After picking up back-to-back player of the match honours in a finals match, Warriors halfback Tanah Boyd is looking forward to carrying that success with him for the Warriors next season.
Boyd looked a cut above the field as he guided his NSW Cup to NRL State Championship honours, fresh off playing the final nine matches with the club’s NRL side to end the season after the ACL injury to Luke Metcalf.
Tanah Boyd claimed his second player of the match award in two weeks after defeating Burleigh Bears in the NRL State Championship.
©NRL Images
Chiming in with a try and four try assists, as well as kicking 7/9 conversions in
the 50-20 win over his former team the Burleigh Bears, Boyd said he was hoping to carry that momentum into the 2026 season.
“Feels unreal and just a good way to top the year off,” Boyd said.
“There’s a lot of boys leaving and we wanted to get that win for them, so it was pretty special.
“It’s always good going against an old club and there were a lot of old faces which it was cool to come against.
“Definitely wanted to tick that off and it was pretty cool.
“We wanted this one, so we didn’t party too hard last week.
“We really had a big focus on getting this one and really topping the year off.
“I have got a lot of confidence at the moment and I want to take that in the pre-season and get that get that Round 1 spot and build and hopefully have a really good year next year.
“That’s the focus.”
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Tanah Boyd Try
This year, the Warriors as a club celebrated plenty of success, on top of winning the NSW Cup title – where they were also crowned minor premiers – and the national title on grand final day. The NRL side played in their second finals series in three years and their women’s team made a huge impression on their return to the NRLW competition.
In their junior pathways and development, their Harold Matthews Cup side also claimed a premiership.
For Boyd, who is expected to reprise his position as halfback with the NRL side to start next season as Metcalf continues his recovery, this past season showed the club had plenty to look forward to next year.
“There’s a lot of young boys in this team as well, like a lot of 19-year-olds and 20s, so the future’s really good for the club,” Boyd said.
“It was just good to showcase them and there’s a good future for the Warriors.
“There’s four or five players that will push really hard next year and will get a good pre-season and … just really fight for spots.
“That’s the beauty of the position we’re in at the club.
“There’s a lot of a lot of kids fighting for spots in this team, good competition, so the future’s really bright.
“Kayliss Fatialofa, our backrower, he’s had a great year this year and he’s been nipping at a lot of heels … he’s a talent and he’s building.”
Kayliss Fatialofa is a young player set to rise for the Warriors.
©Zain Mohammed / NRL Images
Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki also started against his former club in the NRL State Championship final with two tries and … and said the club’s progress and fan support was a good sign for rugby league in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“We get good support every game, New Zealand supporters travel far and wide for us and we appreciate it,” Tuaupiki said.
“(When we play) in Sydney; we don’t get much family so when the supporters come and make the noise for us, it’s pretty good.
“It’s cool … happy to get something for the club.
“I think it’s the first time we’ve had something like this and to break the records that we have this year, I think it’s just the exclamation mark on it.
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Taine Tuaupiki Try
“(Rugby league) is only getting bigger and bigger since ‘23, which is as long as I’ve been there.
“It’s just slowly building and the hype behind it’s building as well, which is what we need.
“I am just proud of that because obviously, being a Kiwi boy, I just want to see it go well and I want to see it on the same level of rugby union and not take over.
“It’ll be good for everyone.”
Kiwi rugby league fans don’t have to wait too long to see more action, with the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns taking part in the Pacific Championships, with the first games being played at Go Media Stadium on October 18.