NRL Round 11 Recap: Warriors Shine, Storm Struggle
Relive the best moments from Round 11 of the NRL season, featuring standout performances and thrilling matchups.
The Queensland Origin squad has been announced, with the state's top players set to face New South Wales in the upcoming series. Interestingly, all four of Queensland's clubs - the Broncos, Titans, Dolphins, and Cowboys - have struggled this season and are no longer considered genuine premiership contenders for 2025. Despite this, the Maroons are expected to pose a strong challenge to the Blues in the upcoming series.
Warriors' Winning Streak
The New Zealand Warriors extended their winning streak to five matches with a hard-fought 16-12 win over the Dolphins. Although the game lacked attacking fluency, the Warriors' defensive improvements have been notable, moving from poor displays in the second half of 2024 to boasting the league's third-best defence, conceding an average of 22.22 points per match.
Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett praised the team's “unreal resilience” after holding off the Dolphins' late comeback, noting that their consistency is “slowly building.” The win was further brightened by successful returns from injury for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Fisher-Harris, although both players had moments to work on, with RTS struggling with high kicks and JFH's sin-binning giving the Dolphins hope.
The Warriors have shown versatility in their season record, winning four out of five games as favorites and four out of five as underdogs. With only Mitch Barnett selected for State of Origin, they'll be one of the least impacted clubs during the upcoming period. The team faces a tough schedule next, with upcoming matches against Canberra, South Sydney, and Cronulla, all promising to be challenging tests.
Struggling Storm
The Melbourne Storm suffered another setback, dropping a game they were expected to win. This marks the third time in five weeks they've lost as heavy favorites, including games against Cronulla and Canberra as $1.47 favorites and another against the Dolphins as $1.28 favorites. It seems opponents are starting to find ways to exploit the Storm's weaknesses.
The Raiders and Sharks added intensity to their wins over the Storm, forcing Melbourne into costly late-game errors. Storm coach Craig Bellamy will need to find a way to keep his players focused when tensions rise. The challenge is compounded by the Origin period, with five Storm players selected for the extended Game 1 squads, potentially disrupting the team's rhythm.
The Storm's upcoming Origin break might be a blessing in disguise, allowing them to reset. Last season, they bounced back from the Origin period with a seven-game winning streak after a shaky start. It will be interesting to see if other teams adopt the strategies used by the Raiders and Sharks, who successfully exploited the Storm's weaknesses.
— One NZ Warriors (@NZWarriors) February 15, 2025
Dally M Medal Standings
Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf reclaimed the Dally M Medal lead after a strong performance against the Dolphins, committing just one handling error. Metcalf was one of five players to receive the maximum six votes for the round, alongside Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Kaeo Weekes (Raiders), Clint Gutherson (Dragons), and Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney), who had an impressive 50-tackle game.
Luke Metcalf has smoothly transitioned into the number seven jersey left vacant by Shaun Johnson, expressing confidence in his ability to handle the pressure of replacing a club legend and meeting high expectations.
Try of the Week
The winner seemed clear from the start: Mark Nawaqanitawase's stunning try for the Roosters. The 24-year-old winger showcased remarkable finesse and control, earning him a game-high 67 NRL fantasy points. Despite committing six errors, his impressive performance, including eight tackle breaks, made his try stand out.
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