Post Match Manly v Warriors - [Round 27, 2025]

[Inruin]

I find the frustration interesting (not just from you) as the Panthers have literally won the last four premierships using this model.

Except they use the ball when they have it.. They have attacking options and set plays. We seem to have bought the temu version. We have adopted the grind and I guess defense also but our attack has looked pretty clueless for most of the season and I really don't know why. We don't even have a set play when we need it apart from the standard out the back with dummy runners that everyone has. We are heavily reliant on scoring from kicks now it seems which is a lottery.

The other piece I am struggling with is are we implementing a game plan to fit our players or are we trying to push our players in to a game plan?

 

[John Nick]

The main reason IMO is we don't have a lot of players with the smarts
They seem to struggle with the basics like cart the ball up without making a mistake or giving away a penalty, never mind the flash stuff like putting people into gaps, running decoys and creating space on the outside

IMO the main reason for this is the junior comps in OZ have so much more intensity.
Schools like Keebra Park & Palm beach Currumbin take their league very seriously with specialist coaches & I am sure theres plenty of others thruoghout NSW & Qld that do the same.

 

[Damo]

Except they use the ball when they have it.. They have attacking options and set plays. We seem to have bought the temu version. We have adopted the grind and I guess defense also but our attack has looked pretty clueless for most of the season and I really don't know why. We don't even have a set play when we need it apart from the standard out the back with dummy runners that everyone has. We are heavily reliant on scoring from kicks now it seems which is a lottery.

The other piece I am struggling with is are we implementing a game plan to fit our players or are we trying to push our players in to a game plan?

They also have more talented players in that backline that are able to use the ball and create more chances.
Our forward pack at full strength probably matches most teams but our backline is quite poor comparatively.

Reading Ivans book, the game plan was implemented to work for any player regardless of talent or ability, so Ivan implemented a simple game plan but also had the luck of having a team of generational talent all come through at the same time. I think the fact we have made top 4/top 6 twice in three years shows the game plan works, but it's our current players ability that will keep us from winning the whole thing.

The Bulldogs obviously implement the same game plan, but seem to have a few more strike weapons than we have at the moment. Kiraz, Kikau, Xerri, Burton, all provide a point of difference whereas we have rookies, journeymen, or blokes on the wrong side of the hill in those same positions.

 

[John Nick]

They also have more talented players in that backline that are able to use the ball and create more chances.
Our forward pack at full strength probably matches most teams but our backline is quite poor comparatively.

Reading Ivans book, the game plan was implemented to work for any player regardless of talent or ability, so Ivan implemented a simple game plan but also had the luck of having a team of generational talent all come through at the same time. I think the fact we have made top 4/top 6 twice in three years shows the game plan works, but it's our current players ability that will keep us from winning the whole thing.

The Bulldogs obviously implement the same game plan, but seem to have a few more strike weapons than we have at the moment. Kiraz, Kikau, Xerri, Burton, all provide a point of difference whereas we have rookies, journeymen, or blokes on the wrong side of the hill in those same positions.

Absolutely. Don't know why we aren't trying to get a couple of outside backs who can defend and finish the few chances we create especially when LM is back

 

[Inruin]

They also have more talented players in that backline that are able to use the ball and create more chances.
Our forward pack at full strength probably matches most teams but our backline is quite poor comparatively.

Reading Ivans book, the game plan was implemented to work for any player regardless of talent or ability, so Ivan implemented a simple game plan but also had the luck of having a team of generational talent all come through at the same time. I think the fact we have made top 4/top 6 twice in three years shows the game plan works, but it's our current players ability that will keep us from winning the whole thing.

The Bulldogs obviously implement the same game plan, but seem to have a few more strike weapons than we have at the moment. Kiraz, Kikau, Xerri, Burton, all provide a point of difference whereas we have rookies, journeymen, or blokes on the wrong side of the hill in those same positions.

The main difference I can see is that Ivan puts players and plays in place to take advantage of the high completions, possession and field position where it appears AW puts players in place to try and achieve completions, possession, field position. It's a subtle difference but an important one.

 

[Noitall]

The main difference I can see is that Ivan puts players and plays in place to take advantage of the high completions, possession and field position where it appears AW puts players in place to try and achieve completions, possession, field position. It's a subtle difference but an important one.

Feel like it could be too that the system is so imbedded in the panthers now and we’re still only in our infancy years of employing it. It didn’t happen overnight for the panthers either and as the years have gone on and they’ve picked up their titles they’ve been able to let strike players go over seasons and rely on their system and a solid enough player taking over from the departing player

 

[WAH MAN]

He may have. Im not blaming the player, im blaming the game model. Whats more important - his 9/10 metres in the carry or being available when a linebreak is made? Why did we even go that side knowing we had one less player on the side? Why was not a single warriors player in frame? Was Capewell the only player on that side and he made the break?

Once again im not blaming the player. Our players dont look for offloads or supports due to the conservative gameplan where territory and field position is being prioritised. Same way we dont contest bombs.

We look boring and clueless in attack because we are actually trying to play that way.

When leka scored long range Vs tigers a while back sJ said it was preset shape. Great when it works. Ugly when it doesn't. Our predictability and robotic structures are severely lacking speed and x factor. Without them we are very average and look like it right now

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Are we really stooping so low, that we’re now criticising RTS?

- Our top try scorer & most line breaks
- Highest post contact metres avg in the comp
- 4th highest run metres in the comp, 2nd highest average.

RTS is literally in the conversation for dally m winger of the year at 32 years old. Take Roger out of our squad and I think we struggle to make the 8.

Some of you are genuinely deluded.

 

[Noitall]

Are we really stooping so low, that we’re now criticising RTS?

- Our top try scorer & most line breaks
- Highest post contact metres avg in the comp
- 4th highest run metres in the comp, 2nd highest average.

RTS is literally in the conversation for dally m winger of the year at 32 years old. Take Roger out of our squad and I think we struggle to make the 8.

Some of you are genuinely deluded.

His footwork is unbelievable. Players know what’s coming but he still manages to break through often. Always needs a player in support because he’s a constant threat at the moment

 

[kos]

Very astute analysis.


Our attack is summed up pretty clearly here.. Back 3 take the first 3 hit ups. Up the guts and eat the meters back to the break even point where the ball was kicked. Maybe one or two more tackles to try and get to the 20mm mark. Then the 5th tackle uncontested Boyd bomb…

hope opposition make a mistake… if not repeat again .. and again … and again….so non threatening one dimensional and predictable…….

I have seen coaches try this approach in the past.
Think Frank Stanton at the Tigers in the 80s
But after a couple of years they loosen the reigns
Will Webster change in 2026?

 

[kos]

IMO the main reason for this is the junior comps in OZ have so much more intensity.
Schools like Keebra Park & Palm beach Currumbin take their league very seriously with specialist coaches & I am sure theres plenty of others thruoghout NSW & Qld that do the same.

Yeah John theres a thought I have had recently that near enough is good enough
Fxxk that
I want the team to win.

 

[3rdstriker]

Are we really stooping so low, that we’re now criticising RTS?

- Our top try scorer & most line breaks
- Highest post contact metres avg in the comp
- 4th highest run metres in the comp, 2nd highest average.

RTS is literally in the conversation for dally m winger of the year at 32 years old. Take Roger out of our squad and I think we struggle to make the 8.

Some of you are genuinely deluded.

As long as he lifts the team not like 2018 when he won the Dally m but only to go down injured it was the end of the world we capitulated big time,
Fingers crossed he stays injury free this time round.

 

[John Nick]

Yeah John theres a thought I have had recently that near enough is good enough
Fxxk that
I want the team to win.

Exactly mate. We in NZ seem to be happy with our kids just playing league whereas over there it's of utmost importance to have your kids schooled ,coached in ways that we don't. I particularly notice this with halves and how skilled the Oz guys are compared with Kiwi youngsters.
Just looking at our squad roster right now to see the facts.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

They also have more talented players in that backline that are able to use the ball and create more chances.
Our forward pack at full strength probably matches most teams but our backline is quite poor comparatively.

Reading Ivans book, the game plan was implemented to work for any player regardless of talent or ability, so Ivan implemented a simple game plan but also had the luck of having a team of generational talent all come through at the same time. I think the fact we have made top 4/top 6 twice in three years shows the game plan works, but it's our current players ability that will keep us from winning the whole thing.

The Bulldogs obviously implement the same game plan, but seem to have a few more strike weapons than we have at the moment. Kiraz, Kikau, Xerri, Burton, all provide a point of difference whereas we have rookies, journeymen, or blokes on the wrong side of the hill in those same positions.

100% agree.

I would also add that the high completion/low errors/defensive line speed and pressure/dominating territory are qualities the Warriors have always (for the most part) lacked and needed embedded into our DNA, so when our talented next gen with all the attacking skills in the world come through their already grounded in these fundamentals and we're not starting behind the 8 ball trying to round these guys out.

 

[Zaggo]

The "we're using RTS as a battering ram" nonsense should have been left in 2019 or whenever he last played fullback.

If he's a battering ram, why has he scored a whole lot of tries, and why is he getting great touches in the opposition 20? Why has he made a good few breaks by spotting space on an edge?

Taking hit ups in our own 20 is not the sole qualifier for battering ram status!