The Warriors have continued their impressive start to the 2023 season by shooting down the Cowboys 22-14 at Mt Smart Stadium.
Andrew Webster’s side is now up to a share of first place, at least momentarily, alongside Brisbane midway through Round 7 with a 5-2 record, after they showed a lot more determination and composure than a North Queensland team which went within a whisker of making last year’s Grand Final.
Back in Auckland on a permanent basis after three years on the road in Australia due to the pandemic, the Warriors have been the biggest surprise packets of the 2023 season ahead of the expansion Dolphins.
Irrespective of other results for the rest of the weekend, the worst the Warriors will be is third place.
The Cowboys are mired near the bottom of the ladder with a 2-5 record and appeared flat and listless throughout the contest as they struggle to recapture last year’s form.
Jason Taumalolo. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)
In an often scrappy encounter in challenging conditions, the home side made the most of a lopsided possession percentage, with a completion rate well below what they’ve achieved during their start to the 2023 NRL season.
However, in-form playmaker Shaun Johnson first laid on a try for Dylan Walker in the 61st minute to break a 14-all deadlock, then kicked a goal from in front, made a lot harder than it looked due to a stiff northerly breeze.
The home fans would have been forgiven for being slow to their seats after the Warriors’ poor starts this season, but they flipped the script and scored inside the first five minutes.
An intercept by Adam Pompey gave the Warriors great field position, two tackles later Walker and Tohu Harris combined to send Addin Fonua-Blake through enough of a gap to carry two defenders with him to score under the posts.
The strong wind, which was at the Warriors’ back in the first half, was going to be a key factor in the game.
However, the Cowboys kept things simple to send Murray Taulagi over in the corner with a slick finish.
The Maroons combination of Taulagi and Valentine Holmes was causing real problems down the Warriors’ right edge, with the winger only just denied a second try by the bunker official after his foot grazed the touchline.
Ed Kosi finished off a great run by Marcelo Montoya to put the Warriors up 14-4, before another Origin representative, Reuben Cotter, brushed off a poor tackle by Josh Curran to cut the deficit to six for the visitors.
Curran made up for it after the break, scoring a well-worked try off more Johnson skill, but again the Warriors slipped to let Holmes even it up again almost straight off the kickoff.
While Walker’s try eventually settled the matter, the Warriors did lay on some impressive defence to close the game out.
“He can do everything,” Webster said when asked about Walker’s excellent performance at five-eighth, replacing the injured Te Maire Martin.
“He could be an Origin player because you could literally put him on the bench and he can play hooker, six, lock, carry the ball like a mad man and be a super utility.
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“I loved his defence and he put a couple of good plays on that edge to get our momentum back through the middle. I thought he was smart.”
In particular, one set with six minutes to go only gave the Cowboys 20 metres and the subsequent kick was taken on the full by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to set the Warriors up with the passage of play that led to Johnson’s late penalty.
In all, it wasn’t a game of any great standard, but it’s unlikely the bumper crowd of just under 24,000 at Mt Smart will care too much.
The Cowboys did not deserve to win this game despite being favourites and their reputation as finals contenders is starting to fade away quickly.
They’ve had a few players in and out of the line-up due to injuries and suspension but coach Todd Payten could start swinging the selection axe in a bid to shake up his under-performing team.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I agree with you whole heartedly that I wont care if the cows lose by 20. Its something we can all enjoy together.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
For some inexplicable reason the Cows are favourites in this. There is no game this season where we have played as aggressively as the Knights in their last couple. Swap the odds and that's about right. I really hope the Knights bring their A game . Then if we win we will have deserved it and if we lose we will know exactly how far behind we are . I'm a realist Cows fan so for me the big issues are 1 I don't care if we lose by 20 as long as we have a real go. We had a real go against the Broncs and that's it. 7 games , only one intense performance. 2 I only want to win if we have a team with the highest practical number of NQ lads in the team . Chester to FB for mine . He is willing to put his body in front and take the hard carry unlike some. But I'm biased.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Sure is. They deserve some success the Warriors.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Jimmmy bad luck on the weekend. Can the cows do us a solid and put in the same performance this weekend? Like, it'd be nive and then the following weekend the cows can explode and just dominate like a bull in a China shop.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Except till next year.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Which winger, centre and prop? Jake Granville is all three in every match
up in the north
Roar Rookie
It'd be nice to see Clifford back in Townsville.
3 R M
Roar Rookie
He needs to pass over his toes more RN. When he takes the ball to the line he breaks short and passes over his right heel he give the defence too much time. if he takes another step and passes of his left toe with the same change of direction it would make the line stop sliding. I think it's the main reason he has such low try assists. So the defence reads and shifts without committing. He's a very good player he just needs a bit of a tweak. Esl is a good place for him to sort it out.
R N
Roar Rookie
He has got the skills he just lost all confidence in his game last I saw him.... hope he has a renaissance in the NRL! A Hastingasissance!
3 R M
Roar Rookie
He's playing for Hull with Tex Hoy, RN I watched a game he played in, the other day he's going ok, Hulls up and down though and I think it's a short contract.I can see him back with the Pride like Christian on train and replacement with NQ while Duffy develops. As opposed to him being in the squad and Duffy not getting game time with the Blackhawks.
R N
Roar Rookie
Is Clifford still at the knights 3RM ? I have lost track of him...
3 R M
Roar Rookie
We have had Finefeuiaki named in the reserves pretty much all season he has been playing 80 in qcup. He's a right side second rower and is as young as Nanai was when he had his debut. So it could happen as it would put Nanai outside of Drinky on a shift which is a bit negated by replacing a strike second rower with a power one. I think Nanai could play as a ball playing lock or a centre as he gets older . He has covered centre in games at times when needed Tony. NZ or Chad were not giving him much room yesterday, but he has great feet, exceleration and hands, he'd be good wherever they put him with time. We have some good young wingers coming through, as well as the strange tale of the Mene boys, if they get the inclination. Derby and Mocce have a few kinks in their game but Derby plays right side and a bit of fullback is a handful in the open and will be available after r10 if needed if Feldty gets injured. Zac Laybutt is another one same age or younger as Finefeuiaki, plays all over the backline and was 18th man 2 weeks ago he should be closer next year, very aware good feet and hands. With injuries and promotion he got some games in qcup. He played centre fullback and 5/8 in consecutive games so like Chester and Boyle he is pretty adaptive.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Dylan Walker looked pretty sharp in the highlights reel. Somethings going right at the club and it's great to see.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
I'd like him to be given this year
Tony
Roar Guru
Cheers mate. What do you think of Nanai at centre?
3 R M
Roar Rookie
I think we'll give Macca another run if he wants it Tony. Walks into the starting side now or would be in Tamou's spot in the future as experienced depth at worse. Hiku hasn't been at his best this season and when Shibasaki played I thought we were better as he didn't have so many lapses in defence or brain fades with just a handful of NRL games in comparison. We have a lack of pace apart from Nanai on the right side so we have been exposed there a bit this season. I would back Nanai, Luki and Hessy in a 50m foot race over Chad, Peta and Feldty with the forwards all clocking 34 km+ . Feldty might place but I'd say Luki would win. As for Chad and succession,without a turnaround in form from the blackhawks led in some way by our 19 yo half this season, he is still a year off at least. Clifford was older when he debuted in qcup and realy knocked on the door, after just a few games with a few team of the week performanes. He wasn't ready then in hindsight.
Tony
Roar Guru
A broom? Let's make it a front-end loader! :stoked:
Tony
Roar Guru
Have to agree with all of that Jimmmy. Never saw the value in retaining Hiku, Feldt is pretty much one dimensional these days, and both McLean and Tamou are both past their used by dates.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Hey Robbo. Surely you don't want Griffin to continue at the Dragons after this year. A new coach with new ideas plus a huge broom is what's needed.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
It's probably 20 games short of that happening. He is a good coach who has just made a couple of poor choices in recruitment imo. I think he can get us going OK but he needs to be tougher.