool goalkicking and good support play to grab a try – will gloss over the shortcomings of the novice No.7’s performance. Options and execution at the Tigers’ end were pretty poor, with some tepid attacking kicks in the first half and a wild pass that went over the sideline in the second as he opted to run the ball on the last. Encouragingly, though, ran the ball far more than he has all season and helped guide the Warriors home in the tense latter stages, including one memorable tackle. 6.5

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Dusty start with a ruck penalty conceded and an uncharacteristic defensive miss as Fonua Pole powered over the for the Tigers’ first try. Regrouped to lead the way, though, churning out 12 runs for 109 metres and 37 tackles. 7

9 WAYDE EGAN: Surely the early favourite for the Simon Mannering Medal after another stellar performance. Sent Niukore over for a try in the first half, troubled the Tigers’ defence regularly with timely dummy-half runs – including one to set up Metcalf’s try – and again topped the team’s tackle count with 45. 8

10 MITCH BARNETT: A couple of second-half handling errors blotted his performance somewhat, but led by example with his aggressive defence (tallying 30 tackles) and made 131 hard-earned metres on 14 runs. 6.5

11 KURT CAPEWELL: Not as prevalent as the past couple of weeks at home and nine missed tackles is an unflattering stat-line, but made 35 stops and eight runs for 71 metres. Also conceded a penalty and six-again. 6

12 MARATA NIUKORE: Ran with purpose, which earned him a great try in the first half to make up for a play-the-ball blunder earlier on. Seven runs for 76 metres and 18 tackles but four misses. 6.5

13 ERIN CLARK: It’s already becoming routine, but Clark was the Warriors engine-room’s leading metre-eater again with 15 runs for 154 metres and was always a handful for the Tigers’ defence. Also reeled off 31 tackles in his 46 minutes, as well as upping his ball-playing in the middle of the field post-Walker. 7.5

15 JACKSON FORD: Following arguably a career-best performance against the Roosters, picked up where he left off to rack up 13 runs for 128 metres (with a team-high eight tackle-breaks) and 22 tackles (with five misses) in 40 minutes as the Warriors’ first replacement. Maximum effort without errors or penalties once again. 7

16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: After a mixed bag last week, put in an impressive half-hour shift that featured seven strong runs for 90 metres and 19 tackles. His best of 2025 to date (though could’ve come up with a better effort trying to stop Fainu’s try). 7

22 BUNTY AFOA: Called up for his first game of the year when many thought he was a Round 1 certainty and made a solid contribution in 25 minutes off the pine. Caught out defensively for Fainu’s try but was otherwise sound, making nine runs for 98 metres and 15 tackles. 6

17 LEKA HALASIMA: Believe the hype. It’s hard to look past the 70-metre try to square up the game – a stunning effort showcasing his speed, strength, footwork and mouth-watering footy instincts. Only have four other runs in his 30 minutes but they were all full of venom and a scuffle with Terrell May proved the young buck has some fire in the belly. Obviously should’ve concentrated on bringing the ball around closer to the posts instead of celebrating, but if Leka fulfils his potential we’re probably never going to need a conversion ever again. 7.5

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