This is going to be a pessimistic post glass is half empty etc. Please skip this post if you are triggered by negativity or find that negativity upsets you or grinds your gears.
I think this Cows match could go either way despite them backing up from origin. As you know I am new to league but can remember when I first joined this web site around 2018 more experienced posters than me discussing old warriors matches. They distinctly said a number of times in our 25 year history due to injuries we have rolled out a baby Warriors team who have done the unthinkable and beaten the Rooster or Melbourne Storm against all odds. And then in the next match we re-inserted 5-6 star players and were comfortably beaten and then went on a losing streak.
Any outcome is feasible in this match. The good news is though the warriors had a different spine in each of the last two matches and they said it was specific changed to the game plan which created the win rather than personnel. So I hope indeed the new winning tactics are carried over by the 6 to 7 new players who are returning next week.
There is nothing wrong with a critique of the phenomena you describe where the Warriors win with no names then go onto suck with the struggling regulars.
After all, these upset wins are rare, so if this is not the time to talk about the top side under performing then there is never a good time to discuss it.
Also, two wins in a row against Top four sides with B and C teams is unprecedented.
This has never happened before, at best our C team or B team beats some middling to lower eight side in a one off.
And that just reinforces even more why fans should demand more from Shaun
Johnson,
Tohu Harris, Roger Tuivasa Sheck, Addin Fonua Blake, Capewell, Egan, etc, these are our highest paid players, who to a man have been under performing and as much as I love those guys, I cannot stand a lack of accountability in any work place.
And that is what this controlled experiment is, a measurable test of our stars. We just ran the experiment all season with them, then had two games without them.
The result of that is multiple losses with them, zero losses with them all out of the side.
Now we see phase three, either a confirmation they the problem or a chance for them to prove they can keep up with the C teams efforts.