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Important SN update for SouthlandEffort not Enough: Webster demands execution as Warriors brace for Broncos test
Stephen Foote • June 25th, 2025 9:18 am
Photo: Photosport
With the benefit of a few day's digestion, Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has boiled the assessment of his side's lacklustre outing against the Penrith Panthers down to two very simple factors.
Effort and execution. Specifically, the absence of the latter.
"There was so much effort, we were trying really hard, but we just didn't execute it," said Webster.
"I think a lot of our style of football requires big effort, and we had that, but effort's not going to win you games. You've got to combine it with execution, and we didn't do that."
"What we're normally good at, we weren't great. Our kick chase was pretty poor. We were rushing down there trying, but we were executing it wrong.
"They put dents in us, there were line breaks and there were big momentum swings and we didn't build that pressure that we normally do."
Aysh searches for positives in loss to Panthers | Warriors Live
Rubbing salt in that wound is confirmation veteran wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will be out of action for up to six weeks with an ankle injury, having already missed the opening nine rounds of the year recovering from a broken wrist.
Edward Kosi has been named to start in his place on Saturday against the Broncos, a position many assumed would be occupied by the electric Taine Tuaupiki, who's been appointed the 23rd man.
Webster confirmed Tuaupiki had progressed through the requisite return-to-play protocol, been back at full-contact training and is available for selection, after he was the victim of an ugly hit by Eels centre Alfred Smalley during a NSW Cup fixture in Sydney.
Linchpin Luke Metcalf has also avoided any serious injury. The half was clearly compromised late in the game last weekend, but the diagnosis is simply a corked thigh. He's trained in full this week and will don his No. 7 jersey on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the team welcomes Kurt Capewell back into the fold, fresh off his superb performance in Queensland's upset win over NSW in last week's State of Origin II, an addition that will undeniably strengthen what was an ailing defensive outing against Ivan Cleary's men.
Webster admits the team missed the veteran forward's experience and leadership against the Panthers.
"It's awesome having him back. I thought he was the best player in Origin. I'm so proud of him.
"He brings so much experience and connection with the group. His talk is unbelievable.
"Him and (Fisher-Harris) do such a good job with not having (Barnett), Dylan Walker, Shaun Johnson, all those guys who left.
"They've created their own leadership style. He's a big piece of that."
Jacob Laban puts in strong performance against Penrith | Warriors Live
Saturday's 28-18 defeat saw the Warriors consolidate fourth position on the ladder - six points clear of the surging Brisbane Broncos, who'll host them at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.
Empowered by the return of their sparkplug fullback Reece Walsh, the Broncos have found their groove over the past fortnight after a rocky start to their campaign, recording consecutive wins over the Titans and the Sharks.
The teams have already met once this season, with the Warriors escaping with a 20-18 win courtesy of Metcalf's golden-point heroics, slotting a long-range penalty for a walk-off victory.
Webster is adamant his team will need to be on top of their game in Brisbane, where he's expecting another sizeable and vocal Warriors contingent to help his team over the line.
"They're starting to get their game on and they're playing really good football at the moment. They were behind a fair bit against the Sharks on the weekend and they found a way which I thought was impressive.
"They've got so much strike off low footy, they can really hurt you if you're not focused.
"We're looking forward to going to Brisbane. I hope there's heaps of Warriors fans out there listening. Often you get a lot of expats that are over there and I think they're expecting a big crowd.
"If we get as many Warriors fans there, getting a chant going, that'd be awesome."
Tune into Sport Nation from 5pm, Saturday for live, free-to-air coverage of the Warriors' clash with the Broncos
