Pick Your Team Pick Your Team 2023 Rnd 1 - Warriors vs Knights

[AlexM]

How does the glue smell you sniffed before posting this?

(pulling your leg)

Not sure about Glue but I have been huffing a lot of copium lately

 

[playdaball]

Do we choose to do that for $$$ or is it 'randomly' allocated by the NRL

$$$$$$$

 

[Noitall]

Adam Elliot and Jack Hetherington good for round one for the knights. Might be better for us if Gagai can start with a choice between Kristian Mapapalangi or Dylan Lucas starting for them as replacement, don’t know much about Lucas but Mapapalangi is supposed to be pretty sharp. Interesting having a look over their forum with apparently roosters offering Sitili Tupouniua as a trade for Dominic Young which knights rejected because he’s injured until mid season wanting either one of the butcher brothers or Siua Wong. If Tupouniua is up for grabs would love for Warriors to have a go for next season with another front rower. Their circumstances might change depending on the outcome for Angus Chrichton.

 

[Beastmode]

At least we have established nice and early who the 2023 whipping boy will be for the forums hysteric brigade.

Shaun Johnson COME ON DOWN...

 

[Wrighty]

Not sure about Glue but I have been huffing a lot of copium lately

I rewatched the game (in between naps on the couch) he was much better than he appeared to all of us on first viewing.
The basic problem was that he was a yard off the pace all night and didn't have enough time and space given to him by the Storm to execute either his kicking or passing game. But he wasn't as bad as I thought.
He was also extremely strong on defence and organised his edge on defence,.
We will be ok with him this year.
The old girl has one more year left in her.

 

[ndp26]

I rewatched the game (in between naps on the couch) he was much better than he appeared to all of us on first viewing.
The basic problem was that he was a yard off the pace all night and didn't have enough time and space given to him by the Storm to execute either his kicking or passing game. But he wasn't as bad as I thought.
He was also extremely strong on defence and organised his edge on defence,.
We will be ok with him this year.
The old girl has one more year left in her.

I think what a lot of us fans react negatively to is a bomb being the 5th play option more often than not - this isn't purely Shaun's fault as the rest of the team need to get him into a position where his kicking can add value (e.g., his short kicking game is pretty good), however the kicking for position (e.g., finding the grass) hasn't appeared to be a strong point for Shaun in his most recent Warriors years.

However, I'm hopeful that Webster can bring out the best in Shaun and help him transition the passion he clearly shows off-field for the club into his on-field performances! Shaun cops a lot of flak from fans nowadays - but I don't think (the realistic) fans are expecting the 2011-2015 version of Shaun Johnson, we just want Shaun Johnson that produces performances he (and therefore we) can be proud of to round out a pretty epic career in the NRL.

 

[Wrighty]

Predicted Round 1 team​

1. Lachlan Miller
2. Dom Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Jackson Hastings
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Adam Elliott
14. Kurt Mann
15. Jack Hetherington
16. Leo Thompson
17. Jack Johns

Barring the centres we all know the Warriors 17 for the Knights so I won't name it.

Wrighty's analysis

1) Fullback - Advantage Warriors
2) Wings - Advantage Knights
3) Centres - Double Advantage Knights
Halves - Advantage Knights
Hooker Advantage Knights
Props - Advantage Knights
Second Row - Warriors Just
Lock - Warriors double advantage

Bench Warriors Double Advantage


Knights - 7 advantages
Warriors - 6 advantages

If we can stay in the game for the first 30 minutes and not give up a lead we will win as our bench should prove too strong.

 

[wizards rage]

Predicted Round 1 team​

1. Lachlan Miller
2. Dom Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Jackson Hastings
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Adam Elliott
14. Kurt Mann
15. Jack Hetherington
16. Leo Thompson
17. Jack Johns

Barring the centres we all know the Warriors 17 for the Knights so I won't name it.

Wrighty's analysis

1) Fullback - Advantage Warriors
2) Wings - Advantage Knights
3) Centres - Double Advantage Knights
Halves - Advantage Knights
Hooker Advantage Knights
Props - Advantage Knights
Second Row - Warriors Just
Lock - Warriors double advantage

Bench Warriors Double Advantage


Knights - 7 advantages
Warriors - 6 advantages

If we can stay in the game for the first 30 minutes and not give up a lead we will win as our bench should prove too strong.

WR conflicting points

Wings - Even - I really rate our wings as solid without being spectacular the same as the Knights
Halves - Warriors - Ponga hasn’t had success in the halves to date and I don’t rate him here. Conversely Te Maire Martin will be huge for the Warriors.
Shaun Johnson should be better than Hastings. Note the should.
Hooker - Even - Egan is mature and a smart player and due to really show what he’s got this year. Both hookers will be as good their forward packs allow them.

Warriors 7 / Knights 3 - we should smash em

 

[Defence]

Would argue his short kicking game is average, we dont get many repeat sets.

He was second in the comp last year for repeat sets so you'd wanna be blardy good at arguing.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

He was second in the comp last year for repeat sets so you'd wanna be blardy good at arguing.

Look i cant stand the guy alright!

I will eat humble pie and retract.

 

[Mullayo]

Adam Elliot and Jack Hetherington good for round one for the knights. Might be better for us if Gagai can start with a choice between Kristian Mapapalangi or Dylan Lucas starting for them as replacement, don’t know much about Lucas but Mapapalangi is supposed to be pretty sharp. Interesting having a look over their forum with apparently roosters offering Sitili Tupouniua as a trade for Dominic Young which knights rejected because he’s injured until mid season wanting either one of the butcher brothers or Siua Wong. If Tupouniua is up for grabs would love for Warriors to have a go for next season with another front rower. Their circumstances might change depending on the outcome for Angus Chrichton.

I'd love them to get the Dom Young trade done this week. Hymel Hunt and a newbie centre is prime.

I hear the Roosters are shoving Sitili at the Knights as his younger bro plays there.

The chooks really do look after their players... Right up until they see someone shinier and newer.... Then it's a pat on the bum, a brown paper bag full of cash and a contract at a SuperLeague club then you're gone.

These guys are crumbling, and we need to muscle up and run all over them. Somehow Montoya needs to handle Marzhew, but run hard at Pingu he hates it. He's a soft young Shaun Johnson clone who's already been paid.

 

[Noitall]

I'd love them to get the Dom Young trade done this week. Hymel Hunt and a newbie centre is prime.

I hear the Roosters are shoving Sitili at the Knights as his younger bro plays there.

The chooks really do look after their players... Right up until they see someone shinier and newer.... Then it's a pat on the bum, a brown paper bag full of cash and a contract at a SuperLeague club then you're gone.

These guys are crumbling, and we need to muscle up and run all over them. Somehow Montoya needs to handle Marzhew, but run hard at Pingu he hates it. He's a soft young Shaun Johnson clone who's already been paid.

Not sure the knights will budge with Tupouniua injured until mid season and KPP going to them next year, surely they’ll take that though. Sitili is a weapon though defence can be iffy. Don’t think they’ll be easy, they often start seasons strong then fade.

 

[Mullayo]

Rewatching the Storm in a teacup schemozzle to get a bead on the thermodynamic forward rotations. Here's what I got.

First Half/
Strike Prop 8: Addin Fonua-Blake 30, Bunty 10/
2nd Prop 10: Barnett 20, Niukore 20/
2nd 11: Ford 40 - who is really good BTW/ Ford 10
2nd 12: Niukore 20, Curran 20/
Lock 13: Tohu Harris 30, Walker 10/

Other observations.
Ref made 6 wrong decisions against us in first half alone.
Volkman couldn't tackle because of the shoulder injury.
Shaun Johnson couldn't kick because... But could tackle for first time ever.

Several players are underdone, Wiliame, Charnze, Curran, Tohu Harris and Barnett, in that approximate order.
We're not going to win the comp, but our forwards should be a top 5 strongest pack.

I wise Egan was built a bit stronger because he has all the rest - we need to sign him up longterm because he's prime to be poached.

And Charnze makes our back 5 D so much more solid, Viliame is a bit better on D, Wiliame is a lot better, and Montoya and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak are energetic at least. With Ford and Niukore out there, our D can at least strive for league average.

 

[Mullayo]

Not sure the knights will budge with Tupouniua injured until mid season and KPP going to them next year, surely they’ll take that though. Sitili is a weapon though defence can be iffy. Don’t think they’ll be easy, they often start seasons strong then fade.

That's because the Knights are the tin men, they got no heart. Attitude reflects leadership, and Pingu is a soft, showpony.

They traded away Klemmer and gave us Barnett. They tried to buy some fight with Hastings, Miller, Elliott and Hetherington, but the latter two are both currently unfit. Climb into them in the forwards and run all over Ponga and they should fold.

 

[Mullayo]

There really aren't enough minutes to go around. Here's what I roughly expect from our forward rotation, given the weirdness of the last trial.

1st Half/2nd Half

Strike Prop 8: Addin Fonua-Blake 30, Bunty 10/Bunty 20, Addin Fonua-Blake 20
2nd Prop 10: Barnett 30, Niukore 10/Ale 10, Tohu Harris 30
2nd 11: Ford 40/ Ford 10, Barnett 30
2nd 12: Niukore 30, Curran 10/Curran 30, Niukore 10
Lock 13: Tohu Harris 30, Walker 10/ Walker 30, Curran 10

Addin Fonua-Blake 50 Bunty 30
Barnett 60, Ale 10
Tohu Harris 60
Niukore 50
Curran 50
Ford 50
Walker 40
Egan 70 Walker/Lusick10?
Bad for Fantasy and Supercoach apart from Ford who looked the best of all of them.

 

[Mullayo]

Watched the game to the end. Kosi cost us the game. He's terribad.
Not only the two errors, but he just constant bad reads like when he jammed in on Warbrick's try, Worst player on the field in an error-ridden game. If he's named, bet against us.

 

[Wheels]

Watched the game to the end. Kosi cost us the game. He's terribad.
Not only the two errors, but he just constant bad reads like when he jammed in on Warbrick's try, Worst player on the field in an error-ridden game. If he's named, bet against us.

Its a shame because I like his attitude and he clearly has size/speed on his side. I am not sure if this is the case but what I have found is that often players with bad reads have skipped or missed playing league/rugby/touch from an early age. However, I do feel if you have the right mindset it can be learned and practiced to a certain extent and although Manu Vatuvei was not great at this for a few years he was the most devastating winger in the game IMO. For the time being Dallin and Montoya will suffice as the Warriors starting wingers...and I think they are more than satisfactory.

 

[Paulo24]

I think we need to start giving some of those young wingers some
Opportunities. Of course not now, it’s true that the wingers we have a first graders. We need to prepare some though. I believe that we have some who can tackle, are good on D and have a little xfactor. We just need to develop them a little.

 

[Jonno 13]

Gotta say I’m pretty excited for team naming Tuesday. Centres and bench most up for grabs. Don’t think Lussick will get in as Walker will take that back up role giving Egan a 20min breather

14. Walker
15. Nuikore
16. Ale
17. Curren

 

[Mullayo]

1. Lachlan Miller v Charnze = 0
2. Dom Young v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak = -1
3. Dane Gagai? v Vailea =-1
4. Bradman Best v Wiliame =-1
5. Greg Marzhew v Montoya =-1
6. Kalyn Ponga at half v Te Maire Martin =0
7. Jackson Hastings v Shaun Johnson =-1
8. Jacob Saifiti v Barnett =0
9. Jayden Brailey v Egan =0
10. Daniel Saifiti v Addin Fonua-Blake =+1
11. Tyson Frizell v Niukore/Curran =0
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon v Ford =+1
13. Kurt Mann v Tohu Harris =+2
14. Adam Elliot v Bunty = -1
15. Thompson/Hetherington v Ale =+1
16. Jack Johns v Curran = +1
17. Phoenix Crossland v Walker = +1

Close game. I think we win because we're at home and have more heart and are tougher than they are.

Also, they have Gagai, Elliot, Hetherington, and as usual Pingu under injury clouds.