Round 19: Warriors v Wests Tigers preview
Where to from here for Warriors and Wests
As the home-and-away season heads into its final third, the New Zealand Warriors will be hoping to remain on course when they host the Wests Tigers across the Tasman on Sunday afternoon.
Having been entrenched inside the top four for the past three months, the New Zealand Warriors will be desperate to rectify recent losses in order to give themselves the best chance of confirming a return to the finals and a guaranteed second chance via a top four finish.
Recovering from losses to Penrith and Brisbane during their final bye of the season last week, coach Andrew Webster has responded to Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury by handing former Gold Coast playmaker Tanah Boyd his club debut. Taine Tauapiki will come in at fullback for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns on the wing after spending the past fortnight on the sidelines.
Sitting in fourth position - two points behind the third-placed Bulldogs and four points clear of the fifth-placed Broncos - the Warriors are scheduled to play at home in five of their remaining nine matches.
The Warriors have enjoyed tremendous success over the Wests Tigers throughout the 2020s with eight straight wins, including an emotional return in 2022 after two-and-a-half COVID-impacted seasons on the road.
Putting aside weeks of off-field noise and disappointing on-field performances, the Wests Tigers will be striving to build upon last week's breakthrough result with a rare win in New Zealand.
Holding off a fast-finishing Roosters side with a 30-28 victory to break a run of six straight losses, coach Benji Marshall will welcome back a wealth of experience with premiership winners Apisai Koroisau, Jarome Luai and Jack Bird all named to return.
Currently ranked 14th - two points clear of last position and four points adrift of the top eight - the Tigers face a difficult run home with fixtures against three of the top four sides, along with two games against the Titans, over the closing rounds.
The Tigers have won five out of 14 matches against the Warriors at Go Media Stadium; the joint venture's last victory at the venue occurred against the Storm in 2018 as part of a double header with Benji Marshall sealing the result with a field goal.
Last meeting: Round 4 2025 - Wests Tigers 24 Warriors 26
Who to watch: Having been made to wait until July to get his chance in the top grade, Tanah Boyd will be determined to hold his place in the side well into September. Playing a pivotal role in guiding the Warriors reserve grade side to the top of the table with 16 try-assists in 13 appearances, the former Titans playmaker has shown plenty of ability during the course of 69 NRL appearances to date - including nailing a golden point field goal to defeat the Warriors three years ago. Activating a mutual option in his contract to remain in New Zealand until the end of next season, Boyd will be out to impress as the Warriors strive to record their first win at Go Media Stadium since Easter.
Coming off his first win as a starting halfback - and only second win in the top grade - young gun Latu Fainu will be eager to continue his development against one of the competition heavyweights. Earning rave reviews alongside his brothers with a try in last week's shock victory over the Roosters, the 20-year-old has begun to realise the promise that saw him represent Tonga on the international stage before making his first grade debut while still a teenager. Set to finally line up alongside Jarome Luai in the halves after several false starts, look for Fainu to take the line on as the Tigers stive to defeat the Warriors for the first time this decade.
Favourite: With the Warriors attracting crowds in excess of 20,000 fans in their past 15 appearances at Go Media Stadium, the home ground support is expected to give the Wahs an edge.
My tip: While the new-look spine may not be as potent in stacking up points on the scoreboard, the foundations the Warriors have laid over the first two-thirds of the year should get the hosts home. Warriors by 8.
