Post Match NZ Warriors v Penrith Panthers - [Round 13, 2026]

[snake77]

I am actually very concerned about Metcalf's return, he is a one man band, not a halves pair option.

If we play him, he will take over this team.

We don't need that, we almost beat Penrith (along with all the other skulls hanging on our wall).

Metcalf, I am almost certain, will kill this team if he plays (those words are not hate they are fear-true story).

Penrith I believe, would have murdered Metcalf's one option style (I run - the rest of you follow and try do something with that).

Replacing Boyd is similar to when Boyd came in to replace Metcalf last year. Slotting into a team that overall is going well.

Things fell off last year. There would be more to it than just changing the halfback. Barnett's injury was a big loss last year. This year the middles have gone well while he has been getting back his match fitness.

Also last year there were issues with the style of play that have been addressed.

Martin has done well slotting in. If Metcalf comes in the challenge is similar to last year but the reverse in terms of personnel. He will need to slot in and keep things going.

He played well last year. Our attack wasn't great. Hopefully he slots in to the current setup.

My main concern is he hasn't had a lot of football.

 

[snake77]

They also started banging on about the Warriors being out on their feet.

I kept posting in Game day that the Riff were out on theirs too, but the commentators are blind to that.

Roach is the one that drives me nuts. He defaults to the middles are walking back. Willie Mason explained how that is planned as they wait for the back 3 to do the early carries.

The middle is like a washing machine. They are conserving energy.

Roach came back to commentary a few years back for a heritige round. It was good to have an old school voice for that round. It should have stayed that way and have someone who knows the trends/tactics of the modern game.

 

[MaybeTop8]

I'm good with last night's result. Disappointed because we had the game but we weren't good enough to capitalise.
They converted their opportunities and we missed 3 or 4.
They've been doing what they did for nearly a decade and it showed. We're learning.
And learning quickly. It was so good to see our guys playing on an even footing with the best in the business. We have improvement in us. They are at the top of their game
Good times

We'll be better for the loss. If we'd have won the rose tinted glasses would be on for the next 19 pages , whereas now, we know how close we are and what the gap is.

 

[sup42]

We'll be better for the loss. If we'd have won the rose tinted glasses would be on for the next 19 pages , whereas now, we know how close we are and what the gap is.

Absolutely.

And the Bye couldn't have come at a better time. That game was killer, for both sides, pity the Riff don't face anyone decent (Tigers then Titans).

Last night was as close to a perfect result as you get really, we know we are not as good as Penrith. So what. We know now we are there or thereabouts and there is nothing to fear in playing them (last night the look on TMM's stressed out face before kick off was alarming, dude was having a panic attack).

Now we have got the loss out of the way, and learned that Penrith are beatable, and that we aren't gonna disgrace ourselves, we are stronger while they are the ones with the pressure on them.

 

[snake77]

We'll be better for the loss. If we'd have won the rose tinted glasses would be on for the next 19 pages , whereas now, we know how close we are and what the gap is.

Like a fighter who is a good prospect going up against a proven champion. Sometimes you see there are different levels.

A lot for us to learn from this loss. Also a lot to be proud of.

If we won there would have been a lot of hype. Talk of premierships. I'd prefer that to come later in the year as there is still a lot of the season to get through. At least now we can go away and work on a few itmes for when we play them again.

Webster said before the game it is a good chance to see where we are at. We have improved a lot but need a bit more work.

 

[WHB]

What a game.

Watched it 3 times.

 

[sup42]

What a game.

Watched it 3 times.

Legend.

I can't face it yet.

Gonna watch Dragons V Broncos today (only caught the end cos the Big game NSW NZW vs Panthers "the return of Luke Metcalf" was on).

Prolly watch it though, I mean nothing else to see for two weeks now, it really sucks there are no Juniors games either.

 

[Zaggo]

While I can understand your points I really disagree on moving it out of Mt Smart.

-Theres no financial incentive for the Warriors to do it
-The atmosphere is worse at Eden Park.
- As a club we should be honouring the tradition of our home ground
- Reward season members with priority access and make it tough for away fans to get tickets
-The history of big rugby league occasions at EP is also pretty bad.

An extra 20k people is really only 20k bandwagon as harsh as they may sound.

Heavily agree with this.

I've been to the Tonga games at Mt Smart, and the Tonga game at Eden Park, and despite ostensibly being the same fans there was no comparison with atmosphere.

Eden Park is terrible for crowd engagement, and terrible to actually see what's going on.

100 times out of 100 I'd rather be with 25k diehards at Mt Smart than 50k lukewarms at EP.

And for context, I actually live far closer to Eden Park and have family within easy walking distance so it's nothing to do with transport!

 

[Playdaball]

it's probably too late but I would have moved the rd 23 rematch at MSS to Eden Park. That revenge game is going to be epic.

I’d rather see more temporary seating at MSS .
Playing at Eden Park is not our home ground and would give Panthers an even chance of winning .
That is going to be a great game !

 

[Playdaball]

I also believe that at some stage the lack of a big kicking game will come back to hurt us .

 

[John Nick]

I also believe that at some stage the lack of a big kicking game will come back to hurt us .

Agreed . Both teams last night lacked a long kicking game

 

[Lance155]

Never felt so happy after a loss. Hearing Webby pre game saying we have to mix it up to get out of our own end was music to my ears. You can't just 1 out from your goal line against Penrith. They will eat you alive no matter how hard you run. It was a good balance of risk vs reward.