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SEN is temporarily unavailable'They need to stay engaged': Warriors face long road after Dolphins defeat
Jaxin Daniels • September 14th, 2026 1:55 pm
NZ Warriors | Photo: Photosport
The Warriors will have to take the long route through the NRL finals after falling to the Dolphins 26-16 at Go Media Stadium last weekend.
The defeat means the Warriors will face Newcastle in Auckland this weekend, with the winner progressing to a clash against the formidable Penrith Panthers.
Former Panthers and Titans player Scott Sattler said the loss had made the Warriors’ path significantly more difficult but feels for the team after losing a key piece less than an hour before the game.
“It puts a lot of pressure on the squad and probably more so during warm-up when you lose one of your key players in Leka Halasima,” Sattler told Sport Nation.
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“That has a real adverse effect on the group when you're depending on someone who's so important and so special.”
The Warriors were able to hold their composure after Halasima’s withdrawal, but Sattler believes the loss exposed the challenges facing a squad carrying injuries late in the season.
“Losing that first week, it's not ideal because you've got players that are carrying niggling injuries,” he said.
However, Sattler pointed to history as evidence the Warriors can still make a deep run despite missing out on the opening-weekend win.
“History has told us that there are clubs that have come back and won the competition because they have had to take the long road home,” he said.
The Warriors’ edge defence has been under pressure in recent weeks, and Sattler felt the Dolphins were able to target the same areas Manly had exposed the week before.
He said Adam Pompey faced a difficult assignment after being brought into the side at late notice.
“It wasn't ideal for Adam, wasn't ideal for the Warriors,” Sattler said.
“You lose an extraordinary player for a very, very good player.”
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With Newcastle next, Sattler believes the Warriors must limit the influence of Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best, while also controlling the Knights’ back five.
“If you can shut him down and keep his run metres down, and especially the back rowers. It's about shutting down those two back rowers, getting up and putting as much pressure on those back rowers as possible,” he said.
While the Warriors would have preferred the week off, Sattler believes playing again could benefit a young squad that remains engaged in the finals.
“You know, I feel as though that this Warriors team, with their young players, I think they'll enjoy to keep playing, to be able to stay in the hunt,” he said.
“They are a team who need to stay engaged."
Listen to the full interview:
