General Are we the real deal?

[snake77]

There is a lot to like about how things are going.

It is a long season, and things can change. Look at last year, after a few injuries. Now that Boyd has gone down, our next two options are two guys who have been picking up regular injuries over the last few years.

Let's get deep into winter when the weather changes and see if we are still keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Especially at home when it is wet underfoot.

I know this post is coming off as negative. Think more cautious (comes from my line of work).


I like how our attack is a lot more dynamic. Let's hope it doesn't get worked out.

The other positive is the interactions within the group. Guys celebrating big defensive efforts etc. Someone mentioned they don't leave the field until everyone is ready etc. Little things like that do go a long way at the backend of the season. Especially if we get some momentum.

The main thing is to keep winning and hopefully get to a point where we have a home semi. The longer we are playing at home during the semi-finals the better. Not that I am worried about playing in Australia as under Webster we have played well on the road. More if we are to dare to dream. The preparation for the big one would be better here instead of losing a day travelling back to NZ before heading back to Australia.

 

[rugged]

It is a long season, and things can change. Look at last year, after a few injuries. Now that Boyd has gone down, our next two options are two guys who have been picking up regular injuries over the last few years.

In the greatest irony we probably let Luke Metcalf go because of his injury profile and now a key to us going all the way is Metcalf staying injury free. I don't see a team winning consistently in the finals without a strong kicking game and LM easily has the best boot of who we have left. I think we need to slowly reintroduce him and hope he can string enough games together.

I know some will say Luke is on the outer but Webby made it pretty clear in his presser "If we didn't want Luke here for this year we would have released him."

The other danger is that we peak too early with all the hype and expectation. Webby seems to have something quite steely about him this year and hopefully this will flow through to the team and we will be able to balance our culture of enjoyment and celebrating the wins alongside remembering when you get even slightly ahead of yourself in this comp it can go bad very quickly.

I really think this year could be our shot. If we need reminding of how quickly things can change year to year currently no member of last years top 4 is even in the 8!

 

[CWC]

I watched the Fox post match clip of the magic round game and the headline was Warriors beat Roosters, Storm and Broncos in the same year

That's actually a big deal it was near impossible to knock over a big team sometimes even with their C-teams in 2023-2025. The Sharks 2024 got 1 over the Storm without Hynes and it was a big deal, we knocked over 3 already.

In a funny way Webby's bought way too many halves but they might all end up playing some role this year

 

[Jaffa J]

I always worry when the media hype us up as contenders most of the time we fail under the pressure and lose to teams we should be beating if we lose to Dragons this week we’ll be considered pretenders

 

[Inruin]

Its way to early but...... I think we have a great shot this year. I probably haven't genuinely entertained the idea of winning the GF other than 2002, until this year.

Without wanting to put a curse on anyone, I think a long term injury to either Egan, TMM or CHT is the only thing that derails us from making a good run through the finals.

 

[juju]

The way I summarise it to people -"somethings brewing" the club has the momentum at the moment. We're selling out games months in advance, selling out wellington, christchurch, dominating magic round....that's all infectious to the other elements of the club.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Without wanting to put a curse on anyone, I think a long term injury to either Egan, TMM or CHT is the only thing that derails us from making a good run through the finals.

Well, I know who to blame if that happens.

 

[Beastmode]

Without wanting to put a curse on anyone, I think a long term injury to either Egan, TMM or CHT is the only thing that derails us from making a good run through the finals.

Same for any top team who loses their halves

 

[Evil_Mush]

Penrith / Warriors grand final has too many stories not for the Rugba League gods to allow it.

Master former Wah coach Cleary vs Apprentice former Pah assistant Webby
Big Bro Cleary vs Little Bro Cleary (if the halves turmoil continues hah)
Owners of the Premiership basically this past decade vs Premiership virgins (aka the Evil Empire vs the Rebels )
Fish vs Leota Bash Bros reacquaintance
Other ex Wahs/Pahs against their former teams (Wade, TMM, Lussick, Papalii off the top of my head)
Panthers never lost to us in finals matches
Tryscorer machine faceoff Flying Mullet vs Flying Milky
Metcalf finally managing to play more than 15 games AND winning finals games AND helping us finally become #1 before heading off to the wooden spooners next season

I previously wanted us to beat Brisbane (game 1 '95 revenge), Roosters (GF 1 '02 revenge) or Manly (GF 2 '11 revenge) for our maiden win, but I think overcoming Penrith may be a lot more satisfying. Third time lucky!