Friday night footy has served up two matches with huge implications for the finals.
The Warriors were out to regroup against the giant-killing Dragons after injuries were starting to bite and three losses on the bounce. While it wasn’t pretty and they had to work hard against an injury-hit Dragons, the home fans were able to leave the match with a smile, seeing their team fight their way back into the top four with a 14-10 win.
Next up, the Roosters were looking to climb into the eight with a win over the Bulldogs and they did so in style in an intense match.
Allianz Stadium was heaving with 31,399 in the crowd as the fast-charging Roosters avenged their 24-20 loss to the Dogs in Round 11 and moved into the top eight in the process.
Follow all the Round 24 action on NRL.com’s live blog.
Roosters v Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium
Post match
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NRL Press Conference: Roosters v Bulldogs – Round 24, 2025
Fulltime: After letting in the first try, the Roosters kicked into gear to dominate against the Bulldogs, posting a 32-12 win. Winger Daniel Tupou scored a hat-trick, thanks mostly to some pinpoint kicks from Sam Walker, while Kiwi prop Naufahu Whyte scored a double. The Roosters once again showed plenty of aggression throughout their forward pack and seemed to be more enthusiastic and quick compared to the Bulldogs who also had plenty to play for. The Roosters have now catapulted into the top eight and have plenty of momentum behind them.
78th min: A hat-trick for Tupou with his easiest try of the night – a simple catch of a pass from the inside and he runs straight to put the ball down just inside the sideline. Walker converts once more for 32-12.
72nd min: More push and shove from both sides after Max King was put on report for a high shot on Tupou.
71st min: Bulldogs now lose their challenge, backing up the touchie’s call of Jacob Kiraz being pushed into touch before he threw a ball back into the field of play.
69th min: The Bulldogs force a line drop out, but the Roosters get it back. And then they get a penalty with Samuel Hughes put on report for a high shot on Billy Smith which gets players from both sides running in for some push and shove. But on the first play, the Roosters lose the ball and give the Bulldogs another chance to fight back.
67th min: An unsuccessful captain’s challenge now from the Roosters, with a ruling of a lost ball to Mark Nawaqanitawase upheld. The Roosters have lost their challenges.
A crowd of 31,399 on hand to see this match of finals consequence.
63rd min: Signs of life from the Bulldogs with Matt Burton taking an intercept off a Savala pass and running almost the length of the field to score. Crichton slots it over again and the scores are narrowed to 26-12.
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Matt Burton Try
55th min: Power again a key factor in the next try for the Roosters, with a Walker kick again finding Tupou, who brings the ball down a metre out from his tryline and bustles his way over Bulldogs defenders for his second of the night. Walker converts again and it’s a big 26-6 lead.
46th min: While his first try may have been a bit lucky, Whyte’s second of the night comes from pure power, with the prop charging through the attempted tackle of Galvin and then the other Bulldogs who tried to come and help their halfback. Walker converts again and it’s 20-6.
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Naufahu Whyte 2nd Try
Halftime: The Roosters head to the sheds with a healthy 14-6 lead, but the Bulldogs will be fighting hard to get the momentum back when they come back from the break. The Bulldogs got the first try, but quickly relinquished control of the half with Sam Walker’s kicking game proving hard to overcome. Star winger Daniel Tupou has been a popular target for his high kicks and he has one try in the bag already. Stats at the break have the Roosters up with 57 percent of possession with one less error (4-5) and one less penalty (4-5) conceded.
37th min: A lucky try to the Roosters just before halftime with Naufahu Whyte standing in just the right spot only metres from his try line with a rushed Angus Crichton offload attempt being fumbled by Josh Curran, with the ball bouncing into the arms of the Kiwi prop who goes over to score. Walker converts and it’s 14-6.
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Naufahu Whyte Try
32nd min: Tupou is denied a second after he his deemed to be off-side when trying to bring down another kick, but it touches Angus Crichton along the way and he ends up in front of him.
27th min: This game has moved at a rapid pace so far with end-to-end action and now it’s the Roosters in front via a Walker penalty goal after Lachlan Galvin was pinged for being off-side. Roosters lead 8-6.
16th min: Daniel Tupou flies high to bring down a Sam Walker kick to see the Roosters hit back in style. Walker converts and it’s tied up 6-6.
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Daniel Tupou Try
11th min: The Bulldogs are the first on the board with Enari Tuala crossing for a try out to the right, running in off a nice pass from his skipper Stephen Crichton. The opening to the match has had plenty of excitement with some line breaks and big kicks, but the first penalty conceded has also produced a corresponding try. Crichton slots the conversion for a 6-0 early lead.
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Bulldogs turn on the style
Late Mail
Roosters: Late changes to the line-up, with Naufahu Whyte the new lock, shuffling Victor Radley to the second row, with Spencer Leniu promoted to starting prop. Benaiah Ioelu will start at hooker, moving Connor Watson to the bench. Egan Butcher also moves to the bench. Ethan King the 18th man.
Bulldogs: Fullback Connor Tracey returns from an abdominal injury in a late change. Tracey’s return sees Jacob Kiraz return to the wing and young gun Jethro Rinakama revert to 18th player. Daniel Suluka-Fifita is 18th man.
Warriors v Dragons at Go Media Stadium
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Warriors v Dragons – Round 24, 2025
Post match
Dragons
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Dragons: Round 24
Warriors
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Warriors: Round 24
Fulltime: The Warriors are back into the top four after claiming a late win over a gutsy Dragons outfit. A double to centre Adam Pompey proved the difference in the end for the 14-10 win. The Dragons were decimated by injury in the first half, losing three forwards – Jack de Belin, Hamish Steward and Hame Sele – to head knocks that will rule them out of next week as well as a minimum. The Dragons had a slight benefit in possession, with 52 percent of the ball, while the Warriors also made more errors, with 10 to seven.
78th min: Another botched try from the Dragons after a Tyrell Sloan line break looked promising, but the follow-up plays produce an error with the line begging.
73rd min: A double from Pompey to put the Warriors in front. Taine Tuaupiki sets it up with a subtle dummy at the line that catches out the defenders, before flicking it out to his centre who goes over. Boyd can’t covert from out wide and it’s 14-10 to the Warriors.
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Adam Pompey 2nd Try
63rd min: Finally, the Warriors use some of their possession and they are able to score. Tanah Boyd runs straight and allllmost breaks the line to help set up the try, before the Warriors attack out to their right with Adam Pompey eventually going over. The Bunker has a look for a possible obstruction in the lead up as well, but all cleared. Boyd converts and it’s 10-10.
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Adam Pompey Try
59th min: Some back and forth from both teams with no change to the halftime score, but one featuring a number of errors and penalties in a frustrating display. The Warriors make a successful captain’s challenge, with DWZ ruled to have been tackled in the air, but then they just give up the ball with another error.
41st min: Hame Sele has been officially ruled out of the game, meaning the Dragons have lost three of their forwards.
Halftime: Somehow, the Dragons are in front 10-4 at the break, despite losing two of their forwards to head knocks and potentially a third, with Hame Sele still yet to be officially ruled out. Jack De Belin and Hamish Stewart were felled in the same tackle, trying to bring down James Fisher-Harris. Despite the injury carnage, the Dragons have had the better of the attack, with Mathew Feagai crossing for a first half double. The home side however did manage to snag one back, with an impressive effort from their left-side players getting Chanel Harris-Tavita over.
33rd min: A sustained attack on their left helps the home side get over for their first try of the night. Off the back of three set restarts, Leka Halasima makes repeated forays into the left defence, before passing the ball goes out to left winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who catches the ball, shows his twinkle toes on the sideline and sling a pass back inside to Chanel Haris-Tavita who catches the ball and puts it down to score. Tanah Boyd can’t convert and it’s 10-4.
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Chanel Harris-Tavita Try
29th min: More injury woes for the Dragons, with Hame Sele off for a HIA after getting into an awkward position trying to bring down Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Injury update: Both Jack de Belin and Hamish Stewart have been ruled out with Category 1 head knocks.
21st min: Another penalty conceded and another try scored. Adam Pompey is pinged for a slow peel and the visitors again attack to their left with Feagai going over for his double. Flanagan slots this one and the score is now 10-0.
18th min: One more bombed chance for the Dragons, with Corey Allen diving over on the right side, only for a try to be disallowed due to a forward pass.
15th min: A double interchange for the Dragons with Jack De Belin and Hamish Stewart clashing heads as they both attempted to tackle James Fisher-Harris. Both are off for HIAs and it is expected 18th player Tyrell Sloan will be activated to play if both are ruled out.
11th min: Feagai redeems himself fairly quickly and does indeed score the opening try of the match after the Dragons power over on their left edge, aided by some extra possession from a Warriors penalty. Kyle Flanagan misses the conversion and it stays 4-0.
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Mathew Feagai Try
6th min: Dragons mess up their chance to open the scoring after Mathew Feagai did all the hard work with a line break and bust to the line, but dropped the ball forward with the try line begging.
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The Warriors put on a show for Indigenous round
The Warriors, wearing their Te Ao Mārama jerseys, put on a show to open their home Indigenous Round clash.
Late Mail
Warriors: A concussion to Te Maire Martin has seen Tanah Boyd return to the side to partner Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves. Wayde Egan is also set to return from a shoulder injury in a major boost for Andrew Webster’s side, however veteran Kurt Capewell has been ruled out with a concussion. Freddy Lussick is the 18th player and there are no late changes to the lineup on game day.
Dragons: A late game-day change, with Christian Tuipulotu replacing Tyrell Sloan on the wing. Sloan shifts to replacement player, with Ben Murdoch-Masila dropping out. There were further changes on Thursday with Michael Molo (ankle) dropping out and replaced on the bench by Jacob Halangahu. Centre Mat Feagai is on track to return from a groin injury to offset the loss of Moses Suli to a knee injury. Hulking forward Loko Pasifiki Tonga has been added to the bench for his first game since Round 18.