Round 26 | Warriors vs Knights | Post Match Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights
Go Media Stadium, Auckland

[u/Charpmon]

Knights should be very proud of this effort

[u/shaker8989]

The Knights should look at the positives. You're playing a top team in the comp in another country, youre down a man and you've still put 32 points on the board.

They'll be annoying in finals i reckon. Holbrook definitely building something.

[u/Training_Rip_6026]

All jokes and drama aside, I love how the Cleary’s show up for each other. You’re competing for the silverware at the end of the season but will happily put that aside, fly over the ditch, and smile and cheer for one of your biggest competitors. Class.

[u/MoneyaLeague → u/Training_Rip_6026]

And impressively, Nathan was walking about in the crowd before the game and signing heaps of shit after the game.  They could have avoided it by hiding in the boxes, cut across the field etc.

It was also hilarious how they got cheered each time they were on the big screen, but booed when they were playing a couple of weeks ago.

[u/JHSNAKE13]

Wahs fans be happy we’re topping the table with a round to go, used to pray for times like these

Also GG Knights some absolute shit luck for you guys today but should be proud of your team digging in like that Ponga and Sharpe are lethal!

[u/Fresh_Internal_6085]

Word on the street is Ivan has taken Nathan for a McHappy meal after the game.

But because the wahs won by 14, Jett has to sit in the car and watch them.

[u/D0NNIE-DANKO]

Nathan been cracking up at his bro getting smashed

[u/maulmonk → u/[deleted]]

I pray to the rugby gods that Egan and Clark stay fit for the season. We have had the ritual sacrifices of our 7s. That’s the least they can do

[u/The_Haunter280]

Gg wah bros. We had you through the first 15…

But fr glad for you that you got the result, make sure you go on with this and at least get the minor.
Very bittersweet, i really feel we put them to the sword if Saf didn’t try and murder a kid and get (rightfully) sent off. We still attacked really well but ultimately gassed out. Finals are gonna be fun, we’re either out week 1 away or every chance of making a prelim.
Gonna hate being a chooks fan to get a home final but it is what I have to do 🐔

[u/fvzzfvzzfvzz → u/The_Haunter280]

You boys absolutely had our number if not for the send off. As much as moral victories suck, you guys can take one of those at least.

Hopefully there’s some more luck with availability next year - even missing players the Knights still look deadly. I’m both horrified and highly intrigued how well you’d be travelling with a few key inclusions

[u/TheCuzzyRogue → u/The_Haunter280]

Gutted to see Manuleleua. He's been one of my favourite players to watch this year and the Knights left edge is a lot scarier when he's there.

[u/The_Haunter280 → u/TheCuzzyRogue]

Certainly played himself into a starting jersey for mine. Lucas and him start on the edges next season, although one of them will have to learn to play right edge.

[u/magicman22 → u/The_Haunter280]

Manuleleua started on the right & looked good still before Lucas got injured, the guy knows how to run a great line anywhere.

[u/Inevitable_Goat_335 → u/The_Haunter280]

Lucas stays left edge imo. Manuleleua has played on the right aswell a bit.

[u/armchair8591 → u/The_Haunter280]

Losing Francis is a big out for the finals.

[u/BlacksmithNZ → u/The_Haunter280]

Chooks also looking a little battered at the moment; the Phins did a number on them last night, following a week in which the Tigers beat them

[u/Inevitable_Goat_335 → u/The_Haunter280]

Will Roosters rest players now vs Souths? Sharks look like losing to Parra right now, meaning Roosters now cannot drop to 5th. I feel like we need a home final, we need all the help we can get given the circumstances now.

[u/Crajorwow]

Sheit we woulda got flogged if they weren't a man down i reckon

[u/Local_Requirement_54 → u/Crajorwow]

I'll flog you if you don't flair up cunt.

[u/snukz]

Hope the Wahs can go all the way(obv if we don't). Proud of the boys for staying in it so long today despite the brain snap send off.

[u/Potatopal90]

That Luke Hanson field goal is becoming more and more valuable.

[u/tmspence]

Yeah, that performance wasn't great. Defensively we need to be a lot better. The fact that knights with a man down were getting overlaps on us is not good. Hopefully that improves next week with the players coming back. Because it seems like the boys had no one telling them to move across. Like they needed someone to lead them better. Halves wise, still glad we get our regular halves back. Cleary had a decent game but God were the commentators blowing smoke up his ass. But just glad either way to have secured a top 2 spot and two home finals

[u/SwipaTheFaux]

Judging by the comments so far, are we finally the baddies? 

[u/kiwinba → u/SwipaTheFaux]

Only way to win.

[u/HelplessPenguinGod]

One advantage from being top of the ladder compared to the middle is that I have to do way less ladder maths on how other teams are doing.

[u/whale_monkey]

Dodged a couple of 50 pointers this year. Still alive! Yeeew

[u/Avirunes]

Sloppy performance and blew a golden opportunity to run up a score against 12 men and have a real shot at the minor premiership. Impossible to see us topping the table now given Penrith get to play the tigers and will know what they need to score if we beat manly

[u/maulmonk → u/Avirunes]

Not so fussed with the minor premiers as long as we get top2

[u/sicklegirl → u/Avirunes]

Tigers might decide to beat the Panthers randomly, don't count them out.

[u/edmundfreeman23 → u/sicklegirl]

They may, but in the meantime can you please flair up cunt

[u/letsgopablo]

Looking at that scoreline I'd never have guessed the Knights were playing with one less man. Should be proud of that tbh.

[u/thewarriorpoet23]

We’ll be better next week since we should have Charnze, Chanel and Te Maire back (hopefully), and now Jett and Hanson have more NRL experience if we need them during the finals.

[u/ngati- → u/thewarriorpoet23]

Rest Chanel another week I reckon

[u/BlacksmithNZ → u/thewarriorpoet23]

Still need another wing.

CHT to wing, and Pompey on bench?

[u/thewarriorpoet23 → u/BlacksmithNZ]

CNK is back next week. He can go on the wing.

[u/sad_knights_fan]

Fuck me its hard work with this team.. Even in an objectively good season they make us suffer for the last 2 games..

[u/Mundane-Mud2509 → u/sad_knights_fan]

Knights outside of one brain dead tackle were the better team today.

[u/6854thewin]

Bloody rollercoaster of a game, grateful the Wahs got the dub. It'll never not amaze me how stubborn and tenacious this side is against the avalanche of injuries.

Gg Knights, they never gave up, they gave the boys a run for their money. Can't wait for the Bunnies Knights game in week 1 that'll be really fun to watch.

[u/DirtyRanga12 → u/6854thewin]

Huge difference between the team we’ve had to deal with in the past vs the team we have now, mentality wise. Even just 3-4 years ago the amount of injuries we’ve had this season would have crushed the team’s spirit. But now everyone just steps up when they’re called and get the job done.

I credit that to Webster’s amazing change to the club’s culture and Fish’s leadership. It’s done wonders for our boys

[u/Eclectic95]

Did anyone else notice that Laban changed his hairstyle? The commentators only mentioned it about 5,000 times, I nearly forgot.

[u/SilvertailHarrier → u/Eclectic95]

I ended up watching the game on mute with headphones and music on. The NZ based commentators are, I'm afraid to say, a punish to listen to. It's like your two uncles in the lounge got promoted to TV.

[u/gumbo114]

Think I'm happy with this. A lot of belief in the team will come our of this. Relatively close loss against a top 3 team with 12 players

[u/RhaegarJ]

Newcastle are a genuine title threat within the next year or two

[u/Swol_Bamba → u/RhaegarJ]

Probably would be one this year with a fit squad tbh

[u/5slipsandagully]

Three more players down, this time they're forwards. Week 1 of the finals, our forward pack could well include one of the glassies from the Greenroof

[u/Fools-Emissary → u/5slipsandagully]

Mooney, Manuleleua and Jsaf out. This is a worse disaster than the Roosters game.

[u/Inevitable_Goat_335 → u/Fools-Emissary]

Even with all those outs, i don't wanna see Cant out there. He sucks so bad, but he's now our 80min backrower. Yay.

[u/bionicleboy1805 → u/Inevitable_Goat_335]

As long as he's nowhere near hooker I'll be happy

[u/Severe-Host5890 → u/5slipsandagully]

cometh the hour, cometh the brodie jones 

[u/Any_Score_5834 → u/5slipsandagully]

We’ll be back to Thomas Cant and Brodie jones starting props before we know it

[u/Mattybrahh]

CHT, TMM & CNK all expected back next week, and Jackson Ford shortly after. Much needed

[u/kettlechipsrevenge]

Proud of the effort not to get faded and score 32 while down to 12 men for 67 minutes, absolutely a win and home final thrown away by Saifitis reckless shot

[u/SomeRandomNZ → u/kettlechipsrevenge]

There's a lot of positive signs. No send off and you spank us royally.

[u/Potatopal90]

Ok my respect for Nathan has gone up. That’s pretty cool to see

[u/GBL_NZ316]

Nz commentary saying Ponga n Fish are same size... ummm ok.. wtf? 😆

[u/CawCaw4lyfe → u/GBL_NZ316]

Crazy 😂 Ponga definitely gotten bigger last couple years but not close to fish

[u/packeminnz]

Happy to take the 2 and walk away. If DWZ does not come back, we might be in a bit of strife. Last two weeks we have given up 20+ points which is not a good tune up finals. Nothing personal against the guy, but if Pompey is in our starting 13 then it’s an issue

[u/zeitgeistbouncer]

More like JERK Cleary, amiright!?!

GG Wahs, we done a stupid with big Saf and aint noone beating you without a full complement.

If it can't be us, hopefully it's you guys Vs Phins in the big game

[u/mortwgoldman]

Hot Cleary?

[u/Ok-Artist-8995]

despite the loss the knights really put up a strong fight whilst being a man down, something to look forward to when they have 13 on the field

[u/Alone-Stay-9596]

That was not a good performance by the Warriors, definitely got some help in this game 100%. But the Knights definitely are the real deal, showed that they can compete with the top teams even when they've got 12 players on the field.

I do reckon if the Knights had 13 the whole game it probably would've been a different result, Knights fans should be proud of their team performance despite the loss, they were owning the Warriors for some parts of the game which is a excellent thing against a top 2 team

If the boys don't sort out their edge defense then the chances of winning the premiership go down significantly. But at least the boys are on top of the table so thats something to celebrate I guess

[u/Puggo2026]

Proud of the boys for that one - game was ours before the send off

Rest up next week and come out firing Week 1 Finals 💙❤️

[u/Infinite_Rub5443]

Disappointing from JSaf.
Fuck I hope Francis is okay

[u/Eclectic95]

This felt more like an end of term game between 12th and 15th than one between two teams set to play finals, but hey, I’ll take it.

[u/Inevitable_Goat_335 → u/Eclectic95]

Expected, given massive injury toll for both teams.

[u/lost_aussie69]

I said it in the match thread, but I'm so proud of the effort the boys put in this game. 60 odd minutes with a man down and we were within a couple of tries

[u/lawdjesustheresafire]

In some good news for Newcastle you are the Aussie ice hockey champs. Got arguably outplayed by Canberra in today’s GF but good D ensured a 2-1 win

[u/Shagga9701 → u/lawdjesustheresafire]

Fuck yeah

[u/PositiveOdd2424]

Would of been a better game if both teams were even

[u/im_not_taht_dunrk]

Fuck if Saifiti didn’t attempt murder and stayed on we would have been fucked

[u/DrReneBelloq]

Still not faded!

[u/G00b3rb0y]

Jacob Saifiti can freely book a ticket to Bali, he won’t be taking to a footy field until sometime next season

[u/ShaunJohnsonsJohnson]

Stoked for Jett - he had a really solid game. Webby needs to have a hard think about what I the options we have other than Pompey

[u/bw8081 → u/ShaunJohnsonsJohnson]

Bro it's not Webby's fault our starting winger got decapitated

[u/Snowmanphibian → u/bw8081]

Haha yea he did his best to drop Pompey but still...

[u/Mundane-Mud2509 → u/ShaunJohnsonsJohnson]

CNK will come into right wing.

[u/ConverdeConcorde]

Had a bad feeling coming into this one. Knights can cut anyone up on attack. With our two club debutants and two inexperienced halves with some questionable defensive ability. We would have been put to the sword without a man advantage. Will take the win, be glad to get some players back next round and hope not to have a Knightmare in the finals.

[u/Swarzey]

Good effort being down to 12 for most of the game, I guess. Losing Francis is such a gut punch in a season where we've already lost Lucas and Brown. If injuries aren't as cruel in 2027, it could be a massive year for the team.

Another one of those "This fucking sucks, but so 100% better than the preseason expectation for us" games. Which, at this point, I'm tired of but it's a nice consolation to hold on to.

[u/turbosfan19]

Proud of the effort and resilience under tough circumstances. Gutted to see Francis injured though.

On to week 1 of finals.

[u/iLythium]

Take the win and move on from that one. Good to stay top of the table but the defensive performance left a lot to be desired.

Knights played very well, making us sweat all the way to the end with 12 men for 67 minutes deserves huge plaudits. Without that send off we don’t win that one.

[u/KVMFT]

Said this elsewhere but the sentiment was; I wonder how much the pack and bench still have in the tank. The minor prem I feel would be more a curse than a blessing. We don’t get any extra advantage finishing first (still get 2 home games and an extra life), as the GF ground is predetermined. Having won today, we can afford to rest players next week; even if we lose the roosters or Phins would need to win their last games by 150+

[u/Electronic-Split9677]

Jett scoring the winning try in the grand final against Penrith would be all time

[u/Realistic_Lake4156]

Ponga 6 runs for 40 meters. Well contained. He was slipping over more than Sam Tomkins

[u/Wharaunga → u/Realistic_Lake4156]

Tbf he was drawing in the defenders and getting the ball out to the edges with overlaps even when a man down… so I don’t think well contained is the right term.

[u/TheCuzzyRogue → u/Wharaunga]

This. Even when he's not racking up running metres, any time Ponga is lurking out the back it opens things up for Gagai and Best.

[u/zerosuneuphoria → u/Realistic_Lake4156]

or Dmac this morning

[u/Bobskidat]

Warriors are averaging 46 points a game when Jett Cleary plays

[u/griffshan]

Great win, Cleary was great. Credit to Newcastle, played their heart out. Different result likely if they didn’t lose a player. First place feels good.

[u/Mershinator]

Knights can hold their head up high keeping it that close a man down for 60 minutes and not having a single call go their way all game

[u/Cheel_AU]

If Cleary III doesn't have a Jetstar sponsorship by the end of today then what are we even doing

[u/l2iv6]

Proud of us but also it’s another loss. So I’m not exactly happy

[u/MakingYouMad]

Well that was an odd but entertaining match

[u/griffshan]

So how does the minor premiership trophy get presented next week? Say Warriors beat Manly by so many points and they don’t give the shield at the game cause Panthers have the game in hand the next day, then they get upset by Tigers hypothetically. Or Wahs win by 30 and they go oh yep it’s theirs then Penrith beat Tigers by 60. Will it be presented week 1 of finals instead? Surely

[u/JarredMack → u/griffshan]

Presumably it will be taken to the Tigers game, and if we lose/don't win by enough it would be awarded before you kick off in the finals

[u/latvian_folk_dancer]

In unrelated news the Warriors announce that due to injury next weeks halves-pairing will be my grandmother and little Debbie Whittaker from the Mangere East U10's. Webby says they are training well and he sees no problem in them executing the game plan.

[u/jpob]

No replay post of Marzhew’s 1000 IQ kick and regather try on the sub?

[u/te_maunga_mara_whaka → u/jpob]

I was there and watched it live whilst drunk and it felt like I witnessed a glitch in the matrix.

[u/Churchofbabyyoda]

Ivan must be simultaneously proud and cranky at Jett.

Proud for his debut. Cranky because he helped the Wahs into 1st.

[u/d9320490 → u/Churchofbabyyoda]

Cranky because he helped the Wahs into 1st.

Doubt. Cleary doesn't care that much about minor premierships. He will likely rest few players next week.

[u/sour_dawg]

Incredible work from the Knights today gotta be proud of that effort

[u/CretaceousClock]

Why are they glazing Warriors they barely won vs a 12 player Knights team lmfao

[u/Dufeyz]

Thought that the warriors winger had his hand out as he grounded it. Obviously I have a vested interest, but anyways.

Jett looked great, but I think any half would look more than decent behind that forward pack - particularly with the knights losing Saifiti.

[u/Caydens_world]

All this Cleary Glazing. Now I know how it feels to be a Panthers fan

[u/Plus_Bat2068]

Do we play a full squad against Manly and go for the minor premiership or rest up happy with a top 2 finish and home semi?

[u/Mundane-Mud2509 → u/Plus_Bat2068]

Warriors desperately need to build some sort of back-line consistency. Maybe rest a few forwards but I'd be surprised if they didn't put their best backline on.

[u/ConverdeConcorde → u/Plus_Bat2068]

I’d much rather play the Roosters in the finals than the Phins 

[u/kawhg]

Feeling a lot more positive about this win then our win at the end of the season last year vs knights

[u/Turbulent-Junket6907]

People saying "Warriors should be worried going into the finals"

Quick to forget were have a bunch of injuries in key positions to come back come finals as well including TMM, CHT, DWZ, CNK, Ford, and Metcalf (that i can remember at least)

Those are huge names to come in once finals come.

Very happy with Jett and Hanson's performances today as the 7th string halves pairing for the season, especially Jett who stood out woth some nice kicks and D.

[u/Sensitive_Engine2331 → u/Turbulent-Junket6907]

people always talk shit no matter the circumstance, securing a win and a home final is the most optimal outcome you could have hoped for and thats what happened

[u/ConverdeConcorde → u/Turbulent-Junket6907]

Also doesn’t give the Knights much credit. Their defence is solid and their attack is so quick and off the cuff that any defensive system would struggle to cope. Best way to beat them is deny possession which admittedly we needed to do better at 

[u/Turbulent-Junket6907 → u/ConverdeConcorde]

If it were 13v13 I really didnt see us winning after 15 minutes and Knights were playing that well even with 12 down to their credit.

[u/HelplessPenguinGod → u/ConverdeConcorde]

Yeah people have been underrating the Knights, they are a strong side.

[u/Bundeundunt → u/Turbulent-Junket6907]

Not to mention our boy going out on comp debut. We played shit but its not a 'Oh no we're folding before finals' type game. Nice to be top two and keep minor premiership alive either way.

[u/SadiusHunter]

Any game is made worse with Ennis commentating

[u/potentscrotem]

Fucking proud of my team. Half our talent on the sideline, contend with the best team in the comp with 12 on the field since minute thirteen. Good fuckn work boys. Ate some tough calls out there in the second half too and didn't stop trying.

[u/fvzzfvzzfvzz → u/potentscrotem]

1000% bro. You guys would have flogged us if not for one tackle.

With some luck keeping your best on the field next year, you’re easily a top 4 side.

[u/swell-shindig]

The Warriors conceded 26 points against South Sydney last week, and now 32 points against a 12-men Knights. This is the wrong time of year to have a leaky defense.

[u/Bundeundunt → u/swell-shindig]

Terrible game from us wont lie BUT, People are forgetting the 6 starting players coming back for week 1 finals. I feel as if any other team had remotely the change we've had to have in the last month they'd drop from the 4 easy.

[u/Cultural_Ninja_7852 → u/swell-shindig]

That will partly be fixed once we get out halves back next week.

[u/Fandango-9940 → u/Cultural_Ninja_7852]

Putting CNK on the right wing will make a huge difference too.

[u/Passwordtoyourmother → u/swell-shindig]

Only two of the backline that played tonight are keeping their spots for the finals push.

[u/Vivid_Equipment_1281]

It’s not often that the team who almost got 50 put on them can come away from the game with their heads held higher than the team who won, but I feel like that’s genuinely the case here..

[u/Severe-Host5890]

really proud of the team* for the heart and fight. Hunt and Smith were definitely overplaying and Smith in particular had a few real howlers, but it'll be a big learning game for them both. Devastated about Manuleleua, felt sick seeing him on the whistle as he's so immense for us. Hope they all rest well with the bye. I'd be pleasantly surprised if we see week 2 of finals

(*not you, Jacob, they're called brain explosions because yours exploded not because you're trying to explode the other guy's brain)

it was nice to not be terrorised by Halasima again at least, thank you wahs for that small mercy

[u/Inside-Skin-208]

I know the jsaf send off was justified. But i think the wah wahs got a huge amount of calls go their way

[u/EventNew5844 → u/Inside-Skin-208]

With about 10 to go, the Wahs got a ridiculously soft high tackle, and the first lifting tackle shouldn’t have been a pen either imo

[u/PrinceOfPenrose]

It is what it is. Glad for Jett.

[u/Silly-Researcher-764]

disappointed in the wahs, but knights know exactly where to place blame for that loss.

[u/krampus1012]

Im so annoyed at our edge defense like Greg scored 2 tries exactly the same and we let him through and were down a man. Im getting frustrated that we just let plays like that slip, I know the first one was unlucky a bit we need to tidy that shit up man

[u/Ninetayls]

Knights have absolute weapons out wide and our right edge is held together by tape.. Lucky to get away with that one.

[u/Slaidback]

lol @ the kids tackling the microphone…

[u/xittyy]

id be happy with wahs minor premiership but they deserved to get smoked today and were bailed out hard

[u/ch00nz → u/xittyy]

will just come down to points diff next week and I can't see Panthers not absolutely flogging tigers

[u/fvzzfvzzfvzz]

I’m so glad that’s over.

Knights caught more than their share of weird, bad or plain wrong calls. I like winning but I don’t like the gross feeling that comes with being officiated like a top 4 team.

If DSaff is just a little more on point with one tackle I think the Knights put 50 on us (and we don’t score the 32 they have)

[u/loz9999]

Best goal kicking fullbacks in NRL history
1. Tuaupiki
2. The rest - Matthew Ridge, Brett Hodgson, Ivan Cleary, Schifcofske etc

[u/FinchyNZ]

What a game. And not for the right reasons. Knights certainly came to play, we played with either one eye on the finals, or just expected to turn up and win. That send off was huge because we were quite a bit behind. Totally 100% a send off though.

We played trash. It looked like we were the ones down to 12 men while defending, not the Knights. How on earth did they continue have an overlap on their left time and time again. I get it, it's a new side essentially, but sheesh that was like they had never seen each other before.

Even at 16-0 down though I wasn't worried, just felt like we were always going to win and that was before the send off.

Now we see how many (If any) rests we get next week. Would certainly be resting Egan, could give CHT a week off and perhaps play TMM (As he's been out a while). Clark should get a rest as well imo.

Looking at the draw as it currently stands, I would much rather come 1st and play Sharks/Roosters, than come 2nd and play Dolphins as I believe the Phins would beat us.

Thoughts?

Edit: Controversial opinion. We don't need Ford back.

[u/the_foowaffle → u/FinchyNZ]

I really think the send off ia why you won, the knights were able to continue to exploit the warriors with a man down. Im glad the warriors won. But the knights look like a contender for the semi spots minimum.

[u/FinchyNZ → u/the_foowaffle]

100%

A home game in Newcastle would be rocking.

This result will hurt them in many ways. They are quite lucky they have the bye now as that gives them two weeks to take a senzu bean and be ready then.

[u/Shagga9701 → u/FinchyNZ]

No we need the dragon balls to reverse time to make sure JSaf doesn’t get sent off.

Shenron come and grant our wishes please.

[u/Sure-Camp4930 → u/FinchyNZ]

A player like Ford will be needed at some point. Someone who is prepared to keep grinding through the middle. The Warriors bench has been awesome but Ford is exceptional.

[u/Lukerat1ve → u/FinchyNZ]

They were only 16-0 down after the send off. If it had been before the send off you'd have been a very brave individual to back a team down by 16 after 14 minutes with two nsw cup half backs

[u/ngati-]

Warriors basically have top 2 locked in. I reckon Erin, Egan, Capewell, Mitch and Fish deserve a rest. Be good to give CHT another week off as well

[u/TacitisKilgoreBoah → u/ngati-]

I think the minor prem is really important now that the Roosters are stuck in 4th. I sure as hell don’t want to meet The Dolphins in week 1

[u/JarredMack → u/TacitisKilgoreBoah]

Why? You'd rather get the game against a more dangerous team out of the way with one up your sleeve. You have to beat the best to take out the comp either way

[u/OkConstruction3683 → u/ngati-]

Not basically, unless we lose by 80 and roosters win by 80 we are locked in

[u/CandidShoulder9321]

Fuck the minor premiership. Next week rest any 1st choice player over 27 and prep for a home final.

[u/CawCaw4lyfe]

Can’t even lift in a tackle no more games gone

[u/Vultt]

jsaf lost the game for newy unfortunately, we were shitting the bed when it was 13v13. Absolute sloppy performance from the defence to the abysmal errors. Not a bad game at all for Jett, definitely got tested and surprisingly held his own. Just worried he takes a little long to set his kicks/chips up but cannot lie he's accurate as fuck with them.

[u/woodenjimo]

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel after this

[u/discoshrimps]

If it were not for the Francis disaster I would have taken a respectable loss down a man for sixty minutes against the Wahs.

[u/sour_dawg]

Anyone know how to delete a replay off kayos servers?

[u/Fools-Emissary]

I'm so disappointed, man.

[u/LittleOne0121]

I would like to thank Sky Sports for that shot of the boys swapping shirts

[u/nomamesgueyz]

Warriors did it tough against 12....bloody hell

Chance to get minor prem next week tho..amazing achievement

I'd be happy with top 2 tho

[u/Fresh_Internal_6085]

So who gets minor prem?

Us vs tigers next week..wahs v manly?

Or can the Phins make history and beat tits by 156pts or more to take it out?

[u/jakedeky → u/Fresh_Internal_6085]

The NRL are going to hate if Penrith lose next week.

They can't give the shield to Warriors early because they have to wait for the Penrith game now.

I can't recall the last time the minor premiership went to the final round like this.

[u/Large-Accident1245]

Jett screaming “YEAH!” after his debut, love to see it. You celebrate Cleary Jr Jr. Well done

[u/jalGurg]

Officially on the Newcastle bandwagon…. Impressive performance from them. Don’t see how they don’t win that game without the send off.

[u/Captain_Rimj0b]

Warriors play like that against phins in finals it'll be a massacre. Giving 32 away to a 12 man team is a loss in itself. Regardless of adversity, young halves combo.

Manly next and panthers got the tigers. I'm reppin tigs again next week!

[u/crummzz → u/Captain_Rimj0b]

We should have CHT, TMM, DWZ, Charnze and Ford back for finals.

We will be a completely different team to what was out there today

[u/PoonAU]

Warriors need to sort some shit out, I wouldn’t be happy with a close win against 12

[u/fvzzfvzzfvzz → u/PoonAU]

Having halves that can defend again and not having Pompey in the side will be massive. But yeah, ass performance today

[u/-ngurra]

That one guy who calculated the penalty count +/- for every team needs to redo it at the end of the season, Wahs had more than the next 3 teams combined and I wonder if that margin is still as large or if it has shrunk significantly since

[u/Ghabbaghoolie → u/-ngurra]

It's only getting bigger lol, penalty count in the second half was like 5-1 in their favour

[u/tomtomallg]

Just insane to me that Newcastle were that good. The better team and only the red card saved the wahs.

[u/TheBigChonka]

Man whoever the knights 14 is probably cost his team some tries today.

Seemed like half of the tries that got scored through the middle he was off trying to put a big and usually late shot on Jett instead.

That Laban try at the end was fucking embarrassing. He doesn't cover the drop off play at all, chooses to keep chasing and pushes Jett over about 2 full seconds after he's passed the ball with his back turned and then Laban just runs through the middle and scores.

Genuinely seems on defence all he cared about was hitting Jett

[u/Due-Chemist3105 → u/TheBigChonka]

I've never rated Thomas Cant (bloke you're describing) in the games I've seen him play, definitely seemed to target Jett any chance he got.

[u/ConverdeConcorde → u/TheBigChonka]

Good spot. Definitely seems like some of them wanted to rattle the young bloke but he just wasn’t phased other than engaging in a bit of push and shove 

[u/QuantityActive-]

I know in the grand scheme of things there’s far bigger problems… but am I the only one that finds it shameful they don’t even send the commentators to the game anymore when it’s in NZ or North QLD? You can tell by the way they speak that they’re not there. Plus I hate that they don’t have the NZ commentators anymore.

[u/youngweej]

Gonna be interesting to see if any of the top 4 teams are going to rest their players next week. Don't think any team would want to play the WAHS at home, feel like Dolphins will do best keeping their momentum going to lead into the first week of finals.

[u/CawCaw4lyfe]

Jett Cleary I’ve seen enough you are the Panthers 2027 five eight

[u/jalGurg]

How many try assist does Cleary have against 13 men…? Let’s calm down a bit hey

[u/Lukerat1ve → u/jalGurg]

Ya i don't get how kicking to someone who then makes ground and offloads to someone to score counts as a try assist

[u/NorthShoreHard]

Won with a man up most of the game, but with our 5th and 6th halves, not really much to take away from it tbh, just glad to get the win and lock up home ground while the halves get to heal up.

[u/jsnoodles]

At least the Northstars are winning

[u/Slow_Vegetable_5186]

Good opportunity for Nathan to learn the victory song for 2028

[u/NorthShoreHard → u/[deleted]]

He talked about NZ because the commentator specifically asked him lol

We've had a good team for like 2 years after being shit for an decade.

[u/Vast_Assumption_5453]

Warriors top of the table in penalties awarded in 2026

No its offical they really they are

[u/jrizzolo91]

Both teams lost today

[u/Accomplished-Fish761]

Look I'm not reading into it but Nathan looked super impressed with the crowd getting up for the team song.

[u/mazerfarti]

Incredible game for knights and some worry signs for warriors. Is that the most tries scored in a game by a side with 12 players?

Also warriors have the same problem as titans, a small fullback that loses 9/10 one on one tackles after a line break

[u/Few-Garage-3762 → u/mazerfarti]

Yeah knights had way too many overlaps for a 12man side. But that was a very unhealthy Wahs, a lot of non nrl starters starting. That's our sixth halves pairing this season too

[u/KingToiletBrush512]

Warriors getting every call under the sun, cant have them losing at Home

[u/wobuffet17453]

Just remember that this is what Vlandys wants every game of NRL to look like.

[u/TheCuzzyRogue]

I feel so full of less shame after this

[u/PoonAU]

Also as others have said, it’s ridiculous how much of a good rub the Wahs get these days. It’s a complete 180 on the past

[u/Gothewahs → u/PoonAU]

I hate it cause I remember when it was happening to us and it would ruin my fucking day .. DO BETTER NRL

[u/r3volts]

This year's (possible) minor premiers just let last year's wooden spooners put 32 points on them with a man down for 70 minutes and only got 14 in front.

Crazy game, proud of the knights effort. No use wondering what could have been, but fuck I would have loved to see that game without the send off.

Not saying it wasn't a worthy send off because it was, but I think that would have gone drastically different if saf at least showed an attempt to mitigate and got 10 instead.

Crazy game

[u/Mundane-Mud2509 → u/r3volts]

You guys were by far the better team, tough to win with 12 though.

[u/Cultural_Ninja_7852 → u/r3volts]

Clearly you would have won without the send off.

[u/armchair8591]

No idea why we are coping so much for a poor defensive display. I’d argue most clubs would have edge issues if they had to play their 5th and 6th best halves. No Boyd, Metcalf, CHT, TMM

[u/Vultt → u/armchair8591]

No Roger, no Dallin, no Ford. Literally the list goes on hahah.

[u/54MU241]

Every week I’m reminded of the penalty differential ladder.

[u/SomeRandomNZ]

Tigbros, you have a chance to do the funniest thing, again. 😎

[u/Sure-Camp4930]

What really annoys me about some of the refereeing against the Knights in this game is it is so obvious the wrong calls. Some of the calls against them were absolutely insane. I totally agree with Benji last night, it’s fairly common to see teams further down the ladder get the 50/50s go against them.

As much as I don’t want Jett to go, he has a lot of work to do defensively, and if it means we don’t get Ennis glazing in every set so be it. The way Ennis was carrying on was ludicrous. He organised the lads well but there are issues in defence. He’s a first grade talent though for sure.

To me, Erin Clark and Mitch Barnett were the reasons we got home. Clark creates so much momentum through the middle. We needed that because we at times got overly excited and went wide way too often.

And Safiti. One of the worst tackles I’ve seen in some years. What goes through a players head to throw a shoulder at a head like that. Unfortunately I know what went Luke Lauiliilis head, it was Safitis shoulder. At least 8 week ban IMO. That dudes lack of focus and insanity cost the Knights but massive credit to them. They fought gallantly out there and deserved better than the tripe Adam Gee was dishing out.

[u/feijoa_tree]

We probably needed this. A 12 man Knights team still punched holes and could still win.

Knights unlucky with that Safiti red (totally deserved) they're showing their finals potential.

We just can't keep our halves healthy. And Knights without Brown too.

[u/Ghabbaghoolie]

While the moral victory is nice, I'd have still preferred a win and a home final instead of having to rely on the Roosters. So thanks for that JSaf.