Pick Your Team Knights v Warriors - [Round 20, 2025]

[John Nick]

Yeah every coach has their favourites unfortunately, it's human nature.

The two I don't understand are Bunty and Ale.... we've got some great young forwards coming through so right now it looks like the right call but even when we are short those two appear to be absolute last resort. They are better players than that in my opinion.

In saying that, I think Webby has most of his selections right though. I love Ford starting at prop but agree with most others 60 mins straight is too much and Laban in any case needs more mins than what he got yesterday.

Again it must be a luxury for Webster to get a straight 60 out of a middle.Not perfect but a great motor.
Other coaches would love the same.

 

[Canonball]

I sincerely hope not, he would be an easy target on defence against any other team.

Put Leka there..., he's fast, great hands, defence is not dodgy, scares the shit out of opposites and has built up a bit of a motor now.... backrow of Capewell and Laban.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Yeah that would be SO harsh on TMM, given not only his versatility but more importantly his performances seemingly coming on at different positions each week. He can't be dropped.

Having said that, would love a way to fit both him and Healey in to give us a point of difference at 9. Can't see it without giving up too much size though.

I wonder what Webby's plan would be in the finals - a one off do or die situation.

TMM on the bench is obviously great for plugging holes when we get injuries, but seems more of an 'insurance policy' just incase, whereas having Healey on the bench is more of a positive tweak for our game plan, having extra spark from dummy half, while also giving Egan a rest so he can rip on 100% and not have to conserve energy.

Still plenty of water to pass under the bridge, but if it comes down to it I would rather us play to win, and add another strength to the bench in Healey for the do or die games.

 

[Stalefish540]

Ali has a higher tackle percentage than Berry (plus is more physically dominant in the tackle).

Webster just has players he doesn’t trust for whatever reason.

The trust part I was speaking about was more to Webby's comments about Ali being dropped as he had some work ons.

Which I think it was after the Raiders game from memory where our kick chase etc was poor on the right side. Hence why he started putting Capewell out there, so that lines up.

Tackle percentage is a bit of a meh stat unless you are talking about actual visibly poor defenders anyway. By that Metric Capewell is a terrible defender. But when you visibly watch Capewell and Berry who are similar, they are high pressure players and that counts against you in a efficiency stat.

That being said I don't want us to stop gap for the rest of the season with Capewell and want to see Ali get another shot either on the left or right.

 

[Blain]

Ali didn't make it through 80 minutes in NSW Cup. He was poor in his last few outings with the NRL team, I would only put him in if he's 100% fit and hungry. Going up against Gagai or Best, I think they are their only real attacking threats, I would play Capewell at centre to shut one down.

Other than that I wouldn't change anything, some people mentioning Ale playing but he hasn't played cup for weeks and struggling to see why TSS would lose his spot to him. He stood up and showed more this week than Ale has at first grade level IMO.

 

[sup42]

Ford is being built into an eighty minute capable prop forward, same deal as Fisher Harris and Barnett.

Ford is also being used as Barnett mark II. He will have some blips transitioning, we saw some penalty's returning to his game, in Fords case these are seemingly a symptom of trying too hard syndrome, which is a good trait that coaches will see past where fans call for dropping blokes like him.

We might even see Ford start next season and Barnett come off the bench. That would solve the Warriors dip in middle output when Fisher Harris comes off.

So I for one have been banging on about Ford starting all season and am pretty happy the future is now.

If it were up to me I would play Te Maire at Center for the rest of his contract, ball playing centers win Championships. Having Te Maire outside of Channel gives us that Jamie Lyon, Dean Whare factor that this clubs three quarter line is sorely lacking.

Te Maire is not just a ball player, he is running back as well. If CHT has a weakness it is his running game, it is adequate but not as dangerous as Te Maire out wide.

We also saw how cleverly our spine players set up a wide from Right to left after Taine was tackled on the fast break down in the Tigers right hand corner.....knowing the space would be to the far left they placed Halasima on the touchline for this play: Dummy half - Boyd - CHT - Martin - Halasima. Roger drops back to the middle to act as a fullback while Taine was down.

This is a very nice set play that showed what this team is capable of with an organizing Seven at pivot, a passing Six, and a wide running number four ball playing threat with a Monster Winger to use in one on one wrecking ball Manu Vatuvei scenarios.

I guess I have been keen on seeing Martin in the centers from the day it was clear he was not going to be a starting half in this team. While having him as a fourteen is handy, I think it is wasteful.

They can still shift TMM if there is an injury to the halves and post Capewell in at Center without skipping a beat - ergo, having TMM at center is not losing your utility player.

This configuration allows for the option of Healy at fourteen or a true forward.

1. Taine Tuaupiki
2. Dallin Watene Zelezniak
3. Te Maire Martin/Adam Pompey*
4. Adam Pompey /Te Maire Martin*
5. Roger Tuivasa Sheck
6. Channel Harris Tavita
7. Tanah Boyd
8. James Fisher Harris
9. Wade Egan
10. Jackson Ford
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Marata Niukore
13. Erin Clark

14. Dimitric Vamauga
15. Jacob Laban
16. Tanner Stowers Smith
17. Leka Halasima

*Because of Te Maire Martins utility I do not care which Center Berth he fills, it opens up possiblities either way. I would be interviewing our halves to make that call.

I have gone for Tanner instead of Healy, even though the inclusion of Healy would be great and an option we can afford if TMM plays Center....another reason to have TMM there.

But I thought our pack has lost so much punch without Barnett and Capewell yesterday that Tanner Stowers Smiths good ruck speed is vital at the moment, happy to look at Healy too....toss of the coin, but the decider for me right now is new halfback means keeping Wade at eighty minutes to bed in with Boyd.

 

[Stalefish540]

If it were up to me I would play Te Maire at Center for the rest of his contract, ball playing centers win Championships. Having Te Maire outside of Channel gives us that Jamie Lyon, Dean Whare factor that this clubs three quarter line is sorely lacking.

Lyon and Whare were both elite calibre defenders to match their attack though, so there's a bit of a caveat there.

As filling in mid game at centre and having a high quality team prep for you or week/s is a bit of a difference.

Would he nice to have a ball playing centre though, Whare was one of the favourite players of that era.

 

[Falcon]

Capewell to Centre this week.
Would like to see AW use the bench more at the back end of the first half to keep the D fresh, and hit ups telling.
For all of Fords endurance, I thought he could have done with a breather at the back end of the first half.

 

[sup42]

Lyon and Whare were both elite calibre defenders to match their attack though, so there's a bit of a caveat there.

As filling in mid game at centre and having a high quality team prep for you or week/s is a bit of a difference.

Would he nice to have a ball playing centre though, Whare was one of the favourite players of that era.

I wouldn't have even posted it before Te Maire started filling in as a faux forward, he has become a stout defender, you don't see him being left in the dirt when he is on.

I think his age, all that pig hunting, his final hours on Warriors death row are all driving him to go out a champion. Hope he gets the shot. I think he makes his tackles.

 

[Damo]

I wouldn't have even posted it before Te Maire started filling in as a faux forward, he has become a stout defender, you don't see him being left in the dirt when he is on.

I think his age, all that pig hunting, his final hours on Warriors death row are all driving him to go out a champion. Hope he gets the shot. I think he makes his tackles.

Two halves defending on one edge is just asking for trouble, we don't get to play the Tigers every week.

I think Te Maire at centre week in, week out is a terrible idea.

 

[sup42]

Two halves defending on one edge is just asking for trouble, we don't get to play the Tigers every week.

I think Te Maire at centre week in, week out is a terrible idea.

If that concerns you, you pair him with CHT.

Saying two halves on an edge is a terrible idea is arbitrary thinking, especially when you have a half (CHT) that is the top hitter in the backline in your team.

Also I think people grossly underestimate Martins defensive capability, if he were a flaky tackler he wouldn't get thrown in the middle to spell tired forwards by defensive obsessed Andrew Webster.

Add to that Martins efforts in the NSW cup, that is truly the test of whether an NRL halfback gives a crap about winning, he is solid in defence, I understand your thinking, it applies to the bulk of history in the game, but look at the player and the make up of the players around them before throwing out an old chestnut.

 

[Damo]

If that concerns you, you pair him with CHT.

Saying two halves on an edge is a terrible idea is arbitrary thinking, especially when you have a half (CHT) that is the top hitter in the backline in your team.

Also I think people grossly underestimate Martins defensive capability, if he were a flaky tackler he wouldn't get thrown in the middle to spell tired forwards by defensive obsessed Andrew Webster.

Add to that Martins efforts in the NSW cup, that is truly the test of whether an NRL halfback gives a crap about winning, he is solid in defence, I understand your thinking, it applies to the bulk of history in the game, but look at the player and the make up of the players around them before throwing out an old chestnut.

It's not an old chestnut, it's common sense. He's a smaller, slower player, defensively not the best already and centre is one of the most difficult positions to defend at.

Defending ~20 minutes in the middle is incomparable to defending at centre.

Could not disagree with that call more.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

If that concerns you, you pair him with CHT.

Saying two halves on an edge is a terrible idea is arbitrary thinking, especially when you have a half (CHT) that is the top hitter in the backline in your team.

Also I think people grossly underestimate Martins defensive capability, if he were a flaky tackler he wouldn't get thrown in the middle to spell tired forwards by defensive obsessed Andrew Webster.

Add to that Martins efforts in the NSW cup, that is truly the test of whether an NRL halfback gives a crap about winning, he is solid in defence, I understand your thinking, it applies to the bulk of history in the game, but look at the player and the make up of the players around them before throwing out an old chestnut.

I get where you're going with this. Absolutely could be a masterstroke, but also, at the same time I feel that if we still have Ali available, you have to back one of your top centres coming into 2025 to do his job. We also have Capewell who has played there at Origin level and has been great this year, while also CNK at international level as a centre (which obviously means you'd have TT at the back, helping to create more consistency for the team).

TMM to centre is too much tinkering when we have the above 3 options imo. Deffo an option if we lose another centre or 2, but we saw how things went for the Bulldogs when they were trying to be too cute, putting Burto in centre to accommodate Galvin. Top 4 teams don't tend to make changes for changes sake, leave it how it is atm I reckon.

 

[Cces]

Both Leka & TMM can tackle but that's only part of defending at Centre. For Leka it would mean shifting from the 4th defender in to the 2nd & all of a sudden he has a whole lot more decision making & communication to do. The only time I remember him defending at Centre was on debut and he got skinned on the outside at least once & tackled at 60% efficiency. A slightly easier transition for TMM only moving out one spot. Anyone pick up at what stage TMM & Pompey switched sides because apart from the Try Assist I can't remember TMM being on the right?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

1 T Tuaupiki
2 D W Zelezniak
3 K Capewell
4 A Pompey
5 R T Sheck
6 C H Tavita
7 T Boyd
8 J F Harris c
9 W Egan
10 J Ford
11 L Halasima
12 M Niukore
13 E Clark

14 T M Martin
15 J Laban
16 D Vaimauga
17 T S Smith

 

[sup42]

All good discussion points, TMM for center is my version of fantasy footy thinking.

To be honest I expect Capewell will get the Gig, I hope he does, I was watching Ali yesterday, he seemed a little disinterested.

I love Capewell at center, his body contact destroys centers. Truly a offensive defensive weapon.

Ali to me looks like someone who is a million bucks on the ball and two dollar shop off it.

I want to see Ali pick it up before he comes back to the NRL. He can do better, we know he can, he was great in cup when he was still trying earn his stripes, I get why Webster won't let him go ahead of players like Berry, Capewell, and Pompey, all three are better defenders than Ali, the solution for him is obvious.

 

[Billyspleen75]

1. Tuaupiki
2. DWZ
3 Pompey
4. Capewell
5. RTS
6. CHT
7. Boyd
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Ford
11. Halasima
12. Marata
13. Clark

14. Taharoa Tornado
15. Laban
16. Vaimauga
17. TSS

If Ali can only make it through 40 mins of cup, he's not quite ready.

We have 4x NRL quality back rowers that are more game ready, so the answer is to move Capewell to centre.

TMM at centre isn't as bad as I first thought, he's actually the same size as AJ Brimson and Tolu Koula, but hes owning that #14 spot at the moment.

1. Tuaupiki
3. CNK
is going to be the real conversation once CNK is back and if Ali isn't banging down the door

 

[BlackToko88]

Was nice to see Pompey playing RC in second half, especially given I want to see the edge combo of Ali x Rog. But Ali needs to play a full cup game before id pick him (40min/min restriction). The 1% off the ball is key for him, and once he sorts that out he will be picked often. But until then Id go with this:

1. TT
2. DWZ
3. Capewell
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. CHT
7. Boyd
8. Fish
9. Egan
10. Ford
11. Niukore
12. Leka
13. Clark
14. TMM
15. Demetric
16. Laban
17. TSS/Bunty/Ale

Capewell into centers, id put him right center which could give Dal some confidence on that edge (though Pompey had that edge solid in second half). Either way whoever is marking Best will need to be on point as Knights will get him involved a lot.

I actually liked Niukore on the edge as opposed to middle right now, but just think the rotation of Ford needs better. Probably kept on for 5-10min too long.

As much as I want Healey on bench, TMM is Nr Fix it right now. Given our injuries he has to remain there.

we havent won at Newcastle since 2019 so time to break another drought

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

All good discussion points, TMM for center is my version of fantasy footy thinking.

To be honest I expect Capewell will get the Gig, I hope he does, I was watching Ali yesterday, he seemed a little disinterested.

I love Capewell at center, his body contact destroys centers. Truly a offensive defensive weapon.

Ali to me looks like someone who is a million bucks on the ball and two dollar shop off it.

I want to see Ali pick it up before he comes back to the NRL. He can do better, we know he can, he was great in cup when he was still trying earn his stripes, I get why Webster won't let him go ahead of players like Berry, Capewell, and Pompey, all three are better defenders than Ali, the solution for him is obvious.

Thats worrying for Ali Leiataua. Hopefully it's just coming back from injury lay off.

 

[CWC]

If Ali couldn't finish a game then he's not ready, forgot their centres are Gagai and Best, I'd play Cape at centre then, which will sacrifice DWZ's corner dives unless Cape just decoys for TT to do the sweep.

I'd seriously think about putting CNK at right centre when he returns if TT is attacking like this with Boyd as 7, we need some speed after Luke's gone. Keep Cape in the pack and he can defend and run straight/combine with DWZ.

I'm resigned to Marata is a specialist second rower who's only good at running over halfbacks and a pussy in the middle, keep him on the edge

Fish/Egan/Ford/Laban/Marata/Clark, bench TMM/Demi/Leka/TSS. Unsure what was Webby's rationale for playing Leka for 80 and keeping Laban on the bench till the end, the 3 second rowers can rotate for minutes.