From an All Blacks statement at Ellis Park to another huge Warriors performance in Sydney and a tightening NRLW finals race, there was plenty for Radio Waatea sports commentator Ken Laban to unpack after another massive weekend of hākinakina.
The headline result belonged to the All Blacks, who produced a stunning 33–16 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park, crossing for five tries against the world champions and drawing first blood in South Africa.
But closer to home, the Warriors continue to demand attention as the NRL finals approach, while the NRLW competition is developing into another major storyline for Aotearoa rugby league.
All Blacks deliver at Ellis Park
Winning in Johannesburg is never easy.
Doing it against the world champions by 17 points makes the result considerably more significant.
The All Blacks absorbed sustained South African pressure before turning opportunities into points, with Will Jordan crossing twice as New Zealand finished with five tries.
The Springboks enjoyed periods of territorial and physical dominance, but New Zealand’s defence held and South African errors were repeatedly punished.
It followed a strong build-up in South Africa, but this was the Test that mattered.
For Laban, the bigger question now is whether the All Blacks can repeat the performance when the Springboks inevitably respond.
One victory does not settle rugby’s greatest rivalry, but 33–16 at Ellis Park is one significant opening statement.
Wahs run riot in Sydney
If the All Blacks supplied the international headline, the Warriors produced perhaps the most important domestic performance of the weekend.
Andrew Webster’s side demolished the South Sydney Rabbitohs 45–26 at Accor Stadium, registering their 16th victory of the season and joining Penrith and the Roosters on 38 competition points as the battle at the top of the NRL ladder intensifies.
The Warriors led 26–8 at halftime, with James Fisher-Harris, Leka Halasima, Mitchell Barnett and Chanel Harris-Tavita all crossing during a devastating opening 40 minutes.
South Sydney threatened a comeback after the break, but New Zealand responded with further tries to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jacob Laban and Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
Seven tries.
Seven different try-scorers.
And 45 points despite significant disruption to the Warriors spine.
Taine Tuaupiki stepped into the fullback role with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad suspended, while Luke Metcalf’s hamstring injury forced another reshuffle through the halves.
Warriors becoming genuine premiership contenders
The timing matters.
The Warriors have now followed their 40–6 demolition of Brisbane with another huge attacking performance.
Their victory over South Sydney also keeps alive the prospect of a top-two finish and a home final, something that could become enormously valuable once the playoffs begin.
For Laban, the discussion is increasingly moving beyond whether the Warriors will make the finals.
The question is becoming:
Can this team actually win the premiership?
The evidence is starting to mount.
They have an experienced forward pack.
They have depth.
Young players are stepping into important positions.
And they are finding ways to score points even when members of their preferred spine are unavailable.
The next challenge is reproducing those performances when finals pressure arrives.
NRLW Warriors remain in the fight
The women’s competition is also approaching its business end, and the Warriors remain firmly in the NRLW finals conversation.
The NRL’s latest ladder has the Warriors sitting sixth with four victories and eight competition points, behind the Roosters, Titans, Wests Tigers, Raiders and Broncos.
At the top, the Roosters remain the benchmark with eight victories, while the Titans have surged to seven wins.
That makes every remaining match increasingly important for the Warriors as they chase a place in the postseason.
The NRLW has grown rapidly into one of the most important elite pathways for women’s rugby league, and for Aotearoa it provides another significant platform for Māori and Pasifika wāhine to compete professionally.
Black Ferns continue trans-Tasman dominance
There was more success for Aotearoa’s wāhine on the rugby field.
The Black Ferns secured the Laurie O’Reilly Cup after another commanding victory over the Wallaroos, continuing New Zealand’s long-standing dominance of the trans-Tasman rivalry.
For the Black Ferns, however, maintaining that advantage is becoming more challenging as women’s rugby professionalises internationally.
Australia and other leading rugby nations are investing more heavily in their women’s programmes, making player development and depth increasingly important.
For generations of rangatahi wāhine watching from home, the Black Ferns remain one of the most powerful examples of what is possible at the highest level of sport.
Auckland City kings of Oceania — for the 14th time
And football produced another remarkable New Zealand achievement.
Auckland City FC have won their 14th OFC Men’s Champions League title, reinforcing an extraordinary period of continental dominance.
Fourteen Oceania championships is not simply a successful run.
It is a sporting dynasty.
Auckland City have repeatedly rebuilt squads and navigated the challenges of Pacific club football while remaining the dominant force in the region.
Their latest crown again gives New Zealand football a presence on the international club stage and provides another pathway for local players towards global competition.
McFadden and the Warriors’ long game
The Warriors also made an important move away from the scoreboard, locking in Andrew McFadden as part of the club’s longer-term recruitment and development strategy.
That may ultimately prove as significant as some of the victories being celebrated this season.
For years, Australian clubs have recruited heavily from New Zealand’s junior rugby league talent.
The Warriors are increasingly attempting to build a system capable of identifying, developing and retaining more of those players themselves.
For Māori and Pasifika communities producing significant numbers of elite rugby league players, stronger local pathways could mean more rangatahi developing professionally while remaining closer to whānau and their communities.
It is about making success sustainable rather than simply assembling one competitive NRL side.
Laban’s weekend verdict
So what should sports fans take from the weekend?
The All Blacks beating South Africa 33–16 at Ellis Park is a major result.
The Black Ferns have added another trophy.
Auckland City have become Oceania champions for an extraordinary 14th time.
The NRLW Warriors remain in the finals fight.
But perhaps the most intriguing story remains the Warriors.
They have just put 40 points on Brisbane and 45 on South Sydney, sit among the leading teams on the NRL ladder and are demonstrating they possess genuine depth when injuries and suspensions strike.
September is approaching.
The pressure is about to increase.
And for Ken Laban and the Wahs faithful, the conversation is becoming considerably more exciting:
Maybe 2026 isn’t simply about making the finals. Maybe this Warriors side can go considerably further.
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