Pick Your Team Warriors v Titans - [Round 21, 2025]

[Tookey 2.0]

Oooo, i do love this topic!

I don't think you could ever call Hughes a organizing half. He is the poster boy for a running half.

Cleary had to turn into a running half to win the latest final. Going for over 200m. But he also ran for 135m on avarage in 2023, adn 100m for 2024.

Moses when playing at his best in 2024 for state of origin was a running half. He ran more than laui in both of those games.

Source for thinking on above here:

A interview with gus where he was talking about morden day halves. Where he said:
"The Storm play with three fullbacks: Munster, Hughes, and Paps... Cleary and Luai ran for over 200 meters in that final game. They had to run the ball to make meters. They had to run the ball to make their plays. It wasn't Cleary's playmaking that won it; it was their physicality... Origin Game 3 had two tries at the end, both from Luai and Moses running the ball like fullbacks." - Very condenced non nauced version of about 5 mins linked above.


Now i get Fogarty, Sexton and Reynolds as they 100% are tradtional havles. I'd still aruge DCE is the prefect middle ground, where he seems to do both.

Metcalf has said many times that he looks to moses as the closest to the style he is going for. With DCE second and hughes 3rd.


I'd say 6 of the last finals have been won by running halves. Cleary winning 4 of the 6. 1 of the 6 being hughes. I truely do think the future is in running halves. But this is NRL, anyone can win. Nor is this an attack on boyd or a petition for him to change his style. There will always be room for traditonal halves.

All good points Roguei!

Maybe I'm being too literal when I refer to all those halves as 'organizing halves'. They absolutely DO organize, but it probably undersells their running game to call them an organising half.

I would consider halves like Dylan Brown, Mam, Nikorima and Munster as non-organising halves, where their running game is their strongest asset.

Hopefully Tanah is able to show over the next few weeks that he's able to help with our attack and show he's got a few tricks up his sleeve

 

[Kav1]

Lest we forget.
View attachment 13866

If Tannah Boyd can't kick those goals, then we may as well put TMM in the team who is a better defender and ball player!
I know Boyd has a much better long kicking game, but we lack some spark and zip in attack now. Newcastle aren't that great defensively. I think we saw the real T Boyd and I would seriously be watching our attack and defense and asking whether TMM needs to be in the starting side. Tannah Boyd and DWZ on the same side defending is suicide. We are almost guaranteed to give away 3-4 tries a game, it would have been 5-6 had the knights not bombed those line breaks. I hope Webby has a plan B.

Hope springs eternal with AW. After the Knight's game when we were below par on attack, he will simply replace Taina with Chanz and stay with Capes in the centres (if available)

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Tino is out for a month.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

If Tannah Boyd can't kick those goals, then we may as well put TMM in the team who is a better defender and ball player!
I know Boyd has a much better long kicking game, but we lack some spark and zip in attack now. Newcastle aren't that great defensively. I think we saw the real T Boyd and I would seriously be watching our attack and defense and asking whether TMM needs to be in the starting side. Tannah Boyd and DWZ on the same side defending is suicide. We are almost guaranteed to give away 3-4 tries a game, it would have been 5-6 had the knights not bombed those line breaks. I hope Webby has a plan B.

No!

 

[The Undertaker]

This is the 500th coaching game for Des and quite possibly the last before retirement. Whilst I don’t bear a grudge, sending him off with a big loss (if he indeed is relieved of his duties next week) it would be wonderful considering I still haven’t got over his Manly side beating us in the GF in 2011. The one that got away. And i am still not over the 66 point loss and Anzac Day last year. I want to give these boys a slapping with their impending wooden spoon.

So… to attone for that lackluster performance in Newy, here is the team to do it

1. CNK
2. TT (although it will likely be DWZ)
3. Pompey
4. Leiuatua
5. RTS
6. CHT
7. Boyd
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Niukore
11. Leka
12. Capewell
13. Clark

14. TMM
15. Ford
16. Demetric
17. Laban

If Capes is not fit, Ford to start with Laban in 2nd row and Marata to bench (to counter Fifita) and TSS comes in on the pine.

We are missing Mitch so hopefully JFH gets our pack busting through the middle of the park.

If Ali plays, I expect a big game from him.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

1 C N Klokstad
2 D W Zelezniak
3 A Pompey (right)
4 L Halasima
5 R T Sheck
6 C H Tavita
7 T boyd
8 J F Harris c
9 W Egan
10 J Ford
11 K Capewell
12 J Laban
13 E Clark

14 T M Martin
15 M Niukore
16 D Vaimauga
17 T S Smith

 

[CWC]

On the topic of running halves, we do have to think about the current combo where Boyd's a traditional half and CHT is a 6.5 (same with Metcalf thus those 2 work well), so this combo leans way more towards traditional than having a running game and our attack was basically 5 hit ups and a bomb or grubber

Maybe it'll improve over the next few weeks but they shouldn't rule out TMM at 6 to even up the chemistry here if we're still doing kick to Manu by/after the dogs game

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Not sure what we are supposed to read into big game for Des – they don’t seem to like Des much and he’s done nothing with the team since he’s been there - except give us a record hiding last year - what happened there.

Start Ali and Laban. If Capewell is injured, do not have him play through it, don't Tohu him. We have stacks of backrow options. Niukore to bench, too slow for long stint on the edge, causing issues outside him. Laban can move his feet in defence.

 

[Boston Boy]

On the topic of running halves, we do have to think about the current combo where Boyd's a traditional half and CHT is a 6.5 (same with Metcalf thus those 2 work well), so this combo leans way more towards traditional than having a running game and our attack was basically 5 hit ups and a bomb or grubber

Maybe it'll improve over the next few weeks but they shouldn't rule out TMM at 6 to even up the chemistry here if we're still doing kick to Manu by/after the dogs game

Yeah I think we need to be open to something. I could see Tannah lost all confidence in that game. He was second guessing himself and was nearly shot. I would not count on him when it gets tough. I hope he proves me wrong but from what I saw against the knights I think we really lack a lot in the halves now. CHT gives his all, and is a good defender, he has a half Bomb and good chase in him, but not much else. Tannah was brought in to be the Stable guy who guides us around and executes a good game plan getting the simple things right, then when we need him just to do that, he cracked. Kick out on the full, missed a sitter, botched an easy field Goal, we also seemed to lack a bit of direction. The only thing he offered is a basic game plan executing the basics and if he can't do that we may as well start thinking about option B or C. That's how I am thinking now, give us two more games and I think we will know enough about Boyd.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Yeah I think we need to be open to something. I could see Tannah lost all confidence in that game. He was second guessing himself and was nearly shot. I would not count on him when it gets tough. I hope he proves me wrong but from what I saw against the knights I think we really lack a lot in the halves now. Tannah was brought in to be the Stable guy who guides us around and executes a good game plan getting the simple things right, then when we need him just to do that, he cracked. Kick out on the full, missed a sitter, we seemed to lack a bit of direction. The only thing he offered is a basic game plan executing the basics and if he can't do that we may as well start thinking about option B or C. That's how I am thinking now, give us two more games and I think we will know enough about Boyd.

And martin is not the answer to that problem.

 

[John Nick]

On the topic of running halves, we do have to think about the current combo where Boyd's a traditional half and CHT is a 6.5 (same with Metcalf thus those 2 work well), so this combo leans way more towards traditional than having a running game and our attack was basically 5 hit ups and a bomb or grubber

Maybe it'll improve over the next few weeks but they shouldn't rule out TMM at 6 to even up the chemistry here if we're still doing kick to Manu by/after the dogs game

I don't see any of our Cup games but surely with the success they are enjoying there must a winger who is worthy of a FG crack

 

[Boston Boy]

TMM is like the 4th string half at the club. Its not going to happen.

True it probably won't happen, but if we took every suggestion off here that wouldn't happen we would probably have to close the forum. I do think there is a tiny chance TMM starts if things go down hill. The question is, for who? Tanner or CHT.

 

[Boston Boy]

And martin is not the answer to that problem.

I kind of agree, but all signs are pointing to a poor Boyd, who can't tackle, and is not a great playmaker. He can kick when we are going good but craps himself when the pressure is on. TMM can tackle, ball play, but can't kick. My point is, the kicking is the vital role for Tanner and if he can't do that in tight games we may as well look elsewhere.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

True it probably won't happen, but if we took every suggestion off here that wouldn't happen we would probably have to close the forum. I do think there is a tiny chance TMM starts if things go down hill. The question is, for who? Tanner or CHT.

What makes you think its going to go downhill?

 

[miket12]

Heard a rumour that Caps will get rested this week against the Titans, even if he's named tonight. I suspect we'll hear on the weekend the normal line... "he was given every chance to recover from a leg injury but didn't",

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Create your own team formation

Where has the notion that Halasima can seamlessly shift to Centre come from?
From the records I can find he played solely Second Row in the Dean Bell Cup in 2022 and Lock in a Future Warriors Selection that same year, the '23 SG Ball season at Lock, only 1 out of his 30 appearances in NSW Cup has been at Centre and 20'ish minutes on debut, when he had moments of brilliance on attack but didn't excel defensively.
There's absolutely no need to burden him with a new role

He played all his junior footy with Mangere East & Otahuhu at Centre. If I recall correctly, He started as a Centre with us as well before being moved to backrow permanently.

 

[Boston Boy]

What makes you think its going to go downhill?

He cracked on numerous occasions on Sunday. It is this weakness why he was disliked by the Titans, his poor defense but particularly his lack of consistency especially under pressure was the death of his career at the Titans. I don't think he has changed. Time will tell, but if I had to choose him or hope we could get some great games out of TMM, that's where I would go. Admittedly both are unlikely, but I see us starting to collapse with poor defense on his edge and a lack of spark in attack.

 

[Playdaball]

Leka to replace Leka.

I was hoping he had a brother or a cousin

 

[CWC]

Oh dear no Cape, so it'll be 1 of EIT, MGT, Morgan or CNK

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Oh dear no Cape, so it'll be 1 of EIT, MGT, Morgan or CNK

You got some oil bro?