Post Match Knights v Warriors - [Round 20, 2025]

[Defence]

Leka just saved Boyd’s career haha

 

[Dannevegas]

wtf was that!! get the kid a statue!

 

[Ever Hopeful]

As soon as it landed in Leka's hand it was on! There is no other player on the field more suited to get it at that moment!

 

[Dlenai]

Disgusting performance

Thank you Leka

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Let's be honest. Leka papering over some cracks in this performance. Knights were up for it. But a win is a win. Boyd unfortunately had a few bad goal kicks but he will learn. Onwards and upwards. Up the Wahs

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

The worst win we've ever had.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Only Leka scores that try. A very special talent.

 

[Evil_Mush]

I was feeling so depressed until Leka picked up that loose ball.

I am feeling so confused right now

 

[xWarrior]

Everyone giving Boyd shit but where was CHT all game? What does he provide exactly

 

[sup42]

Cheer up man.

We played heaps better in the second half, we shut down their amazing left edge strike, we made good meters, controlled the game.

We deserved to win you eggs. That is what good teams do, correct a bad start and go on and win anyway they can....which is often a freak play or player breaking the minnows heart.

 

[Ryno 2.0]

Big ups to Pomps for fixing the right side as well, would love to clone that dude.

 

[Kondom]

Jonah Halasima

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Actually feel for Boyd ay. Taking a field goal 20 out on the 2nd tackle and then also missing from 30 out off a tee. Some just aren’t made for it. Poor fulla, I thought we might’ve been sweet without Metcalf but we’re definitely gonna miss him in those big moments in the finals

Tannah isn't all that experienced, to be fair.
Like Metcalf, he'll learn and progress.

To be honest, most of the team was fairly absent tonight.

 

[Citygirl]

Well that was fun. Boys never gave up, can you say the same? Leka, just wow! Give Boyd a break, only been a couple of games. A wins a win, I'll take it - suck on that everyone wanting us to lose. Up the Wahs

 

[selector]

View attachment rapidsave.com_leka_halasima_scores_an_insane_game_winning_try-cwnm9av9kzdf1.mp4

 

[snake77]

When I saw who had it. I was like damn this could be interesting as he's a handful.

Good having someone that can pull off the freak plays.

In the first half when the Knights player through the dummy and Halasima monstored him. My son was in hysterics. Mainly as he had him in a headlock. I thought it was funny cause his freakish strength.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

My final observation: Dallin needs to be gone. Yesterday.

There are no excuses, for a player of his experience, to be that lacking in defense.

Replace him with someone from NSW cup. We can't do much worse.

 

[Canonball]

Just holy fuck - clone him.

It was a horribly controlled game, both by us (in the second 20 of both halves) and the third team out there.

So yeah, taking that - cos I reckon we deserved that win - Knights are not good and shouldn't have been given a sniff.

Seriously can we please see Leka in space more, either by playing wider or literally at centre - the objections that it's a different and more difficult position to defend from shouldn't outweigh the nuclear option, what's the point in having that weapon if we don't hit the button?

 

[MXRecord]

Need more plays for Leka going forward !!

Bombs, up the middle, out wide.. get him involved in every set.. find him space and watch him go !!!

He’s THAT GOOD

I might be in awe but it looked Lomu esque. I do think he can change the game as we know it just like Lomu did.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

The worst win we've ever had.

this felt like our win at Campbelltown. Common theme: Leka saved our bacon. Who says we don't have X factor?

 

[jonesy101]

I was impressed with Taine's ability to scramble in defense and stop those tries. Was the second best highlight of the game.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I gave this game a C. I would say this along with our Campbelltown win are our two worst wins. Although I felt we won the middle battle over the course of the full game, our edge defense was our worst all year. That needs to be cleaned up.

As for player performances, I thought Taine was a bit quiet. Granted, he had a 15 min HIA spell. But he needed to get a bit more involved when we had good ball. DWZ had a game to forget I'm afraid both on attack and defense. RTS a beast at 266m. As for the forwards, we won the middle battle overall, outrunning them in total meters and pcms. Clark did his Clark thing. Ford again 100+ meters. But the guys who stepped up were our young guns: Leka and Demi. Best two impact forwards in the game right now.

As for Boyd, I know a lot of people will give him shit about the goal kicking and field goal misses. But those watching cup knows that he nails all these kicks 9 times out of 10. He just let the pressure get to him a little bit. We know he is better than that, as he showed last week. I know the boys will be getting in and showing him some love and get back on the horse for next week.

We probably deserved to lose that game. But there's destiny about us this year.The footy gods want us in the top 4. It is our year. Not the Broncos year. Or the Panthers year.. Or the Sharks year. Or the Roosters year. Or the Phins year to make the 4. It is our year. So suck shit everyone who wants us gone from the 4.

Now let's go wahine!

 

[BlackToko88]

Gonna name my first born Leka

 

[RiceOwl]

Sure it wasn't our performance like vs the Sharks, but to say we didn't deserve it or Boyd is rubbish etc, I think pull your head in a bit...

Just a reminder we are missing 3 of our top players - our Dally M leading halfback, our captain and key front rower, and our metre eating fullback. So to keep punching out wins in Oz is impressive, whether they had the shits or not.

Boyd slotted some nice conversions to still be in it at the end and his field kicking was solid too I thought. To hang shit on him for a couple of shanked kicks isnt fair imo.

Just enjoy the win! That was insane! As a long suffering fan I am surely savouring moments like that and any win in Oz.

Oh yeah, we are what 4th remember?!

 

[The Salary sombrero 2]

Leka is the clutch king. How lucky are we to have a player of that calibre? Absolutely beast.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Watched in a bar. Rode the emotional roller coaster with the crowd. The misery when we missed the penalty. The eruption when Leka scored!

Up the wahs!

 

[Popdukes]

Watching the reply of Lekas try, his balance, foot work and speed is remarkable for back rower, gotta figure out how to use him a little more

 

[snake77]

All of the top 4 teams had a bit of a scare.

The Raiders survived it the best and the worrying part for them was mainly restricted to the first half.

The Storm lost.

Like us the Bulldogs had to do it late.

I know there was a lot of dicussion before the game about their situation. Putting a score on would have been great. But like a lot of people said there are no easy/given games in this competition.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Leka's winning try was boss. But what about Demi? This is the second time that he's had a ridiculous hit up to start the second half. Felt we really build on that, dominating the field position to start that second half. Not to mention that try to bring us back into it.

 

[Matiunz]

Thought we were the better team first 20 + minutes but couldn’t convert the points, had the Egan try been scored we probably kill the knights spirit and go on with it. Couple of big calls well and truely gave momentum to the knights and they grew an extra leg.
We did well to wrestle it back but didn’t seem to be able to get that finishing play, was close to turning it off a few times in the last 10 mins but glad I didn’t. Sure was a get out of jail win but on the balanced we’ve had our share of unlucky losses and history books will show a win- doesn’t matter how they come

 

[Dannevegas]

Without Metcalf I wonder if Martin and Boyd are a better combo. Cht’s been pretty good but some thing has to change to get our attack working. I don’t think Boyd and Cht work together especially if Charnze comes back at full back.

And it’s time for Healy imo, he’s tempo around the ruck gets our players going

 

[snake77]

Boyd's last 5-10 minutes had a few moments that weren't great.

The kick off would be my main concern.

The first drop goal would have been nice. But drop goals are pretty difficult. He wasn't far off with that one.

The second one was one of those messy ones you get at the end of games when players all rush up. My kids thought it was funny as he nearly falcon'd the ref.

The penalty from the second drop goal shows the benefit good challenges and having one late in the game.

The penalty would have been nice. Overall though the last few weeks his kicking has been good.

We don't have a coach that will drop as quickly as he had at the Titans. Instead he'll get some attention from Webster this week and some confidence shown in him.

He'll be keen to fix that last 10 minutes and gets to turn it around against his old club next week.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Without Metcalf I wonder if Martin and Boyd are a better combo. Cht’s been pretty good but some thing has to change to get our attack working. I don’t think Boyd and Cht work together especially if Charnze comes back at full back.

And it’s time for Healy imo, he’s tempo around the ruck gets our players going

I actually prefer switching TMM and CHT. CHT as the utility off the bench and TMM as the supporting 6. They worked really well together in cup.

 

[Damo]

Leka was in front of the kicker. I thought they might take it away from us. But jumped for joy when I saw try confirmed come up

No he wasn't.

 

[Stalefish540]

I hate ref bagging but Atkins was in full management mode.

- We were hammering them on their line that first 10-15mins but they were sleeping in the ruck it was hard to get a quick PTB to work attack off. Gagai then walks 2m off the mark through the markers and we get penalised for markers not being square. That was a complete momentum shift from that call. The fact they didn't have someone on the bin and only maybe one six again call during that period was silly.

- Bunker slowing down Egan's try frame by frame and saying there's no momentum, honestly farcical when you show it at full speed.

- Marzhew's arm didn't hit the ground no. But he is stopped not moving and Taine is on him, that is held every day of the week.

 

[Leon Black]

So bloody good being there live in the away bay — parked right next to some mouthy Knights fan hanging over the rail. Gave it all night… until we ripped his soul out at the death

Pretty sure there’s a TikTok floating around — my daughter got a video too. To be fair, he took it like a champ. Shook hands after. Respect, bro… but you were asking for that L.

And Leka — are you kidding me? Bloke jumps the fence post-game like some cult hero, signing gear, taking selfies with kids. Ice in the veins on the field, heart of gold off it. Saved our halves from dropping a stinker too. Legend status confirmed.

Shout out to our Superfan from Adelaide sitting near us — had about 1,000 cans of Bundy, Jim Beam and anything else the bar didn’t run out of. Absolute scenes. Still don’t know how he was upright by full time.

 

[CWC]

I thought that was a really nice moment there, like heartbreaking for 46 seconds

 

[tajhay]

Kindly request everyone to please do the player ratings for this match. (Desktop users will have it on the sidebar when visiting this thread, mobile users will see it at the bottom of the page). Alternatively you can goto this page to do the ratings for the players: https://nzwarriors.com/mpt/games/4. The ratings are anonymous.

Please ensure you submit.

I will show some cool stuff for all the data and stats nerds out there in regards to this and how this all fits in into the bigger picture for the community going forward.

p.s well aware its not perfect and needs refinement (especially for dark mode users).

 

[Bay39er]

Kudos to the Captain for calling for the last review as contact on the kicker when there was obviously none as he couldn't ask for the not square to be reviewed but by making the challenge forced them to review it

 

[Dippa]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_S0v_JSiqA


Just watch.............

Oh Joey and Gus - I feel for you both.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Pomps has been mentioned, but I'll say it again. He is having a huge year.

Solid, dependable player. That right edge immediately benefitted from his presence.

 

[Fowardpass]

The thing we all keep forgetting with youth is they are so quick and agile at that age. We need to capitalise on this. That explosive speed off the mark with his size makes him an unstoppable force close to the line.
I looked at his debut game last season. He was even quicker off the mark and has since bulked up alittle more.

Leka is a great match up against the older legs. I was calling it yesterday- get him in front of Gagai and he’ll burn him to shreds. Mission accomplished!!!

Webby needs to find him space to run

Did you notice who was backing up Leka
All the way to tryline?
Demetric the Giant
Where were our halves hookers etc
Waiting in case a final flick pass was coming
Good on ya Demi bruv
I saw ya
Future right there

 

[Rick O’Shay]

he seemed quite happy in the sheds celebrating with the team afterwards. You are right though he seemed a little dejected in the moment and the bashing he is getting online doesn't help. Dogs and Tits fans are trying to compare him to Sexton after that one performance which seemed grossly unfair.

I think there are enough leaders in our team to keep his spirits high. This is something he never had on the GC where he was quite frankly thrown to the wolves after every mixed performance he had up there. We have the right environment for him to succeed but he needs time. I think he'll prove to being the game managing half we need to do something serious at the back end of this year.

Thought he looked quite stunned on the field even when Leka scored. Probably had started processing all the shit he was expecting to get.
He nailed the conversion over the dot though and we know he can kick. Just a bad night at the office.
He'll get plenty of support

 

[Ryno 2.0]

Woke up this morning had a coffee and watched the Leka try 15 more times.

Life is good!

 

[Wrighty]

Woke up this morning had a coffee and watched the Leka try 15 more times.

Life is good!

I got a congratulations teams message from a colleague who knows I am a warriors fan. I actually screamed with joy when he scored. Huge scream!! I don't know where it came from

 

[Victor_Radley's_Scrotum]

Just fuckin still buzzing lads

 

[#robbiemears]

Leka's brilliance is purely instinctive. You can't coach that. Look closely at that remarkable try: first up, he consciously took a step backwards just before Boyd attempted the field goal to ensure he was onside. Just in case. Just in case what? Boyd was going to have to thump that ball to get it anywhere near the posts from 40+ metres out. The chances of Leka getting his hands on it were negligible. But he corrected his positioning, in a split second, just in case. Then when the ball did, incredibly, spiral across the field in his direction, Leka snatched it from behind himself, thus swinging the momentum back in his direction and allowing him to take off at high speed. Again, pure instinct. Finally, when he set off, he didn't once look to pass. Didn't check to see if anyone was even nearby. He just knew - somehow - that he was going to get there. And that, again, is pure instinct meshed with raw potential at its highest level. What a freakish talent.