August 1, 2025 • 7 mins
Disappointment for the New Zealand Warriors and their fans at the last-gasp NRL defeat at home to the Dolphins last night.
Leading 18-16 in the 79th minute at Mt Smart, Redcliffe winger Jamayne Isaako then scored the match-winning try to take the points, 20-18.
Michael Burgess was at the game and told Jason Pine some overly safe calls late on to die with the ball on the last tackle, as well as a fateful decision to not take a penalty shot.
He says that the loss of confidence and mojo as well as the injury crisis is happening at the worst possible time, and it’s really stalled the Warriors’ momentum.
To make matters worse, the Broncos then closed to within a win of the fourth-placed Warriors with a 60-14 demolition of the Rabbitohs.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalksb B League.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Writer Michael Burgess Birds, you've been following this team for
a while, You've seen a lot of games at that venue.
Where does last night rank among the cruel finishers that
you've seen it at? Go media?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah, get biny, I've seen a few over the years,
but they will be right up there. It really would,
because the Warriors had you know, we didn't give them
a chance before kickoff, there were so many players missing.
They lost another player during the week, so you thought, Okay,
let's hope they try hard, but they're not going to win.
And then they just played played so well, so much
(00:48):
spirit and energy and skill, defended well, and so to
be winning with a minute to go and the Dolphins
score on the fifth tack or the last player of
the game, as you say, heartbreaking for the Warriors. Fantastic
ever by the Dolphins. And the wider question I guess
we've got to think about now is that the Warriors
(01:09):
are and are definitely in a bit of a hole.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Now let's talk about that in a moment, but with
the benefit of hindsight, could or should the Warriors have
done anything differently in the last minutes of that game last.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Night, Yes, I think so. I didn't really like the
way they managed the last five or six minutes. It's
always great in hindsight, but I felt there are a
couple of times they're right attacking on the Dolphins line,
and they died with the ball on the fifth tackle twice,
and you see that tactic it's safe rather than trying
to kick it and it might go long for a
(01:44):
seven tackle set, which is risky, but you also might
get a repeat set. So it felt like they're really
just trying to hang on rather than kill the game
with another try. They also had a shot at a
penalty close to the post. It's sort of been a
four point lead, so you wonder that that's a real
if only because a four point lead, you know, isn't
(02:05):
isn't every think because but there were there were just
a few things they did, and then the biggest thing, Piney,
to be honest, was the way they approached the very
last set. It felt they were just a bit passive
with their defense. And Andrew Webster said after the game
he didn't like the body language, the way that Okay,
you don't want to charge out of the line and
leave a hole. But they were sort of hanging back
(02:26):
and that allowed the Dolphins to go one side the
field to the other and then score in the right corner.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Was that caution or fatigue or both?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, a good point, mate, I mean, there would have
been a lot of fatigue. It was a crazy game.
It was a It was one of the most entertaining
games I can remember, back and forward, so much attack,
just just just a brilliant watch, it really was. It
would have taken a lot out of them. So there
was fatigue. There were players cramping, but also you know
(02:56):
it's hard. You're thinking, we just had to hang on here,
we win the game. The tackles are counting down, so
just felt like they were hanging off a bit and
they paid the oldimate price. Because the other thing we
haven't mentioned yet is that the Dolphins were down to
twelve men for Leis Kafusi Sinbind with seven minutes to go,
So twelve against thirteen, that's another reason why you should
(03:20):
be able to hang on in another reason why this
result will hurt so much.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I guess if we flip it though, eight frontline players
missing birds, you know, a couple of them out for
the season, others coming back in dribs and drabs over
the next few weeks or so. Given that was was
this actually a pretty good performance from a vastly under
strength Warrior's side.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, we can't forget that, Piney, You're exactly right. I mean,
they had seven hundred and fifty games of anerol experience
sitting on the sideline. And if you make a list
of their five most important players, four of them went
there last night, Egan, Fisher, Harris Barnett, Metcalf. So you
add all that up. They weren't supposed to get close
to the Titans, and they played. They played really well.
(04:03):
As I mentioned before, this is a vastly superior before
almost the last week against the Dolphins. So they will
take when the dust settles, they will take positives out
of this game, and there's things to build on. I
like the new structure they had, the new lineup. I
like the way they played. But the question will be
(04:23):
how much mental and emotional energy this kind of defeat
also takes out.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Of them, just on the lineup chance Nikol klukstar coming
into the centers, which released Kurt Capewell back into the forwards,
and Andrew Webs has been wanting to do that for
a while. What did you make of that? Do you
think they'll stick with Charms until the likes of Rock
o'berry and Ali Layatawa are back in the equation?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I hope they do. Yeah, I think it will be
a smart move. I mean Chance. It was only Chance's
second NRL game at center, which sounds pretty crazy, but
he's also played seven tests there. As you say, it
releases cape Well back to the second row, which is
is his position. You get minutes out of them there
he was excellent again. The other thing it does is
(05:09):
that brings in tain to old Pecky into fullback, and
they they need that spark and that speed, especially without
Metcalf now, who was their X factor player to our
Pecky did well. He adds another dimension, so it feels
like more of a balanced lineup, and you'd think they'll
stick with Nickel clock start at center until as you said,
(05:33):
the specialists comeback, which you know is still a few
weeks away.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
All right, So the Warriors will finish the weekend in
fourth place, but the chasing pack is closing in Broncos Panthers,
even the Dolphins themselves after last night Sharks five games
to go, Bulldogs away, Dragons home, Titans away, Eels home,
See Eagles away. Are the Warriors still a top four side?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Well, they haven't been playing like one, have they? If
we're frank, They've lost four of their last six games.
I think the thing that's hurt them the most is
they've lost four of their four or five games at
Mount Smart. You know who would have picked that this
paird was supposed to be their time of milk and honey,
all these games at home, and it just hasn't worked
out like that. So of course they can still finish
(06:18):
in the top four, but whether they will is looking
increasingly unlikely because the Bulldogs, I mean far out of them,
and they lost a couple of games all season. They're
going great. The Dragons are a decent team, as you
say they've got and then they've got the Titans away,
the ultimate bogie team, and the Seagles match you mentioned
that will just happen to be daily Cherry Evans last metric,
(06:39):
mainly after he's played a thousand games there, so you'd
think that'd be quite a hostile occasion. So yeah, it's
it's not stacking up great. But I guess look, they're
still in They're still in the top four. They've got
to find a way to stay there. If they slipped
to fifth or six, it wouldn't be the end of
the world because they still have a home home semi final,
(07:02):
but they will lose their second life. So you're really
you really want to stay in the top four. But
a combination of you know, a loss of a bit
of confidence in Mojo and critically, all these this injury
crisis just happening at the worst possible time has has
really really stalled all that momentum they had in May
(07:25):
and early June.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Indeed, YEP a very challenging final five rounds to play
for the Warriors. Appreciate your time is always Burge. Enjoy
the rest of your weekend, mate, Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Thanks bye now I mean the sun shining in Auckland.
Say you know we keep going, don't we? We do?
We do?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
There's no other way, burg There's no other way. Thanks mate,
Michael Burgess. Read him at enzidherld dot co dot
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Nzed For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fain, Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalksb B League.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Writer Michael Burgess Birds, you've been following this team for
a while, You've seen a lot of games at that venue.
Where does last night rank among the cruel finishers that
you've seen it at? Go media?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah, get biny, I've seen a few over the years,
but they will be right up there. It really would,
because the Warriors had you know, we didn't give them
a chance before kickoff, there were so many players missing.
They lost another player during the week, so you thought, Okay,
let's hope they try hard, but they're not going to win.
And then they just played played so well, so much
(00:48):
spirit and energy and skill, defended well, and so to
be winning with a minute to go and the Dolphins
score on the fifth tack or the last player of
the game, as you say, heartbreaking for the Warriors. Fantastic
ever by the Dolphins. And the wider question I guess
we've got to think about now is that the Warriors
(01:09):
are and are definitely in a bit of a hole.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Now let's talk about that in a moment, but with
the benefit of hindsight, could or should the Warriors have
done anything differently in the last minutes of that game last.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Night, Yes, I think so. I didn't really like the
way they managed the last five or six minutes. It's
always great in hindsight, but I felt there are a
couple of times they're right attacking on the Dolphins line,
and they died with the ball on the fifth tackle twice,
and you see that tactic it's safe rather than trying
to kick it and it might go long for a
(01:44):
seven tackle set, which is risky, but you also might
get a repeat set. So it felt like they're really
just trying to hang on rather than kill the game
with another try. They also had a shot at a
penalty close to the post. It's sort of been a
four point lead, so you wonder that that's a real
if only because a four point lead, you know, isn't
(02:05):
isn't every think because but there were there were just
a few things they did, and then the biggest thing, Piney,
to be honest, was the way they approached the very
last set. It felt they were just a bit passive
with their defense. And Andrew Webster said after the game
he didn't like the body language, the way that Okay,
you don't want to charge out of the line and
leave a hole. But they were sort of hanging back
(02:26):
and that allowed the Dolphins to go one side the
field to the other and then score in the right corner.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Was that caution or fatigue or both?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, a good point, mate, I mean, there would have
been a lot of fatigue. It was a crazy game.
It was a It was one of the most entertaining
games I can remember, back and forward, so much attack,
just just just a brilliant watch, it really was. It
would have taken a lot out of them. So there
was fatigue. There were players cramping, but also you know
(02:56):
it's hard. You're thinking, we just had to hang on here,
we win the game. The tackles are counting down, so
just felt like they were hanging off a bit and
they paid the oldimate price. Because the other thing we
haven't mentioned yet is that the Dolphins were down to
twelve men for Leis Kafusi Sinbind with seven minutes to go,
So twelve against thirteen, that's another reason why you should
(03:20):
be able to hang on in another reason why this
result will hurt so much.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
I guess if we flip it though, eight frontline players
missing birds, you know, a couple of them out for
the season, others coming back in dribs and drabs over
the next few weeks or so. Given that was was
this actually a pretty good performance from a vastly under
strength Warrior's side.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Yeah, we can't forget that, Piney, You're exactly right. I mean,
they had seven hundred and fifty games of anerol experience
sitting on the sideline. And if you make a list
of their five most important players, four of them went
there last night, Egan, Fisher, Harris Barnett, Metcalf. So you
add all that up. They weren't supposed to get close
to the Titans, and they played. They played really well.
(04:03):
As I mentioned before, this is a vastly superior before
almost the last week against the Dolphins. So they will
take when the dust settles, they will take positives out
of this game, and there's things to build on. I
like the new structure they had, the new lineup. I
like the way they played. But the question will be
(04:23):
how much mental and emotional energy this kind of defeat
also takes out.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Of them, just on the lineup chance Nikol klukstar coming
into the centers, which released Kurt Capewell back into the forwards,
and Andrew Webs has been wanting to do that for
a while. What did you make of that? Do you
think they'll stick with Charms until the likes of Rock
o'berry and Ali Layatawa are back in the equation?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I hope they do. Yeah, I think it will be
a smart move. I mean Chance. It was only Chance's
second NRL game at center, which sounds pretty crazy, but
he's also played seven tests there. As you say, it
releases cape Well back to the second row, which is
is his position. You get minutes out of them there
he was excellent again. The other thing it does is
(05:09):
that brings in tain to old Pecky into fullback, and
they they need that spark and that speed, especially without
Metcalf now, who was their X factor player to our
Pecky did well. He adds another dimension, so it feels
like more of a balanced lineup, and you'd think they'll
stick with Nickel clock start at center until as you said,
(05:33):
the specialists comeback, which you know is still a few
weeks away.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
All right, So the Warriors will finish the weekend in
fourth place, but the chasing pack is closing in Broncos Panthers,
even the Dolphins themselves after last night Sharks five games
to go, Bulldogs away, Dragons home, Titans away, Eels home,
See Eagles away. Are the Warriors still a top four side?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Well, they haven't been playing like one, have they? If
we're frank, They've lost four of their last six games.
I think the thing that's hurt them the most is
they've lost four of their four or five games at
Mount Smart. You know who would have picked that this
paird was supposed to be their time of milk and honey,
all these games at home, and it just hasn't worked
out like that. So of course they can still finish
(06:18):
in the top four, but whether they will is looking
increasingly unlikely because the Bulldogs, I mean far out of them,
and they lost a couple of games all season. They're
going great. The Dragons are a decent team, as you
say they've got and then they've got the Titans away,
the ultimate bogie team, and the Seagles match you mentioned
that will just happen to be daily Cherry Evans last metric,
(06:39):
mainly after he's played a thousand games there, so you'd
think that'd be quite a hostile occasion. So yeah, it's
it's not stacking up great. But I guess look, they're
still in They're still in the top four. They've got
to find a way to stay there. If they slipped
to fifth or six, it wouldn't be the end of
the world because they still have a home home semi final,
(07:02):
but they will lose their second life. So you're really
you really want to stay in the top four. But
a combination of you know, a loss of a bit
of confidence in Mojo and critically, all these this injury
crisis just happening at the worst possible time has has
really really stalled all that momentum they had in May
(07:25):
and early June.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Indeed, YEP a very challenging final five rounds to play
for the Warriors. Appreciate your time is always Burge. Enjoy
the rest of your weekend, mate, Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Thanks bye now I mean the sun shining in Auckland.
Say you know we keep going, don't we? We do?
We do?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
There's no other way, burg There's no other way. Thanks mate,
Michael Burgess. Read him at enzidherld dot co dot
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Nzed For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fain, Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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