Post Match NZ Warriors v Newcastle Knights - [Round 3, 2026]

[Wahs_Ultras]

Here’s a stat for you all. We have scored the most points by any team after 3 rounds in the past 20 years.

 

[Makasene]

Can we talk about Fish?

After an underperforming year last year he has really come back strong.

He's now looking like an AFB upgrade, that was not necessarily the case at times last year.

He's the man, you can tell he is loving it.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Here’s a stat for you all. We have scored the most points by any team after 3 rounds in the past 20 years.

Third equal most in history apparently and one the those ....the 1935 Roosters won the comp that year. Over 90 years ago.... impressive

 

[tajhay]

Can we talk about Fish?

After an underperforming year last year he has really come back strong.

He's now looking like an AFB upgrade, that was not necessarily the case at times last year.

He's the man, you can tell he is loving it.

absolutely. Massive increase in his runs metres. Also helps he is doing less tackling though. He has started the season off with a bang and great to see players are pulling other players up with them.

 

[WAH MAN]

absolutely. Massive increase in his runs metres. Also helps he is doing less tackling though. He has started the game off with a bang and great to see players are pulling other players up with them.

View attachment 16425

I reckon he's finally a Warrior Warrior not a Panther Warrior. That bedding in time appears important for a bunch of blokes.

 

[Inruin]

absolutely. Massive increase in his runs metres. Also helps he is doing less tackling though. He has started the season off with a bang and great to see players are pulling other players up with them.

View attachment 16425

55% possession in the three games will do that. Less tackles, more run meters. Be interesting to see how we perform with a more even 50/50 split

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

55% possession in the three games will do that. Less tackles, more run meters. Be interesting to see how we perform with a more even 50/50 split

Honestly ...with our forward pack.....think we will be ok. It's early I know but this forward pack is something else, it's ridiculous

 

[WAH MAN]

I was happy at a win streak of one. But three is borderline euphoric.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

55% possession in the three games will do that. Less tackles, more run meters. Be interesting to see how we perform with a more even 50/50 split

Last year we were the least penalised team, by quite a margin, up until round 7. Websters schtick is forcing other teams to give penalities.

Sadly, the NRL reigned in the crackdowns and we didn't see the benefits anymore.

Link to the article outlining it, if anyone is interested.

Penalties/set restarts above average by referee and team discipline update - The Rugby League Eye Test

Following on from last week’s mid-season advanced statistic leaders, I thought being halfway through the season it would be a good time to have a look at discipline statistics league wide. Thankfully we’re on the other side of the early season high shot crackdown so things are relatively back to...

www.rugbyleagueeyetest.com

Here's hoping the NRL keeps whatever they're doing up, all season. It's working for us.

 

[Inruin]

Honestly ...with our forward pack.....think we will be ok. It's early I know but this forward pack is something else, it's ridiculous

I think our results so far this season have been well beyond anyone's wildest expectations. Our Pack have laid the foundations for each of the wins and scorelines. The possession has fatigued the opposition in all 3 games so far, which undoubtedly has helped us score points. Be interesting to see how our defense and attack hold up against teams that get 50/50 possession against us.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

I think our results so far this season have been well beyond anyone's wildest expectations. Our Pack have laid the foundations for each of the wins and scorelines. The possession has fatigued the opposition in all 3 games so far, which undoubtedly has helped us score points. Be interesting to see how our defense and attack hold up against teams that get 50/50 possession against us.

For sure.....I just don't think I've ever seen a better Warriors pack than this one.....we are going to have to leave out some quality players when full strength.....TSS didn't even play today? That's crazy but he has JFH, Ford and Barney ahead of him.....lol

 

[Lance155]

Have you watched all 3 games? Your takeaway is seriously Boyd not being first grade standard?

Last 3 games, 100% he is. But that isn't enough to convince me and throw out our Metcalf at 7 plans that had him leading the dally m's last year

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Can we talk about Fish?

After an underperforming year last year he has really come back strong.

He's now looking like an AFB upgrade, that was not necessarily the case at times last year.

He's the man, you can tell he is loving it.

I like how he's now added bit of a passing game to the repertoire.

Was a bit tuck the ball under the arm, straight up n down. Wether it was that indigenous game where he played lock that freed him up, or a philosiphy change in how the Warriors attack this year (i suspect this) He's now picking some good times to shift the ball.......that ball to put Ford in was a beaut.

Still plays the tight game both sides of the ball so tough.....its obvious he's sets the standards for the rest to follow,

 

[Makasene]

I like how he's now added bit of a passing game to the repertoire.

Was a bit tuck the ball under the arm, straight up n down. Wether it was that indigenous game where he played lock that freed him up, or a philosiphy change in how the Warriors attack this year (i suspect this) He's now picking some good times to shift the ball.......that ball to put Ford in was a beaut.

Still plays the tight game both sides of the ball so tough.....its obvious he's sets the standards for the rest to follow,

Think it was Barnett that put Ford in

But I agree, he is a menace, running hard and looking to pass.

There were comments on the Knights forum about our forwards and their passing, said the hard run commits the defence but nek minnit the ball is moved along

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Think it was Barnett that put Ford in

But I agree, he is a menace, running hard and looking to pass.

There were comments on the Knights forum about our forwards and their passing, said the hard run commits the defence but nek minnit the ball is moved along

That seems to be the fundamental change in how we're attacking this year.....we seem to be shifting and promoting the ball a lot more.

 

[skinnydippng]

I thought some of the footage that looked like it could be for one of the league was a hard case involving CHT, Metcalf and Halasima. Some questions were brutal and one was about Metcalf being Webster’s favourite that they laughed about, then CHT said Metcalf is Webby’s son

is there a video of this somewhere do you know?

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Last 3 games, 100% he is. But that isn't enough to convince me and throw out our Metcalf at 7 plans that had him leading the dally m's last year

We had no where near the structure, organisation and cohesion last year, he just had some individual brilliant moments. Now granted that may be down to the team as a whole.....we are just better this year but theres room for them both anyway with CHT at 14 so all good, as long as we fit them all in

 

[Makasene]

We had no where near the structure, organisation and cohesion last year, he just had some individual brilliant moments. Now granted that may be down to the team as a whole.....we are just better this year but theres room for them both anyway with CHT at 14 so all good, as long as we fit them all in

Yea the thought of Metcalf playing behind this pack is so bloody exciting.

I really don't understand the amount of posts asking 'what will we do??'

We'll have them both out there.

I'll reiterate that the biggest loser of all of this is Healey. If CHT is 14 then Healey is not in the squad.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Yea the thought of Metcalf playing behind this pack is so bloody exciting.

I really don't understand the amount of posts asking 'what will we do??'

We'll have them both out there.

I'll reiterate that the biggest loser of all of this is Healey. If CHT is 14 then Healey is not in the squad.

Yup 100% agree....Healey is unfortunate but everyone else is playing too well and Metcalf needs to be there with Boyd.

 

[3rdstriker]

Last 3 games, 100% he is. But that isn't enough to convince me and throw out our Metcalf at 7 plans that had him leading the dally m's last year

Metcalf at 7 still has alot of hurdles to get through just yet, give him time to recover build back his strength and muscle.
Meanwhile Tanah can keep ripping up 1st grade while gaining more and more confidence.
We are in a really good position and it's all largely thanks to last year's nswcup form and premiership with some of those already set combinations transpiring into Nrl.