Luke Metcalf slots the winning field goal against the Dragons. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
Each week, the NZ Warriors are finding new ways to stress their supporters - and coaching staff - as they do just enough to continue a strong start to the 2025 NRL season.
The word 'nailbiting' is becoming cliché and, truth be told, no-one should have any fingernails left, after three previous thrillers that have gone down to the wire.
A 15-14 win over St George Illawarra Dragons at Wollongong was enough to create a piece of history for the current Warriors outfit, who now sit second on the competition table.
Here are some key takeaways from the game:
Late line-up change
Coach Andrew Webster made a late switch to his starting line-up, bringing Bunty Afoa into the front row and dropping Jackson Ford to the interchange bench, not for the first time this season.
A couple of weeks ago, with James Fisher-Harris facing an extended injury spell, Ford seemed undecided about his promotion from the bench, a role he seems to have embraced this season.
He was originally named to start against Newcastle two weeks ago, but ultimately reverted back to the reserves, where he continues bring fresh legs about 20 minutes into the contest.
Unfortunately, Ford will now likely miss next week's game, after failing a concussion test in the second half.
Curse of WIN Stadium
The Warriors haven't enjoyed much success at Wollongong over the years, losing 10 straight games there between 2000 and 2018 and suffering an 11-2 record before this weekend.
That hoodoo almost rose up to bite them again, as they went scoreless for most of the second half and the home side staged a dramatic comeback with the wind at their backs.
In his post-match interview with Warriors captain Mitch Barnett, NRL legend Darryl Halligan observed playing north at WIN Stadium - as they did after halftime - always felt like running uphill.
"That explains why, when they won the toss, they decided to play it that way," Barnett revealed.
"They must have had some local knowledge."
The Warriors have now won three of their last four visits to the venue, so hopefully that is enough to kill the curse dead now.
DWZ return
Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak had logged only a few pre-season minutes before breaking his wrist in the opening trial game against Cronulla Sharks, and was summoned back into the starting line-up without the benefit of a run in the reserves, after Ed Kosi suffered a shoulder injury last week.
His return has been much anticipated, but it was only natural he would have to shake off some rust, before resuming his high-flying, tryscoring ways.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak made a mixed return from injury against the Dragons. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
He carried 14 times for 132 metres, including 42 after the tackle, and made seven tackles himself, but also missed one and committed four errors. Two of them came in the build-up to Dylan Egan's try for the Dragons, as he deflected passes and gave away six more tackles.
The last error came on the final play of the game, when he did the same deep in Dragons territory to snuff out their last-ditch chance at victory.
If you had him in your fantasy line-up, he only earned you 13 points, but he'll be better for the run next week.
Injuries
After taking a few hits against North Queensland last week, the Warriors will find their squad mentality tested again next week, when they try to name a line-up against the Dolphins.
Ford will miss a week with a concussion and front-rower Bunty Afoa left the field with a knee injury. Marata Niukore passed his HIA, but lock Erin Clark was put on report for a high hit on opposite Jack de Belin.
The Dragons bad boy had been instrumental in turning the tide after halftime - it was his head that clashed with Ford's and he was also the third man into a tackle where he appeared to target the ribs of hooker Wayde Egan.
He was finally penalised for dumping Leka Halasima from beyond the horizontal, after which he and Clark exchanged words. It was no surprise to see Clark give him a tickle at the next opportunity and we'll all wait to see what extra punishment lies in store for him at the judiciary.
Clark has been one of the Warriors' very best this season and again led the tackle count with 52, while also running 16 times for 162 metres.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad takes on some magical pickle juice for cramp. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
Fullback Charnze-Nicoll Klokstad took a heavy blow late, but his unsteadiness was apparently just cramp and he finished out the contest, after swigging the magical pickle juice.
The Warriors will likely have Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Fisher-Harris back next week. Fisher-Harris for Afoa seems a logical replacement, while slotting RTS into the centres, would enable Kurt Capewell to return to the forwards.
Metcalf clutch again
Somehow, the Warriors kept their success in close games intact this season, but the margins are getting closer and closer.
At this stage last season, they had already lost four games by six points or fewer, plus an extra-time draw against Manly Sea Eagles, and their inability to win those close games cost them dearly at the end of the campaign, when they were 7-3 in nailbiters and missed the playoffs by six points.
Miraculously, halfback Luke Metcalf has now been instrumental in all four of those narrow escapes in 2025.
Against Wests Tigers (26-24), he slotted a late penalty to break a tie, then left it until extra time to slot a 50-metres effort against Brisbane Broncos (20-18). Against North Queensland Cowboys (30-26), he made a cover tackle that deprived winger Murray Taulagi a try that would have levelled the scores with a sideline conversion to come.
He found another way to beat the Dragons, slotting a field goal at his first attempt from 30 metres out, and continues to wrack up points on the Dally M Medal standings.
Metcalf had a personal tally of 11 points, after also scoring a try - his seventh of the season - but the decision to take penalty kicks at goal, instead of pushing their first-half advantage, may come under scrutiny.
Ladder climbers
Canterbury Bulldogs' victory over Canberra Raiders in their top-of-the-table clash left the door open for the Warriors to nail down second place on the competition ladder with a win over the Dragons.
The result elevates them ahead of the Raiders and beyond reach of closest challengers Melbourne Storm for the rest of the weekend.
Winning keeps them on par with the teams of 2018 and 2002 for the best records through nine games - they can move ahead of the most recent edition with victory over the Dolphins, but have a long way to go before surpassing the 11-2 start of the club's first Grand Final side.
The current crop does enjoy one distinction to themselves - this is the highest the Warriors have ever been on the table after 10 rounds. The previous best was third by that 2018 outfit.
Dragons
If the Warriors are proving masters of the photo finish, the St George are now 2-4 in games decided by a converted try or less.
Previously, they lost 25-24 to South Sydney Rabbitohs, 23-22 to Parramatta Eels and 34-28 to Wests Tigers, while edging Melbourne Storm 14-8 and Manly Sea Eagles 20-18.
This result saw them slide to 13th on the table, but you feel like they aren't that far away from turning their luck around, given the personnel they have on board.
One bright spot to emerge from this loss was the debut of Auckland-born teenager Loko Pasifiki Tonga, who stands 1.96m and 121kg.
He logged 31 minutes off the bench and ran 11 times for 102 metres, including 50 after contact, while making 18 tackles, cheered on by a 70-strong contingent of supporters in the stand.
Take note of the name.
Next up...
The Warriors return to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium to face another team that can't seem to find consistency in their 2025 campaign.
The Dolphins currently sit 12th on the competition ladder with four wins and six losses. They opened their account with four losses, then seemed to turn their form around with three straight wins - including both last year's finalists, Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm - but then suffered back-to-back defeats.
They're fresh off a win over bottom-of-the-table Parramatta Eels and hopefully the Warriors will have as much support as they enjoyed for their "Magic Round" win over North Queensland last week.
The Dolphins are traditionally based at Redcliffe, where the Warriors based themselves during their three-year Covid-19 exile.
They have met four times over the past two seasons, with the home teams winning each time for a 2-2 record.
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