Mental demons could haunt Warriors long after straight-sets exit
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Warriors coach Andrew Webster is confident his side’s premiership window hasn’t closed, but it won’t be an easy task to escape the ghosts of seasons’ past.
For the third time in his four years at the helm, Webster watched on as the Warriors squandered an opportunity to make a run for the title, losing in a dramatic 12-10 finals epic against a brave Newcastle Knights outfit.
Warriors players during the semi final against Newcastle. Getty Images
In his rookie season as coach, Webster shocked everyone when he took the Wahs from 15th to a preliminary final berth, before falling short against Brisbane.
Webster and the side suffered some second-year syndrome en route to a lowly 2024 finish, before bouncing back to make the top-eight last season, going down to Penrith in an elimination final but losing few admirers in the process.
But it was this year that the Warriors felt like genuine contenders capable of ending three decades of pain, misery and suffering for their fans.
Earning a top-two spot and the potential to play two home finals matches, the Warriors came into September full of hope and optimism.
In the space of eight days, the same-old questions are lingering once more.
The halves pairing of Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita failed to stand up in crucial moments and their game-management left plenty to be desired.
Their edges were exposed by the likes of Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best, who lit up a sold-out Eden Park with attacking flair and speed.
Ali Leiataua missed five tackles. Jacob Laban missed six. Harris-Tavita missed 10.
Veteran prop and co-captain Mitch Barnett tried his guts out in what was his last game in a Warriors jersey before moving to Brisbane next year, but was guilty of overplaying his hand at key moments and it proved costly.
Some of the errors from the Warriors would have had Webster fuming in the coach’s box, most notably Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s attempted offload in the second half that led straight to Dominic Young’s try.
While isolating some head-scratching moments and sub-par performances on Sunday afternoon will be the obvious and immediate reaction, it can’t be forgotten some of the adversity the Warriors faced throughout their campaign.
Tanah Boyd was shooting the lights out early in the year before rupturing his ACL, while Luke Metcalf struggled to stay on the field due to injuries.
Take two halfbacks of that calibre out of any team and they would struggle, but Martin and Harris-Tavita steadied the ship for much of 2026.
You have to wonder though, if Metcalf or Boyd – or both – played against the Knights, whether the result would have gone the other way.
Te Maire Martin. NRL Images
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was also sidelined and wasn’t able to feature in the finals. Would his experience in big moments have made a difference?
Despite those questions and the criticism that has come the Warriors’ way since going out in straight-sets, Webster is confident all hope is not lost.
“We’ll come back better for this. We’ve got to learn, we’ve got to be motivated, we’ve got to stay tight,” the coach told media post-match.
“We had a whole country behind us all year and we certainly felt it this week and we really wish we had repaid them. At the same time, we’ve got to make sure when we get back to this moment and we’re here, we know exactly what to do.
“That’s motivating, but it’s really tough in the sheds at the moment.
“When you give yourself an opportunity and you don’t take it, it hurts.
“We were very confident in our abilities, we won some big games this year and dominated some big games ... finishing top two was no fluke. We earned the right for two semis and we didn’t get the job done, so it’s hard to take.”
Warriors coach Andrew Webster. Getty Images
Webster has every right to feel optimistic about the future, but there is still an air of uncertainty surrounding the Auckland-based team for 2027.
The departures of Barnett, Tuivasa-Sheck and Metcalf is a major blow, taking top-line talent away from the outside backs, front-row and play making stocks.
It’s perhaps the loss of Metcalf that will cruel them most, though.
While his injury history is a concern, the 27-year-old provides genuine spark and X-factor. When he’s fit and firing, there are few more creative and dynamic.
Metcalf will be joined by Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson as halves exiting the club, which leaves Webster with the same men who failed to deliver in the finals, as well as Boyd – fresh off a serious injury – as the front-line halves options.
It’s not disastrous by any means, but it’s hardly inspiring after what Martin and Harris-Tavita dished up under the bright lights of finals football.
There is also a lack of clarity around the back-five as well.
Taine Tuaupiki. Getty Images
Taine Tuaupiki was electric in both finals matches, despite the losses, but split time with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the No.1 jumper throughout the year.
Alofi Khan-Pereira is one of the fastest players in the NRL but has shortcomings in defence and under the high ball, while Leiataua is still learning his craft at centre.
Leka Halasima was a fill-in solution on the other edge and while he performed out of his skin as a centre, his future is undoubtedly in the back-row.
Webster hasn’t done a lot in the way of recruitment for next season – the only notable signings being Grant Anderson and Sam McIntyre – which means the bulk of the side will remain the same, sans the aforementioned stars leaving.
All hope is not lost for the Wahs. Their fan base does a lot of heavy lifting, they have a great coach in Webster and a brilliant mix of youth and experience.
But the 2026 season and the hopes of finally winning a maiden premiership will remain a sore point and a case of what could have been, with the mental demons unlikely to disappear any time soon for players, coaches and fans alike.
New Zealand Warriors 2027 predicted team
1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 5. Alofi Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 14. Sam Healey 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Te Maire Martin
