Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall expects the Warriors to be brimming with confidence as the Kiwi club eyes its best opening month to an NRL season in history.
The ladder-leading Warriors enter Friday night’s round-four clash at a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium on the back of three consecutive wins to start 2026.
Halfback Tanah Boyd and middle forward Jackson Ford have been in career-best form for the Warriors, who have scored more points than any side in the competition so far.
Mitch Barnett returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury to set up a try in last week’s defeat of Newcastle, while talented Luke Metcalf is back from his own ACL lay-off to line up with Boyd in the halves this week.
“The Warriors have been playing some really good footy, obviously three from three to start the season, and probably high on confidence,” said Marshall.
A win over the Tigers would mark only the second time in their 32-year history the Warriors have won four consecutive games to begin a season.
The last time the side achieved the feat in 2018, they went on to break a seven-year finals drought with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck becoming the club’s first and only Dally M Medallist and David Fusitu’a finishing as the league’s top tryscorer.
With a victory on Friday, the Warriors’ current start to the season would pip 2018 on points differential and become their best opening month on record.
New Zealand rugby league legend Marshall said the Tigers would not become distracted.
“For us, it’s not about the Warriors,” he said.
“I will talk to the team about making sure we do the things we need to do and play our style and play our game.”
Marshall had faith in five-eighth Jock Madden replacing “energiser bunny” Jarome Luai, who will miss a month with his knee injury.
Madden last played first grade with Brisbane in July 2024.
“[Madden] has got some really big strengths of his own that we’re looking forward to seeing him put out there,” Marshall said.
“Everyone has injuries, Newcastle are going through a similar thing at the moment.
“All you’ve got to do is put systems in place that no matter who comes in, everyone knows their job and the way you want to play.”