Pick Your Team Knights v Warriors - Round 9, 2024 PICK YOUR TEAM

[Falcon]

Good to see Ford have a good game last night after swapping sides. This might mean we see more from Capewell on his return to his favoured left hand side.
I think the team needs to find a spot for Pompey. He played every game last year and was good for the majority of them.
Changes will be few as too many will mess things up completely.
Barney to come off the bench to add starch to the side for the 2nd half of the 1st half.

 

[Noitall]

Yeah Laban got hurt bro. Legs tackle.
When he first got up he couldn't weight bear properly but he tried to run it off.
However, as someone else posted in the game day thread, in the back field, even though he played on, he was limping at every step.

The leg never recovered, but he played on anyway and posted pretty decent minutes for a starting Greenhorn, I thought it was an interesting call by Webster and team to leave him out there longer, given his age and stage of his development.

Obviously it is a good sign that they had faith in him and that he has mental toughness about him and that drive to fight for his opportunity.

Before that happened he looked like a baby Marata for us, big things are coming for Jacob, you can see his talent coming through slowly every game he gets.

I think he looks promising enough to take a spot in the team.

At the moment Jacob is competing with Marata for his NRL Jersey (technically speaking we are talking about two organisms trying to fill the same niche in the food chain) they are both big, fast, tough, impact full back rowers.

Head to head at the moment, Jacob is on a hiding to nothing in that contest vs Marata, the latter being a star forward signing with a known fearsome reputation for lifting momentum in favor of his side.

But where Marata has the impact thing ahead of Jacob, I believe Jacob has the potential to narrow the gap in terms of being a physical presence with explosive power.

Yet being a realist about it, once Marata is available, there could be no place in the team for Jacob despite his promise.

Since none of us know Jacobs ceiling, perhaps I am overstating his arc here ....but I am dreaming of a Warriors pack with two Marata Niukore type players.

Putting comparison aside, perhaps there is something about the silky finesse side of young Jacobs game, subtlety of foot, slight of hand....little shuffles and dainty side stepping for a behemoth, the smooth passing on of the ball before he can be wrapped up....which may hint at a Marata comparison on my part, as not ambitious enough? Perhaps I do him a disservice.

I will be interested to see what Webster does from here with Jacob.

Ordinarily you see young age stage kids like Jacob, given time back in NSW cup no matter how well he performs, to protect him from too much too soon.

But Jacob makes this a little harder decision than some arbitrary career development pre planning model, because what I see, is a young guy who has gone out there and grown in confidence slowly and steadily, who is playing a stable type of career orientation into the NRL, not some overnight sensation at risk of a big fall.

Nor is he some Noob who went out there and had rocks and diamonds highs and lows....who then needs the grounding of a NSW cup interval to help him deal with the highs and lows.

I guess what I am saying is Jacob looks like fish in water the more time he gets the more competent he looks.

Could be that Webster sees the upside of two second rowers able to play 80 minutes in Ford and Capewell? The fact they’re using him in the middle as well as on an edge says he’s maintaining Niukore’s bench spot while he’s injured? If Zyon Maiu’u can bring that energy week in week out off the bench and a return in Niukore, that has massive potential. Ford played 80 minutes yesterday and was good but has been coming off in recent weeks with Capewell playing 80 minutes, but his consistency has been an issue for me. I wonder if Ford , who has been playing 80 minutes until this year will be replaced by Laban when Niukore returns to be able to come off the bench and give him a spell?

 

[kos]

Yeah Laban got hurt bro. Legs tackle.
When he first got up he couldn't weight bear properly but he tried to run it off.
However, as someone else posted in the game day thread, in the back field, even though he played on, he was limping at every step.

The leg never recovered, but he played on anyway and posted pretty decent minutes for a starting Greenhorn, I thought it was an interesting call by Webster and team to leave him out there longer, given his age and stage of his development.

Obviously it is a good sign that they had faith in him and that he has mental toughness about him and that drive to fight for his opportunity.

Before that happened he looked like a baby Marata for us, big things are coming for Jacob, you can see his talent coming through slowly every game he gets.

I think he looks promising enough to take a spot in the team.

At the moment Jacob is competing with Marata for his NRL Jersey (technically speaking we are talking about two organisms trying to fill the same niche in the food chain) they are both big, fast, tough, impact full back rowers.

Head to head at the moment, Jacob is on a hiding to nothing in that contest vs Marata, the latter being a star forward signing with a known fearsome reputation for lifting momentum in favor of his side.

But where Marata has the impact thing ahead of Jacob, I believe Jacob has the potential to narrow the gap in terms of being a physical presence with explosive power.

Yet being a realist about it, once Marata is available, there could be no place in the team for Jacob despite his promise.

Since none of us know Jacobs ceiling, perhaps I am overstating his arc here ....but I am dreaming of a Warriors pack with two Marata Niukore type players.

Putting comparison aside, perhaps there is something about the silky finesse side of young Jacobs game, subtlety of foot, slight of hand....little shuffles and dainty side stepping for a behemoth, the smooth passing on of the ball before he can be wrapped up....which may hint at a Marata comparison on my part, as not ambitious enough? Perhaps I do him a disservice.

I will be interested to see what Webster does from here with Jacob.

Ordinarily you see young age stage kids like Jacob, given time back in NSW cup no matter how well he performs, to protect him from too much too soon.

But Jacob makes this a little harder decision than some arbitrary career development pre planning model, because what I see, is a young guy who has gone out there and grown in confidence slowly and steadily, who is playing a stable type of career orientation into the NRL, not some overnight sensation at risk of a big fall.

Nor is he some Noob who went out there and had rocks and diamonds highs and lows....who then needs the grounding of a NSW cup interval to help him deal with the highs and lows.

I guess what I am saying is Jacob looks like fish in water the more time he gets the more competent he looks.

Thanks
Can you supply a critique of Zyon Maiu’u please

 

[CWC]

Zyon Maiu’u looks like Curran's old spot to me

 

[Damo]

You don't drop half the backline when they are already having cohesion issues due to injury.. Don't expect many changes barring injuries or hopefully returns from injury.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Ok, I’ve calm down. Having watched the replay.

1. CNK
2. DWZ
3. RTS
4. Berry/Pompey
5. Montoya
6. TMM
7. Johnson
8. AFB
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Capewell/Laban
12. Ford
13. Harris

14. Walker
15. Ale
16. Zyon Maiu’u
17. Laban/Someone who can get on.

Realistically, there are just so many injuries.

We can’t afford to rest Johnson this week. We NEED this game.
Everything goes through Johnson, everything. It’s quite striking just how much better he is than TMM (and our other halves). Obviously he’s our leading half.

Perhaps controversially, I don’t see us beating Roosters or Panthers. Rest Johnson then.

TMM needs a few big games. The fact is Metcalf was selected ahead of him beginning of the season. And CHT is better and more versatile IMO. The signing of Jett Cleary might be the writing on the wall.

As I stated in an earlier post, we need to risk no Egan cover. Walker can do it if need be. Yes I realise it defeats the purpose of having him. But something has to give.

Berry’s got his hands full with Bradman Best this week. Maybe Pompey will handle him better. Hard on Berry, it is what it is. I don’t think Ali Leiataua is the answer here atm.

Montoya and DWZ need to wake the fuck up. Both need huge games but who replaces them? Kosi, Taine? Perhaps Ali Leiataua. It’s tough.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Yeah Laban got hurt bro. Legs tackle.
When he first got up he couldn't weight bear properly but he tried to run it off.
However, as someone else posted in the game day thread, in the back field, even though he played on, he was limping at every step.

The leg never recovered, but he played on anyway and posted pretty decent minutes for a starting Greenhorn, I thought it was an interesting call by Webster and team to leave him out there longer, given his age and stage of his development.

Obviously it is a good sign that they had faith in him and that he has mental toughness about him and that drive to fight for his opportunity.

Before that happened he looked like a baby Marata for us, big things are coming for Jacob, you can see his talent coming through slowly every game he gets.

I think he looks promising enough to take a spot in the team.

At the moment Jacob is competing with Marata for his NRL Jersey (technically speaking we are talking about two organisms trying to fill the same niche in the food chain) they are both big, fast, tough, impact full back rowers.

Head to head at the moment, Jacob is on a hiding to nothing in that contest vs Marata, the latter being a star forward signing with a known fearsome reputation for lifting momentum in favor of his side.

But where Marata has the impact thing ahead of Jacob, I believe Jacob has the potential to narrow the gap in terms of being a physical presence with explosive power.

Yet being a realist about it, once Marata is available, there could be no place in the team for Jacob despite his promise.

Since none of us know Jacobs ceiling, perhaps I am overstating his arc here ....but I am dreaming of a Warriors pack with two Marata Niukore type players.

Putting comparison aside, perhaps there is something about the silky finesse side of young Jacobs game, subtlety of foot, slight of hand....little shuffles and dainty side stepping for a behemoth, the smooth passing on of the ball before he can be wrapped up....which may hint at a Marata comparison on my part, as not ambitious enough? Perhaps I do him a disservice.

I will be interested to see what Webster does from here with Jacob.

Ordinarily you see young age stage kids like Jacob, given time back in NSW cup no matter how well he performs, to protect him from too much too soon.

But Jacob makes this a little harder decision than some arbitrary career development pre planning model, because what I see, is a young guy who has gone out there and grown in confidence slowly and steadily, who is playing a stable type of career orientation into the NRL, not some overnight sensation at risk of a big fall.

Nor is he some Noob who went out there and had rocks and diamonds highs and lows....who then needs the grounding of a NSW cup interval to help him deal with the highs and lows.

I guess what I am saying is Jacob looks like fish in water the more time he gets the more competent he looks.

Id swap Laban in for 2 or 3 starters tomorrow.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

You don't drop half the backline when they are already having cohesion issues due to injury.. Don't expect many changes barring injuries or hopefully returns from injury.

What cohesion? Dalin & Montoya could be at the end of the panthers backline & still be horrible. If something is broken you fix it. There is trust issues all over the park. Keeping the same culprits wont fix the cohesion if they don't trust their team mates & vice versa. New faces new energy. For a couple of weeks at least. Our wingers need a reality check.

 

[tyrael]

What cohesion? Dalin & Montoya could be at the end of the panthers backline & still be horrible. If something is broken you fix it. There is trust issues all over the park. Keeping the same culprits wont fix the cohesion if they don't trust their team mates & vice versa. New faces new energy. For a couple of weeks at least. Our wingers need a reality check.

Dropping one sends a message. Dropping everyone drops moral in the sheds.

Dallin does a lot of good over the last few weeks so we forgive his transgressions. Monts hasn't done enough.

 

[Commonsense]

You guys are so funny with all your wholesale changes.

We have a shit load of injuries atm and unless there are better players to bring in your just shuffling deck chairs on the titanic to satisfy your anger cause you get so worked up after win and so irrational after a loss.

Unless the root cause of the issues is addressed you really think bringing in Pompey and Taine at 5/8 is going to change anything.

 

[Commonsense]

All their tries came straight from our penalties and/or followed by brain explosions bar Fafita's barge over, I'm not even sure if that was off the back of a penalty as well?

They should learn to let loose with the attack and focus on the whole D, penalty and individual tackling/reads, the structure is there it's the dumb errors costing like 20-25 points per game

I only saw the second half but this season I am seeing us start strongly and then the refs giving piggyback penalties for the next 3 sets and we aren’t good enough to defend it and we basically implode from there.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Dropping one sends a message. Dropping everyone drops moral in the sheds.

Dallin does a lot of good over the last few weeks so we forgive his transgressions. Monts hasn't done enough.

Who the heck said everyone? Lol. Our wingers are a start. Dalin has been shit defensively for a while. He may score good tries. That doesn't give him a pass. Both are defensively mud.

 

[tyrael]

You guys are so funny with all your wholesale changes.

We have a shit load of injuries atm and unless there are better players to bring in your just shuffling deck chairs on the titanic to satisfy your anger cause you get so worked up after win and so irrational after a loss.

Unless the root cause of the issues is addressed you really think bringing in Pompey and Taine at 5/8 is going to change anything.

Pomps and Taine are two changes, not wholesale.

We need speed and defensive nous. RTS to left wing is decent. Monts takes a lot of catches at the back and change that for RTS isn't a bad thing. If Berry is missing because of finger injury then I would love to see RTS at right wing and Pomps at left. I would also at that point bring Ali for monts. I think Monts is done unless we have zero choice. He just hasn't performed at all this year.

 

[tyrael]

Who the heck said everyone? Lol. Our wingers are a start. Dalin has been shit defensively for a while. He may score good tries. That doesn't give him a pass. Both are defensively mud.

Yup both are mud in defensive but Dallin is A on attack and his hit ups are great. Just using the game against tits as example, 76 post contact metres (5th most), 5 tackle breaks (2nd), 3.04 play the ball speed (fastest in the team), 176 All run metres (4th).

Webby needs to harden up and let his players know what they are doing wrong. He needs to drop 1-2 players. I can't even remember a time he has done this.

 

[SJ2k]

I only saw the second half but this season I am seeing us start strongly and then the refs giving piggyback penalties for the next 3 sets and we aren’t good enough to defend it and we basically implode from there.

It pisses me off, but it happened last year and we were comfortable defending it. Not sure why we've had such a break down in this area this year considering the team is largely the same. What's noticeable is often the best teams concede a lot of penalties, while I feel like we get a far harsher treatment, I feel like we need to lean into it. If you're constantly pushing the ruck and offside, you'll give away penalties but the ref will put his whistle away after a while. I doubt we'd concede that much more, pushing things a lot harder.

 

[jonesy101]

It pisses me off, but it happened last year and we were comfortable defending it. Not sure why we've had such a break down in this area this year considering the team is largely the same. What's noticeable is often the best teams concede a lot of penalties, while I feel like we get a far harsher treatment, I feel like we need to lean into it. If you're constantly pushing the ruck and offside, you'll give away penalties but the ref will put his whistle away after a while. I doubt we'd concede that much more, pushing things a lot harder.

There was a point in the first half of last nights Storm v Souths game where Souths had some momentum and the Storm were prepared to give away 4-5 ruck infringements in their own 20 to try and stop them from scoring. At one stage when a six again was called Munster proceeded to lay all over the opposition player to stop him playing the ball. It was very cynical and he should have been binned. Yet it never happens.

 

[tyrael]

It pisses me off, but it happened last year and we were comfortable defending it. Not sure why we've had such a break down in this area this year considering the team is largely the same. What's noticeable is often the best teams concede a lot of penalties, while I feel like we get a far harsher treatment, I feel like we need to lean into it. If you're constantly pushing the ruck and offside, you'll give away penalties but the ref will put his whistle away after a while. I doubt we'd concede that much more, pushing things a lot harder.

One of the big changes is grubbers into in goal because there are no downsides to fluffed drop outs. So the way we gain repeats has changed, which also probably a reason why we don't contest bombs.

The other big change is his much Johnson runs. I'm really wondering how bad his Achilles is.

 

[bringinthebulls]

Walker or Hanson at 6 over Te-Maire Missing.

Zyon Maiu’u to start for 10 to 15 and AFB to come off the bench until the last 10 or 15. Perhaps that will help put a stop to the fecking lulls we go into after 15 minutes.

Big call I know, but if we can't fix the mind set, AFB coming on after 15 with fresh energy might keep a good start rolling. AFB wouldn't appreciate that though.

Just an out the box thought.

 

[Jonno13]

I’m thinking if any change at 6 then Tuapiki might come in. He’s a bit unpredictable. Got some toe. Has a kicking game. Was listening to SENZ today and they talked about good teams having that off the cuff style ballplayer to provide a foil for the #7. Luai at Pennys, Munster at Melb and Walsh at Broncs. We’re way to one dimensional at present. We need something to mix it up

 

[CWC]

I’m thinking if any change at 6 then Tuapiki might come in. He’s a bit unpredictable. Got some toe. Has a kicking game. Was listening to SENZ today and they talked about good teams having that off the cuff style ballplayer to provide a foil for the #7. Luai at Pennys, Munster at Melb and Walsh at Broncs. We’re way to one dimensional at present. We need something to mix it up

That’s Roger’s role