Analysis: NZ Warriors Andrew Webster faces a challenging week, with his team at a crossroads in their 2026 NRL campaign, after slumping to an 18-6 defeat to Canterbury Bulldogs.The visitors to Accor Stadium were rocked early, conceding back-to-back tries, before clawing back some lost ground before halftime.They were still scoreless, when Bulldogs wing Jacob Kiraz scored first after the break, and it took a miracle play from skipper Mitch Barnett to break their duck in the dying moments.With four losses from their last seven outings, Webster will have his faith in players tested, when he names his team for next week."We were just running around like headless chooks," he said. "The 'Dogs were way more physical than us in that first period and they were offloading the ball at will and we were chasing around, not being ourselves and sucking the energy out of ourselves."When you train well during the week, and turn up for the game and just miss it, it's individual responsibility to get yourself right. We have to ask ourselves what we could do better there."It's obviously between the ears, something before the game. I didn't see that coming."Luke Metcalf has bided his time on the bench and reserve grade, waiting for his next chance.Andrew Cornaga/PhotosportThis time last season, the Warriors were mired in a run of six losses from their last eight regular season games, before limping out of the playoffs in the first week.After another promising start to the campaign - and a narrow escape against bottom-of-the-table St Geroge-Illawarra Dragons last week - this is starting to feel like that."We're good enough at our best, but didn't look like that tonight."Webster may be tempted to introduce half Luke Metcalf, who has spent most of the year sitting on the bench and playing reserve grade, waiting for a chance to replicate his 2025 form. It may be time to play the wild card before things get out of hand.Here's what we learnt from the Warriors loss to Canterbury Bulldogs.Best playerQueensland Origin second-rower Kurt Capewell put together a solid performance to lead his team in fantasy points (60), highlighted by his game-high 44 tackles, across 80 minutes.Barnett and co-captain James Fisher-Harris were powerful up the middle, and wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak tried hard, running for 210 metres and breaking seven tackles, without quite adding to his tryscoring feats this season.When he did dive over in the corner, the score was ruled out for a forward pass, while he was bustled into touch a couple more times.Demetric Vaimauga was the pick of the bench.Dallin Watene-Zelezniak couldn't quite add to his tryscoring tally for the season.David Neilson/PhotosportBest tryThere was only one, but it was a good one.On the last tackle in the redzone, Chanel Harris-Tavita was covered by the defence and could not get his kick away, so he was forced to shift the ball to Barnett.The front-rower has hidden kicking skills - he was the designated goalkicker at Newcastle Knights for a spell, when first choice Kalyn Ponga was injured - and wasn't fazed, when he had the ball on the last.His nifty left-footed chip bounced kindly for Harris-Tavita, who scooped it up to score.Barnett almost cracked a smile, despite the lopsided scoreboard.Key momentShaken early, the Warriors had worked hard to bring momentum back their way late in the first half, but desperately needed to be the next to score after the break for some validation.Instead, Kiraz crossed in the right corner to stretch the margin to 16 points, which seemed a very long way for the Warriors to come back from.Key statThe Warriors lost two statistical areas they usually dominate - possession and set completion, where their 73 percent was well down on their league-leading 83 percent for the season.Two other numbers stuck out - the Bulldogs dominated linebreaks 7-1 and had more than 10 offloads before the Warriors managed their first. That count actually ended 19-19, but the damage had been done.InjuriesFor the first time this season, Webster was able to field an unchanged line-up, as his walking wounded returned to play. The only real absentee was front-rower Jackson Ford (pec), who seems on track for a re-appearance for the playoffs.Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki exited the game with a foot injury.David Neilson/PhotosportLightweight fullback Taine Tuaupiki, who absorbs a considerable amount of punishment every game, joined Ford on the sidelines during the first half, when he hobbled off.Bringing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad off the bench certainly disrupted Webster's rotation - back-up hooker Sam Healey remained unused - but he is a natural replacement going forward, if required, and has done nothing wrong when called on this season.Tuaupiki's injury was described as a foot and he sat on the sidelines in a moonboot during the second half. Webster suggested it didn't seem like a "long, long term" problem, but he's not a doctor.Webster took a big gamble leaving Healey on the bench, as Wayde Egan spent several moments on the ground holding his leg during the second half. He seemed to shake it off and eventually Webster opted for second-rower Leka Halasima as his final interchange for the game.Vaimauga was also holding his ribs as he left the field, so the medical team may be busy this week, before team-naming Tuesday.BulldogsThe Bulldogs have now won five of their last six games and have propelled themselves back into playoff contention, when that seemed unlikely a couple of months ago.They have some key players back from injury now and second-rower Viliame Kikau was particularly well received, logging 65 damaging minutes, after a long spell on the sidelines.This result leaves them at 9-9, knocking on the door of the top eight, with an injury-ravaged Melbourne Storm looming next week.What does the result meanDefeat now sees the Warriors slip four points behind leaders Penrith Panthers and two behind Sydney Roosters.Chanel Harris-Tavita finally broke the Warriors duck from front-rower Mitch Barnett's miracle kick.David Neilson/PhotosportThey still have a very healthy points differential, which serves them well in any tiebreak.Before the end of the weekend, they may also sit level with Cronulla Sharks, who faced Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday, and they can see their hopes of a home playoff slipping away, unless they can find something to reverse their slumping form.What's nextThe Warriors have one more game against losing opponents Gold Coast Titans next Saturday.The fixture is across the ditch, but Cbus Super Stadium has become a Warriors cauldron in recent years.They have won the last two encounters between these two rivals, but lost the previous three, so the 5-12 Titans have proved pesky in recent times, despite their modest records.Beyond them, the Warriors face a tough run into the playoffs - Penrith Panthers, champions Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights and Manly Sea Eagles.