D'Arcy Waldegrave: Warriors fans – be careful not to count chickens before they hatch

Author: D'Arcy Waldegrave ,
Publish Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2026, 9:15am

Follow the podcast on

I have this horrible feeling that there are flocks of unhatched chickens being counted in NZ league circles currently.

As the team continues to make every post a winner, even when the odd victory is more by fluke than design, the chants increase in volume. Last week's stumbling effort against the Knights may have eventually realised plenty of points for the Penrose gang, but it also reiterated the constant guillotine-like threat that hangs over the necks of all teams in the NRL. It only takes a slight drop in intensity, skill, effort, focus, etc for the opposition to scoot away with the chocolates.

The Warriors were only saved from a face full of egg by the ham-fisted shithousery from Jacob Saifiti, who was marched after 13 for an attempted beheading of Luke Laulilii. Forced to play the remainder of the fixture a man down, Newcastle lost by only 14, 12 of those points scored in the last 18 minutes. With 7 of the 8 tries converted, the team has a lot to thank Taine Tuaupiki for.

The cards look favourable for the Warriors. Their fine work across the season to date has given the fans every reason to puff out their collective chests and believe that indeed this is the mythical year they have dreamed of.

This afternoon against Manly will give more strength the arms of the team and their followers should the regular season finish with a victory. Moreso if the victory is without the lint that was attracted to last week's tumbling effort.

It’s not how you start, it’s how you end. The finish line is in sight, but that tempting target must be ignored until the back straight. One precise foot after another is all that is required right now.

Let’s not count unhatched chickens, one of those eggs might contain a goose.