TWL RD 7: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
The Warriors are a healthy 4-2 after yet another gutsy – albeit sloppy and chaotic – Mount Smart Stadium victory, eclipsing Brisbane 20-18 in a sodden golden point thriller.
After conceding the first try for the fifth time in six matches this season, the Warriors found their footing and squared up after a long period of looking like they had little idea near the Broncos’ line.
A couple of opportunist four-pointers and a committed defensive display seemingly had the hosts over the line, but poor goalkicking proved crucial and a late flourish from the Broncos sent the game into an agonising extra-time period…where Luke Metcalf stepped up to drill one of the great penalty goals from halfway following a kick-off blunder from Reece Walsh in his first match in Auckland since rejoining the Broncos.
Given the Warriors’ unavailable list, it was an admirable and incredibly valuable win in this topsy-turvy premiership. Still so much to work on but a tremendous platform has been laid now to set their sights on the Top 8.
The Kingz Container Crew boys were on hand at Mt Smart for this one – and with their support, here’s TWL‘s player ratings.
1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: Quiet start but found his spark with a scything run in the lead-up to Leka’s try, while his deft touch with the boot set up a fortuitous four-pointer for Kosi. On top of that, a team-high 172 metres and five tackle-breaks. Solid error-free showing in difficult conditions. 7
2 ED KOSI: A mixed bag with four errors – including an in-goal gaffe that saw Walsh dot down for the late leveller – and a modest 88 metres on 12 carries, but took a tricky tryscoring opportunity well and bustled a Broncos mistake in defence that led to Metcalf’s try. 5.5
3 KURT CAPEWELL: Starting an NRL match at centre for the first time in four years, Capewell provided few highlights and missed a few tackles – but his long charge off a Broncos error and offload for Metcalf to score was a big play. 6
4 ALI LEIATAUA: Threatened on occasions during the first half and combined well with Pompey but never really exploded. Eight runs for 71 metres and six tackles with three misses. 5.5
5 ADAM POMPEY: The 100-game milestone man wound back the clock to some of his shakier 2019 rookie performances during the first half, dropping an early bomb cold prior to the Broncos’ first try and absolutely butchering the kick-off receipt following the Warriors’ first. But led the three-quarter line with 15 runs for 119 metres and was otherwise pretty sound on the wing. 6
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: The more creative and willing to take the line on of the halves, while a huge 25-tackle display was highlighted by a throwback folding in half of Adam Reynolds. Put Niukore over the second half during a stint at dummy-half. 7
7 LUKE METCALF: Hell of kick to win it in golden point – atoning for what had been one of the worst goalkicking performances in Warriors history, plus an eye-watering field goal miss. Great 40/20 in the second half and again excellent backing up to score off Capewell’s break. Long kicking game was important but bordered on dreadful with hands and foot anywhere near the Broncos’ line. 6
8 JACKSON FORD: Went a lot better when not being used as the Warriors’ chief attacking spearhead near the Broncos’ line, where he came up with three handling errors. Otherwise a big 66-minute display up front standing in for JFH up against a couple of international props, racking up 151 metres on 21 runs and a team-high 46 tackles. Also conceded a penalty. 6.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Largely shelved his running game but composure at dummy-half was crucial and churned out 45 tackles despite getting his first break on the sideline for 2025. 7
10 MITCHELL BARNETT: Big minutes also for the skipper, playing 60 mintues and working for 37 tackles and 18 runs for 146 metres. No errors but gave away a penalty. 7
11 LEKA HALASIMA: How can you not be besotted with this kid? A try from nothing for the third straight week and looked dangerous with every touch, recording four tackle-breaks in his 11 runs for 92 metres. Huge step up to start and play 69 minutes of a gruelling contest, but looked totally at home. Made 23 tackles, while his handling error was a tough one to pin on him. Future club legend. 7.5
12 MARATA NIUKORE: Slack marker defence allowed Walters to waltz through early, while he was exposed again in a Broncos movement that was pulled back for obstruction. Bounced back with a powerhouse 64th-minute try not long before finally coming off for a rest. Nine runs for 75 metres and 23 tackles. 6
13 ERIN CLARK: Another to crank up the game-time – playing 60 minutes – but delivered the same energy and impact throughout, making 20 runs for 160 metres (the best of all Warriors forwards) and racking up 29 tackles with no misses. 7.5
14 BUNTY AFOA: Remarkably given just 18 minutes, during which time he made six runs for 56 metres and 14 tackles, looking strong. 5.5
15 JACOB LABAN: A tough one to make his first NRL appearance of the season in and had limited impact in his 27 minutes, making two runs and 14 tackles. Did little wrong, however. 5
16 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Leka’s quite rightly gobbling up the plaudits, but Demetric is tracking extremely well, too. Made 22 tackles with no misses and nine runs for 67 metres in his 34 high-quality minutes on the paddock. Had an error and went on report. 6.5
17 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Spent 23 minutes on the field without doing anything notable, touching the ball just four times and making five tackles. 4
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