New Zealand Warriors achieved a historic milestone, notching their 18th win of the 2026 NRL season with a nail-biting 31-30 victory over Manly.
This success marks the most wins ever recorded in a single season by the Warriors, highlighting their competitive progress.
Coach Andrew Webster acknowledged that while the victory was significant, his team still has areas to improve ahead of a potential first-week finals matchup against the Dolphins.
"It's clear we've got a couple of things we have to iron out," he stated, emphasizing the need for refinement.
Webster pinpointed edge defense as a critical focus, admitting, "We were just missing that last little bit of detail defensively, but I'm not worried."
He expressed confidence in his team's capability to address these concerns, stating, "I know we've got to clean some stuff up, but I also know what sort of week we need to have this week."
Aside from the win itself, Webster appreciated the valuable experience gained in a tightly contested game just before the finals. "We've practised a few things during the week around teams going for field goals," he explained.
He expressed pride in how his team managed to maintain composure, saying, "I'm really proud of the team, they held their nerve, and we came back and won."
The Warriors will await the outcome of the Penrith versus Wests Tigers match to determine their first-round opponent in the playoffs.
If Penrith wins by 2 or more points, the Warriors will face the Dolphins; any other result will lead them to play against the Roosters.