FRIDAY AUGUST 15th 2025.
Warriors v Dragons
Go Media Stadium, Auckland, NZ. 6pm.
Warriors on the Brink: Frustration, Misfires, and a Date with the Dragons
Three straight defeats have knocked the Warriors out of the top four, and now they face a Dragons side that has embraced the role of giant killer over the past fortnight. Friday night at Go Media Stadium should be a celebration for the loyal home crowd, but with recent history — back-to-back home losses to the Titans and Dolphins — the atmosphere may carry a nervous edge.
The stakes are brutal. Another loss, and the Warriors could tumble as low as seventh if the Broncos and Sharks notch wins. Coach Andrew Webster has shuffled the deck: Tanah Boyd gets the nod at halfback with Te Maire Martin sidelined by concussion, while Wayde Egan returns from a shoulder injury to reclaim the hooking role. Kurt Capewell (concussion) is out, pushing Leka Halasima into the starting back row and opening a bench spot for Eddie Ieremia-Toeava in just his second career match.
But selection changes can’t mask the deeper frustrations. The Warriors have, frankly, looked like the NRL’s most baffling team in recent weeks. Kick-offs barely scrape past the 10-metre line, handing opponents an easy 12 metres to start sets. Last-tackle kicks float harmlessly downfield, rarely contested. On attack, fullback Taine Tuaupiki often takes the second run instead of a forward, leaving the pack to wander into a third-tackle hit-up that barely gains two metres.
Last week in the wet, the Bulldogs had the sense to kick into space early in the count; the Warriors, in contrast, chose to run it out from their own 10 — and paid the price. Playmakers Boyd and, the week before, Martin have launched aimless last-tackle kicks that gift possession. Without the injured Luke Metcalf, there’s been no spark, no polish. Even if they cling to a spot in the eight, they look unlikely to trouble anyone come finals time.
Warriors:
1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark Bench: 14. Samuel Healey 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, Reserves: 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Edward Kosi 21. Tom Ale 22. Kayliss Fatialofa 25. Bunty Afoa.
Dragons Rise Late: Spoiler Role Beckons After Season of Near Misses
For much of 2025, the Dragons have lived on the wrong side of the fine margins — matches decided by a bounce of the ball or a single missed tackle. But in the past fortnight, they’ve shaken off those demons with gritty wins over the Raiders and Sharks, breathing life into a late-season surge. Now, with four games remaining, they sit just two wins shy of the top eight. The odds say they’ll fall short, but Shane Flanagan’s men have a different prize in mind: wrecking a few dreams on their way to the finish line.
The mission starts this week against a stumbling Warriors side, before a clash with the Sea Eagles in Round 26 and a daunting showdown with Penrith to close the regular season.
The team sheet brings both hope and heartbreak. Mat Feagai returns from a groin injury to shore up the centres, but Moses Suli bows out with a knee problem. Young Hayden Buchanan, who made his debut last week, keeps his spot after an impressive first outing. Michael Molo’s ankle has healed enough for him to rejoin the bench, where he’ll be joined by Loko Pasifiki Tonga in his first NRL appearance since Round 18. There’s also a glimmer of depth on the horizon, with winger Christian Tuipulotu lurking in the reserves after coming through an NSW Cup match last weekend following another hamstring setback.
The Dragons’ finals flame may be flickering, but their appetite for chaos is alive and well — and a wounded Warriors outfit might just be the perfect target.
Dragons:
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Hayden Buchanan 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer, 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Jack De Belin, Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Michael Molo 16. Hame Sele 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga Reserves: 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Lachlan Ilias , 20. Jacob Halangahu 21. Nathan Lawson 22. Christian Tuipulotu.
Key stats
The Warriors have won three of their past four games against the Dragons.
The Dragons have not won in New Zealand since 2017.
The Warriors have lost four of their last five games at Go Media Stadium.
Dragons lock Jack De Belin will make his 250th NRL appearance.
Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored seven tries in his last six games against the Dragons.
Officials
Referee, Todd Smith, Touch Judges, Damian Brady, Kieren Irons, Bunker, Ashley Klein.
One Last Chance: Warriors Given Slim Edge in Crucial Dragons Clash
Since halfback Luke Metcalf went down injured, the Warriors have been a shadow of the side that once looked like genuine contenders. Last week’s defeat to a stubborn Bulldogs outfit only deepened the slump, raising fresh doubts about whether this team can salvage its season.
Meanwhile, the Dragons are heading in the opposite direction. Fresh off a home upset against the Sharks, Shane Flanagan’s men have discovered some bite and will cross the Tasman brimming with belief. Their improved form, coupled with the Warriors’ erratic displays, makes this a far tougher contest to call than it might have been a month ago.
Tipping the Warriors has become an act of faith — and lately, a losing habit. Yet there’s a sense that if they can summon one big performance at Go Media Stadium, they might just keep their season alive. It’s a leap of trust, but they’ll get one last crack in my book… Warriors by 5.
Roosters v Bulldogs
Allianz Stadium,Sydney,8.00pm
Roosters Soar Back into Contention Ahead of Bulldogs Blockbuster
The Roosters have found their spark at just the right time. After dismantling the Sea Eagles and Dolphins in back-to-back weeks — racking up a combined 84 points while conceding just 16 — their season has been jolted back to life.
James Tedesco is in vintage form, Sam Walker is pulling strings with confidence, and suddenly the Tricolours look like a side built to do damage in September. With finals experience in 11 of the past 12 seasons and three premierships in that span, this is a club that knows how to rise when the stage gets big — and Friday night’s showdown with the Bulldogs is as big as they come.
Team changes bring both challenges and opportunity. Back-rower Siua Wong will sit out with concussion, prompting Victor Radley to shift into the starting lock role and Naufahu Whyte to step up at prop. Egan Butcher moves from the bench into the run-on side, while Blake Steep gets the call to join the interchange.
Momentum is a powerful thing in rugby league — and right now, the Roosters have it in spades. The question is whether they can keep flying when the Bulldogs come hunting.
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins , 11. Angus Crichton 12. Egan Butcher 13. Victor Radley Bench: 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Salesi Foketi, 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu Reserves: 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Sandon Smith, 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Junior Tupou
Bulldogs Banking on Grit to Halt Roosters’ Surge
Back in Round 11, the Bulldogs proved they were the real deal. Trailing 14-0 at half-time against the Roosters at Accor Stadium, they dug deep, turned the tide, and stormed home to win 24-20 in one of the season’s most gripping contests.
That fighting spirit has been a hallmark of Cameron Ciraldo’s 2025 side — a team built on resilience, belief, and the ability to thrive when the odds are stacked against them. They’ll need every ounce of that resolve in Round 24, with the Roosters arriving in red-hot form and intent on keeping their late-season charge alive.
Ciraldo has shown faith in the side that got the job done against the Warriors, naming an unchanged 17. There’s also a potential boost on the horizon, with fullback Connor Tracey listed among the reserves as he pushes to return from the abdominal injury that’s sidelined him for the past two games.
The Roosters may be riding a wave, but the Bulldogs have already shown they know how to pull them under.
Bulldogs
1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Jethro Rinakama 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala , 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran , 17. Reed Mahoney Reserves: 19. Jake Turpin 20. Daniel Suluka-fifita 21. Connor Tracey, 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Toby Sexton.
Referee, Grant Atkins, Touch Judges, David Munro, Matt Noyen, Bunker, Adam Gee.
Shame about the officials. Both Atkins and Gee are really poor. Mine you, I though all the referees were poor last week, maybe all season .
Key Stats
The Roosters have lost four from five against top four opposition this season.
The Bulldogs are aiming for two wins in a season against the Roosters for the first time since 2016.
The Roosters have won only two from eight at Allianz Stadium this season.
Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton has scored six tries in his last six games against the Roosters.
Roosters winger Daniel Tupou has scored 12 tries in his last 10 games.
Dog Fight in the Wet: Bulldogs Tipped to Edge Roosters in Finals-Shaping Clash
The Roosters have shaken off their loss to the Storm in style, delivering two blistering wins over the Sea Eagles and Dolphins that have reignited their season. The attack is humming, the defence is stingy, and they look every bit a September threat once again.
But the Bulldogs arrive with belief of their own. Last week, they proved they could handle the toughest of conditions, grinding out a win over the Warriors in a rain-soaked battle at Accor Stadium. Cameron Ciraldo’s men thrive in the scrap, and they won’t shy away from another high-pressure, high-stakes contest.
With finals hopes hanging in the balance for both sides, Friday night promises to deliver a contest dripping with intensity and skill. The Roosters have the momentum, but there’s a sense the Bulldogs might just have the grit to spoil the party.
Call it a hunch — or maybe a bit of Round 11 déjà vu — but I’m leaning towards the Doggies to sneak home in a nail-biter. Bulldogs by a couple of points.
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