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Warriors need injury 'luck' for 2027 finals success
Sport Nation • September 23rd, 2026 4:47 pm
Halfback Tanah Boyd is one of several key position Warriors to have gone down injured in 2026 | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Warriors assistant coach Richie Agar says the club has shown it can compete with the NRL’s best, but injuries and a lack of continuity is what ended their finals campaign.
The Warriors were without several key players throughout the season, including halfback Tanah Boyd and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who both suffered season-ending ACL injuries. Jackson Ford, who led the Dally M count earlier in the season, also tore his pectoral muscle in round 16.
“Sometimes along the way, you need a bit of luck,” Agar told Sport Nation on Wednesday.
He said the team’s disrupted line-up affected its ability to build continuity, particularly in the halves after several different combinations.
“We were down to two young boys with three games between them playing at one bit in the halves.”
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The Warriors lost their qualifying final to the Dolphins before their season ended with a semi-final defeat to the Knights who had a BYE in round 27.
The Warriors played 12 consecutive games heading into the finals, with the minor premiership still on the line in Round 27. Webster rested only Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell for the final regular-season match, trying to keep the squad fresh without giving up the top spot.
Agar said arriving at the playoffs fit and healthy was crucial, and pointed to the Dolphins’ momentum and stronger continuity.
“What's really clear to me, getting to the start line in the playoffs, being fit and healthy and well at that time of the year is really important.
“We've seen that with the Dolphins, they come into the playoffs, no injuries, a lot of momentum from the last three or four weeks whereas we probably didn't have that continuity in our line-up and I felt that hurt us a little bit.”
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Agar said the physical demands of the season also raised questions about player preparation, the interchange rules and the NRL schedule as more teams are added.
“I've been in the game a long time, the game has never been as hard and physically demanding to play, but also train and I think you've got to factor that in.
“I feel that the six subs this year, it really helps if you get a half back go down or really helps if you get a winger down, but it also stops people playing regular football. I think that's something that needs looking at,” he explained.
“It has an effect on players' bodies, physically on players bodies, and mentally as well. It's a long and gruelling and arduous season.”
And it's almost impossible to prepare players for that level of physical intensity.
“It's very, very hard to prepare the players for a season of the physical intensity and the rigours of it.
“Trying to periodise your season to get to this part of the year where you're fit and firing, we feel is a factor and really important.”
Listen to the full interview below:
