Ford, Boyd dazzle as Warriors keep dream start rolling

Sebastian Tan | March 21, 2026

Jackson Ford has continued his glittering start to the NRL season, powering the Warriors to a 38-12 victory against an undermanned Newcastle.

The second-rower celebrated his 100th game in the competition with a performance sure to add to his leading Dally M points tally of 12.

Ford’s game-high 187 metres along with 42 tackles and a try were instrumental at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday, helping the Warriors start 3-0 for just the second time in the club’s history.

But it wasn’t just the 28-year-old who shone, as halfback Tanah Boyd’s booming kicks and crafty attack strengthened his case for the starting No.7 jersey with Luke Metcalf set to return from an ACL injury in the coming rounds.

“The best player so far has been Tanah Boyd, so it’s a good headache (to have),” coach Andrew Webster said. 

“It’s going to be a tough (decision). But I’ve learned when you start planning too far ahead, it bites you in the backside.”

Soon-to-be Bronco Mitch Barnett returned from an ACL rupture he picked up last June, coming off the bench and grabbing 97 metres and 13 tackles.

The result ended the Knights’ unbeaten start to the season, but this side was missing their first-choice fullback, Kalyn Ponga (hamstring), along with their halves pairing of Fletcher Sharpe (knee) and Dylan Brown (knee).

Sharpe was touted for a possible return on Saturday but was kept on ice, while Ponga and Brown are expected to have longer stints on the sidelines.

Coach Justin Holbrook said his side was poor but lamented the referee’s decision in the lead-up to Ford’s 29th-minute try when the Knights were penalised for tackling in the air. 

“How you can pick that up live, I don’t know how you can do that. I thought it was harsh,” he said. 

“We caught some six-agains and stuff. But we have to look in the mirror and see what we did. 

“I’m not the referee. That’s the way he sees it … We haven’t had an issue with it (penalties) until today.”

The Knights conceded two sin bins, first to Ponga’s replacement Fletcher Hunt in the 32nd minute and Trey Mooney in the 75th minute. 

They came after Newcastle began brightly, with Hunt scoring in the opening minutes, but the visitors found a new gear, surging to an 18-6 halftime lead.

From there, the Knights’ wheels fell off in an anticlimactic finish as the razzle-dazzle Warriors capitalised on Newcastle’s error-riddled attack (15) and discipline (11 penalties) to secure victory.

The Warriors’ Luke Hanson also scored on his debut after being handed the ball by fullback Taine Tuaupiki in the dying seconds.