Post Match Preseason 2025 Trial 1 - Warriors vs Sharks

[run_it_str8_again]

Playing two seven's and two sixes means Metcalf and TMM will both play, both roles.

Doesn't it?

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Taine is just a better player and add more in 2025 than Pompey would, right? So even though charnze was good too, him at center fix a lot of problems with our pedestrian OBs. They had some nice ball movement.. and then it would end up with pomps and ed, what’re they going to do with it.

Our pack will be good, they look fit and fast the backs though…

 

[Dannevegas]

I wasn’t impressed with the halves combo of Metcalf and TMM tonight. It was pretty much Metcalf playing the SJ role with TMM invisible like he was with SJ. Was hopping to see that combo they had at the Tigers preseason game a couple years ago i.e ‘working together equally’, rather than ‘one overly dominant and one barely there’ half partners.

Exactly my thoughts, was excited to see this pairing due to how well they played in that tigers game. Probably game plan? Which surely webby learnt from last year

 

[Makasene]

Good insight into the pressure Jett Cleary is going to find himself under.

A 20min cameo with the other juniors in a trial has gained more press than the match itself.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Taine is just a better player and add more in 2025 than Pompey would, right? So even though charnze was good too, him at center fix a lot of problems with our pedestrian OBs. They had some nice ball movement.. and then it would end up with pomps and ed, what’re they going to do with it.

Our pack will be good, they look fit and fast the backs though…

I would even have Leiataua and Roger on that edge, those short side plays with TMM would be more explosive!

CNK right centre with DWZ

 

[Ramps]

Positives:
- Healey is a gun hooker! Earned his spot on the bench.
- Kali stood out in his limited minutes. Noticed his aggression, was keen to see him on the field longer. But looked like he was playing at centre?
- Demitric Vaimauga looked solid
- Bunty was a beast
- Clark was solid in defence and think he would go good at 13
- Tuaupiki needs a spot in the 17. His speed and enthusiasm was noticeable.
- Barney! Beast! He's definitely my captain!

Negatives:
- Halves were reserve grade standard: I know everyone is harping on about Metcalf. Other than the 40/20, i saw lack of direction, attack still looked average, made a few mistakes on the 5th tackle. While he was okay, it didn't fill me with a lot of confidence. TMM made one good run, other than that, barely even noticed him on the field.
- KOSI!! what the actual %$#@ is he doing in a first grade squad. Don't mean to be harsh but he was poor. I felt a lot less on the edge of my seat when the junior wingers were on.

Other than that... meh! Wheres that outside back were meant to be signing!! last thing we need is Kosi running a muck!

 

[John Nick]

Positives:
- Healey is a gun hooker! Earned his spot on the bench.
- Kali stood out in his limited minutes. Noticed his aggression, was keen to see him on the field longer. But looked like he was playing at centre?
- Demitric Vaimauga looked solid
- Bunty was a beast
- Clark was solid in defence and think he would go good at 13
- Tuaupiki needs a spot in the 17. His speed and enthusiasm was noticeable.
- Barney! Beast! He's definitely my captain!

Negatives:
- Halves were reserve grade standard: I know everyone is harping on about Metcalf. Other than the 40/20, i saw lack of direction, attack still looked average, made a few mistakes on the 5th tackle. While he was okay, it didn't fill me with a lot of confidence. TMM made one good run, other than that, barely even noticed him on the field.
- KOSI!! what the actual %$#@ is he doing in a first grade squad. Don't mean to be harsh but he was poor. I felt a lot less on the edge of my seat when the junior wingers were on.

Other than that... meh! Wheres that outside back were meant to be signing!! last thing we need is Kosi running a muck!

Agree with most of your post.Luke would be much better out a space at 6 is my preference.But then we need a 7.
P.S. Jett showed good signs for the not too distant future.
Healey very impressive.Has to be on the bench or even start for the first 20/30.
Time for our young gun forwards to take the step up.
Need 1/2 outside backs now.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Bunty is a solid prop that deserves game time. Zero errors. Statistically best defensive player for years. Makes solid meters. No negatives as a bench prop.

Looked leaner and fitter this year as well.

 

[Ramps]

Agree with most of your post.Luke would be much better out a space at 6 is my preference.But then we need a 7.
P.S. Jett showed good signs for the not too distant future.
Healey very impressive.Has to be on the bench or even start for the first 20/30.
Time for our young gun forwards to take the step up.
Need 1/2 outside backs now.

Yeah mate, i'm looking forward to seeing what Boyd can bring. After that trial, i think i would prefer Boyd 7, Metcalf 6.

bit early to say but i reacon Healey will be the bargain buy of the year! He was dangerous and wasn't afraid to take a sniping run, was always sniffing around for an offload and has a good passing game. Defence was okay, definitely wasn't worried about him getting concussed like Egan.

 

[John Nick]

Yeah mate, i'm looking forward to seeing what Boyd can bring. After that trial, i think i would prefer Boyd 7, Metcalf 6.

bit early to say but i reacon Healey will be the bargain buy of the year! He was dangerous and wasn't afraid to take a sniping run, was always sniffing around for an offload and has a good passing game. Defence was okay, definitely wasn't worried about him getting concussed like Egan.

Shame to move LM from 7 after last night but Boyd would be interesting for our next trial for sure.Might just be the answer.
Perhaps Healey to do the first shift to protect Egan might be the go.
Super impressed with the composure of Jett .Could be our long term saviour at 7 & if he sticks around?
Great to see all his family in the stands supporting him.

 

[Ramps]

Shame to move LM from 7 after last night but Boyd would be interesting for our next trial for sure.Might just be the answer.
Perhaps Healey to do the first shift to protect Egan might be the go.
Super impressed with the composure of Jett .Could be our long term saviour at 7 & if he sticks around?
Great to see all his family in the stands supporting him.

Jett looked vocal and just had that aura about him that he's a natural 7. Give him one year in NSW cup to continue to hone his craft. Hopefully a game or two in first grade this year would be nice, just so he gets a feel for the speed and physicality. He basically played against a reserve grade squad lastnight.

 

[Damo]

Jett needs a pre-season more or two to put on some mass. Looks a bit skinny for first grade at this point.
Looking forward to seeing how he goes in the lower grades.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Jett needs a pre-season more or two to put on some mass. Looks a bit skinny for first grade at this point.
Looking forward to seeing how he goes in the lower grades.

Was it the correct move with 40 seconds to go to kick restart short rather than booting it long?

And I say this because Cleary took it upon himself, had made up his mind and didn’t check with anyone senior.

This is good leadership and ownership but on the flip side is he working his way up or given freedom others wouldn’t be because of who he is?

 

[Damo]

Was it the correct move with 40 seconds to go to kick restart short rather than booting it long?

And I say this because Cleary took it upon himself, had made up his mind and didn’t check with anyone senior.

This is good leadership and ownership but on the flip side is he working his way up or given freedom others wouldn’t be because of who he is?

We don't know that he didn't get told to do that tbf.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Was it the correct move with 40 seconds to go to kick restart short rather than booting it long?

And I say this because Cleary took it upon himself, had made up his mind and didn’t check with anyone senior.

This is good leadership and ownership but on the flip side is he working his way up or given freedom others wouldn’t be because of who he is?

I'm sure pre game they would've told to take lots of short drop outs. The result doesn't matter, but practicing short drop outs / defending on the goal line is valuable.

 

[Noitall]

Sharks v Warriors

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks versus Warriors match centre includes live scores and updates. Includes official live player and team stats. Run metres, fantasy points scoring.

www.nrl.com

Some good and some bad stats for team and player. 61% completions poor, line breaks good, kick return metres good

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I liked what Barnett was saying post match… they can't be nice guys in the middle, need to meet the opposition with aggression so they can lay the platform for the backs. Feel like between Barny, Fish and Demitric Vaimauga we have the basis there.

Zyon Maiu’u would have looked good in a 4 prong!

 

[Noitall]

Zyon Maiu’u would have looked good in a 4 prong!

Obvious to see the confidence Demitric Vaimauga has in himself, think the same will be for Halasima. Them and Leiataua look most ready out of the current crop

Edit Laban thereabouts too

 

[Blain]

Thought the forwards were solid, but the backs were poor. No one stood out other than Taine, if DWZ is missing time he simply has to be on the wing. Kosi showed us what we already knew, and the young guys were pretty poor other than maybe MGT. Metcalf looked good at 7, but TMM didn't impress. I thought Healys service was pretty average, but running game was a nice change for us.

Pretty meh performance, hopefully the coaches got what they needed out of it.

 

[slime]

Only a trial but still I was a bit disappointed in that display because it felt like 2024. Was hoping to see a much fitter team that's been practising hard, rearing to go with some different attack shape.

I could probably comment on every player but will be echoing what's already been said, in short:

• Stand out for me was seeing Healy for the first time.
• Demitric Vaimauga is a handful and could be a weapon.
• I really want Tauapiki in the team, one of the only players with some spark about him.
• Bunty got through a lot of work and could play his way back into the team.
• Edit: was actually pretty impressed with Hanson getting stuck in on defence too.

Also was thinking to myself while watching how robotic professional sports are now. They seem to just go through the motions. I miss when players used to jump at the chance to capitalise on rare opportunities. I don't know if that's a fitness thing, or footy IQ, or what. One main instance of this was a dropped ball by the Sharks, I think one of our players looked to use it and everyone else was standing there just waiting for a restart.