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

[FormerlyJamesW]

Still can't get over that Leka try. You give that ball in broken play to many outside backs in this comp and they'd struggle to do what he did, let alone another forward.

Kinda fitting when you remember that Doggies game (on his debut) where he got cut down - right infront of the line and how that would have won us the game too.

 

[Noitall]

O'Brien reveals Knights could have forfeited after virus

A majority of the squad were in doubt to play on Sunday.

www.zerotackle.com

Really like the result as I feel we were on a hiding to nothing regarding the narrative. If we thrashed them it would have been Warriors defeat a team who were lucky to field a team and if we lost it would have been Warriors downed by a team lucky to field a side. Feel like all that has been overshadowed by Halasima’s brilliance

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Kinda fitting when you remember that Doggies game (on his debut) where he got cut down - right infront of the line and how that would have won us the game too.

If the footy gods are really kiwis, they will give Leka a replica play like last night to pip the dogs in 3 weeks time. That would redeem what happened last year at Accor

 

[The Undertaker]

To me it looked like using Ali at fullback was about helping him solve his disengagement problem from the game when the opposition are in possession.

As others posted he has played fullback before.

As such it was a stroke of genius. Forcing him to watch the opposition is a bloody good idea, and making him the hero of tackling situations was another bloody good idea about making him fullback.

He also gets a global view of the game that he is missing at Center.

It seemed to work.

He stepped it up.

Or they will use Ali at fullback in D and CNK in the line but swap on attack…. Think strategic here…

 

[Noitall]

If the footy gods are really kiwis, they will give Leka a replica play like last night to pip the dogs in 3 weeks time. That would redeem what happened last year at Accor

And TMM catching Jaemon Salmon in the head and no call would be fitting

 

[Kaos A.D.]

Leo Thompson can vouch for that feeling them across his face as Vaimauga ran over top of him

Yep even in the last five minutes Laban hit him hard, stopped him in his tracks.... I did think Leo had a good game though

 

[sup42]

Or they will use Ali at fullback in D and CNK in the line but swap on attack…. Think strategic here…

Yeah they did a bit of that in cup, switching Ali.

 

[sup42]

I had Dimitric as my man of the match going into the last minutes of the game with Leka in the conversation.

Pretty stoked to change that to a draw, first equal for both. Dimitric really turned the momentum back our way with that run at Leo Thompson, that put the Knights forwards on notice and pumped our pack up.

Leka had some great defensive moments, both men were equal in my opinion both sides of the ball, both outstanding.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Morena wahdies & gentlewahs! Got up and went right to youtube to watch Leka's try 20 more times. And to watch Erin giving Frizzell , Saifiti & Brailey the - South Auckland, Up your ass kients ! water splash , Wanna fight , Nah take that shit - winners dance from the sideline.

 

[Beastmode]

Still can't get over that Leka try. You give that ball in broken play to many outside backs in this comp and they'd struggle to do what he did, let alone another forward. It did get me thinking though. We need to utilize him in space more often. So I'm wondering like some other posters if we need to push him further wider into the backline to give him more space?

He has all the skills to be an amazing center. He could end up being the player we all wanted Konnie Hurrell or Kata to be all those years back.

We aren't short of backrowers coming through who could take his place in the back row if we do move him to the backs. Laban obviously but also EIT, Fatialofa who are probably the next cabs off the rank. But none of them have Leka's unique assortment of pace, footwork and silky ball skills.

Yeah RTS in that same spot would have slowed down and tried one of his shimmy moves.

DWZ would have wasted time moving to the corner.

Kosi would have dropped it

Taine would have been held up

Pompey, Capewell and every else would not have the speed to reach the line and pass 4 defenders

 

[Beastmode]

Morena wahdies & gentlewahs! Got up and went right to youtube to watch Leka's try 20 more times. And to watch Erin giving Frizzell , Saifiti & Brailey the - South Auckland, Up your ass kients ! water splash , Wanna fight , Nah take that shit - winners dance from the sideline.

What’s it like waking up still drunk?

 

[sydneywarrior92]

What’s it like waking up still drunk?

it's glorious. Leka's try coincided with midnight at the bar I was watching at. Needless to say I got smashed last night.

 

[Kav1]

As much as Boyd's goal kicking was less than ideal, what about the Knights? 0/3. This is the second time we've been saved by shit goal kicking after the great escape in Wollongong.

He converted our tries to keep us in the hunt. I felt sorry for him under extreme pressure in the missing of two final field goals and a penalty. He will be better for the experience in future and no doubt will be shouting for Leka when they return

 

[Adamnz support]

Leka was awesome but how good is Pompey. An unsung hero in my book. I think I’m correct, moved to the other centre position & Bradman Best wasn’t anywhere in the second half.

 

[Kav1]

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

What about as a centre with Luke resorting to the second row. The latter was shown up somewhat against Best.

 

[1995warriorsfan]

 

[sydneywarrior92]

He converted our tries to keep us in the hunt. I felt sorry for him under extreme pressure in the missing of two final field goals and a penalty. He will be better for the experience in future and no doubt will be shouting for Leka when they return

yeah I don't get the intense hate he is getting atm. I thought overall he guided us around the park well.

His massive boot is an asset for our game style of boxing in our opposition inside their half. He did this supremely well against Wests the whole game last week and I thought he did it last night as well for extended periods. He was just lacking a little bit of polish at the end of some of our attacking sets. But this is his 2nd game in over a year. People putting the boot in (like Moley) are being unreasonable.

He slots all of those goal kicks and field goals 9 times out of 10 as we have seen all year in cup. He'll be revved to go against next week against his old joint.

 

[Kav1]

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.

I worry about his speed though.

 

[Noitall]

Some real issues for DWZ defensively at the moment and Capewell wasn’t able to add much, just like when the same side was exploited by cowboys with Tuaupiki outside him. DWZ and Berry seemed to have a good combination in their kick chase but both have often been injured to form the edge in recent times. I was really impressed by Tuaupiki in his cover defence from the back and his elusiveness is needed I think with what he can provide in attack. If we were to get a fullback in Chevy Stewart as a backup, I wouldn’t mind seeing Tuaupiki first choice fullback and CNK go to DWZ’s wing to see if he can shore it up a bit. He played wing for us before he went to raiders and could still use his yardage from there with RTS on the other wing for his final season. That way you could potentially bring Leiataua back to the right where he displayed his best attack if CNK could fix some defensive issues on that side

 

[Kav1]

O'Brien reveals Knights could have forfeited after virus

A majority of the squad were in doubt to play on Sunday.

www.zerotackle.com

Really like the result as I feel we were on a hiding to nothing regarding the narrative. If we thrashed them it would have been Warriors defeat a team who were lucky to field a team and if we lost it would have been Warriors downed by a team lucky to field a side. Feel like all that has been overshadowed by Halasima’s brilliance

Was that a ploy for us to relax our intensity? - it very nearly worked.