SUNDAY, MAY 25th, 2025 Go Media Stadium,Auckland,4.05 pm
From the Ashes: Warriors’ 2025 Resurgence Rekindles the ‘Up The Wahs’ Fire
In 2023, Andrew Webster’s debut season as head coach of the Warriors became the stuff of folklore. A seven-game winning streak carried the team into the finals with a tidal wave of momentum behind them. Across both sides of the Tasman, a single chant echoed louder than any whistle or siren: “Up the Wahs.”
That magical run saw Webster and his men go unbeaten from Round 19 to 26, clinching a top-four finish and reigniting belief in long-suffering fans.
But fast-forward to 2024, and the dream hit the rocks. A 13th-place finish served as a brutal reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in the NRL. The spark seemed gone — the chant quieter, the belief shaken.
Now, in 2025, the fire is burning once again.
Heading into their Round 12 clash against the Raiders, the Warriors are riding a five-game winning streak and sitting second on the ladder. They’ve rediscovered their identity — aggressive, relentless, and united — and are determined to turn this momentum into something far greater.
Sunday afternoon at Go Media Stadium offers more than just two competition points. It’s a chance at redemption for a season-opening loss in Las Vegas — one of only two blemishes on Webster’s record this year. Since their Round 6 humbling at the hands of the Storm in Melbourne, the Warriors have rattled off wins against the Broncos, Knights, Cowboys, Dragons, and Dolphins — each one adding another layer of belief to their campaign.
However, their sixth straight win won’t come easy. They’ll be without key enforcers James Fisher-Harris (suspension) and Mitch Barnett (NSW Origin duty), both pivotal in laying the platform up front. Still, the return of Jackson Ford (concussion) and Bunty Afoa (knee) helps ease the blow. Explosive centre Ali Leiataua, sidelined for the past three games with an ankle injury, is also named in the extended squad and could provide a much-needed boost if cleared to play.
The road ahead remains steep, but if 2023 taught us anything, it’s this: when the Wahs start rolling, anything feels possible.
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Jackson Ford 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Tom Ale 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Taine Tuaupiki
Unavailable due to State of Origin I – Mitch Barnett (NSW)
Out: James Fisher-Harris (front row), Mitchell Barnett (front row)
In: Jackson Ford (front row), Bunty Afoa (front row)
Next Man Up: Raiders Ride Momentum into Auckland with Fresh Faces and Big Ambitions
After sweeping aside the Titans in a confident Round 11 showing, the Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders now set their sights on one of the toughest road trips in the NRL — a Sunday clash with the resurgent Warriors at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.
Their performance last week was the kind that turns heads. The Green Machine fired across the park, but it was Xavier Savage who stole the spotlight, lighting up the scoreboard with a blistering hat-trick. Matt Timoko added a double of his own, continuing his red-hot form and providing plenty of headaches for the Gold Coast defence.
But as they prepare to face one of the competition’s most in-form sides, the Raiders will do so without one of their enforcers.
Star back-rower Hudson Young is away on State of Origin duty, chasing New South Wales glory. In his absence, the “next man up” mantra kicks in — and it’s Simi Sasagi who earns a start in the back row. Stepping onto the big stage for the first time is 20-year-old Noah Martin, a talented prospect who’s been named on the bench for his NRL debut.
For Canberra, this isn’t just about maintaining momentum — it’s about proving their depth, their belief, and their hunger in enemy territory.
The Warriors are flying high. The crowd in Auckland will be loud. But the Raiders, fuelled by confidence and the emergence of new talent, won’t be arriving quietly.
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Jed Stuart 19. Trey Mooney 20. Danny Levi 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Chevy Stewart
Unavailable due to State of Origin I – Hudson Young (NSW)
Out: Hudson Young (second row)
In: Noah Martin (bench)
Changes: Simi Sasagi (bench to second row)
Referees, Adam Gee, Touch Judges, Wyatt Raymond, Michael Wise, Bunker, Kasey Badger.
Key Stats
I won’t comment on the officials in this game, but lets hope they get some decisions correct at least.
So far this season they have been pathetic. All of them.
The Warriors have won all four games in New Zealand this season.
The Raiders have not won in New Zealand since 2019.
Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 15 tries in his last 17 games at Go Media Stadium.
Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored four tries in his past two games.
Warrior Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has scored a try in his last four games against the Raiders.
Top-Four Titans Collide: Warriors and Raiders Set for Blockbuster Battle in Auckland
This Sunday promises one of the season’s most anticipated showdowns — a high-stakes clash between two Top 4 heavyweights who are lighting up the NRL with form, flair, and ferocity.
Between them, the Warriors and Raiders have dropped just one match in their last ten combined outings. It’s the kind of matchup fans circle on the calendar — one with finals intensity, Origin implications, and the potential to shift the balance at the top of the ladder.
For the Raiders, momentum is on their side. They arrive in Auckland brimming with confidence after a clinical win over the Titans, where young guns like Xavier Savage and Matt Timoko turned on the style. But they’ll be without one of their most explosive forwards, Hudson Young, who’s been called into the New South Wales Origin camp. His absence opens the door for emerging talent, but against a Warriors side this fired-up, it’s a big void to fill.
The Warriors, meanwhile, are riding a five-game winning streak and have rediscovered the grit and energy that made them darlings of 2023. Their only blemishes this year? A season-opening loss in Las Vegas and a sobering defeat to the Storm — both long in the rear-view mirror. Still, they’ll face the Raiders without key enforcer Mitch Barnett, who’s also away on Origin duty for the Blues.
In front of a home crowd at Go Media Stadium, the Wahs have every reason to believe. But if they want to extend their run and hold firm inside the Top 4, they’ll need to be at their sharpest. The Raiders are coming with firepower and form — and neither side is in the mood to blink first.
The stage is set. Two contenders. One massive statement to be made.
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