The Warriors go into their final-round clash with the Manly Sea Eagles knowing the minor premiership is still alive, and Andrew Webster has made it clear that the focus inside the camp is on composure rather than outside noise.
That matters because the Warriors are back on top with one week remaining after a 46-32 win over the Newcastle Knights at Go Media Stadium, following last week’s 45-26 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs. They now host the Sea Eagles on Saturday afternoon, while the Panthers are set to host the Tigers on Sunday evening.
Webster also used his post-match comments to defend Adam Pompey, who has become one of the more discussed figures in the Warriors’ late-season push. Earlier in the season, Pompey became a father, and the coach felt the 28-year-old was clearly ready for the challenge in a game that kept swinging.
Webster: Pompey was ready to go
Asked about Pompey’s performance, Webster said the signs were there well before kick-off.
“Probably a weakness of mine sometimes, not being on social media, that I’m not aware of these things, but he didn’t show any signs this week,” Webster said.
He added: “He looked like he was always ready. Last week, he actually played really well. He carried the ball.”
That is the sort of message coaches usually want to send at this stage of the season. The Warriors are chasing something they have not achieved since 2002, so the last thing Webster needs is uncertainty around a player he clearly trusts.
The attacking link that keeps working
Pompey’s influence was visible in the first half against the Knights when Demitric Vaimauga scored after Pompey caught a Jett Cleary bomb and offloaded. Later, in the second half, Pompey finished in the right corner despite two defenders pushing him towards the sideline.
It was a reminder that the Warriors are not relying on one method. They can win through structure, but they can also hurt teams when the ball movement is clean and the finishers keep their nerve under pressure.
Webster was also prepared to defend the wider defensive picture, saying the team had faith in Jett, Luke Hanson and Luke Laulilii. He made clear that criticism of the edge problems should be aimed elsewhere.
“We left him stranded like several times last week against Cody Walker throwing stuff at him and [Matthew] Dufty. Like that’s their superpower. So if there is criticism, they’re idiots. Like absolute idiots,” Webster said.
That is a strong defence, but it also reflects the reality of the run-in. The Warriors are producing wins, and they are producing points, but Webster knows the margins get narrower when the pressure rises and the ladder picture sharpens.
Two wins, but not a finished job
Webster was honest enough to say the result against the Knights was not perfect, even if it delivered the two points the Warriors wanted. He pointed to the fact that the team conceded too many points and did not have enough players at their best across both halves.
“I just felt there was probably not enough guys out there at their best. So I can’t say it ranks as their highest win. I think everyone’s going to say, you had two halves, so it must rank high. We’ve got faith in Jett and Luke Hanson and Luke Laulilii,” he said.
He also admitted that, before the game, he would have taken the result without hesitation.
“I think it was one of those ones where if you had told me this morning we were going to win, I would have said ‘yes’, and I would have said ‘however we win, I’ll take the two points and get out of there’,” Webster said.
But the coach in him was already looking beyond the scoreboard. “But then in hindsight, the coach in me starts saying we’ve got to make sure we keep the finger on the pulse of a few things and can’t let them slip. We conceded too many points,” he said.
That is the real storyline heading into the Sea Eagles match. The Warriors have momentum, they have the ladder position, and they have a chance to keep their minor premiership hopes alive. The question now is whether they can stay sharp enough for one more round, and whether Sunday evening brings added pressure or a reward for a season that has put them back in the frame.
