Source: Radio New Zealand
Luke Metcalf and Adam Doueihi will face off, when NZ Warriors host Wests Tigers. Photosport/RNZ
NRL: NZ Warriors v Wests Tigers
Kickoff 8pm, Friday, 27 March
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ website
Analysis: For just the fourth time in their history, NZ Warriors sit atop the NRL table, with three big wins from their first three outings of the 2026 season.
They still have a long way to go before they match the 2002 side that won the regular-season minor premiership and reached their first grand final.
Significantly, they failed to reach the playoffs in 2009 and 2019, after leading the field early in their campaigns.
They are also still short of the club’s longest unbeaten start to a season – a five-game run that helped the 2018 team to the post-season.
A win this week against perennial cellardwellers Wests Tigers would put them within a victory of matching that feat.
Here’s what you need to know about that encounter:
History
The Warriors boast a 58.9 percent winning record against the Tigers, prevailing in 23 of their 29 previous meetings. They also have a combined 7-4 record against the two separate clubs that make up the joint venture – Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies.
The advantage is even more pronounced in recent times, when the Warriors have won the last nine fixtures, including home (34-14) and away (26-24) in 2025.
Last time they met, five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita scored a try double and Tanah Boyd kicked 5/6 off the tee in his club debut at Mt Smart.
Last March, the Warriors trailled late, but drew level with a try from Leka Halasima, converted by Luke Metcalf. Immediately from the kickoff, Tigers forward Alex Seyfarth was penalised for a dangerous tackle and Metcalf slotted a 40-metre penalty into the wind that proved the gamewinner.
Chanel Harris-Tavita scores a try against Wests Tigers. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz
The Tigers’ last success against the Warriors came in 2019, when they prevailed 34-6 at Campbelltown, with wing Corey Thompson grabbing a try double.
Wests have the five biggest wins of the rivalry, reaching 50 points three times over the years.
In 2004, they won 50-4, with second-rower Chris Heighington scoring a try double and fullback Brett Hodgson kicking seven goals. Prop Mark Tookey scored the Warriors only points with a try.
The Warriors’ biggest win was 42-18 in 2014, when wing Glen Fisiiahi scored four tries.
Form
After three rounds, the Warriors sit atop the NRL table with three wins, and a superior points differential to Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs.
Their 120 points leads the competition and is the most they’ve ever scored after three rounds. Their +84 points differential is more than they managed all of last season.
The home side also lead the competition in tries (20), goals (20), possession (56 percent), try assists (17) and total kicks (69).
The Tigers also have 56 percent possession.
They benefitted from a first-round bye, before hammering North Queensland 44-16 at Leichhardt Oval and then losing to South Sydney 20-16 in Gosford.
They finished bottom of the table three consecutive seasons (2022-24), but coach Benji Marshall has tried hard to rebuild the culture at the club and guided them to 13th last season, six points clear of the wooden spoon.
Teams
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Mitch Barnett, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Marata Niukore, 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita
Reserves: 21. Taine Tuaupiki, 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Coach Andrew Webster has brought back star half Luke Metcalf from his long knee rehab, naming him at five-eighth outside in-form Tanah Boyd.
Luke Metcalf and Tanah Boyd will team up in the Warriors halves. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Chanel Harris-Tavita return from concussion protocols, with the latter relegated to the bench by Metcalf’s addition. Centre Adam Pompey is also back, after missing last week’s win against the Knights on daddy duty.
Co-captain Mitch Barnett, who also returned from a knee injury last week, stays on the interchange, with Dally M Medal leader Jackson Ford retaining his starting spot in the front row.
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Jeral Skelton, 3. Sunia Turuva, 4. Heamasi Makasini, 5. Luke Lalilii, 6. Jock Madden, 7. Adam Doueihi, 8. Terrell May, 9. Api Koroisau, 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Alex Twal
Interchange: 14. Tristan Hope, 15. Sione Fainu, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Alex Seyfarth, 18. Bunty Afoa, 19. Faaletino Tavana
Reserves: 20. Tony Sukkar, 21. Lau Fainu, 22. Patrick Herbert
Marshall loses the services of Origin and Samoan international half Jarome Luai to a knee injury, while Adam Doueihi has been named, despite tweaking a hamstring and leaving the field late last week against Souths.
Jock Madden replaces Luai, while Warriors centurion Bunty Afoa will return to his old stomping ground on the Tigers bench.
Player to watch
Teenager Heamasi Makasini arrives at Mt Smart with big wraps, after scoring a try on debut in the final round last season and adding to that reputation through the 2026 pre-season.
He has played centre in both games his season and scored a try against the Rabbitohs, so the Warriors will surely have to contain him.
Kiwi player to watch
Not so much a player, as coach Benji Marshall, who is simply a legend of NZ rugby league, delivering his club a championship as a player, and is now adding to that CV from the sidelines.
Benji Marshall lays down the law for his Wests Tigers. Alan Lee/www.photosport.nz
He’s copped more than a fair share of grief from within his own club and the Sydney media, but hasn’t wasted any time laying down the law to his players this season, showing them the door, if they weren’t on board.
What they said
“Always good to see Bunts, stoked for that. He’s a Warrior for life, even though he’s playing for another club and he’ll be a doing a job for them. He’s always welcome at our place.”
Warriors coach Andrew Webster rolls out the welcome mat for Warriors centurion Bunty Afoa
“I would have preferred to win, but at the same time, we’re setting foundations for the way we want to play our foot and tonight, we played the way we want to play.”
Tigers coach Benji Marshall was happy with his team after their loss to Souths, just not the result
What will happen
Losing a world-class organiser like Luai will prove too much for the Tigers, but the Warriors can’t take them lightly, as they start to discover their mojo after years as competition easybeats.
Warriors by 20.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
