Things we know about the Warriors
1 Warriors pass difficult exam
This was the toughest test of the season so far. Last week against the Roosters they could play without pressure — as nobody expected too much — and it was a similar story with their trip to Canberra. But on Saturday night, after a massive build-up and in front of a capacity crowd, the Warriors had to deliver, and they did. It wasn't perfect — far from it — and the Cowboys were up for the challenge, a strong opponent with and without the ball. The Warriors struggled to dominate possession in either half but did enough to claim the victory. Probably the most pleasing aspect was the way they shut out the Cowboys after they grabbed their second try, as the North Queenslanders were unable to get close to scoring again.
2 Forwards deliver platform
again The Warriors forwards continue to impress. The Cowboys pack had plenty of big names, but the home side grabbed all the plaudits. Bunty Afoa was again impressive from the start, and has made the most of his opportunity with James Gavet out. Tohu Harris was well shackled by the Cowboys, but was a strong contributor defensively. Simon Mannering made his mark with a crucial try-saving tackle midway through the second half — the kind of play that can turn games — and looked like he had never been away. Issac Luke and Jazz Tevaga also had busy games, while Leivaha Pulu was a standout in the first half with some big charges, though he got limited game time in the second half.
3 Edge defence needs work The Warriors still appear vulnerable out wide. They are light years ahead of last season in that area, and the defensive improvement shown by Solomone Kata and Ken Maumalo on the left side has been staggering. On the other flank, Peta Hiku and Harris have also been solid. But there's still room to improve. Both Cowboys tries came out wide, as did the Roosters’ solo score last week. As Warriors' coach Stephen Kearney said after the match, different teams bring varied challenges and it's a work in progress. They are significantly better in that area than they have been for years, but will need to continue to improve as the demands increase throughout the season.