General 2023 Warriors Trial Games

[Dunedin warrior]

Yeah, I’m sure he’s got his faults. No doubt we will find them. Anyway, this coach seems highly pragmatic. He will give Shaun Johnson a fair crack and will make the changes as he deems necessary. I’m hoping Webster will be one of the best coaches we’ve had.

Yeah with Webster, he’s talked about trying to fit the game plan around the players and they seem to be doing that. I like what I’ve seen so far of him.

 

[Beastmode]

Prob already been covered but we made on ave over 45m per set against Tigers to 32m against the Storm.

Not many backlines can pull a rabbit out of the hat when the go-forward is so lacking in setting a foundation.

We can talk about needing more centres or whatever, but what is the point if they are not going to get quality ball with the opposition retreating in defence?

Posts like these are pure gems.

Not trying to grease ball your wheels Taj, but you should sticky posts at the top of each thread where > 10 likes

Food for tonight

 

[Defence]

Dean Ieremia done his acl in that Dallin Watene-Zelezniak tackle.
Poor bugger- that was terrible luck.

 

[Toookey]

Dean Ieremia done his acl in that Dallin Watene-Zelezniak tackle.
Poor bugger- that was terrible luck.

Hmm, are they likely to punish him now that the tackle has ended his season?

Hope not

 

[Noitall]

Hmm, are they likely to punish him now that the tackle has ended his season?

Hope not

Paasi missed suspension for ending Taylan May season, hope not too.

 

[Wrighty]

This is a really weird take, Wrighty. I don't get it at all. If everyone went this direction 95% of people would be changing industries every couple of years because they aren't "elite".

My message is find your calling. Don't be a square peg in a round hole.
That judgement call can be very difficult when you almost but not quite fit into the round hole.
Maybe Volkman should have stuck with rugby union where he was a childhood phenom.

 

[TeetsNRL]

I see it differently. The game is not growing. Instead of pandering to ethnic groups that are over represented they need to get other groups involved.

How is that going to grow the game?

All the refs and 90% of the games commentators are white but it isn’t growing the participation rates of white kids.

Would a couple of Filipino refs suddenly spike growth in the game in that community?

I can’t remember who it was but a halves partner said years ago even Shaun Johnson’s team mates didn’t know what he was going to do when he did it.

He was very instinctive and didn’t work well within structure.

I’d actually argue one of Shauns biggest problems nowadays is that he’s too overly structured.

 

[Wrighty]

Can we drop the white vs brown refs discussion. I don't see it ending happily as topics about race can be divisive. I am personally happy with any ref of any skin colour.

 

[TeetsNRL]

Can we drop the white vs brown refs discussion. I don't see it ending happily as topics about race can be divisive. I am personally happy with any ref of any skin colour.

I don’t mind either, but a few more Kiwi ones of any ethnicity in the NRL would be nice.

 

[Wrighty]

I don’t mind either, but a few more Kiwi ones of any ethnicity in the NRL would be nice.

Good comment. Too many Aussies.

 

[Beastmode]

I’d actually argue one of Shauns biggest problems nowadays is that he’s too overly structured.

Confused. Isn’t that all we want from him as half this season. We don’t need the razzle dazzle anymore. Just facilitate and do the basics right?

My gripe, and Taj already commented, if forwards aren’t moving forward and bending the line - Shaun Johnson has nothing to work with - hence he shuffles the ball down the line or does a nothing kick

We saw it all last season

We need more fat boys in the pack

 

[Beastmode]

Good comment. Too many Aussies.

Yeah too many Aussies in Australia

 

[Wheels]

How is that going to grow the game?

All the refs and 90% of the games commentators are white but it isn’t growing the participation rates of white kids.

Would a couple of Filipino refs suddenly spike growth in the game in that community?




I’d actually argue one of Shauns biggest problems nowadays is that he’s too overly structured.

Structured may be but I think it is more too predictable.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

My message is find your calling. Don't be a square peg in a round hole.
That judgement call can be very difficult when you almost but not quite fit into the round hole.
Maybe Volkman should have stuck with rugby union where he was a childhood phenom.

Or maybe not expect a 20 year old coming back from a shoulder injury to play at an "Elite" level.

 

[Brother Faisal]

Confused. Isn’t that all we want from him as half this season. We don’t need the razzle dazzle anymore. Just facilitate and do the basics right?

My gripe, and Taj already commented, if forwards aren’t moving forward and bending the line - Shaun Johnson has nothing to work with - hence he shuffles the ball down the line or does a nothing kick

We saw it all last season

We need more fat boys in the pack

Shaun isn't the greatest on the back foot but we've seen what he can do with insane go forward e.g Kiwis 2014.

Unfortunately he isn't going to get that go forward from this team. So what does he revert too when there isn't much go forward? Bomb, cluttered play trying to create things when the forwards haven't generated anything.

Is it the forwards to blame or do we need a half who can stayed structured despite the lack of go forward?

Shaun is a 6 who does have 7 attributes but only when the go forward is good to allow him time to work.

His best work was when he was a 6, when he had a dominant 7 like Maloney, Benji, Foran or at least another 6 who could take the majority of the responsibility.

The million dollar question is can metcalf or Te Maire Martin fill the void and by doing so open up shauns game?

That is yet to be seen.

Despite Shauns lack of attacking the line I still feel he has alot to offer but isn't getting the quality on the edges of a nikora type with great lines hence his frustration with curran etc.

We can see the team is going one way we just need shaun to kind of tack the same way too suit the style this team needs.

 

[Lance155]

Shaun isn't the greatest on the back foot but we've seen what he can do with insane go forward e.g Kiwis 2014.

Unfortunately he isn't going to get that go forward from this team. So what does he revert too when there isn't much go forward? Bomb, cluttered play trying to create things when the forwards haven't generated anything.

Is it the forwards to blame or do we need a half who can stayed structured despite the lack of go forward?

Shaun is a 6 who does have 7 attributes but only when the go forward is good to allow him time to work.

His best work was when he was a 6, when he had a dominant 7 like Maloney, Benji, Foran or at least another 6 who could take the majority of the responsibility.

The million dollar question is can metcalf or Te Maire Martin fill the void and by doing so open up shauns game?

That is yet to be seen.

Despite Shauns lack of attacking the line I still feel he has alot to offer but isn't getting the quality on the edges of a nikora type with great lines hence his frustration with curran etc.

We can see the team is going one way we just need shaun to kind of tack the same way too suit the style this team needs.

Makes me really appreciate the likes of Cleary. DCE and even Adam Reynolds where they can kick you out of the wrestle. That is a huge asset for any team.

 

[Wheels]

Tbh Shaun is a shadow of himself as injuries have held him back from being one of the better number 6’s in the game. He does have some good things to offer the warriors as a number 7 but unfortunately I think we as fans of the Warriors will be continually frustrated with him. He will miss kicks pass wayward skip passes, do annoying one offs to backrowers that are so easy for the opposing team to nullify and then he will win us a game or 2 and we will slowly forgive him. It is truly a roller coaster ride with the Warriors and Shaun embodies this better than anyone. I hope he can help the Warriors sneak into the top 8 but at the same time I won’t be surprised if the new coach makes a tough call during the year and drops him. It’s just a shame that our only backup in metcalf has injured himself so for that reason I am hoping Shaun starts the season in good form and with no silly errors.

 

[Dannevegas]

Just a couple thoughts from the trials.
Our game model looked completely different from the 2 games, tigers we were a lot more expansive, Afoa Ball playing even and we looked exciting. I know it was the tigers but against Melbourne it was one out running basically the whole game.
Could be difference in spines, but the game model should still be similar. I just don’t get what we were trying to get out of the 2nd trial taking 1 out runners the whole game.
Hopefully a smart tactic making it out like we’re still shit lol.
Also Volkman, I was hoping to see a lot more from him. As I was hoping to see a Metcalf, Martin and Volkman spine some time this year.
Highlights wise he looks great with footwork and ball playing. any one have more insight

 

[African warrior]

So why cant they do that here
It's like fucken hell mate your 30 fucken 2 already!

I was re watching a Cronulla game,I think the 2021 indigenous game and they ran the exact same play as the highlighted play.

Similar field position, also a 4 player option however in that instance, they were in -field by about 5 more meters than the play on the weekend. We should have run a different play as numbers wise, we we’re covered and there was no space to try a play like that because even if a defender was sucked out, the touch line was close enough.

For Shaun style to work, the back line needs to play faster. I’ve found he plays the forward inside drop off, because that’s usually the only runner running at that point, he likes to have all runners as options. That’s what he had at the Sharks. He’d have Nikora on a short line, Katoa hugging the touch line, Moylan or Kennedy out the back and Ramein running a support line to the full back or coming in as a second but wider short.

 

[J_P]

Where did I say only white people can control things? I don't give a shit who does what as long as they are the best at it. Quotas are an absolute wasted of time and gain nothing, and yes that is what you suggested by wanting a 'fair reflection' in the referee side of things

The refereeing in nrl is abysmal and maybe bringing in quotas could change that for the better.