If there was one player under presser to deliver for the Warriors in their NRL season-opener against the Sydney Roosters, it was Tanah Boyd.
The halfback occupied the No 7 jersey nine times last season after Luke Metcalf went down with his ACL injury, and while there were some positive moments, it was a mixed bag for Boyd, as the Warriors limped into the finals, before being eliminated by the Penrith Panthers.
Boyd has been handed the reins to start the 2026 campaign, and he didn’t disappoint against the Roosters in a 42-18 win, controlling the game with an all-round display where his kicking was largely on point. Most noticeable was the improvement in his running game – highlighted by his three try involvements, setting two up, while his dummy which led to the opening try of the game was a highlight.
Post-match, coach Andrew Webster called it Boyd’s “best game” in a Warriors jersey, but added that he likely has some things on his list he’d want to improve on.
Speaking to The Big League Podcast after the match, Boyd said Webster hit the nail on the head with his assessment.
“That’s what you want to hear from the head coach,” Boyd said. “He’s exactly right that there are things that I want to get better at and what the team need to get better at.
“I’m just glad that all the work I’ve done in the pre-season could come off. I definitely want to take the line on more and feel like that’s a strength of my game.
“[Scoring the try] was a special moment and I’m just glad that all the work I’d done in the pre-season could come off.”
Boyd’s partner in crime Chanel Harris-Tavita also had a strong outing, scoring two tries and setting one up himself.
It was the five-eighths’ first match of 2026, having missed the Warriors’ trial matches due to a calf injury, and despite that, he’s pleased to see his combination with Boyd continuing to blossom.
“I’m happy with getting through without an injury,” Harris-Tavita told The Big League Podcast. “It’s good to come out the other end injury free and with a win.
“Boyd was outstanding. Just all parts of his game, kicked well, ran well, and defended well, and that’s all we need to do as halves is be solid and steer the team around, which he did well.”
While it’s only one game, the form of both players will give Webster a headache of sorts when Metcalf returns, which is expected to be in round seven against the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart on April 18.
Metcalf will slot straight back into the starting side, but for who exactly remains to be seen, with Webster saying he’ll cross that bridge when he comes to it.
Kicking will continue to be key for the Warriors, with three of their seven tries coming from bombs, including Harris-Tavita’s second, which skewed off his foot before Roger Tuivasa-Sheck regathered, throwing it in-field for the five-eighth to score.
“It ended up working out, but I was aiming to kick it in that 10 by 10 box and it just pulled up short,” Harris-Tavita said. “So back to work, I’ve got to be better at kicking and better at tackling as well.
“But I think we’re always looking to improve parts of our game and especially our kicking game. I think when we kick well, it takes a lot of pressure off our middles to defend because they’re working so hard for us, so the least we can do is put the ball in good spots and let them tee off.”
The Warriors are back in action on Friday against the Canberra Raiders, who claimed a golden-point 29-28 win over the Manly Sea Eagles.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.