Pick Your Team NZ Warriors v Melbourne Storm - [Round 6, 2026]

Problem we have if CNK and Pompey are also out (though I'd be dropping the former and can't believe the latter won't cruise through a halfway fair judiciary hearing) is that other than Ali our NSW backs just aren't ready for ist grade, I know the arguments for AKP but he's so scatty and loose I can't see him not screwing up with dire consequences 2 or 3 times in a top grade game at the moment - Hansen has been there but same thing applies, can't see him maintaining composure for extended periods when under pressure, so if I'm saying that about them then that's also the reason why Ali is down a grade too - and I'm an Ali believer - so it kinda has to be:

TT
DWZ
Ali
LEKA
RTS
CHT
Tannah

or (more outrageously):

TT
DWZ
LEKA
CHT (was reports of him doing reps here in preseason?)
RTS
Hansen
Tannah

Forwards pick themselves
 
our NSW backs just aren't ready for ist grade, I know the arguments for AKP but he's so scatty and loose I can't see him not screwing up with dire consequences 2 or 3 times in a top grade game at the moment
Fk it throw them in and see what they’ve got, I really like what I’ve been seeing from AKP, despite not being on board with the signing at first. Man’s just hungry to get involved, spreading the ball around in our own 20 looking to create something and at the very least when storm make there 50 line breaks against us at least we have someone who can actually run them down.

Also we already no what we’re gonna get if webby Picks his favourites, Roger, CNK, Pompey. A whole lot of slow motion, Vanilla and a L
 
Fk it throw them in and see what they’ve got, I really like what I’ve been seeing from AKP, despite not being on board with the signing at first. Man’s just hungry to get involved, spreading the ball around in our own 20 looking to create something and at the very least when storm make there 50 line breaks against us at least we have someone who can actually run them down.

Also we already no what we’re gonna get if webby Picks his favourites, Roger, CNK, Pompey. A whole lot of slow motion, Vanilla and a L
When seen what Ali has, he was terrible.

Putoko might be even worse than Ali defensively in NSW up at the moment. He's nowhere close to a debut based on that. Even though he's been strong with ball in hand. 150 something meters on the weekend.

Kayliss is next man up at center imo but he looks banged up at the moment. Heavy leg strapping and doesn't look like he did last season.

Norris, Kali and Pasikala can't get a look in for NSW cup
 
When seen what Ali has, he was terrible.

Putoko might be even worse than Ali defensively in NSW up at the moment. He's nowhere close to a debut based on that. Even though he's been strong with ball in hand. 150 something meters on the weekend.

Kayliss is next man up at center imo but he looks banged up at the moment. Heavy leg strapping and doesn't look like he did last season.

Norris, Kali and Pasikala can't get a look in for NSW cup
Ali was building in form, and then gets dropped for Charnze who is abysmal. And then we have Pompey on the other side who’s been jogging around for 70 metres a game and missing tackles.

Shame if Fatialofa is busted, would’ve liked to see him and Ali in the centres.

good thing we rejected Timoko
 
Ali was building in form, and then gets dropped for Charnze who is abysmal. And then we have Pompey on the other side who’s been jogging around for 70 metres a game and missing tackles.

Shame if Fatialofa is busted, would’ve liked to see him and Ali in the centres.

good thing we rejected Timoko
I don't think you could say Ali was building form. His effort areas on the defensive side were droppable offences. Thats the sort of plays that make your teammates distrust you.

I think with CNK being so bad we should invest in Ali for a month or two and let him play though some mistakes.

If I'm being completely honest though, I just don't think Ali has it.

He's always been a bit of a weight bully. His defensive mistakes are half effort and half lacking the lateral quickness to move side to side quick enough.

And he'll never have the work rate required to make it as a second rower like his uncle.
 
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1. Tuaupiki
2. DWZ
3. EIT
4. Gannon
5. AKP
6. CHT
7. Boyd
8. JFH
9. Hanson
10. Ford
11. Capewell
12. Laban
13. Clark

14. Healy
15. Niukore
16. Demitric
17. Tanner Stowers Smith
18. Fatialofa
19. Leiataua

Why this team?

1. We have to get CHT and Boyd back in charge.

2. We have an excess of talented in form back row forwards. We have an excess of poorly defending outside backs. We are about to play the club that exploits defensive weakness in Warriors sides better than any opponent.
To me the solution is obvious. Populate the holes with your most mobile back rowers (Capewell notwithstanding in terms of mobility although he probably won't play and which is a shame because he brings the defence in spades).

3. We have seen some piss poor efforts from our outside backs. This is unacceptable. I do not care about specialists for this game (this point really should be point 1. not three, my blood pressure is rising as I type) kick some arses Webby, take a stand. No effort no play - AKP gets a pass having never played in fg for us, Niukore gets a pass for doing 'barely enough' - if I had one more fit forward he would be out.
 
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I’m thinking maybe we go back to literally the R1 team and TT should be the super sub for plan B.

Theres no guarantees that everything goes back to the way it was. However, there's some questions that need answering and I'm not sure what other way you get the answers.
 
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Monday games are great - no gap between those and TLT... just gotta do something about Wednesday - get on it V'landys! Looking forward to what webby does tonight
 
I wonder if they'll challenge the Pompey charge. If it was a Walsh or Cleary they'd be walking away a free man but have a feeling they'd try make an example out of Pompey.
There’s a precedent that’s been set with Stephen Crichton doing it most games. I’m sure they’ll contest the charge.
 
Yeah, when I saw the replay of the "incident" I couldn't see anything wrong with it, and looking at the comments on the NRL on Nine instagram post it seemed like just one guy replying to everyone about the "raised knee" so maybe not something the Sharks fans particularly saw as noteworthy either 😅
 
NRL
Melbourne Storm
Storm Storm
14 - 38
NZ
Warriors Warriors
📍 AAMI Park, Melbourne 📡 Warriors Live
🔒
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Team Logo
7.4
NZ
Team Ave Team Average
Demitric Vaimauga
8.9
Demitric Vaimauga
Highest Best Performance
Marata Niukore
6.2
Marata Niukore
Lowest Needs Improvement
TEAM LIST
Taine Tuaupiki 1
6.7 (47)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2
7.5 (47)
Ali Leiataua 23
Right Centre
7.3 (47)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5
Left Centre
7.9 (47)
Alofiana Khan-Pereira 20
Left Wing Club Debut
7.0 (47)
Chanel Harris-Tavita 6
8.7 (47)
Tanah Boyd 7
Halfback
7.7 (47)
James Fisher-Harris 8
7.8 (47)
Wayde Egan 9
7.8 (47)
Jackson Ford 10
Left Prop
7.9 (47)
Leka Halasima 11
Right Second Row
6.7 (47)
Marata Niukore 15
Left Second Row
6.2 (47)
Erin Clark 13
7.4 (47)
Jacob Laban 12
Interchange
7.1 (47)
Sam Healey 14
Interchange
6.2 (47)
Demitric Vaimauga 16
8.9 (47)
Tanner Stowers-Smith 17
7.1 (47)
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 18
Interchange DNP
Luke Hanson 22
Interchange DNP
COACH
Andrew Webster HC
Andrew Webster
Head Coach
8.6 (47)
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