Team List NZ Warriors v Penrith Panthers - [Round 13, 2026]

[sup42]

Just saw Jason Salalilo on the extended, anyone with any information on him as a prospect?

I see your question was already given the good oil from regulars.

I like the way he bashes people. Seems to come easy to him, he is good at catching people off guard.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Mets is gooooooone , so no point ' developing ' him in his preferred position. But he does need match fitness.

We have a genuine shot at the title this year. If TMMs form drops, And Mets is playing his ass off in cup. Its good to know we have Mets in cup as cover. Especially if Mets is putting in the work to earn his way back. Yeah, I'm in the reward the loyal ones camp. But fuck! We've waited a long fucking time for a title bro. If Mets is the man to help deliver the title? I'm all in(Hes gotta work for it)

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Just saw Jason Salalilo on the extended, anyone with any information on him as a prospect?

I know you've got plenty of replies. He has the potential to be our own Jason Taumalolo. Similar build, Similar footy traits. Poweful kid. Hits it up like Fuifui Moimoi too! Lol.

 

[Ref]

The halves trio to take us to the promised land is CHT, TMM and LM.
Guaranteed that at least one of them will miss a game or two due to a minor injury.
So they may have to mix and match.
Which is workable.
The gulf to the next best option is humungous.
I suspect Te Maire becomes the back up for both spots and he will be stoked.
I fu**** would be.
Because Webby has never embellished his role. Promote it as a win win Webby.

 

[WAH MAN]

We have a genuine shot at the title this year. If TMMs form drops, And Mets is playing his ass off in cup. Its good to know we have Mets in cup as cover. Especially if Mets is putting in the work to earn his way back. Yeah, I'm in the reward the loyal ones camp. But fuck! We've waited a long fucking time for a title bro. If Mets is the man to help deliver the title? I'm all in(Hes gotta work for it)

That maiden premiership awaits. Mets is part of our squad so I back him. When he's fit and match fit. Put him in.

 

[sup42]

The talk of not being able to win the big games without Metcalf is interesting when you look at how he and Te Maire Martin performed wearing the 7 jumper vs the bench mark club in the NRL.

Of the pairing Martin is the only one to have orchestrated a win over the Panthers, and even in the highlights you can see what a horrible defender Metcalf is.

Martin was paired with Charnze, Metcalf had CHT.

Metcalf had Egan, Martin ended up losing Egan and having Paul Roache for a hooker.

Martins side played against JFH, Metcalf's team had him leading the pack.

Metcalfs bench was:

Martin
Ford
Vaimauga
Stowers Smith

Martins bench was:
Jazz
Laban
Tom Ale
Roache


View: https://youtu.be/k5L-jId60Ik?si=btqNbkw7lQ5uTxeq


View: https://youtu.be/R7J5DZV4Un0?si=gyjmLJsu7WYvT6XP

If we win against the Panthers, Martin is the only half to do that in this era, and he will have two wins V the best, pretty much time on the ole can only win with Metcalf chestnut.

 

[CWC]

The talk of not being able to win the big games without Metcalf is interesting when you look at how he and Te Maire Martin performed wearing the 7 jumper vs the bench mark club in the NRL.

Of the pairing Martin is the only one to have orchestrated a win over the Panthers, and even in the highlights you can see what a horrible defender Metcalf is.

Martin was paired with Charnze, Metcalf had CHT.

Metcalf had Egan, Martin ended up losing Egan and having Paul Roache for a hooker.

Martins side played against JFH, Metcalf's team had him leading the pack.

Metcalfs bench was:

Martin
Ford
Vaimauga
Stowers Smith

Martins bench was:
Jazz
Laban
Tom Ale
Roache


View: https://youtu.be/k5L-jId60Ik?si=btqNbkw7lQ5uTxeq


View: https://youtu.be/R7J5DZV4Un0?si=gyjmLJsu7WYvT6XP

If we win against the Panthers, Martin is the only half to do that in this era, and he will have two wins V the best, pretty much time on the ole can only win with Metcalf chestnut.

I watched the sky replay of the classic 2024 magic game tonight We beat them without a defense that day

 

[Wrighty]

I watched the sky replay of the classic 2024 magic game tonight We beat them without a defense that day

Can you reword this? I don't understand the grammar of this post? "without a defense"

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Can you reword this? I don't understand the grammar of this post? "without a defense"

We beat them 'sans tackle'?

 

[sup42]

I watched the sky replay of the classic 2024 magic game tonight We beat them without a defense that day

We beat them 'sans tackle'?

I still don't understand what any of that means. I am old so interwebglish is not my fluency.

I see the words defence and tackle, I watched that game yesterday, Jacob Laban was immense, as were all the greenhorns.

Laban looks to have traded his speed and light feet for more power this season, a mistake I believe.

CNK at six in that game typically was a nothing in the Warriors ball work, but handy in defence.

Dylan walker basically played as the second half in that team (can't wait till Morgan Gannon sorts his head in wrong positions tackling out, this team sorely needs another forward that can play the ball like Walker did).

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I hope Penrith don't disrespect us by resting all their superstars. As much as this game is our biggest test for the year, we are also their biggest test of the year. Penrith have really been in second gear all year and have yet to face a real challenge. Both sides benefit from naming their strongest possible rosters for this one.

Even at full strength, I think we stand a real chance of beating Penrith if we bring our A game. Penrith are due another loss and if ever there was a team to beat them at their own game, it's us. We have the pack to match them and even overpower them through the middle. Our starting middles (Fish, Jacko, Erin) are all in the top 50 for post-contact meters. Out of the starting penrith middles (Leota, Smith, Yeo), only Yeo is in the top 50 for post-contact meters. We also lead the comp in possession and set completion. So if Penrith want to challenge us to a grindfest, we have the ability to go toe-to-toe with them for the full 80.

Sure, we will be at a deficit for kicking meters in this game. Playing with our halves choice set won't fix that because Mets' boot is still substantially smaller than Tannah's. So rather than trying to play with our halves to improve our kicking meters, we just need to run ourselves out of trouble by improving our set distance. We kind of saw that last week v Dragons where basically every middle (both starting and bench) ran for over 100m. I don't know many other packs that would be able to do that.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I still don't understand what any of that means. I am old so interwebglish is not my fluency.

Sans means 'without'.

Without tackle - No defense.

It was an attempt at humour on my behalf.

I think CWC was saying our defense was not great when we last beat Penrith.

 

[sup42]

Sans means 'without'.

Without tackle - No defense.

It was an attempt at humour on my behalf.

I think CWC was saying our defense was not great when we last beat Penrith.

Thanks, don't think it will catch on at my place, well you never know, Wahs wormed its way in.

Defence was great. That is why I didn't understand what he was on about.

 

[sup42]

I hope Penrith don't disrespect us by resting all their superstars. As much as this game is our biggest test for the year, we are also their biggest test of the year. Penrith have really been in second gear all year and have yet to face a real challenge. Both sides benefit from naming their strongest possible rosters for this one.

Even at full strength, I think we stand a real chance of beating Penrith if we bring our A game. Penrith are due another loss and if ever there was a team to beat them at their own game, it's us. We have the pack to match them and even overpower them through the middle. Our starting middles (Fish, Jacko, Erin) are all in the top 50 for post-contact meters. Out of the starting penrith middles (Leota, Smith, Yeo), only Yeo is in the top 50 for post-contact meters. We also lead the comp in possession and set completion. So if Penrith want to challenge us to a grindfest, we have the ability to go toe-to-toe with them for the full 80.

Sure, we will be at a deficit for kicking meters in this game. Playing with our halves choice set won't fix that because Mets' boot is still substantially smaller than Tannah's. So rather than trying to play with our halves to improve our kicking meters, we just need to run ourselves out of trouble by improving our set distance. We kind of saw that last week v Dragons where basically every middle (both starting and bench) ran for over 100m. I don't know many other packs that would be able to do that.

With any luck Penrith are slowing down.

Gotta happen one day, they can't go on forever (well the Storm did so....maybe they can). Cleary is still the best player in the game mind, but not where he was years gone, getting a bit older.

 

[WAH MAN]

Origin players might play for Penrith after that game. McLean is young and should be fine.

 

[Jaffa J]

I would of got Barney to back up I know last year it went wrong but he looked underdone big time

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

I’d be getting Barney to back up I know last year it went wrong but he looked underdone big time

Can't he wasn't named in the team.

 

[NZ born and bred]

I think Webbys realised that now we have the team to win the comp, it’s all about moving the right pieces at the right time now.
Resting Kape’s and Barney is the right start, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see us leading Penrith into the second half, and then removing some of the team to finish the game.
Then it becomes a psychological move, it would basically be saying… “ We could have won but we decided to give some of the bench players a run”!!
Not only would this make Penrith think “ they didn’t even play their best team, and this is the result”but the rest of the comp would be on notice!!
This would be a great mental edge..
It bugs me that everyone is saying this is our biggest test!!why? We are running 2nd, smashed so many hoodoo’s this year, and this is our next test to see where we are at?

 

[3rdstriker]

I think Webbys realised that now we have the team to win the comp, it’s all about moving the right pieces at the right time now.
Resting Kape’s and Barney is the right start, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see us leading Penrith into the second half, and then removing some of the team to finish the game.
Then it becomes a psychological move, it would basically be saying… “ We could have won but we decided to give some of the bench players a run”!!
Not only would this make Penrith think “ they didn’t even play their best team, and this is the result”but the rest of the comp would be on notice!!
This would be a great mental edge..
It bugs me that everyone is saying this is our biggest test!!why? We are running 2nd, smashed so many hoodoo’s this year, and this is our next test to see where we are at?

If we do promote the youngsters for the backend of the Penrith game its going to give them and the entire squad the mental edge, fully support this theory trust is being built.

 

[sup42]

I think Webbys realised that now we have the team to win the comp, it’s all about moving the right pieces at the right time now.
Resting Kape’s and Barney is the right start, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see us leading Penrith into the second half, and then removing some of the team to finish the game.
Then it becomes a psychological move, it would basically be saying… “ We could have won but we decided to give some of the bench players a run”!!
Not only would this make Penrith think “ they didn’t even play their best team, and this is the result”but the rest of the comp would be on notice!!
This would be a great mental edge..
It bugs me that everyone is saying this is our biggest test!!why? We are running 2nd, smashed so many hoodoo’s this year, and this is our next test to see where we are at?

Interesting take, I don't agree with the idea that we will play with any intention not to do the best we can to win this.

Having said that, I don't wanna get down on your original take for this game for the sake of it (a plan of the sort usually seen in the last rounds of the comp when ladder placings are locked in and outcomes no longer matter). At least you think outside the box.

Pretty sure Webster would like to win the minor premiership if he can, that would be helpful in the finals, cue the pressers where Webster say's "we haven't done anything till we win the comp" but privately a trophy of any sort is a personal achievement and useful for team confidence and useful for ticket sales - a reward of sorts for supporters too.
In years past a minor premiership might backfire for a Warriors side, give them a premature overinflated sense of themselves. But this team is pretty grounded, there is a swagger there too, which comes from guys like Alofiana Khan Pereira, but the mix of the side seems to keep that in some kind of balance. I think this team can process success and feed off it in ways prior Warriors sides could not. We are shifting from a confidence team to one that goes after it and believes.

I agree with one point though, Webster will use his less experienced replacements based off what he thinks is best for their careers as much as he will make calls based on what is happening in game.

Your point aligns with the omission of the Origin players (there is a flavor there of keeping our powder dry).

I think the plan vs the Panthers this year is very much going to be about unsettling them as much as we can, every time we play them, and trying to beat them for all our might is part of that.