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

[The Warrior Waka]

Laban keeping his spot is harder to justify, hasn’t really stood out.

Minutes Played: 46
Tries: 1 (scored in the 15th/16th minute)
Total Running Metres: 112
Tackles Made: 39
Missed Tackles: 0
Tackle Breaks: 4
Offloads: 1

Pretty good stats in a loss. He was aggressive af with some of those tackles. Zero missed.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Elite = Penrith the 4x premiers, Storm our boogeyman for the last 15 years, and the Broncos current premiers at Suncorp.

They're the equivalent of Black Caps trying to win a test against Australia in Australia, Roos and Raiders are kinda like, India and South Africa

Roosters and Raiders are strong teams and ex-ante were considered contenders. The fact that they've been so scarred by their visits to MSS (my generous take) that they've subsequently shat the bed to start the year doesn't change that fact. They will both be there or thereabouts by the end of the year. The form-line from the Canberra game in particular is something we should take some stock in. We flogged Canberra by 30+ whereas the Sharks and Dogs only beat them in 1-12 scrap fights. And I actually think Canberra played better against us than they did against either of those teams. So form wise, I think we are still the no 2. team behind Penrith, something we'll again prove on Sunday.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I keep thinking we’ve had heavyweights top 8 contenders in the Rooster, Raiders and have the sharks and Storm coming up. Tough draw.

Why can’t we have some easy games!

And then I remember we just played the Tigers and look how that turned out

 

[Boston Boy]

Minutes Played: 46
Tries: 1 (scored in the 15th/16th minute)
Total Running Metres: 112
Tackles Made: 39
Missed Tackles: 0
Tackle Breaks: 4
Offloads: 1

Pretty good stats in a loss. He was aggressive af with some of those tackles. Zero missed

I am not blindly in love with Laban BUT those are very good if not amazing stats for 46 min.

 

[John Nick]

I keep thinking we’ve had heavyweights top 8 contenders in the Rooster, Raiders and have the sharks and Storm coming up. Tough draw.

Why can’t we have some easy games!

And then I remember we just played the Tigers and look how that turned out

Sadly Wiz I think you underestimate the strength of the NRL teams
There are no easy games and if you turn up with less than 110 % effort you are going to get your arse kicked
The mental side of the game is the most important part of being successful
Cases in point Last week v. Tigers and again last night Manly with a new coach and the same guys but with a different attitude

 

[sup42]

Minutes Played: 46
Tries: 1 (scored in the 15th/16th minute)
Total Running Metres: 112
Tackles Made: 39
Missed Tackles: 0
Tackle Breaks: 4
Offloads: 1

Pretty good stats in a loss. He was aggressive af with some of those tackles. Zero missed.

Those are amaze balls stats for a junior forward.

Stats like that predict a long career in the NRL. I can see recruiters keeping an eye on Laban for a potential poach. Everyone wants a high minutes high tackle efficiency tackle breaking backrower with aerial game these days.

In a team that has Dimitric and Leka - Laban is where clubs will try to put pressure on the Warriors salary cap.

Laban has been putting the smash on more fancied vaunted big names too. He has no respect for reputations.

He is a real old school Rugby League player.

 

[Old Sid]

Those are amaze balls stats for a junior forward.

Stats like that predict a long career in the NRL. I can see recruiters keeping an eye on Laban for a potential poach. Everyone wants a high minutes high tackle efficiency tackle breaking backrower with aerial game these days.

In a team that has Dimitric and Leka - Laban is where clubs will try to put pressure on the Warriors salary cap.

Laban has been putting the smash on more fancied vaunted big names too. He has no respect for reputations.

He is a real old school Rugby League player.

To me Laban and Dimitri are doing extremely well in their development. Far more a steady progress, whereas Leka has better, but also worse days. Certainly not knocking Leka, just observing each player's relative progress model.

Three superb players with more coming not far behind them too, like EIT, Gannon and Healy.

 

[kos]

Those are amaze balls stats for a junior forward.

Stats like that predict a long career in the NRL. I can see recruiters keeping an eye on Laban for a potential poach. Everyone wants a high minutes high tackle efficiency tackle breaking backrower with aerial game these days.

In a team that has Dimitric and Leka - Laban is where clubs will try to put pressure on the Warriors salary cap.

Laban has been putting the smash on more fancied vaunted big names too. He has no respect for reputations.

He is a real old school Rugby League player.

That last sentence sums Laban up.
I have been mightily impressed with him this year.
He is a tough confident Hombre (a la Manurewa 1971)

 

[sup42]

That last sentence sums Laban up.
I have been mightily impressed with him this year.
He is a tough confident Hombre (a la Manurewa 1971)

Rewa hard before Rewa was 'hard' eh Kos?

 

[Naynay]

To me Laban and Dimitri are doing extremely well in their development. Far more a steady progress, whereas Leka has better, but also worse days. Certainly not knocking Leka, just observing each player's relative progress model.

Three superb players with more coming not far behind them too, like EIT, Gannon and Healy.

Leka is more a product of being so talented. Laban and Demi having time to work on their game in cup and leka having been rushed through cause of his talent

 

[WAH MAN]

Leka is more a product of being so talented. Laban and Demi having time to work on their game in cup and leka having been rushed through cause of his talent

The challenge is to get the best out of them and match those parts into a team.

 

[CWC]

Am I the only one missing the Beast Laban from the dolphins game? he was the bowling ball (10 pins not lawn)

 

[CWC]

I wonder if Taruva was trolling Barney’s kid to get reactions out of him

 

[Noitall]

I wonder if Taruva was trolling Barney’s kid to get reactions out of him

You’d hope not. That would be pretty low

 

[CWC]

Would be better for panthers to put 50 on storm if panthers win, shatter their confidence and you can only flog the players so much for so many weeks

 

[CWC]

So at worst we finish 4th this round and hopefully we win and keep that outright 2nd (significant bigger PD than Knights)

 

[enterthewarrior]

Its imperative that we win this game and get 8 points because we won't beat Melbourne next week. We do not want to lose 2 games in a row as the other teams are on our tail.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Its imperative that we win this game and get 8 points because we won't beat Melbourne next week. We do not want to lose 2 games in a row as the other teams are on our tail.

You don't know that. In fact, the last 3 weeks would suggest the opposite: Storm are looking more vulnerable than they have ever been. So if there ever was a year to beat them in Melbourne, it might be this year. It's also only round 5. Paying attention to ladder positions this early is not really productive. Teams are still sorting themselves out, including us.

 

[Dannevegas]

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

 

[sydneywarrior92]

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

Really don't know if you are being serious at this pt. Stop tinkering with the spine and give time for the Mets/Boyd combo to work. Playing musical chairs with the spine is what shit teams do.