‘Our DNA is starting to show’: Warriors captain raises stakes as coach hails inspirational No.7

Warriors captain Mitch Barnett has raised the stakes on his side’s 2025 capabilities after their narrow 30-26 win over the Cowboys in round nine.

Some brilliant individual play from Luke Metcalf launched the Warriors to a 28-12 halftime lead on day two of Magic Round before the New Zealand-based outfit managed just one penalty goal in the second half.

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Three tries in seven minutes from the Cowboys brought the game within just four points as the Warriors defended their line with multiple game-clinching stops.

As time expired and the Warriors clung onto a much-needed victory that placed them inside the top four, captain Mitch Barnett praised what he saw.

“I think our DNA is starting to show which is the most pleasing thing,” he said, with the Warriors now equal competition leaders with the Bulldogs on 14 points.

“I think tonight our first half was the best half of footy we’ve played all season but I still don’t think we are where our ceiling is, which is a positive.

“We’ve got a young keen group that just love to learn and if we can learn while we’re winning, especially those tight ones, at the back end of the year we’ll be so much better for it.

“We’re pleased with where we are but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”

Metcalf flew out of the starting blocks scoring two first-half tries to go with his 16 points.

In the opening 40 minutes the talented halfback recorded 150 run metres, seven tackle breaks, two line breaks, two line break assists and 176 kicking metres.

“Luke was really good, I thought it was his best half of footy,” Warriors head coach Andrew Webster said post match.

“I think he’s going really well at learning to play and while he manages the game.

“I thought we were way better defensively in the first half which gave them an opportunity to play and then in the second half we hardly had the ball for basically the last 30 minutes so he wasn’t going to show what he could do there.

“He’s ticking along nicely, on his own omission he’s got a lot to learn but he’s definitely making progress every week.”

Metcalf had a host of big plays but Webster described his try-saving corner tackle on Murray Taulagi as the biggest.

Cowboys head coach Todd Payten was straight forward in addressing his side’s efforts.

“You can’t give a good team that much of a head start,” he said.

“I’m proud of the way that we responded, I thought it was a fair contest of footy in the end and we had some chances to win with enough shots at their try line we just weren’t coordinated enough.

“It’s disappointing but it could’ve went the other way quickly.”

The Warriors are away against the Dragons in round 10 while the Cowboys will play the Panthers in their first of three straight home fixtures.