After three consecutive losses on the road, finals football has - barring a miracle - eluded the One New Zealand Warriors for the first time since entering the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) competition.
Back-to-back premiers in 2024 and 2025, the Warriors have been left to rue three tough outings in Sydney which saw them lose 16-26 to the Bulldogs, 22-24 to the Tigers and finally 10-26 to the Eels last weekend.
The run of results has left them with a 1-5 record sitting 14th on four points going into their last two matches of the regular season.
The Roosters, sitting seventh on eight points, will move to 10 points with their bye this week putting them out of the Warriors’ reach.
The Raiders and Sea Eagles are also on eight points with the Sharks, Dragons, Tigers and Bears filling the next four spots on six points.
Match: Warriors v Magpies
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Magpies
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Kaian OlsenFullback for Magpies is number 1 Iszak Isdale
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Makarios VaiholaWinger for Magpies is number 2 Sebastian Taylor
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Hoani-Manuera KahukiwaCentre for Magpies is number 3 Sam Francis
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Satali Asolelei FrettonCentre for Magpies is number 4 Kingston Finau
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Lennox-Rua Limu FranklinWinger for Magpies is number 5 Joshua Ratu
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Shaye McEwanFive-Eighth for Magpies is number 6 Jeremiah Leota-Brown
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Jackson RobinsonHalfback for Magpies is number 7 Connor Potts
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Kenny LafituanaiProp for Magpies is number 8 Zephaniah Finau
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Kayce Perese-SukrooHooker for Magpies is number 14 Jaxon Speechley
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Hanita TakuluaProp for Magpies is number 10 Etuate Neiufi
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Tusi Fanolua2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Jerome Cosgrave
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Rilee McGrath Huggins2nd Row for Magpies is number 12 Isaac Searle
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Thomas ChristensenLock for Magpies is number 13 Ioane Sasulu
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Siope To'ofoheInterchange for Magpies is number 9 Ryder Goff
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Robert PangeInterchange for Magpies is number 15 Christopher Katu Fe'aunati
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Malakai HavealetaInterchange for Magpies is number 16 Zephaniah McLean Lemalu
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Shannon PaiInterchange for Magpies is number 18 Moni Tumanuvao
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Jai MeyerReplacement for Magpies is number 17 Llanden Granger
Last updated:
The Warriors would need to beat the 16th-placed Magpies and the third-ranked Illawarra Steelers to make it to eight points – and then need an unimaginable sequence of results to fall their way.
There is a way the Warriors could be among six teams to finish on eight points for the last finals berth and bring points for and against into the frame but the laws of probability would put it right out of play.
Whatever may or may not happen, the Warriors will want to finish strongly.
