Defensive vulnerabilities challenge the Warriors ahead of NRL finals

The New Zealand Warriors face scrutiny regarding their defensive structure despite recent successes. Observations from their round 26 match against the Newcastle Knights revealed a tendency to compress the defensive line, leaving the side vulnerable to peripheral attacks. Even with a numerical advantage for most of that game due to a send-off, the Warriors struggled to contain the Knights and conceded 22 points. Similar defensive lapses occurred during a victory over the Penrith Panthers, where scramble efforts failed to stop plays initiated by Nathan Cleary. Coaches and staff must now address the reliance on rigid systems to better prepare the team for the adaptability required in finals football. Success will depend on the squad's ability to play eyes-up football rather than defaulting to set defensive patterns when the opposition breaks the structure.

• 10:39 PMZero Tackle NRL — The problem that could derail the Warriors’ premiership dream