Post Match NZ Warriors v Melbourne Storm - [Round 6, 2026]

[wizard of Tauranga]

We looked like we had a dozen red bulls in the last 25min or letting out 11 years of emotions

That huddle when the ref had to wait for us mid game. Would love to be a fly on the wall in there.

We exploded in defence after that.

That huddle could be season defining in who and what we are as a team.

 

[AfricanWarrior]

Keep watching the highlights from the past 5 years and it just highlights how special this game was... not just the win but the performance

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Titans, Phins and eels going into the bye before magic round. It’s a good opportunity to consolidate our place in the top 4.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Blues let Auckland down tonight. What a horrendous watch that was.

It’s not all doom and gloom from a Welly perspective

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

There is complexity here.

If it's Boyd then it's not "we have to pick Boyd" - We have to sign Boyd!

Here is my solution:
We let Boyd go for next year, but commit to him this year.

• Obviously I think we should try to sign him but I'm sure someone like Dragons / Perth are going to come knocking with a big deal. A very good halfback is not normally available like this.

We tell Metcalf "we are committed to you and your contract, but you are backup this year"

• I wouldn't put him in NSW Cup, he should be on the extended bench, and he'll get used at times.

Met will hate that but he'll understand. You only have to look at what a full pre-season has produced for both Met (2025) and Boyd this year. Give Met another preseason as 'The Guy' and you still have the depth in halves coming through too when he inevitably gets injured.

No! We tell Boyd and CHT that they are the halves moving forward and hopefully there is a clause in metcalfs contract or that he needs to be go home for what ever reason.

Signing this type of player was a huge huge risk and I'm sorry but his body can't handle it.

I don't care if another club wants to take that risk.

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

The debate really does become who is the 7? Boyd or Mets?

you’d have to say Boyd at the moment. His kicking is so accurate. He gives a great goal kicking option (so much better to go up in 6s) and seems to have shaken off the confidence issues. Has a subtle dominance of the game, if confident he seems to make the right call - if not he’s rocks - also gels with CHT. Metcalf is a different player, not sure if Boyd can play 6, but I’d ease Metcalf back in to the season. I feel like we’re gonna need our depth and full squad come the end of the season. One player doesn’t make a team, and combos are key. What a way to get that monkey off the back! The defence at the end pleased me the most. Not to give up a try to the Storm shows the connection.

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

There is no way I'm bringing Metcalf back in if CHT and Boyd are playing the way they have in all 4 wins.

Who went to 6 when CHT got injured early in the season? Was it TT? I think he filled in pretty well so the only change of absolutely necessary would be bringing in CNK to fullback, but I’m not sold, TT hasn’t done too much wrong.

 

[Garry Saloon]

The service he was giving Dal, 3rd graders could pull that off. Literally a draw and pass as all the work was done through SJ and good decoy runners. Charnze is not a ball player at all.

So... He can pass is what we're both saying.

 

[Garry Saloon]

Idk bout that, he’s hungus himself half the time as well.

When CNK holds it he scores

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

That huddle when the ref had to wait for us mid game. Would love to be a fly on the wall in there.

We exploded in defence after that.

That huddle could be season defining in who and what we are as a team.

I think Fish is turning into a great leader. He’s a bit quiet when Barnett is also on but man he steps up when on his own.

 

[Ryno 2.0]

Who went to 6 when CHT got injured early in the season? Was it TT? I think he filled in pretty well so the only change of absolutely necessary would be bringing in CNK to fullback, but I’m not sold, TT hasn’t done too much wrong.

CNK went to 6 and TT at 1

 

[WHB]

So... He can pass is what we're both saying.

CNK is the last of the old school breed of fullback.
Fullback has really evolved in this era.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

For all the talk of Mets vs TB, I think the decision between CNK vs TT is just as important for the team. Just as TB works better with CHT, I think he does his best work when TT is at the back, not CNK. It's probably because of the chemistry they have from the cup team, but they seem to work really well together. So if we are going with TB moving forward, I think it has to be TT at the back, not CNK. I realize I don't have much sample to make that statement- I'm just going off last year and the 2 games Charnze has been playing at the back.

They can all wait for their next turn.....that was easily one of the best performances in our entire history. Absolutely no need to change a thing.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Who went to 6 when CHT got injured early in the season? Was it TT? I think he filled in pretty well so the only change of absolutely necessary would be bringing in CNK to fullback, but I’m not sold, TT hasn’t done too much wrong.

The biggest thing to me is that TB was the dominant half in the four games we've won.

As people have mentioned, TT is a mosquito. He's one of the last people you wanna see when your team is worn out. He'll run circles around you and exacerbate your situation.

On the other hand, when our forward pack aren't firing....

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

The biggest thing to me is that TB was the dominant half in the four games we've won.

As people have mentioned, TT is a mosquito. He's one of the last people you wanna see when your team is worn out. He'll run circles around you and exacerbate your situation.

On the other hand, when our forward pack aren't firing....

I think our pack will win the battle more often than not. And they can play off the back of that. Metcalf shouldn't be anywhere near the team right now......Boyd and CHT are the guys until form dictates otherwise

 

[sup42]

I think it's working out combinations. CHT is the best defensive 6 in the game with Brown. But he doesn't lead the attack the way Mets does. Mets is in the same position Tanah was in last year, coming into a successful team - tough act to follow. His rustiness shows. I think CNK FB, wingers DWZ and AKP, let Leiataua and Pompey run the centres. CHT deserves 6 and Tanah 7. Mets off the bench I reckon. He needs to fit in. He's off the pace right now. TT has a low ceiling. I don't know why he got resigned. Ratcliffe/LeMana/Norris would be better.

CNK has become old, and grossly overrated, Taine's defensive reads this season have left old man CNK behind.

Bellyache didnt blow up in the presser.

Was just saying they'll look at their prep and coaching team as well as players.

Bellamy with the eyes shut in the box did not look good. I hope he is ok, all those years of overreacting must have wrecked his Cardio vascular system.

There is complexity here.

If it's Boyd then it's not "we have to pick Boyd" - We have to sign Boyd!

Here is my solution:
We let Boyd go for next year, but commit to him this year.

• Obviously I think we should try to sign him but I'm sure someone like Dragons / Perth are going to come knocking with a big deal. A very good halfback is not normally available like this.

We tell Metcalf "we are committed to you and your contract, but you are backup this year"

• I wouldn't put him in NSW Cup, he should be on the extended bench, and he'll get used at times.

Met will hate that but he'll understand. You only have to look at what a full pre-season has produced for both Met (2025) and Boyd this year. Give Met another preseason as 'The Guy' and you still have the depth in halves coming through too when he inevitably gets injured.

I think the Warriors need to take the hit on Metcalf's contract - call it a bust and rejig their Salary cap to take a hit to swallow up the near million dollars Metcalf damage has done to their overall spending power.

The club in my opinion need to reframe their cap to make Tanah Boyd their Marquee signing - and because of that, they need to cut some high profile contract/contracted players to place them in a competitive position to retain Boyd vs Perth, the Dragons, and probably the cheating joke that is the Roosters.

The reason I say this is that Boyd is 25 years old, he is literally metamorphizing into a great player under our roof.

We have taken hits on Salary cap contracts many many times in the past, too many to name, but Matt Lodge stands out eh. We know how to do this, we know how to take a cap hit and rebalance the books, fortunately for us we have no Junior players begging for expensive type protection from marauding NRL club snatchers (like the hit we put on the Broncos to pick up Reece Walsh).

Obviously everything I am saying is dependent on what Boyd wants, but even there the Warriors are in a good position to offer an attractive Job environment.

I honestly think that we are at a critical juncture, where the club needs to pivot away from plan A and invest in what is working this season, not what was written on paper last year.....and for mine that starts with Boyd #1 signing priority 2# CHT extension 3# Move on CNK, Dallin, Marata.

And I think the club need to either play Metcalf as a fullback in NSW cup or a utility 14 to help him find his compassionate release form and send him and his dicky legs back to the Mother ship.

If Metcalf is shot the club have a reasonable chance of getting released from that contract on medical grounds.

Lastly we seem to be on this path of pivoting anyway because Roger (who needs to go too) great player Roger, but hey I ain't the one turning these lovable fan worshipped Warriors legends like CNK/RTS/Dallin into old mutton, that would be time...

 

[MaybeTop8]

Dumb question on my part - do players released because of injury still count for the remainder of their contract under the salary cap?

 

[rugged]

I think the Warriors need to take the hit on Metcalf's contract - call it a bust and rejig their Salary cap to take a hit to swallow up the near million dollars Metcalf damage has done to their overall spending power.

One of those expansion clubs will take the gamble on a Metcalf and might cover 80 percent

 

[rugged]

Dumb question on my part - do players released because of injury still count for the remainder of their contract under the salary cap?

Unless you're medically retired - which has to be approved

 

[jonesy101]

I’ll admit, I wrote him off. But he has been playing like a busted donkey on the wing but he was a straight Dawg this game, he has to stay there.
One of Webbys downfalls is being loyal to a fault to his fav players. If there ever was a time to be loyal to a playing group it’s this one, first side to beat the storm since 2015.

Capewell can come in for Marata tho