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Warriors rediscover defensive bite ahead of Panthers litmus test
Sport Nation • August 3rd, 2026 3:02 pm
Warriors | Photo: Photosport
The Warriors’ biggest improvement from last week was not a tactical tweak or a selection gamble - it was attitude.
After being challenged to respond on the back of their on-sided defeat to the Bulldogs, Andrew Webster’s side delivered in emphatic fashion, smashing the Gold Coast Titans 42-6 and rediscovering the defensive intensity that has underpinned their best performances this season.
Sport Nation commentator and former Warriors centre Blake Ayshford said the difference was obvious from the opening exchanges.
“Probably the intent from the start,” Ayshford told Scotty & Izzy when asked what had changed from the previous week.
“When the Warriors are at their best, it’s when they’re defending with three or four numbers in each tackle and driving them back. And they absolutely belted the Titans the other night.”
Ayshford believed that commitment without the ball laid the platform for everything that followed, as the Warriors’ defence repeatedly forced the Titans onto the back foot, creating momentum and field position for their attack to capitalise.
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“What that does is it just sets up their whole attack,” Ayshford said.
Erin Clark was one of the major beneficiaries, singled out for yet another influential display through the middle, his kicking and ball-playing adding polish to the Warriors’ dominance.
It was the kind of all-round effort which earned him some exceptional plaudits from Ayshford, who labelled him among the competition’s elite locks.
“Right at this moment, I think he’s the best ball-playing lock in the competition,” he said.
The result has strengthened the Warriors’ grip on third spot, though Ayshford believes they may still be capable of climbing higher.
But with the Panthers awaiting on Friday night at Go Media Stadium, the Warriors’ next test will be whether they can reproduce the same defensive edge against one of the competition’s benchmark sides.
“I still have hopes where they can finish top two, even minor premiers come end of season,” he said.
“This Friday night will go a big way to telling where the Warriors finish. It’s going to be a blockbuster.”
Listen to the full interview below:
