Team List NZ Warriors v Parramatta Eels - [Round 9, 2026]

[CWC]

But...what are you finding so crazy about the situation?

Metcalf is maybe one of the most injury prone players out there atm, his record is abysmal at staying on the park. I wish it wasnt the case but thats fact.

Hes obviously a good player, but with those injuries its been impossible to plan a team around him. But, he was all we had last year so offered him a good contract.

We now have a player, who, with the players around him is able to implement Webby's plan. As a result of this, we're sitting in 2nd and have looked better as a team than we ever have with Metcalf. Imo, this is the best we've looked in a long time, even better than 2023 with SJ.

AND hes younger than Met?
AND his body holds up better than Mets?
AND hes cheaper than Met?

I'd love us to be able to include Met in the team some how, but its going to take an injury, huge drop of form, or Met to offer something that Boyd and CHT aren't, because atm he's not taking either of their spots.

The wild thing is Metcalf went from a player who can play 1 and 6 to being treated as specialist 7 this year.

He's in a position where he needs to diversify, or more like rediscover his portfolio/skillset to help himself and the team (cough TMM), that No.20 jersey might be a starting point. Although I still don't understand why Webby wouldn't play these guys in cup first, ie Berry repeatedly came back to FG - busted. Met came back after ACL - busted, now trying 20min FG stints T20 cricket style

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Nah. People have turned on him. Not all. But there are some who don't see any value in him not just because of his two games this season but because of his injury history and his record not being what they expect from a player of his pay bracket

I don't believe that at all. They're just seeing favour in the current halves doing a tremendous job for us at the present. Its not that deep for me.

 

[WAH MAN]

But...what are you finding so crazy about the situation?

Metcalf is maybe one of the most injury prone players out there atm, his record is abysmal at staying on the park. I wish it wasnt the case but thats fact.

I find none of it crazy. I just expressed my view. I do not disagree with the above.

I'm just not writing him off yet and neither it appears are Webby, Cappy, Cam or SJ or the team.

I know he's not making the team be as good as it is right now. But I don't think he was the reason we weren't this good last year. So many talking points in this topic

 

[WAH MAN]

I don't believe that at all. They're just seeing favour in the current halves doing a tremendous job for us at the present. Its not that deep for me.

Ok

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I find it kind of odd how personally people are taking this whole Metcalf thing.

Why? We are on this forum as we are passionate about the Warriors. That includes the players as some people like certain players more than other. For myself I am still pissed about what happen with Ali Lauitiiti and that was over 20 years ago lol

 

[3rdstriker]

I don't think anyone has turned on him. CHT & Boyd are our form halves and winning games. Mets came back from injury and was a bit off the pace. Then got injured again.

Now hes available , Most of us don't want to break up a winning halves combination that is working well together.

It will take a while for mets to find his mojo. No use rushing him back unless either one of CHT or Boyd turn to cake.

Alot of us can see that if our team is managed well and Mets barney tmm rocco are all nursed back in gradually this should put the Nrl on notice at the backend of this season.#depth4days.

 

[steakncheese]

Wasn’t to enamoured with Boyds game last week thought he chased the game and possibly knows Mets is back pushing, but his good game is better suited to our team dynamic. Mets is all brilliance but less team focused, hoping Webby and Stacey can pull him back a bit as we have $$$ invested heavily in him.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Why? We are on this forum as we are passionate about the Warriors. That includes the players as some people like certain players more than other. For myself I am still pissed about what happen with Ali Lauitiiti and that was over 20 years ago lol

I get the passion. I love the passion. Makes for good conversation.

The oddity for me is how many valid points about various players get reduced to a 'hatred' of said player.

Go with how you feel, mate. I just find it odd.

 

[jonesy101]

The short press interview with Taine Tuaupiki on One News is worth a watch. The dude is all class. So happy to have him with the club.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I get the passion. I love the passion. Makes for good conversation.

The oddity for me is how many valid points about various players get reduced to a 'hatred' of said player.

Go with how you feel, mate. I just find it odd.

I get you. Imagine if Ford gave away 3 penalties in a game. Wouldn't matter if he made 300m, 60 tackles with no misses and whipped out his dong and beat the opposition senseless with it. Still would be people hating on him. Its the human condition.

 

[3rdstriker]

I get you. Image if Ford gave away 3 penalties in a game. Wouldn't matter if he made 300m, 60 tackles with no misses and whipped out his dong and beat the opposition senseless with it. Still would be people hating on him. Its the human condition.

Yep spot on,
it's the Same with Chanels exceptional stats last year plenty couldn't see him and wanted him dropped out of the squad or back to reggies.

 

[borgy]

In the past 31 yrs we've been conditioned to bag our players and team in general, and rightly so, but now things have changed for the better.. I guess us forumers, supporters need to change our mindset to match the times......... we're on our way up, something we aint familiar with ... so get used to it, adjust and enjoy..

 

[Noitall]

Feel like all the coaching staff seem to fit together well after a few settled years now

 

[SouthernWorrier]

I don't believe that at all. They're just seeing favour in the current halves doing a tremendous job for us at the present. Its not that deep for me.

Nah. People have turned on him. Not all. But there are some who don't see any value in him not just because of his two games this season but because of his injury history and his record not being what they expect from a player of his pay bracket

Mets is a top grade half and a genuine match winner. Personally, my main issue is that he was understandably tentative first couple of games back: He was a defensive turnstile - let's no sugar coat it, it was ugly.

Teams are too evenly matched and we might be 2nd, but we won't win many games with such an obvious weak point on D.

So to be fair to him and fair to the team, give him 80 for at least a couple of weeks in NSW to get his mojo & game back. CHT & Boyd are going really well, no reason to risk our season by having him back in FG and I don't think 20m stints helps him.

 

[John Nick]

Mets is a top grade half and a genuine match winner. Personally, my main issue is that he was understandably tentative first couple of games back: He was a defensive turnstile - let's no sugar coat it, it was ugly.

Teams are too evenly matched and we might be 2nd, but we won't win many games with such an obvious weak point on D.

So to be fair to him and fair to the team, give him 80 for at least a couple of weeks in NSW to get his mojo & game back. CHT & Boyd are going really well, no reason to risk our season by having him back in FG and I don't think 20m stints helps him.

For Webster to bring in straight back to fg after such a long day off without time in cup was a mistake and I hope he takes something out of his decision

 

[Tookey 2.0]

For Webster to bring in straight back to fg after such a long day off without time in cup was a mistake and I hope he takes something out of his decision

I hope he has too, but Webby has precedent here...SJ came back into the team a few times in 2024, to the detriment of the team (TMMs golden run i believe).

For the proven NRL performers he tends to let them come back through FG, so im worried that well see LM in the halves sooner rather than later.

Our best hope is that were up by 30 against Parra and Webby takes Tanah off and gives LM a go. If the games close in those last 20 I don't wanna see LM at all

 

[CWC]

I hope he has too, but Webby has precedent here...SJ came back into the team a few times in 2024, to the detriment of the team (TMMs golden run i believe).

For the proven NRL performers he tends to let them come back through FG, so im worried that well see LM in the halves sooner rather than later.

Our best hope is that were up by 30 against Parra and Webby takes Tanah off and gives LM a go. If the games close in those last 20 I don't wanna see LM at all

Or you know if we're down by 30......

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Fox sports quoting Webby saying Luke will either come off the bench or back to cup this week. So for those stressing about Mets jumping straight back into the team, you can rest easy.

 

[Bluecat]

I don't want to see us waste Metcalf. He has a place at the Warriors and I don't want to lose him without him being given a decent chance.
But I believe he has to prove that he's better than what we have before he gets a place in first grade.
I've got no problem with him playing in the lower grade while we're winning more than we're losing. If he can string half a dozen games together without injury and if his form warrants it then as players get injured or if they drop off in form he can replace them.
The same for anyone returning from injury. Don't try to fix what's not broken. It never ends well

 

[John Nick]

I don't want to see us waste Metcalf. He has a place at the Warriors and I don't want to lose him without him being given a decent chance.
But I believe he has to prove that he's better than what we have before he gets a place in first grade.
I've got no problem with him playing in the lower grade while we're winning more than we're losing. If he can string half a dozen games together without injury and if his form warrants it then as players get injured or if they drop off in form he can replace them.
The same for anyone returning from injury. Don't try to fix what's not broken. It never ends well

Absolutely . That's the way it should be always.