‘Put the torch to Manly’: Warriors won’t relax after sealing top two spot

Even with their spot in the NRL’s top two all but locked in, the Warriors have no intention of playing it safe in their final regular season match.

With one round to go before the finals, and with a points differential of more than 150 to the Dolphins and Sydney Roosters in third and fourth respectively on the ladder, only a mathematical miracle will deny Andrew Webster’s side two home matches in the post-season.

However, after the 46-32 win over the Newcastle Knights, and with a mounting injury toll, Webster has a difficult choice to make over who lines up against the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday.

On one hand, playing their best side would give the Warriors a chance to gain momentum before opening their finals campaign in two weeks.

On the other, facing the Sea Eagles – who have nothing to play for with their top eight hopes dashed last weekend – could give the chance to rest players and make sure they’re as fresh as possible for finals.

As well as the likes of Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin, who were both scratched 24 hours before facing the Knights with injuries, the pair of Wayde Egan and Erin Clark have played every minute this season and could also use a break.

For fullback Taine Tuaupiki, though, there’s no doubt in his mind which approach he wants the Warriors to use this week.

“Looking at it like that, it’s exciting, and we want it,” Tuaupiki told the Herald.

“We want to get good momentum heading into finals.

“We really want to put the torch to Manly and have a good game against them. Hopefully that just lets it all work out for itself.

“You can tell from the way our team lined up today, no one can rest. If you’re not playing, it’s because you’ve got an injury.

“It’s quite good to get a win like that, when you’re building some new combinations, and some young boys get to step up and have an opportunity.”

Aside from Sunday’s win being a significant result in the Warriors’ season, it was another example of Tuaupiki’s growing importance to the club.

Of the side that ran out against Newcastle, including rookie halves Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson, Tuaupiki, 27, was by far the oldest member of the backline.

Since his 2023 debut, Tuaupiki’s career with the Warriors has been one of patience. His opportunities – either at fullback or wing – have tended to come through other players’ absence, regardless of how well he played.

The Warriors celebrate Jacob Laban's try against the Newcastle Knights.

This year, though, Tuaupiki has started to genuinely unseat Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad as first-choice fullback, albeit with the pair trading places due to injuries and suspension.

Across 80 minutes against the Knights, though, Tuaupiki adding leadership to his arsenal was another huge tick in his column, as the Warriors push towards finals.

“We try and lead individually, everyone has a role,” he explained.

“Webby made it clear that when two young halves are coming into the picture, it’s not on their shoulders to lead the team around.

“Everyone had to be 10% better, and I just tried to narrow down on that. I didn’t want to do too much, but just a little bit more than usual.”

That leadership played a huge part in arguably the biggest storyline of Sunday’s win – Cleary’s debut.

As the youngest son of former Warriors coach Ivan, and brother of Penrith Panthers star Nathan, the 21-year-old’s sudden debut took centre stage.

And yet, despite a slow start that saw the Warriors fall to a 16-0 deficit inside 15 minutes, Cleary grew into the game and played a vital hand in the come-from-behind victory.

The Warriors celebrate their win over the Knights. Photo / Photosport

In 80 minutes, Cleary created three tries, kicked for over 200m, threw one linebreak assist, made 14 tackles, and broke three more with ball in hand.

But having shared the field with Cleary at New South Wales Cup level, Tuaupiki had no doubts over what the young half was capable of.

“I always knew Jett’s an NRL player,” Tuaupiki professed.

“He’s confident, he competes well.

“Naturally, you get around him, but he took control of the reins so well this week that we didn’t need to get around him.

“He just took control of the group straight away, once he was told he was playing. We love that for him.”

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.