Pick Your Team Cronulla Sharks v NZ Warriors - [Round 15, 2026]

[Old Sid]

Assuming Wade is called up (I dont think he will be) and based on NSW outcomes alone, I'm thinking Jaye Linnane comes in with a chance at 6 for this one. Perhaps CHT to cover 9 vs a depleted Sharkies with Tafua on the bench.

Will be an interesting selection day next week.

Also, based on NSW Cup performance, I cannot see how Metcalf justifies selection ahead of JL never mind TMM.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Not even close, Last year I thought Metcalfs general kicking was better than Boyds

I agree 100%

 

[sydneywarrior92]

If Egan is called up (doubt it), Healey starts and Tafua takes his spot on the bench. If Leka is out with the hammy, Marata probably comes into back row with EIT coming back onto the bench rotation. Otherwise, I suspect there won't be any other changes to the team. Have no clue why anyone is talking about shifting CHT to 9 or bringing Linnane in. Linnane has barely played 4 games of cup and is at least a year from being NRL ready. We're not a dragons or a dogs that needs to chuck kids into first grade out of desperation. We are in a premiership window this year and don't want to make the same mistake as the dogs last year and meddle too much with a top 2 team halfway through the year.

 

[Dannevegas]

If Egan is called up (doubt it), Healey starts and Tafua takes his spot on the bench. If Leka is out with the hammy, Marata probably comes into back row with EIT coming back onto the bench rotation. Otherwise, I suspect there won't be any other changes to the team. Have no clue why anyone is talking about shifting CHT to 9 or bringing Linnane in. Linnane has barely played 4 games of cup and is at least a year from being NRL ready. We're not a dragons or a dogs that needs to chuck kids into first grade out of desperation.

No way Linnane Is a year away. If you’re good enough you should play, it’s that simple. Obviously he needs to be tested, But it’s bloody Pompey ahead of him not Casey McLean.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

If Metcalf is going to come back into the team, I think Chch is the place to do it. He can play in front of a good home crowd which probably won't be too critical and he can then back up against the Dolphins in Brisbane the week after. If he plays well in both games he is back in the good graces.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

If Egan is called up (doubt it), Healey starts and Tafua takes his spot on the bench. If Leka is out with the hammy, Marata probably comes into back row with EIT coming back onto the bench rotation.

Sounds like Healey will be out injured for a few weeks

 

[CWC]

Some of you have omitted Healey from the TL. Is there an injury that I missed? Egan-Healey double punch is a source of strength for us. My only issue is that Healey is not getting enough minutes: he should be given 30-40 minutes versus the 20 or under he's been playing. With longer minutes, he's shown what he can do against a tired ruck. I honestly think he could have turned that game for us when the ruck for both sides got loose in the final 10.

As for this endless debate about mets vs tmm, I'm of the view that we just need to accept that no matter who we pick, we're going to be at a kick return deficit vis-a-vis what we had with Tanwah. So the choice for 7 has to be more holistic. Mets has a longer boot relative to TMM, but that does not compensate for the other deficiencies in his game particularly on defense. One thing about TMM's game that is often overlooked is his defense. With CHT-TMM we probably have the two best defensive halves in the comp. TMM also has a good running game that was causing the riff all sorts of problems, especially in the 2nd half. So all things considered, I think TMM is the better holistic choice. We also need to remember that this is TMM's 3rd NRL game this year (4th if you include the cup stint at lock). So he's barely had more reps than Mets, and will get better with time as well.

But going back to kick return issue. I just think we need to accept that they will be lower than before. We need to just back our pack more than ever to compensate by improving our set distance enough to compensate for the lost kick return meters. Whether that means shifting our bench rotation to add another middle to the bench rotation and have our backrowers play 80, I'm not sure. But that seems to be a more realistic approach than trying to fiddle with our halves to get a few incremental kicking meters at the expense of compromising other aspects of our game.

Healey broken thumb out till R17-18

Linnane’s seen as a centre and something need to happen on the left to unlock akp again, and fast centre cover for the winger to jam. Leka’s out for a bit too so we’re skinny at fit centres lol, EIT and Cape same cover defense speed issue, albeit maybe TT can stand wider

I’d love for pomps to get his passing game going and they tune up that edge jamming, maybe cape back second row organizing makes a difference

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Healey broken thumb out till R17-18

Linnane’s seen as a centre and something need to happen on the left to unlock akp again, and fast centre cover for the winger to jam. Leka’s out for a bit too so we’re skinny at fit centres lol, EIT and Cape same cover defense speed issue, albeit maybe TT can stand wider

I’d love for pomps to get his passing game going and they tune up that edge jamming, maybe cape back organizing makes a difference

that's a bummer. Didn't Barney come back from a broken thumb in 2 weeks? That probably means we will see a Tafua debut after the bye at some pt.

I don't get the hype on Linnane. He has to put together more than a couple of good games in cup before he can be considered imo. He's coming off a major injury layoff and he's barely played half a dozen cup games. Looking at cup stats is really a poor indication of how he would go in first. Pompey and Ali will be the centers moving forward. If there's an injury, Berry is next in line. Pomps has always done a job for us in the past, he just needs more time to work on his connection with AKP.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Could be wrong, but I think there's a good chance Barney gets dropped from the NSW origin squad if Haas comes back. I also doubt Ford will get picked. So that's a massive bonus for this game given that the Sharks will be without AFB.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

No way Linnane Is a year away. If you’re good enough you should play, it’s that simple. Obviously he needs to be tested, But it’s bloody Pompey ahead of him not Casey McLean.

you need to have at least a year of playing against grown men in cup before you start first grade. Linnane has barely played 4 games in cup and looks as skinny as Kade Reed. Dragons threw him into the deep end and he was clearly not up to the physicality and now he's sitting out the rest of the year on the sidelines. Throwing Linnane into first grade after only a handful of games and well before he is ready is what a desperate club like the dragons or parra would do. Not a club that is serious about development.

 

[Horriors2013]

that's a bummer. Didn't Barney come back from a broken thumb in 2 weeks? That probably means we will see a Tafua debut after the bye at some pt.

I don't get the hype on Linnane. He has to put together more than a couple of good games in cup before he can be considered imo. He's coming off a major injury layoff and he's barely played half a dozen cup games. Looking at cup stats is really a poor indication of how he would go in first. Pompey and Ali will be the centers moving forward. If there's an injury, Berry is next in line. Pomps has always done a job for us in the past, he just needs more time to work on his connection with AKP.

I think it's more to do with fans looking at where we can improve enough to beat the Panthers and claim the title. Where are the gains to be made? With RTS gone, that's arguably a bigger blow than Tannah. There's no denying the RTS/AKP combo was becoming a real X-factor, and with Leiataua/DWZ working well also, I thought we looked dangerous across the park.

Fans have mostly gone off Rocco because of his time off the field overtaking his time on it, and he's not a natural left centre, left centre is the one position we don't have a compelling attacking threat.

I think also that Metcalf's situation is confusing too. Webby tells the fans to lay off Metcalf, yet he still has kept him away from first grade, in no hurry to put him back. So for fans I think we're hoping Mets can come back and be the 1% difference we need to get us over the line in a GF, but we're also not holding our breath.

So, Linnane seems our next best bet for some fans. I must admit, he hasn't lost his running game. He looks very good. But I agree with you, he's coming back from a long ACL lay-off, and he's in no condition to adapt quickly to week-on-week fg against big men this year. He needs a lot more reps in Cup and a few more months in the weight room. Another solid preseason could have him in contention next year, you have to wait and see with young fullas.

Jett is not growing fast. But he has a lot of reps now. He could have a breakout year next year and grow bigger/stronger through the year. On the other hand, Thompson could also rise up. I like him as an organizer.

That's the business. Recruitment and development is always risk v reward and potential v fulfillment is such an unknown.

 

[Horriors2013]

Sounds like Healey will be out injured for a few weeks

Tafua has been building. This could be perfect timing for him. He's done a lot of reps and is building a nice portfolio of highlights. His defence even against big men is impactful. His dummyhalf running is sharp - he surprised a lot of us in the trial game he played with his explosive solo try.

I think now is a good time for him to get some fg reps in off the bench. And get a gage of where he is.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I think it's more to do with fans looking at where we can improve enough to beat the Panthers and claim the title. Where are the gains to be made? With RTS gone, that's arguably a bigger blow than Tannah. There's no denying the RTS/AKP combo was becoming a real X-factor, and with Leiataua/DWZ working well also, I thought we looked dangerous across the park.

Fans have mostly gone off Rocco because of his time off the field overtaking his time on it, and he's not a natural left centre, left centre is the one position we don't have a compelling attacking threat.

I think also that Metcalf's situation is confusing too. Webby tells the fans to lay off Metcalf, yet he still has kept him away from first grade, in no hurry to put him back. So for fans I think we're hoping Mets can come back and be the 1% difference we need to get us over the line in a GF, but we're also not holding our breath.

So, Linnane seems our next best bet for some fans. I must admit, he hasn't lost his running game. He looks very good. But I agree with you, he's coming back from a long ACL lay-off, and he's in no condition to adapt quickly to week-on-week fg against big men this year. He needs a lot more reps in Cup and a few more months in the weight room. Another solid preseason could have him in contention next year, you have to wait and see with young fullas.

Jett is not growing fast. But he has a lot of reps now. He could have a breakout year next year and grow bigger/stronger through the year. On the other hand, Thompson could also rise up. I like him as an organizer.

That's the business. Recruitment and development is always risk v reward and potential v fulfillment is such an unknown.

I get the sentiment. I just don't want us to make the same mistake as the dogs last year. Changing a side coming in the top 2 could risk us going backwards, not forwards. Sunday showed we have enough creativity in attack to break down even the best defense in the comp. Especially when you consider that we had 3-4 tries disallowed/bombed that would have converted had the execution been crisper.

IMO the side as named can go all the way. No need to panic and initiate mass changes to the side that is now entrenched in the top 2.

 

[Old Sid]

Tafua has been building. This could be perfect timing for him. He's done a lot of reps and is building a nice portfolio of highlights. His defence even against big men is impactful. His dummyhalf running is sharp - he surprised a lot of us in the trial game he played with his explosive solo try.

I think now is a good time for him to get some fg reps in off the bench. And get a gage of where he is.

Especially against a 4 key-player depleted Sharkies, great opportunity.

 

[Brightman]

I don't get the hype on Linnane.

I believe he and Fletcher Sharpe were neck and neck coming up the grades in Newt, some say Linnane shaded him and being in the halves would've debuted earlier than Sharpe.

Coming back from a major injury with his performances off the bat is an extremely positive sign and a nod to recruitment.

He's got class..

 

[sup42]

1. Taine Tuaupiki
2. Dallin Watene Zelezniak.
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Adam Pompey
5. Alofiana Khan Pereira
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Te Maire Martin
8. James Fisher Harris
9. Makaia Tafua
10. Jackson Ford
11. Eddie Ieremia Toeava
12. Jacob Laban
13. Erin Clark

14. Chanel Harris Tavita (Hooker)
15. Tanner Stowers Smith
16. Demitric Vaimauga
17. Marata Niukore

19. Kaylis Fatialofa
20 Jye Linnane

I do not for one minute think this is what Webster will do. I just read this thread and the return of the Metcalf monster (might end up bigger than Lance Hohaia vs Kevin Locke) and thought I would be a good sport and try to justify Luke's return.

For mine, Luke is not displacing Chanel because he is a better six option, rather Chanel is going to Hooker on the proviso that Egan is picked for Origin (if Egan is overlooked, Luke goes back to cup for Wade). Bottom line, if there is no Wade, someone good has to go to Hooker to support Makaia's debut and that would mean Te Maire or Chanel.

Te Maire has more experience filling in at Hooker than Chanel as far as I can recall - but the reason I left Te Maire at 7 is because Luke Metcalf is a 6 whether he wears the 7 or not, he plays like a 6, and after all the hooha he needs to learn a lesson in humility here, he needs to show his mates he is truly going to do what is best for the side.

In an ordinary week, with Healy and or Egan fit, Luke Metcalf will not displace the incumbent halves in my opinion - because Te Maire and Chanel had their 'readiness for finals' audition - and passed.

I get all the kicking theories, I love a kicker more than most, but introducing a kicker of Metcalf's quality (he is not in the top five specialists in the NRL) is not going to be the ultimate make or break vs a team like the Panthers (there is no team like the Panthers so lets just say the Panthers full stop). More to the point, Te Maire and Chanel did not lose us that game this week with horrible kicking. They were solid, if somewhat out classed.

Luke had a great year with the boot (cough lets be honest, he kicked some shockers too, and he wasn't able to stay fit enough to show his skills are above a short term bunch of NRL games on a purple patch of form).

Jye Linnane will not be in the team, Physically he is ready (don't get why people are saying he is too thin, he is a dominant tackler and is breaking tackles, if you watch him, he is very strong - I get it though, people thought Taine was too small, Jazz too, and Chanel was too small, Tanner was too short). Linnane is playing against men now.

Linnane is carrying more muscle mass than Chanel, Metcalf, and Te Maire if the Warriors posted stats are to be believed (he is shorter than all of them but weighs on par with those boys). Linnane's physique is very deceptive, I think people are forgetting his old man was a League coach, his uncle was an NRL player and ESL coach, he has been shaped by those two. Physicality is not his problem, even watch his grappling he is a ball and all tackler, not like Metcalf's arm grabs. Linnane is not ready is total myth. The reality is there are guys ahead of him that are tested and he is not. That is the problem for Linnane and insurmountable for the time being - as it should be. But people are forgetting we are one injury away from seeing Linnnane move up to the extended.

Excuse the Linnane rants, but I see people bringing up the same chestnuts (yes he has white mans legs syndrome and looks tiny next to our thunder thigh kauri trunk boys).

All that said I think the Hanson option will be where Webster goes for his extended bench (if Metcalf makes any NRL side this season we will need a half on the bench somewhere because Luke is gonna snap like a twig).

 

[sydneywarrior92]

1. Taine Tuaupiki
2. Dallin Watene Zelezniak.
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Adam Pompey
5. Alofiana Khan Pereira
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Te Maire Martin
8. James Fisher Harris
9. Makaia Tafua
10. Jackson Ford
11. Eddie Ieremia Toeava
12. Jacob Laban
13. Erin Clark

14. Chanel Harris Tavita (Hooker)
15. Tanner Stowers Smith
16. Demitric Vaimauga
17. Marata Niukore

19. Kaylis Fatialofa
20 Jye Linnane

I do not for one minute think this is what Webster will do. I just read this thread and the return of the Metcalf monster (might end up bigger than Lance Hohaia vs Kevin Locke) and thought I would be a good sport and try to justify Luke's return.

For mine, Luke is not displacing Chanel because he is a better six option, rather Chanel is going to Hooker on the proviso that Egan is picked for Origin (if Egan is overlooked, Luke goes back to cup for Wade). Bottom line, if there is no Wade, someone good has to go to Hooker to support Makaia's debut and that would mean Te Maire or Chanel.

Te Maire has more experience filling in at Hooker than Chanel as far as I can recall - but the reason I left Te Maire at 7 is because Luke Metcalf is a 6 whether he wears the 7 or not, he plays like a 6, and after all the hooha he needs to learn a lesson in humility here, he needs to show his mates he is truly going to do what is best for the side.

In an ordinary week, with Healy and or Egan fit, Luke Metcalf will not displace the incumbent halves in my opinion - because Te Maire and Chanel had their 'readiness for finals' audition - and passed.

I get all the kicking theories, I love a kicker more than most, but introducing a kicker of Metcalf's quality (he is not in the top five specialists in the NRL) is not going to be the ultimate make or break vs a team like the Panthers (there is no team like the Panthers so lets just say the Panthers full stop). More to the point, Te Maire and Chanel did not lose us that game this week with horrible kicking. They were solid, if somewhat out classed.

Luke had a great year with the boot (cough lets be honest, he kicked some shockers too, and he wasn't able to stay fit enough to show his skills are above a short term bunch of NRL games on a purple patch of form).

Jye Linnane will not be in the team, Physically he is ready (don't get why people are saying he is too thin, he is a dominant tackler and is breaking tackles, if you watch him, he is very strong - I get it though, people thought Taine was too small, Jazz too, and Chanel was too small, Tanner was too short). Linnane is playing against men now.

Linnane is carrying more muscle mass than Chanel, Metcalf, and Te Maire if the Warriors posted stats are to be believed (he is shorter than all of them but weighs on par with those boys). Linnane's physique is very deceptive, I think people are forgetting his old man was a League coach, his uncle was an NRL player and ESL coach, he has been shaped by those two. Physicality is not his problem, even watch his grappling he is a ball and all tackler, not like Metcalf's arm grabs. Linnane is not ready is total myth. The reality is there are guys ahead of him that are tested and he is not. That is the problem for Linnane and insurmountable for the time being - as it should be. But people are forgetting we are one injury away from seeing Linnnane move up to the extended.

Excuse the Linnane rants, but I see people bringing up the same chestnuts (yes he has white mans legs syndrome and looks tiny next to our thunder thigh kauri trunk boys).

All that said I think the Hanson option will be where Webster goes for his extended bench (if Metcalf makes any NRL side this season we will need a half on the bench somewhere because Luke is gonna snap like a twig).

I just can't unsee what transpired between rds 4-5 when Mets was playing 6. The rhythm of the team was completely off and we put in the worst 2 performances of the year on both sides of the ball. Then as soon as he drops out, we go back to business as usual and win the next 4 on the trot before our first bye as if rounds 4-5 never happened. What makes you so confident things will be different this time? He is just as underdone as the last time we rolled him out if his cup game is anything to go by.

As far as I'm concerned, Mets only comes back to the team if there is another injury crisis in the halves. No messing around with the halves: CHT stays 6 and TMM at 7. In the unlikely scenario that Egan gets called up, I'd bring Tafua into 9 and Hanson as the bench utility. Mets stays where he is in cup.

 

[sup42]

I just can't unsee what transpired between rds 4-5 when Mets was playing 6. The rhythm of the team was completely off and we put in the worst 2 performances of the year on both sides of the ball. Then as soon as he drops out, we go back to business as usual and win the next 4 on the trot before our first bye as if rounds 4-5 never happened. What makes you so confident things will be different this time? He is just as underdone as the last time we rolled him out if his cup game is anything to go by.

As far as I'm concerned, Mets only comes back to the team if there is another injury crisis in the halves. No messing around with the halves: CHT stays 6 and TMM at 7. In the unlikely scenario that Egan gets called up, I'd bring Tafua into 9 and Hanson as the bench utility. Mets stays where he is in cup.

Do you have Tafua playing 80 minutes or Hanson (or someone else) going into dummy half to spell Tafua?

As for what makes me confident that the same flaws Metcalf brought last time won't reappear, I have none.

In the preamble to that post I mentioned the team list was purely an exercise in working out where I think Metcalf could come into the team (personally I wouldn't even do it) but I have been reading a lot of heat towards people criticising Metcalf's game (I served up a harsh critique of Metcalf's NSW cup performance) and hold to those views, maybe less vociferously now. And as I said in my post, there are a lot of Metcalf arguments again like a plague - so I thought I would take the affirmative case for Metcalf purely as a hypothetical (probably more than any other reason to avoid being closed minded on the issue despite my strong reservations about Metcalf).

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Do you have Tafua playing 80 minutes or Hanson (or someone else) going into dummy half to spell Tafua?

As for what makes me confident that the same flaws Metcalf brought last time won't reappear, I have none.

In the preamble to that post I mentioned the team list was purely an exercise in working out where I think Metcalf could come into the team (personally I wouldn't even do it) but I have been reading a lot of heat about people criticising Metcalf's game (I served up a harsh critique of Metcalf's NSW cup performance, and hold to those views, maybe less vociferously now. And as I said in my post, there are a lot of Metcalf arguments again like a plague - so I thought I would take the affirmative case for Metcalf purely as a hypothetical (probably more than any other reason to avoid being closed minded on the issue despite my strong reservations about Metcalf).

If we have learnt anything these last 2 months when we've been on the 6 game streak, it is that CHT has to be the 6. It really doesn't matter who is playing 7, he plays well with all possible options. So in the unlikely event of Egan being called up for origin, I'm ok if we bring Hanson into 7 and play Tafua at 9 and TMM as the bench utility. I'm also ok if we go the other way round and keep TMM at 7 and play Tafua/Hanson as the dummy halves, which was my original suggestion. I'm open to other permutations as well, so long as CHT is left at 6.

Having said all of that, I prefer not to see Mets anywhere near the first team (even at 7) because i) he is underdone but more importantly ii) there are clearly team harmony issues with him. This might be a little bit strong but I think bringing Mets back into the halves now would be as wrong as the dogs bringing in Galvin into the halves when they were flying last year.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

This might be a little bit strong but I think bringing Mets back into the halves now would be as wrong as the dogs bringing in Galvin into the halves when they were flying last year.

To be fair to the Bulldogs comparison, they were winning but grinding out close ones and lots of people last year thought they would come unstuck come finals.

I think the Bulldogs were more justified taking a risk to give a better chance in the finals where as I actually think we have more to lose right now…