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

[Makasene]

I wonder if this spine would work,
We all know CNK and Tauapiki isn’t the answer at the back.
My only worry is Metcalf competing under a high ball

1. Metcalf
6. Harris-Tavita
7. Boyd
9. Egan

14. Healey

That's an injury spine. It might eventuate if both CNK & TT were out.

Metcalf was interviewed during the week and he straight up said he wants to be 7.

I wouldn't be surprised if the plan is for him to go back to 7.

And I think that's the bigger question, can (or should) Boyd be a 6 outside Metcalf. Or do they let Boyd go and resign CHT to be 6?

Metcalf is the only signed half for next year, surely the plan is for Boyd or CHT to be 6?

 

[sydneywarrior92]

That's an injury spine. It might eventuate if both CNK & TT were out.

Metcalf was interviewed during the week and he straight up said he wants to be 7.

I wouldn't be surprised if the plan is for him to go back to 7.

And I think that's the bigger question, can (or should) Boyd be a 6 outside Metcalf. Or do they let Boyd go and resign CHT to be 6?

Metcalf is the only signed half for next year, surely the plan is for Boyd or CHT to be 6?

I feel Boyd/Metcalf could end up being a lot like Hynes/Trindall. Hynes is the no 7 but in practical terms, Trindall is the one running the team, with Hynes focusing on his ball running threat as a roamer on the field. They've had their own teething issues but it looks to be working well for them. I can't see why we can't have the same dynamic with Boyd/Metcalf.

 

[juju]

I wonder if this spine would work,
We all know CNK and Tauapiki isn’t the answer at the back.
My only worry is Metcalf competing under a high ball

1. Metcalf
6. Harris-Tavita
7. Boyd
9. Egan

14. Healey

Is that you Cameron Ciraldo.

 

[JaggedJ]

Ref has a hyphenated last name

Sharks might as well stay home.

 

[Old Sid]

I have a niggling concern that this seemingly repeated 'determination' expressed by Metcalf for the 7 jersey may come back to bite us big time. Some can read it as stating his position, others perhaps as reluctantly tolerating the 6 thing in the expectation of changes. The danger being of course that he could overplay his hand by trying to demonstrate in a game that he's 'really' a 7, thus not following coach and team's expectation that he's only one piece of the team puzzle and there ain't two pieces for the same required solution.

And, by default, Boyd suffers the perception that he's not performing as he was in the earlier games.

This would quickly be a really bad outcome for the team results and ongoing morale.

I'd assume Webby is acutely aware of such a possibility and makes his gameday instructions very clear to both halves rather than open ended.

I'd much prefer words from Metcalf along the lines of 'I'm just pleased to be back in the team and happy to perform wherever the coach feels I best fit'.

There again, it could be just a media extracted sound bite issue and everyone's on the same page.

The Dogs seem to have got themselves in troublesome territory right now (halves and centres) and they aren't going so well.

 

[CWC]

Anyone got the context and quotes from Luke, eg what did the journo ask and how he answered etc? Mayve just expressing confidence?

If it’s a straight up I want to be 7 sounds awfully like Beauden Barrett insisting on been exclusive as a 10 while been better at 15 for the AB

Boyd’s actually got the track record and accolades under his belt from those 3 games and improving, I think if the team doesn’t go well and get beaten up ie no chance for clutch match winners the heat will be on Luke, because Boyd actually organized the team as a group better than Luke did all year TBH, and he’s fit

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Anyone got the context and quotes from Luke, eg what did the journo ask and how he answered etc? Mayve just expressing confidence?

If it’s a straight up I want to be 7 sounds awfully like Beauden Barrett insisting on been exclusive as a 10 while been better at 15 for the AB

Boyd’s actually got the track record and accolades under his belt from those 3 games and improving, I think if the team doesn’t go well and get beaten up ie no chance for clutch match winners the heat will be on Luke, because Boyd actually organized the team as a group better than Luke did all year TBH, and he’s fit

I think it was when he called into SEN league with Horo and Fletch. I think he was clear he thought that the 6 thing was a way of transitioning back into the game with an eye to moving back to the 7 jersey at some stage in the future. So this concern did cross my mind too.

I think this is a bit like the Trindall/Hynes issue. Hynes is the 7 as he is their marquee player as Mets is ours. Trindall is the 6 but in practical terms he is the conservative 7 that runs that team and they seem to be better for it. I don't see why we can't have a similar dynamic with Mets/Boyd. Feel like this is just a teething issue that will sort itself out with more reps.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I have a niggling concern that this seemingly repeated 'determination' expressed by Metcalf for the 7 jersey may come back to bite us big time. Some can read it as stating his position, others perhaps as reluctantly tolerating the 6 thing in the expectation of changes. The danger being of course that he could overplay his hand by trying to demonstrate in a game that he's 'really' a 7, thus not following coach and team's expectation that he's only one piece of the team puzzle and there ain't two pieces for the same required solution.

And, by default, Boyd suffers the perception that he's not performing as he was in the earlier games.

This would quickly be a really bad outcome for the team results and ongoing morale.

I'd assume Webby is acutely aware of such a possibility and makes his gameday instructions very clear to both halves rather than open ended.

I'd much prefer words from Metcalf along the lines of 'I'm just pleased to be back in the team and happy to perform wherever the coach feels I best fit'.

There again, it could be just a media extracted sound bite issue and everyone's on the same page.

The Dogs seem to have got themselves in troublesome territory right now (halves and centres) and they aren't going so well.

Problem with the Dogs is that they don't actually have a natural 7. They have a 6 playing 7, a center playing 6 as their main halves pairing. On the other hand, we do have a natural 7 in Boyd and a ball running 6 in mets. Our problem as I see it is more about getting Mets to accept that role as he seems set on being the game managing 7 role that better suits Boyd. It's a different problem imo and far more workable than not having a 7 in the first place.

 

[CWC]

I think it was when he called into SEN league with Horo and Fletch. I think he was clear he thought that the 6 thing was a way of transitioning back into the game with an eye to moving back to the 7 jersey at some stage in the future. So this concern did cross my mind too.

I think this is a bit like the Trindall/Hynes issue. Hynes is the 7 as he is their marquee player as Mets is ours. Trindall is the 6 but in practical terms he is the conservative 7 that runs that team and they seem to be better for it. I don't see why we can't have a similar dynamic with Mets/Boyd. Feel like this is just a teething issue that will sort itself out soon.

Webby would be annoyed, Boyd just guided them to 3 big wins as the 7, I think he just repeated the preseason plan and current “softened version” of what Webby told him and If Boyd keeps it up then there’s no transitioning back to 7

I mean you could still play 7 wearing the 6 jersey, be a bit more gracious to Tannah?

That’s quite annoying really so we now could have 2 “7s” trying to both play 7 and fight for control of the team.

 

[CWC]

Problem with the Dogs is that they don't actually have a natural 7. They have a 6 playing 7, a center playing 6 as their main halves pairing. On the other hand, we do have a natural 7 in Boyd and a ball running 6 in mets. Our problem as I see it is more about getting Mets to accept that role as he seems set on being the game managing 7 role that better suits Boyd. It's a different problem imo and far more workable than not having a 7 in the first place.

I hope Luke is just…venting

We fans don’t care about player ego, we want to win and best for the club

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Webby would be annoyed, Boyd just guided them to 3 big wins as the 7, I think he just repeated the preseason plan and current “softened version” of what Webby told him and If Boyd keeps it up then there’s no transitioning back to 7

I mean you could still play 7 wearing the 6 jersey, be a bit more gracious to Tannah?

That’s quite annoying really so we now could have 2 “7s” trying to both play 7 and fight for control of the team.

your second paragraph is actually what I think will happen. It is the Hynes/Trindall analogy that I keep bringing up. Hynes being Mets and Boyd being Trindall in the scenario.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Im sure LM would love to be the 7 going forward.
I think hes smart enough to realize that playing 6 in a better combination that gives you a better chance at winning a premiership isnt a bad option at all tho...

Or, maybe hes petulant haha. If thats the case give him the 7 jersey and Boyd the 6, and let him know the game plan is for Tannah to do 75% of the field kicking and Metcalf gets 70% of the ball in opposition red zone.

Its crazy to think that as well as we went last year with LM at 7 and CHT at 6, having Boyd at 7 and LM at 6 actually strengthens both of those positions significantly more

I really hope both can bounce off each other, it really does seem to have all the key components of a very strong 6/7 pairing. Who actually cares what number is on your back anyways

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Im sure LM would love to be the 7 going forward.
I think hes smart enough to realize that playing 6 in a better combination that gives you a better chance at winning a premiership isnt a bad option at all tho...

Or, maybe hes petulant haha. If thats the case give him the 7 jersey and Boyd the 6, and let him know the game plan is for Tannah to do 75% of the field kicking and Metcalf gets 70% of the ball in opposition red zone.

Its crazy to think that as well as we went last year with LM at 7 and CHT at 6, having Boyd at 7 and LM at 6 actually strengthens both of those positions significantly more

I really hope both can bounce off each other, it really does seem to have all the key components of a very strong 6/7 pairing. Who actually cares what number is on your back anyways

CHT is great at playing the back-up, either to TB or Mets. So the floor is higher imo with CHT as the 6 to either. But IMO, the ceiling is infinitely higher with TB/Mets once we figure out how the dynamic will play out with these 2. TB's game management and long boot, mixed with Met's footy IQ and running game has all the hallmarks of the halves pairing of a top contending side.

Luke doesn't strike me as egotistical- he has mentioned many times his goal of being part of our first premiership winning roster. So if it is in the teams interests, I'm sure things will work out with Tannah being the distributor, game managing half and Mets being the ball runner.

As halves problems go, I think this issue of ours is a good problem to have. The Dogs would give their right nut to have Boyd in their team right now. You know you are in trouble if SOS is the savior!

 

[CWC]

All they need to do is for Boyd to be the boss and control the game and Luke backing up runners, play eyes up footy as second receiver and punt when Boyd’s stuck, think Latrell Mitchell before - limited receipts but devastating every time, otherwise too many chefs in the kitchen

 

[Kestrel84]

I think the problem is that both Boyd and Metcalf are the type of players that thrive with being the main shot caller and having their hands on the ball as much as possible. One of them will always suffer for being played in the halves with the other. CHT is a better foil to both players and has shown that combination works.

Boyd and Metcalf MIGHT work, but I doubt. Unfortunately, it is one of those situations where you have to pick one over the other.

Unless you play Metcalf at Fullback, but he is convinced he is a 7... which we've entertained him on.

 

[WAH MAN]

Webby would be annoyed, Boyd just guided them to 3 big wins as the 7, I think he just repeated the preseason plan and current “softened version” of what Webby told him and If Boyd keeps it up then there’s no transitioning back to 7

I mean you could still play 7 wearing the 6 jersey, be a bit more gracious to Tannah?

That’s quite annoying really so we now could have 2 “7s” trying to both play 7 and fight for control of the team.

If they do the two seven's approach I have no problem with it as long as they figure out how to make it not just work but how to make it fire.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I think the problem is that both Boyd and Metcalf are the type of players that thrive with being the main shot caller and having their hands on the ball as much as possible. One of them will always suffer for being played in the halves with the other. CHT is a better foil to both players and has shown that combination works.

Boyd and Metcalf MIGHT work, but I doubt. Unfortunately, it is one of those situations where you have to pick one over the other.

Unless you play Metcalf at Fullback, but he is convinced he is a 7... which we've entertained him on.

it's been one game and Met's first coming back from a serious ACL. Give it a few weeks before making judgments on whether it can work or not.

 

[MaybeTop8]

it's been one game and Met's first coming back from a serious ACL. Give it a few weeks before making judgments on whether it can work or not.

But.......that's too sensible!

 

[John Nick]

Im sure LM would love to be the 7 going forward.
I think hes smart enough to realize that playing 6 in a better combination that gives you a better chance at winning a premiership isnt a bad option at all tho...

Or, maybe hes petulant haha. If thats the case give him the 7 jersey and Boyd the 6, and let him know the game plan is for Tannah to do 75% of the field kicking and Metcalf gets 70% of the ball in opposition red zone.

Its crazy to think that as well as we went last year with LM at 7 and CHT at 6, having Boyd at 7 and LM at 6 actually strengthens both of those positions significantly more

I really hope both can bounce off each other, it really does seem to have all the key components of a very strong 6/7 pairing. Who actually cares what number is on your back anyways

A lot of teams play a half on either side of the ruck so the number means f all

 

[1995warriorsfan]

Winger Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira and second rower Morgan Gannon have been omitted from the One New Zealand Warriors’ 20-man game day squad for Sunday’s round five NRL clash against Cronulla Sutherland at Ocean Protect Stadium in Sydney (2.00pm kick-off local time; 4.00pm NZT).
Centre Ali Leiataua, listed in jersey #23, remains among the reserves.