mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Great NSW Cup game review from Matt Loader. Long read but a nice insight into how our Reserve Grade players are faring and who is ready to step up.
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Hey Guys
As you know i try and get to all the Warriors NSW Cup games to watch the reserve players do their thing and i write up a match report of how i see it for the Warrior Nation page. It goes under "Fan In The Stand" pseudonym . Bit different than other reviews as I write what I see using my own language. Thought I would put today's game in here.. Appreciate the feedback too good or bad.
After waking up from last night's first grade nightmare I packed up the family and travelled out to the great south west of Sydney Campbelltown Stadium to watch the Warriors reserve grade team play the Tigers. On the drive out I was thinking that every forward in the reserve grade team would be able to put their hand up for first grade if they had a good game today as I think every Warriors supporter knows we are struggling in first grade to get ruck dominance and bend the line back in the forwards. So as I see it this was the reserve grade forwards chance to impress.
Got there early so went across the road to the Wests Leagues club for lunch. Nice leagues club. Pretty big. Saw a Kiwi family there with Warriors gear on so did the usual chur bro head raise when Kiwis see Kiwis overseas. Got asked to remove my cap due to house rules. Fair enough but then James Tedesco walked past wearing his? WTF! I let it ride. He was there with the rest of the Tigers first grade team having lunch. Hes on about $850k and I make just above minimum wage but guummmon.
After my Garlic Bread loaded fries and Coke zero I get to the stadium and the boys are ready to kick off.
I quickly check the starting line up and Toafofoa Sipley is not in the team. Didn't read that he was injured not sure if he was 18th man last night? Gutted as he is the future of our propping rotation in first grade. Also #20 is on the wing and I didn't pick up his name replacing Tui who was called up to first grade (probably not for much longer). I also notice Big Ruben Wiki is running the water. What happened there is he on the way out or something. I noticed Cappy does the water in first grade. Ground is in pretty good condition as we have had about 10 days of rain here in Sydney, not drizzle but buckets of rain but still heaps hot mid 20s.
Game gets underway and after trading 2 sets each we are on attack thanks to good go forward from our forwards and put on a good move out the back play spreading it wide and our winger #2 Fetalaiga Pauga crosses over for an early try but Mason Lino misses the kick 4-0 to us. Heaps of loud communication from our hooker and half Lino and Tevega got the backs organised for that try to happen. Everyone knew what was happening and the play got executed.
Few minutes later Warriors survived 2 penalties and hold out the Tigers attack with good organised defence which seems to be holding together nicely by loud communication, which leads to us forcing an error. During those sets on defence I notice our #6 Sam Cook absolutely smashing anything that runs at him. No fear just all shoulder technique.
Pat Sipley made an enormous hit up of 18 metres but it gets wasted when their is an error on the next play. Mason Linos general kicking is awesome, never kicking to players on the full it seems good skills as the Tigers fullback was covering and never out of position. Another defensive set for us sees Pat Sipley again make a crucial tackle and holds up the dummy half Matt Ballin from scoring. From that set our #3 Semisi Fotu makes a great hit up by just running hard. Three plays later Lino kicks on the last and the Tigers fullback runs it back gets whacked by James Bell losing the ball and we spin it wide through the hands and Matt Allwood goes over in the corner. Lino coverts 10-0 to us.
After 24 minutes and we are looking good and don't look like conceding points at all, just as i wrote that in my notes Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad makes a ball and all tackle stopping a try which pretty much confirms my last sentence.
Patrick Sipley has totally impressed so he gets a spell after 27 minutes and Ligi Sao comes on for his first game this season, another forward I want to see put his hand up. Tigers had 2 sets in our 10m line after forcing a goal line drop out. Again our D is tight and we force an error. The backs come in and take 4 hit ups giving our forwards a rest and again our centre Semisi Fotu makes a huge run getting outta 20 next play. Lino kicks a 40-20 but Tigers hold on after we run a few smart plays at there halves.
Few minutes later Charnze beats 4 tackles after retrieving a kick and earns a penalty and from that set Fotu ( who is having a meke game) barges over from dummy half with Lino converting for a 16 zip lead with 5 minutes to go.
I thought the Warriors would shut up shop till halftime but nope they still wanted more. James Bell made one of the best round the leg tackles I have ever seen. Like the ones Charlie Gubb makes when its all timing. Nice work James. In the last minute before oranges we put on a backline move through the hands and Lino puts in a banana grubber that travels end over end for about 30 metres and our winger Fetalaiga Pauga dives on it for us to lead 20-0 at the break. Lino missed a tough kick.
With no halftime entertainment for the crowd of about 67 people I go over my notes what I've written on this game and realise I'm starting to get over my shittyness from last nights game. I'm sure my couch cushions at home are relieved as well after they took about 25 punches each time the Dogs scored a try. These reserves are making my weekend good again.
We kick off for the second half and the Tigers drop it on the 3rd tackle. We set up our plays but Sam Cook gets taken late and we get the penalty, have a set in their 10m line and #15 Taniela Palavi shimmies his way over in a 1 on 1 tackle for a try. Another Palavi coming through the Warriors system, sheeesh there has been about 2 dozen Palavi's pull on the jersey. Lino converts. Couple of sets later Tigers kick on the last but Sao charges it down regathers and him, the fridge on his back and the 2 bricks in his boots run about 40m but gets chased down by nearly the entire Tigers team, ball boys and medical staff (to be fair it is his first game of the season lol) but passes it to Cook who beats 2 then gives a glorious hospital pass to Lino who gets whacked like the way Hopoate did last week when he wasn't looking. End of the set sees Tevega put in a nice little grubber which the Tigers get 1/2 metre out from their line. Good set by us. Again Tigers lose possession from our pressure and we are controlling play nicely. Charnze twinkle toes Klokstad dances and weaves around 4 defenders to score which Lino converts 30 zip us after 55 minutes.
We are totally dominating this game and everyone KNOWS their role and not overplaying their hand, a real team performance. Plus the pleasing sign is we are going in for the kill not letting up, to illustrate this Sam Cook kicks from just outside his 40 to about 50cm from the dead ball line but chases his own kick and tackles the Tigers fullback in goal. Pure class as he wants a result from that play. Tigers line drop out bounces weird and Pat Sipley runs back to get it and tucks it under the armpit then drags 5 defenders 20 metres. Massive hit up! We get a penalty 2 tackles later and keep applying pressure with Lino's kicking game (faultless). Guess you can do that when your forwards dominate the ruck. More pressure from us sees an Allwood kick ricochet off a Tigers defender and Isaiah Papalii catches it and dives over. Lino hits the post with the kick 36 nada 67 gone.
We continue to roll through the middle at will Charnze makes another line break and runs 80m before getting mowed down by the Tigers winger Christian Yassmin who flew outta know where to get him, really really quick.
Quick plays see us have an overlap with heaps of numbers Tevega passes it to Cook, Cook passes it to Lino, Lino passes it to the touchie opps try blown dammit. There was silence and all u could hear was a massive FUUU&&&@@@@ from Lino. I laughed but then i thought good shit Mason, your team is up 36-0 but you're still pissed you didn't get the try. Still demanding that excellence not laughing or joking, still playing the full 80.
So that was the final score 36-0 and now the reserves sit top of the table 3-0 with a great for and against. Despite the rain at times I thought this was a good quality performance by us. Only a couple of errors and good positive play.
Things that I noticed throughout the day:
-Vera the old school Warriors fan was there very loud and proud. Those that know or see her from games know that shes like an Aunty to the players and after the game they all went over and gave her a kiss. Vera is awesome.
-#3 Semisi Fotu was the stand out in the first half, dominated his opposite. Quiet in the 2nd half. Not a big build but very strong.
-Patrick Sipley had strong carries all game. Played big minutes about 64 in total and never went backwards. Only had 1 break.
-Ligi Sao also played big minutes. Maybe it was the plan of Kearney and co to get some miles in the legs of the props to push for first grade. Not strong hit ups like a Paleaaesina but didn't shirk the workload.
-Isaiah Papalii didn't do that much. Going on the performance today how did he make first grade to start the season. Didn't do anything wrong but certainly didn't standout. At one point during the game he got a gash to the head and no shit he had about 15 roles of tape on his head plus headgear and the long hair he looked like the guy from the movie mask, not the Jim carrey one the old Eric Stoltz one.
-Gutted Toafofoa Sipley didn't play. Also was interested to see how big Ofahiki Ogden would go as the club has huge wraps on him. Didn't play much, went off in the first half and didn't come back on.
-Sam Cook defended well, great technique with the shoulders, James Bell (who I rate) was very busy all game.
-With all NRL squads naming about 21 players on a Tuesday I thought the ones that didn't make the cut like Gavet and Ayshford would get a run but they were not there. How are they supposed to get match fit when they don't take the field?
-With the club having an endless supply of hookers at the moment Tevega was OK at hooker but once Arona came on and Tevega went to Lock the shackles came off and he started to ball play 1 and 2 plays off the ruck, good to see as he has some ball skills.
-But the best player on the field was Charnze Nicoll-Klolstad. Head and shoulders and elbows above everyone else. Line breaks, try assists, try savers he done it all today. I'm going to call it now.
IF Roger Tuivasa-Sheck IS RULED OUT AGAINST THE DRAGONS THEN GIVE CHARNZE AN OPPORTUNITY AND NOT TUI.
Im serious Give him a shot and give Tuimoala Lolohea some reserve grade action. Charnze won't let the team down.
Which leads me to my final summary.
The TEAM. the reserve grade I saw today played as one. Sure the Tigers were poos but they had some first grade experience in premiership winner and Origin rep Matt Ballin, Kyle Lovette, Jordan Rankin and Benjis brother Jeremy. The Warriors weren't happy being 36 up they wanted more and demanded more of themselves, They trusted each other in attack and got 36 points and relied on each other in defence conceding 0. There was an instance there today a bit of push and shove and every Warrior was there ready for each other to punch on if necessary. Unity. All fans of the club want to see that.
So I drove home happy and totally over my moodiness from the first grade performance against the Dogs knowing the reserves are in good shape.
Fan In The Stand from Campbelltown Stadium OUT!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Guys
As you know i try and get to all the Warriors NSW Cup games to watch the reserve players do their thing and i write up a match report of how i see it for the Warrior Nation page. It goes under "Fan In The Stand" pseudonym . Bit different than other reviews as I write what I see using my own language. Thought I would put today's game in here.. Appreciate the feedback too good or bad.
After waking up from last night's first grade nightmare I packed up the family and travelled out to the great south west of Sydney Campbelltown Stadium to watch the Warriors reserve grade team play the Tigers. On the drive out I was thinking that every forward in the reserve grade team would be able to put their hand up for first grade if they had a good game today as I think every Warriors supporter knows we are struggling in first grade to get ruck dominance and bend the line back in the forwards. So as I see it this was the reserve grade forwards chance to impress.
Got there early so went across the road to the Wests Leagues club for lunch. Nice leagues club. Pretty big. Saw a Kiwi family there with Warriors gear on so did the usual chur bro head raise when Kiwis see Kiwis overseas. Got asked to remove my cap due to house rules. Fair enough but then James Tedesco walked past wearing his? WTF! I let it ride. He was there with the rest of the Tigers first grade team having lunch. Hes on about $850k and I make just above minimum wage but guummmon.
After my Garlic Bread loaded fries and Coke zero I get to the stadium and the boys are ready to kick off.
I quickly check the starting line up and Toafofoa Sipley is not in the team. Didn't read that he was injured not sure if he was 18th man last night? Gutted as he is the future of our propping rotation in first grade. Also #20 is on the wing and I didn't pick up his name replacing Tui who was called up to first grade (probably not for much longer). I also notice Big Ruben Wiki is running the water. What happened there is he on the way out or something. I noticed Cappy does the water in first grade. Ground is in pretty good condition as we have had about 10 days of rain here in Sydney, not drizzle but buckets of rain but still heaps hot mid 20s.
Game gets underway and after trading 2 sets each we are on attack thanks to good go forward from our forwards and put on a good move out the back play spreading it wide and our winger #2 Fetalaiga Pauga crosses over for an early try but Mason Lino misses the kick 4-0 to us. Heaps of loud communication from our hooker and half Lino and Tevega got the backs organised for that try to happen. Everyone knew what was happening and the play got executed.
Few minutes later Warriors survived 2 penalties and hold out the Tigers attack with good organised defence which seems to be holding together nicely by loud communication, which leads to us forcing an error. During those sets on defence I notice our #6 Sam Cook absolutely smashing anything that runs at him. No fear just all shoulder technique.
Pat Sipley made an enormous hit up of 18 metres but it gets wasted when their is an error on the next play. Mason Linos general kicking is awesome, never kicking to players on the full it seems good skills as the Tigers fullback was covering and never out of position. Another defensive set for us sees Pat Sipley again make a crucial tackle and holds up the dummy half Matt Ballin from scoring. From that set our #3 Semisi Fotu makes a great hit up by just running hard. Three plays later Lino kicks on the last and the Tigers fullback runs it back gets whacked by James Bell losing the ball and we spin it wide through the hands and Matt Allwood goes over in the corner. Lino coverts 10-0 to us.
After 24 minutes and we are looking good and don't look like conceding points at all, just as i wrote that in my notes Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad makes a ball and all tackle stopping a try which pretty much confirms my last sentence.
Patrick Sipley has totally impressed so he gets a spell after 27 minutes and Ligi Sao comes on for his first game this season, another forward I want to see put his hand up. Tigers had 2 sets in our 10m line after forcing a goal line drop out. Again our D is tight and we force an error. The backs come in and take 4 hit ups giving our forwards a rest and again our centre Semisi Fotu makes a huge run getting outta 20 next play. Lino kicks a 40-20 but Tigers hold on after we run a few smart plays at there halves.
Few minutes later Charnze beats 4 tackles after retrieving a kick and earns a penalty and from that set Fotu ( who is having a meke game) barges over from dummy half with Lino converting for a 16 zip lead with 5 minutes to go.
I thought the Warriors would shut up shop till halftime but nope they still wanted more. James Bell made one of the best round the leg tackles I have ever seen. Like the ones Charlie Gubb makes when its all timing. Nice work James. In the last minute before oranges we put on a backline move through the hands and Lino puts in a banana grubber that travels end over end for about 30 metres and our winger Fetalaiga Pauga dives on it for us to lead 20-0 at the break. Lino missed a tough kick.
With no halftime entertainment for the crowd of about 67 people I go over my notes what I've written on this game and realise I'm starting to get over my shittyness from last nights game. I'm sure my couch cushions at home are relieved as well after they took about 25 punches each time the Dogs scored a try. These reserves are making my weekend good again.
We kick off for the second half and the Tigers drop it on the 3rd tackle. We set up our plays but Sam Cook gets taken late and we get the penalty, have a set in their 10m line and #15 Taniela Palavi shimmies his way over in a 1 on 1 tackle for a try. Another Palavi coming through the Warriors system, sheeesh there has been about 2 dozen Palavi's pull on the jersey. Lino converts. Couple of sets later Tigers kick on the last but Sao charges it down regathers and him, the fridge on his back and the 2 bricks in his boots run about 40m but gets chased down by nearly the entire Tigers team, ball boys and medical staff (to be fair it is his first game of the season lol) but passes it to Cook who beats 2 then gives a glorious hospital pass to Lino who gets whacked like the way Hopoate did last week when he wasn't looking. End of the set sees Tevega put in a nice little grubber which the Tigers get 1/2 metre out from their line. Good set by us. Again Tigers lose possession from our pressure and we are controlling play nicely. Charnze twinkle toes Klokstad dances and weaves around 4 defenders to score which Lino converts 30 zip us after 55 minutes.
We are totally dominating this game and everyone KNOWS their role and not overplaying their hand, a real team performance. Plus the pleasing sign is we are going in for the kill not letting up, to illustrate this Sam Cook kicks from just outside his 40 to about 50cm from the dead ball line but chases his own kick and tackles the Tigers fullback in goal. Pure class as he wants a result from that play. Tigers line drop out bounces weird and Pat Sipley runs back to get it and tucks it under the armpit then drags 5 defenders 20 metres. Massive hit up! We get a penalty 2 tackles later and keep applying pressure with Lino's kicking game (faultless). Guess you can do that when your forwards dominate the ruck. More pressure from us sees an Allwood kick ricochet off a Tigers defender and Isaiah Papalii catches it and dives over. Lino hits the post with the kick 36 nada 67 gone.
We continue to roll through the middle at will Charnze makes another line break and runs 80m before getting mowed down by the Tigers winger Christian Yassmin who flew outta know where to get him, really really quick.
Quick plays see us have an overlap with heaps of numbers Tevega passes it to Cook, Cook passes it to Lino, Lino passes it to the touchie opps try blown dammit. There was silence and all u could hear was a massive FUUU&&&@@@@ from Lino. I laughed but then i thought good shit Mason, your team is up 36-0 but you're still pissed you didn't get the try. Still demanding that excellence not laughing or joking, still playing the full 80.
So that was the final score 36-0 and now the reserves sit top of the table 3-0 with a great for and against. Despite the rain at times I thought this was a good quality performance by us. Only a couple of errors and good positive play.
Things that I noticed throughout the day:
-Vera the old school Warriors fan was there very loud and proud. Those that know or see her from games know that shes like an Aunty to the players and after the game they all went over and gave her a kiss. Vera is awesome.
-#3 Semisi Fotu was the stand out in the first half, dominated his opposite. Quiet in the 2nd half. Not a big build but very strong.
-Patrick Sipley had strong carries all game. Played big minutes about 64 in total and never went backwards. Only had 1 break.
-Ligi Sao also played big minutes. Maybe it was the plan of Kearney and co to get some miles in the legs of the props to push for first grade. Not strong hit ups like a Paleaaesina but didn't shirk the workload.
-Isaiah Papalii didn't do that much. Going on the performance today how did he make first grade to start the season. Didn't do anything wrong but certainly didn't standout. At one point during the game he got a gash to the head and no shit he had about 15 roles of tape on his head plus headgear and the long hair he looked like the guy from the movie mask, not the Jim carrey one the old Eric Stoltz one.
-Gutted Toafofoa Sipley didn't play. Also was interested to see how big Ofahiki Ogden would go as the club has huge wraps on him. Didn't play much, went off in the first half and didn't come back on.
-Sam Cook defended well, great technique with the shoulders, James Bell (who I rate) was very busy all game.
-With all NRL squads naming about 21 players on a Tuesday I thought the ones that didn't make the cut like Gavet and Ayshford would get a run but they were not there. How are they supposed to get match fit when they don't take the field?
-With the club having an endless supply of hookers at the moment Tevega was OK at hooker but once Arona came on and Tevega went to Lock the shackles came off and he started to ball play 1 and 2 plays off the ruck, good to see as he has some ball skills.
-But the best player on the field was Charnze Nicoll-Klolstad. Head and shoulders and elbows above everyone else. Line breaks, try assists, try savers he done it all today. I'm going to call it now.
IF Roger Tuivasa-Sheck IS RULED OUT AGAINST THE DRAGONS THEN GIVE CHARNZE AN OPPORTUNITY AND NOT TUI.
Im serious Give him a shot and give Tuimoala Lolohea some reserve grade action. Charnze won't let the team down.
Which leads me to my final summary.
The TEAM. the reserve grade I saw today played as one. Sure the Tigers were poos but they had some first grade experience in premiership winner and Origin rep Matt Ballin, Kyle Lovette, Jordan Rankin and Benjis brother Jeremy. The Warriors weren't happy being 36 up they wanted more and demanded more of themselves, They trusted each other in attack and got 36 points and relied on each other in defence conceding 0. There was an instance there today a bit of push and shove and every Warrior was there ready for each other to punch on if necessary. Unity. All fans of the club want to see that.
So I drove home happy and totally over my moodiness from the first grade performance against the Dogs knowing the reserves are in good shape.
Fan In The Stand from Campbelltown Stadium OUT!!!
