Warriors v Knights: Andrew Webster’s pain as 2026 season ends with whimper
The New Zealand Warriors were eliminated from the NRL finals after a 12-10 loss to the Newcastle Knights. Coach Andrew Webster expressed disappointment after the team failed to capitalize on a strong regular season.
Why it matters
The loss marks a painful end to a record-breaking season for the Warriors, who were considered strong contenders after finishing in the top two.
It won’t feel like it for the club, its players or fans, but the Warriors have plenty to be proud of after the season they’ve had.
That, though, only adds to the pain coach Andrew Webster will be feeling after Sunday’s 12-10 NRL semi-final defeat to the Newcastle Knights .
Having been handed a wake-up call with a 26-16 defeat to the Dolphins in last week’s qualifying final, the Warriors became the second team in as many years – after the Canberra Raiders in 2025 – to crash out of the NRL finals in straight sets , despite qualifying in the top two.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in