Centre is definitely a weakness, however, I see it as an 'icing on the cake' position rather than an important one like FB and the halves.
General Warriors Preseason 2026
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When you can keep a squad together largely, I think that counts a lot in your favour because often recruits are going to take some time to gel with new teammates. Injuries to me mean everything to our success because I think we continue on last season with a healthy team and finish top 4. When you’re in top 4, anything is possible from there and be a team plenty would rather avoid with anything possible on our day. Biggest problems to me are inconsistency after a bye, so a week off in finals wouldn’t bode well and inability for consistency in big and hyped games. Obviously need a lift from last year but I think we can foot with any team on our day
2.4K views · 36 reactions | Caelys Putoko (Forestland) 2 tries for NZ Warriors in NSW Cup #KiwiNRL | The Niche Cache
Caelys Putoko (Forestland) 2 tries for NZ Warriors in NSW Cup #KiwiNRL
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I keep mentioning this guy and interested to see the position they play him. He got one game in nsw cup and handled the promotion with ease having a big game against top opposition. He could factor at some point, perhaps more 2027
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I think on their day they are a premiership team.
Problem is they all need to be playing at 95% to win it, we won’t see a broncos of this year where 1 player can just carry us to the premiership if others aren’t.
The halves of Metcalf and CHT I think are capable and if Ali / Rocco can stay on and in form. Fullback is up in the air I think Taine has the ball playing to be a piece in the puzzle and ‘23 CNK could as well
Call me an optimist but it’s there if they can get in form at the right time.
This kid definitely has talent.2.4K views · 36 reactions | Caelys Putoko (Forestland) 2 tries for NZ Warriors in NSW Cup #KiwiNRL | The Niche Cache
Caelys Putoko (Forestland) 2 tries for NZ Warriors in NSW Cup #KiwiNRL
I keep mentioning this guy and interested to see the position they play him. He got one game in nsw cup and handled the promotion with ease having a big game against top opposition. He could factor at some point, perhaps more 2027
To provide some context on his sole appearance vs the Panthers, our NRL side played that same day against what many considered to be Penrith's 'B' side so his opposition could be considered C grade & had been beaten by 32 points the week prior
And our top team couldn’t get over the panthers b team you mentioned, does that mean a grade ahead is on par as far as panthers are concerned? Probably not with our nsw cup team winning the whole thing, but certainly nothing to not be worth mentioning when when playing the panthers juggernaut
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I'll add that he did play fairly well against much harder opposition in the Bati & the KumulsTrust you to rain on our optimism parade with a deep dive stat @Cces
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Trust you to rain on our optimism parade with a deep dive stat @Cces
Warriors v Panthers
New Zealand Warriors NSW Cup versus Penrith Panthers NSW Cup match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.
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This is the team that played that day, when you look at the panthers nsw cup team across the season there was a lot of changes, just as we had but there was a lot of the forward pack and some backs like Jack Cole played a majority of the season. Putoko came in for MTG who was promoted for the game
100% agree ... coaches must know it too ... can only field the cattle we got, CNK and Taine IMO have hit their ceiling... One lacks attack and speed the other's too small. Does RTS return to FB then AKP would provide speed to the left edge..
Centres, has Ali developed enough, hes only 23 and can he stay on the field.. Berrys gotta stay injury free, him and DWZ were a good right edge combo.. Pomps has served us well, nothing fantastic, but does his job.. like a gap filler til someone better comes along..
Oh well nothing like a bit of speculation ... soon see I guess..
Over the entire 2025 season, I don't think we played once that would have put us anywhere near the level of either Grand Final teams. Maybe the Sharks game, but the Sharks were trash that night.
Everyone is right in terms of the 6 and 1 not being a strength. But CNK and CHT won't (or shouldn't) lose us games. They are defense first players. Not every player can be lethal unless you are the Roosters or Brisbane. But I can see our centres and second rowers lack of speed in defence and lack of attack are our biggest downsides, and believe we can shore that up in the next year or 2 with our juniors and up and comers. Surely Marata and Capewell will not be our second row heading into 2026, we need some change.
I think CHT will be eventually replaced with a Cleary/Linnane/Inch. Fullback I don't think we have anyone lined up, but I'm sure they do.
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At 2nd Row I would have Laban and Halasima, both good runners and gives an aerial threat both sides
Fullback has CNK as incumbant, the question is does he offer more at Centre. Then choices are TT, RTS TMM. Does AKPs hands disqualify him as a possibility?
Could Boyd operate at 6 with LM. His boot is very handy. To be fair CHT played well. His defence should not be underestimated.
The Bench has me thinking Healy covering 9 & 13. Mitch, (Ford starting early season) Niukore and Vaimauga.
Fullback has CNK as incumbant, the question is does he offer more at Centre. Then choices are TT, RTS TMM. Does AKPs hands disqualify him as a possibility?
Could Boyd operate at 6 with LM. His boot is very handy. To be fair CHT played well. His defence should not be underestimated.
The Bench has me thinking Healy covering 9 & 13. Mitch, (Ford starting early season) Niukore and Vaimauga.
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I initially liked the 6 man bench concept but it would mean, unless their NSW/Q Cup team is playing the following day (& in the same country), up to 32 professional league players won't get a game each weekend. I think our NSW Cup are set to be the curtain raiser in 13 of our match this season so that'd mean bugger all footy for some
Play first half of the cup game and then sit on the bench if you were the specialist back up hooker/half?
Common place back in the day. Unsure if it'd fly with the RLPA these days. Would need bigger benches in NSW Cup too. Imagine Tanah Boyd being named on the 6 man bench then getting injury in the first minute of the curtain raiser. Jett Cleary is now needed for the NRL bench but is required to play the remaining 79 minutes of reserve grade first
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We played really well in our finals defeat v Penrith and TBF we were as good as them but they iced a couple of opportunistic moments.
So we showed on that day we are a decent team even without Barnett and Metcalf.
If only someone was backing up Tannah Boyd’s line break…
Anyways Webby has given several younger players decent game time amongst the older test veterans and Ford style epic journeymen in his three year tenure all the while not expecting to be premiership contenders but expecting us to be top 8 competitive minimum so we have exceeded general expectations.
Don’t wait until 2027 Webby.
Do it now.
Let the attack loose.
My first round team without Metcalf and Barnett.
Taine
AKP
Ali L
Berry
RTS
TMM
Boyd
Fish
Egan
Ford
Leka
Capewell
Clark
Demi
TSS
Healey
Laban
Taine has had some epic moments.
He influences every game.
RTS and AKP just ahead of Dallin for now, who needs to go to reserve grade or Waikato and learn to defend.
Hard to leave Pompey out.
Need Boyd’s kicking and surprise running game but doesn’t gel with CHT the way he does with TMM.
Not a huge pack but mobile and brutal.
Capewell is an influencer who needs to be there.
TSS/Fatialofa/EIT /Gannon toss up.
But went for a genuine prop.
I have left out CNK, DWZ and Marata simply because IMO we have better options now.
Pompey and CHT would push for a spot at most clubs and only an injury away.
Finally, tell me am I delusional or do we see some 2002/2003 vibes with our current squad and posse of up and comers.
So we showed on that day we are a decent team even without Barnett and Metcalf.
If only someone was backing up Tannah Boyd’s line break…
Anyways Webby has given several younger players decent game time amongst the older test veterans and Ford style epic journeymen in his three year tenure all the while not expecting to be premiership contenders but expecting us to be top 8 competitive minimum so we have exceeded general expectations.
Don’t wait until 2027 Webby.
Do it now.
Let the attack loose.
My first round team without Metcalf and Barnett.
Taine
AKP
Ali L
Berry
RTS
TMM
Boyd
Fish
Egan
Ford
Leka
Capewell
Clark
Demi
TSS
Healey
Laban
Taine has had some epic moments.
He influences every game.
RTS and AKP just ahead of Dallin for now, who needs to go to reserve grade or Waikato and learn to defend.
Hard to leave Pompey out.
Need Boyd’s kicking and surprise running game but doesn’t gel with CHT the way he does with TMM.
Not a huge pack but mobile and brutal.
Capewell is an influencer who needs to be there.
TSS/Fatialofa/EIT /Gannon toss up.
But went for a genuine prop.
I have left out CNK, DWZ and Marata simply because IMO we have better options now.
Pompey and CHT would push for a spot at most clubs and only an injury away.
Finally, tell me am I delusional or do we see some 2002/2003 vibes with our current squad and posse of up and comers.
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