Pick Your Team NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks - [Round 5, 2026]

[Warriors55]

Who in this backline is renowned as a good defender?

Granted, that is the only slight downside to this backline. But Berry is a fantastic defender if he can stay on the park. RTS is solid as well.

I think Pompey's defense has improved a lot. Same with TT. I don't know what defensive work they have done with AKP and we won't know until we actually see him on the park. And he wouldn't have to improve much to get to DWZ's limited level.

So really it just comes down to has AKP's defense improved and what is his aerial game like on attack and we need to see more of TT at full back to make a definitive judgement on his defence.

I would be open to CNK staying in the backline (even at full back) as long as AKP comes in for DWZ. I don't think we have enough strike in the backline with CNK and DWZ both there. It worries me a lot when it gets to the business end of the season.

 

[Damo]

We should be trying to release Niukore early and get Timoko over or a gun back. We’re stacked for fowards

This isn't NRL Fantasy bro

 

[Warriors55]

Ye cos our backline was so solid last night ay. Getting torn up by Adam Douehi.
Douehi’s never ran track like that before.
Our backline is too old and slow, simple as that

Agreed, we won't win the comp with the backline that played last night.

We have the pack to win it and we have the halves to win it. We need to get the backline right.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

TSS deserves to be on the bench imo he’s been getting metres and hot take has been performing better than Demi so far

Not a hot take, just facts!

 

[Dannevegas]

Douehi was mostly having a field day on Metcalf really it was smart play going for the guy coming back from an acl he was always gonna he soft in contact

Metcalf to nsw cup to get some full contact CHT to 6 again only change that is required

Douehi was mostly having a field day on Metcalf really it was smart play going for the guy coming back from an acl he was always gonna he soft in contact

Metcalf to nsw cup to get some full contact CHT to 6 again only change that is required

He went straight through Charnze and Pompey.
No point changing the halves again, this is clearly the long term vision, for this year anyway. Give them time together we have storm in 2 weeks

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Douehi was mostly having a field day on Metcalf really it was smart play going for the guy coming back from an acl he was always gonna he soft in contact

Metcalf to nsw cup to get some full contact CHT to 6 again only change that is required

Im surprised webby just outright named him and didn't play silly buggers!

 

[Naynay]

He went straight through Charnze and Pompey.
No point changing the halves again, this is clearly the long term vision, for this year anyway. Give them time together we have storm in 2 weeks

Yeah look i went back was mostly the first try that was on my mind, retracting my statement on it being metcalfs fault

The back 5 mostly the wings and centres were pretty awful last night hopefully its just a one off cause pompey has been consistently solid same with rts. Dallin wasnt great but not the worst winger last night which is concerning

 

[Cces]

Ye cos our backline was so solid last night ay. Getting torn up by Adam Douehi.
Douehi’s never ran track like that before.
Our backline is too old and slow, simple as that

You danced around my question.

You have listed the same backline as last night with the addition of Leiataua & AKP and expect it to improve?
We had the competitions best edge in 2025 on our left. Why break it up?

 

[Warriors55]

I think if Berry comes back in for an extended run, he is a lock defensively and probably gets a spot.

I think we can then play a centre who has more strike like Ali on the other side. That would be harsh on Pompey though.

Berry would be best playing inside AKP and Ali on Rogers edge, so we don't have two weaker defenders on the same side.

Then TT vs CNK at full back is the big question and depends on if we want another ball player or someone who plays more physical.

Does anyone know when Berry is due back? Will be interesting if he plays Cup first for a couple of weeks to see if he can get through some games.

 

[Cces]

Berry would be best playing inside AKP and Ali on Rogers edge, so we don't have two weaker defenders on the same side.

Berry has never started a NRL game at left Centre. Based on how long it took for him to look comfortable in first grade I don't think it'll happen, but you never know.
He's also not a particularly good defender close to our line. Elite kick chaser but that's only a part of the job description

 

[Dannevegas]

You danced around my question.

You have listed the same backline as last night with the addition of Leiataua & AKP and expect it to improve?
We had the competitions best edge in 2025 on our left. Why break it up?

You danced around my question.

You have listed the same backline as last night with the addition of Leiataua & AKP and expect it to improve?
We had the competitions best edge in 2025 on our left. Why break it up?

Fair enough bro. But ye we do need to change this backline up imo.
how easy it is sometimes for defence to defend us on their line for back to back sets, then they get the ball and score a long range try because our backs just aren’t up to it.

our backs only get the better of other teams if we’re camped in their end and it’s a slug fest. Other wise they’ll just get blown away by younger more explosive athletes.

This backline is the 10 metres out specialists, only potent when they’re 10 metres out from the try line

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

We’re suffering from an embarrasment of riches. We’re trying to fit to many players into the team and it’s affecting combinations and form.

Tuaupiki, TSS, Niukore, Capewell, Vaimauga, CHT, etc are all sort of in but sharing roles and shuffling round positions.

Even Lekas sometime bench, sometimes full games, sometimes centre. Barnetts playing second row, CNK centre, etc.

It’s actually a selection mishmash and over time we will need to select our best 17 and stick with it to build combination.

Unfortunately it closes opportunity and players are going to get dejected but we need more selection consistency.

 

[Naynay]

We’re suffering from an embarrasment of riches. We’re trying to fit to many players into the team and it’s affecting combinations and form.

Tuaupiki, TSS, Niukore, Capewell, Vaimauga, CHT, Capewell, etc are all sort of in but sharing roles and shuffling round positions.

Even Lekas sometime bench, sometimes full games, sometimes centre. Barnetts playing second row, CNK centre, etc.

It’s actually a selection mishmash and over time we will need to select our best 17 and stick with it to build combination.

Unfortunately it closes opportunity and players are going to get dejected but we need more selection consistency.

I tend to agree to much going on, but Ali back at centre and choose between Taine and CNK, i agree they don’t deserve to lose their spot as Webby said but sometime people miss out when you can only choose 19

 

[CWC]

1. Tuaupiki
2. RTS
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. DWZ
6. Metcalf
7. Boyd
8. Fisher-Harris
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11.  Halasima
12. Laban
13. Clark

14. Healey
15. Vaimauga
16. Ford
17. Niukore
18. CHT
19. TSS

Barnett to start and stick to the middle, too slow for an edge for me. Ford can probably play out the game after 25 minutes from Barney.
Can't see Webster ditching the general makeup of the team after one week. Need to solidify the cohesion with this makeup as it is likely the best makeup going forward, they just lacked cohesion especially defensively.
Individual errors compounded greatly to the end result and won't be the case (I hope) week to week.

This is exactly the team I’d pick lol

The headline from Webby’s presser was cohesion. IMO that’s the best balance of flare and workhorse we’ve got, the first 20min was basically the vision he had.

CNK is copping it but am I the only one noticing the right centre being up there for kick chases, holding the defensive line and rushing correctly, and taking hit ups? He had one bad miss but that’s trainable…the flick pass he can practice or have TT set up differently to feed Dallin

 

[CWC]

Just looked at the right centre stats

CNK 74m tackling at 68% 5 misses

Ali 77%, 93%, 93%, 5 misses in 3 games

92m, 115m (that intercept), and 40m

Ali’s building but I wonder if kick chases or lack of screws with the tackling stats

 

[Beastmode]

Well people,

Here we are facing reality, hard loss, hard game coming up this week, team naming Tuesday no longer the boring certainty had we won last night.

The easy option for Webster is to drop Metcalf and put CHT back in. That is the easy way out. Lets see how Webster handles that (some would say CHT is the smarter way out, and in the short term that definitely is worth some consideration).

This will genuinely be a tough game, our first two games were tough, and our third game was tough in stages.

All eyes on tomorrows Raiders Sharks clash.

Just on our halves, I recall Webster in the prematch being VERY excited by how Tanah and Metcalf performed at training.

Now unlike some of yous (haha love that word) yes yous not some of you, I mean the Shaun Johnson catty yous - I actually believe Webster when he said they were awesome together this week....which gets me really excited too.

So we have a transitioning problem, from Training to the paddock. I'll take that any day over a poor at training problem. The solution is much quicker and easier to the training problem, which in many cases is un repairable.

Youse with the e not yous

My preference CHT in the halves with Tannah

Metcalf in cup to get his timing and crabbing problem sorted out

If it goes to shit against the Sharks.. next man up is Metcalf ..

 

[Sammyw]

1. CNK
2. DWZ
3. Ali
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. Metcalf
7. Boyd
8. Barnett
9. Egan
10. JFH
11. Leka
12. Laban
13. Clarke

14. CHT
15. Vaimauga
16. Ford
17. Niukore
18. TT
19. TSS

Dont panic, side picks itself. If we have another repeated poor game then maybe start to pick it apart

 

[John Nick]

1. CNK
2. DWZ
3. Ali
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. Metcalf
7. Boyd
8. Barnett
9. Egan
10. JFH
11. Leka
12. Laban
13. Clarke

14. CHT
15. Vaimauga
16. Ford
17. Niukore
18. TT
19. TSS

Dont panic, side picks itself. If we have another repeated poor game then maybe start to pick it apart

That's exactly the team that I would be picking although I would like to see Capewell back. How long will he be out
Panic changes won't help
Might be a good wake up call for the guys

 

[Inruin]

CNK
RTS
Pompey
 Ali
DWZ
CHT
Boyd
Ford
Egan
JFH
Laban
Leka
Clark

Healey
Demitric
TSS
Barney
Marata
TT

Have to maintain standards regardless of pay packet and as much as we want Metcalf to be firing at 6, he is under done and not playing his role defensively. A couple of games in cup to get him putting his body in to the tackle and maintaining his positioning in the line.

 

[CWC]

Looked at the stats for our halves

Boyd’s receipts are about the same around 70, others were around 30-32/game. Metcalf had 40 and 200m kicks whereas the next highest was CHT 140m game 1, Hansen had 2m

IMO Luke doesn’t need to be kicking unless Boyd’s trapped on tackle 5, needs to take the line on more