Recap: Warriors v Wests Tigers — NRL, round four
Friday, 27 March 2026
- The Warriors host the Wests Tigers in Auckland in round four of the NRL on Friday night.
The match at Go Media Stadium starts at 8pm with live coverage on Sky Sport and live updates on Stuff from 7:45pm.
Luke Metcalf makes his first start for the Warriors since rupturing his ACL last June.
- The Warriors made a late change, with Taine Tuaupiki moving from the reserves to start at fullback. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad shifts to centre and Ali Leiataua was demoted to the New South Wales Cup team.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Luke Metcalf is making an unexpected comeback for the Warriors at five-eighth in his first NRL appearance in almost nine months.
His ruptured ACL last season was a devastating blow for the player and the club, who still made the playoffs by finishing sixth before their first-round exit.
Still, there was no doubting Andrew Webster’s team lost their attacking verve without the livewire Australian. The 27-year-old was having the campaign of his life.
Metcalf is back with positivity percolating through the Warriors. Top of the standings, albeit after just three rounds, defeating the Wests Tigers on Friday night at Mt Smart would give them four consecutive victories to begin the year.
Coach Webster said Metcalf has been getting closer to playing in the last month, but his return for Friday night’s fixture in Auckland was a surprise nonetheless.
“We thought it was going to be a couple of weeks later,” Webster said.
“Two weeks ago, we thought he was getting nearer because of the effort, the reps and how he was feeling. It’s come around a little bit early, but not too much.”
Webster insisted that Metcalf was ready despite the severity of his injury. He suffered the same setback to his left knee in 2019.
Tanah Boyd’s form at halfback means Metcalf starts at five-eighth — he played halfback throughout last season — in a new halves combination.
Benji Marshall’s Tigers, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of five-eighth Adam Doueihi after he went off injured last weekend with star halfback Jarome Luai.
Luai has been ruled out because of a knee injury and Doueihi has a tight hamstring.
The Warriors have made other changes.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has returned at fullback, nudging Taine Tuaupiki out of the side, while Adam Pompey is back at centre after missing last Saturday’s 38-12 win over the Newcastle Knights because of the birth of his first child.
Leka Halasima, who shifted to centre in Pompey’s absence, has moved back to start in the second row.
Like Metcalf, co-captain Mitch Barnett suffered an ACL injury last year. He has already returned and continues his comeback on the bench.
The Warriors have won nine in a row against the Tigers, who started the season with one win and one loss.
TEAMS
Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Luke Metcalf, Tanah Boyd, James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford, Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban, Erin Clark; Interchange: Sam Healey, Mitchell Barnett, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Marata Niukore, Chanel Harris-Tavita; Reserves: Taine Tuaupiki, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
Wests Tigers: Jahream Bula, Jeral Skelton, Sunia Turuva, Heamasi Makasini, Luke Laulilii, Jock Madden, Adam Doueihi, Terrell May, Apisai Koroisau, Fonua Pole, Samuela Fainu, Kai Pearce-Paul, Alex Twal; Interchange: Tristan Hope, Sione Fainu, Royce Hunt, Alex Seyfarth, Bunty Afoa, Faaletino Tavana; Reserves: Tony Sukkar, Latu Fainu, Patrick Herbert.
TAB ODDS
Warriors $1.22, Tigers $4.25
HEAD TO HEAD
The Warriors have 23 wins to the Tigers’ 16 in their 39 meetings. The Kiwi club haven’t lost to Wests since 2019.
PREDICT THE RESULT