Richie Barnett: Former Kiwis captain talks the Warriors semi-final loss to the Knights
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Why did the Warriors' 2026 season end with a semi‑final loss to the Knights?
Warriors' dream of 26 is over, ended at the top of the table, couldn't handle the finals. The Knights got up in either an arm wrestle or a do-roll event, depending on how you saw it. Maybe once again the referee had a little bit much input. Richie Barnett, former Kiwis captain, is with us. Richie, morning to you. Morning. How
did you see it? Oh my goodness. It was actually, I actually really enjoyed the intensity. It's vintage Warriors start to the game, isn't it? They were disciplined. They were a high completion rate. The intensity on the kick chase was outstanding. Kane got involved a lot.
How did Richie Barnett describe the intensity and early performance of the Warriors?
Exactly what you wanted. Capen on the edges was just incredibly good on the outside-inside run. And then... And then the third quarter, I'd have to say, yes, errors came into play and they didn't play the third quarter as well as you should. But those decisions were just terrible. I just cannot believe it. And yet people go, well, they should have played better, yep. But the facts are the facts. Those two calls I thought were just dreadful. No one strips a ball. at a key time of that game, like to mighty, and no one foils off the ball like Tyson Frizzell does while he's about two metres away from the ball and they never call it. And I think they'll just gut it, unfortunately. It's the way it is.
What key mistakes in the third quarter contributed to the Warriors' defeat?
It is, but having said that, NRL officiating has been a problem for years. You know it, I know it, and they're not going to do anything about it. It is what it is, and you've got to suck it up, don't
you? You do, you've got to suck it up, and I'm glad that Webster came out and said they tried every reason to not give the Warriors the win. and it just seems like that and we don't condone what they did at the end of the game by throwing bottles at the referee I think it was disgusting but I guess it was just so heightened and the emotion was so raw and 54,000 if we could just concentrate on the positives on that you know the way they entered the game the raveling around the players I've never seen anything like it before in my life and I wish we could concentrate a little bit more on that facet of the game and the warmth that the Supporters would show towards the Warriors and unfortunately they didn't get out of the line.
But Newcastle, Caelan Ponga. I wouldn't be kicking to him that often in the game, would you? You'd be kicking more to the corners and just take his influence away from the game because every ball that went up, he took it considerably. He's an incredible player.
Yeah, is there something to build on? We've got a good team, we've got a good coach, so there's no reason to believe 27 can't be okay.
Is that fair? No, absolutely. I think, I believe, if they can just improve on a few things, like if they looked at it and they would have said, well, our kicking game, probably not on point. We could be better. um, to build pressure. Um, so maybe looking at that a bit more, but I've got this, I've got the bones to really make, um, I hate, I hate reflecting on what could be now because, you know, you missed opportunities and, and, um,
Which referee decisions does Barnett claim unfairly affected the game outcome?
years and these moments you've got to take. You know, you've just got to take them.
Yeah. All right, mate. Nice to talk to you. Appreciate
it. Richie Barnett, former Kiwis captain, of course.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
Why did the Warriors' 2026 season end with a semi‑final loss to the Knights?
0:00–0:32
2
How did Richie Barnett describe the intensity and early performance of the Warriors?
0:32–1:13
3
What key mistakes in the third quarter contributed to the Warriors' defeat?
1:13–2:49
4
Which referee decisions does Barnett claim unfairly affected the game outcome?
2:49–3:05
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The Mike Hosking Breakfast
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