Team List Warriors vs Panthers - [Round 16, 2025]

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Remember how we had a team of nobodies and beat The Panthers during Magic Round? They'll be aiming to do the same to us.
Yeah I am expecting a Ninja job from Ivan on us.

They have nothing to lose right? and their also rans will play like coaches automatoms, doing exactly was Ivan asks in their one shot....or they know they will never first grade again.

I expect they will run hard, have great line speed, make few errors, and harass the shit out of our key players as instructed. I believe the term is spoiling....and I expect that plus their confidence growing if it works.

Key signs we are in trouble is if we start turning ball over, conceding penalties, playing panic football ala catch up mode when we get say for example a shock twelve plus points scored against us in ten minutes.
 

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Thanks bro.

I had zero idea he played Rugby Union

I like that he is not from Auckland. He has dna in the game.

When I said I am still waiting to see why we signed him, I should have added a caveat that unlike many, I have 100% faith in McFadden.

As soon as Cappy says go, I am a believer (I believe I will see what they see soon enough and am happy to wait for it).

I will watch his games more and look at the technical side from here like the ptb.

I was watching his debut in the sheds before kick off.

The team were in a huddle clutching the hoe (paddle) and Tanner was on the outside of the group on his own...a lonely place, he joins the circle last and puts a hand on the shoulder of his team mates from outside the circle.

I felt that moment in my heart.

The Warriors need to sort that shit out.

When someone is on Debut, ask them to hold the Hoe as the others gather around.

Sort out your Tikanga.

Ì will add if I may Halasimas tv interview.
 
I thought it was just me that is still waiting to see why we have this guy on our books and why some rate him.

There was a time I didn't understand what the club saw in Jazz Tevanga on debut either.

As I understand Stowers Smith was not fit enough, then impressed the coaches with how hard he has been working to get where he is now.

Looks like a work rate type signing rather than a dynamic signing eh.

I wonder whether the club sees a future Erin Clark type hearty player that has the attitude for NRL and like Clark, might need a few years to become a hearty little beast.

That is what happened with Jazz too. Not great early doors, matures and becomes a hearty type player that every pack benefits from.
I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen in cup, and much the same in FG. Hasn't looked out of place at all which is half the battle as a young smaller prop.

Moves across the ground well, good leg drive, and a strong defender. The worker types typically build into their careers, unlike the Leka's and Dimi's who burst on to the scene due to their size and athleticism.

Balanced forward packs are all about different body types, different play types that excel at different facets. I see TSS building into an inportant cog to compliment our boom players.

Admittedly I'm a sucker for a worker type, have been dieing on the CHT hill for years hoping he'd start to hit his straps and stoked Ford is excelling from a simplified role.
 

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I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen in cup, and much the same in FG. Hasn't looked out of place at all which is half the battle as a young smaller prop.

Moves across the ground well, good leg drive, and a strong defender. The worker types typically build into their careers, unlike the Leka's and Dimi's who burst on to the scene due to their size and athleticism.

Balanced forward packs are all about different body types, different play types that excel at different facets. I see TSS building into an inportant cog to compliment our boom players.

Admittedly I'm a sucker for a worker type, have been dieing on the CHT hill for years hoping he'd start to hit his straps and stoked Ford is excelling from a simplified role.

Look at Laban. Different shape again, no baby fat, square jawed raw boned long tall drink of water loping across the ground like a colt....all legs, just starting to dance at the line and beat guys with his weight shifts that are unexpected for his build.
 
Look at Laban. Different shape again, no baby fat, square jawed raw boned long tall drink of water loping across the ground like a colt....all legs, just starting to dance at the line and beat guys with his weight shifts that are unexpected for his build.
Yep, is good to see so many different types and shapes coming through for us.

Gives you the ability to play a varied style.
 
Pretty amazing that half way through the season we have only been beaten by two teams all year: Melbourne and Canberra. They are both title contenders in their own right. We have beaten everybody else from 5th place downwards. That tells me that we have done a remarkable job of winning "banana skin" games this year. So I'm not worried in the slightest that we'll do a Sharks and think we just have to turn up to win against the baby panthers. Webby has made sure that everyone from 1-17 treats every game the same way, whether our opponent is the sharks, canberra, wests or newcastle. If we approach this game the same way, I've got no doubt we are looking for a solid win.

I'd really like for us to go ruthless tonight and post a big win here. We need to let the rest of the comp know that the shark park romp was no fluke and is going to be our standard performance moving forward. Canberra's narrow win against Wests last night gives us a huge opportunity to make up p/d points on them and the dogs. Given the relative softness of their draw, p/d points may decide 2nd vs 3rd this year. Top 2 and 2 home finals is what we need to be looking at in order to have a real crack this year.
 

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Good luck with tomorrows game against Saints, I will catch it the following day (7am live is too early for me on a NZ Saturday morning). I tried to hook up with the Leeds Forum again (haven't been over there since David Fusitua arrived your way - some reason I cannot get my account working.

Like you, I have zero sympathy for a club that has stomped the entire competition for four years.....fk em I say too.

Plus, the lose the world club challenge twice in a row to Englands best and chicken out this year and don't show up this year for a third beating....cowards.

First Australian team to tap out of the annual fixture.
Just finished watching the Saints game ....very nearly last minute drove the 3 hours up after work but thankfully bailed and watched on telly.... Won't spoil the result for you....

Fusi was hit and miss for us if course.... We didn't see the best of him but always liked him when not injured

Panthers were complete cowards wimping out of the WCC....... Going to be some time before they gather opportunity again I suspect
 
Fus was an amazing athlete but he clearly was part of the culture problem back in the Cappy/SK days. I remember there was an episode on fox years ago where SJ was mic'd up during a game against the Broncos in 2024. The number of times he and the other players were screaming at Fus to get back in the defensive line was really eye opening. He just didn't seem to have the drive.
 
This team has won 4 out of 5 consecutive finals. They deserve respect. They will be tough, Ivan is no mug

No they haven’t

Aside from Leota and Sorensen that entire team looks like absolute arse

They are playing away from home at a sold out Mt Smart stadium. Nothing but an arse whipping for all those years of grief they have given us will be accepted
 

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As I understand Stowers Smith was not fit enough, then impressed the coaches with how hard he has been working to get where he is now.
That makes a lot of sense - I think Webby (correctly) puts massive emphasis on fitness.

Remember when Ford used to be a penalty and error magnet but was always ratted by Webby because he was the fittest in the club.

I remember being so embarrassed when I went to Hurrells debut - it was at Eden Park and I was with a mate who played professional union. I shared with him how Konrad was tipped to be a star - that came crashing down when he was gassed early and clearly didn’t have the fitness for first grade. Bluey had just shown everyone that being talented was enough to get a first grade gig regardless of fitness . Thank goodness we demand standards now
 
That makes a lot of sense - I think Webby (correctly) puts massive emphasis on fitness.

Remember when Ford used to be a penalty and error magnet but was always ratted by Webby because he was the fittest in the club.

I remember being so embarrassed when I went to Hurrells debut - it was at Eden Park and I was with a mate who played professional union. I shared with him how Konrad was tipped to be a star - that came crashing down when he was gassed early and clearly didn’t have the fitness for first grade. Bluey had just shown everyone that being talented was enough to get a first grade gig regardless of fitness . Thank goodness we demand standards now
That era it was picking the best of a bad bunch as there were issues across the whole squad…
 

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That era it was picking the best of a bad bunch as there were issues across the whole squad…
I have a vague memory of Bluey saying they paced themselves during the off season as is a long service - meanwhile every other nrl club for as long as you can remember had the mantra of toughest offseason ever, the difference certainly showed
 
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