Post Match Preseason 2025 Trial 1 - Warriors vs Sharks

[Sledge]

Reasonably happy with that. Kept a good sharks outfit to 12.
Healey looks good.
Didn't really learn much else other than Capewell doesn't bring his late year form into the next year, so hopefully builds to it again.

11 first grade Sharks not playing? Really?

 

[Kaos A.D.]

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.

Bunty always starts the season strong then peters out after 3-4 games or people catch up to his fitness, either way I'd start Bunty on the bench ahead of Niukore and make Niukore work for that spot... You've got to reward players who are doing the hard yards

 

[slime]

That red and white tie dye

 

[WarriorsForever]

Bunty always starts the season strong then peters out after 3-4 games or people catch up to his fitness, either way I'd start Bunty on the bench ahead of Niukore and make Niukore work for that spot... You've got to reward players who are doing the hard yards

He’s playing for his future and we saw that last night

 

[Noitall]

Bunty always starts the season strong then peters out after 3-4 games or people catch up to his fitness, either way I'd start Bunty on the bench ahead of Niukore and make Niukore work for that spot... You've got to reward players who are doing the hard yards

Much trimmer and played like a good bench prop. I said before the game that leg drive could be somewhere Bunty could prosper and he made 42 post contact metres in his 98m from 8 carries. 30 tackles with none missed and 1 ineffective, I thought he was good and up to Ale now to show what he’s got

 

[Noitall]

What I didn’t like with Bunty yesterday was the ref calling him as offside but he continues anyway. Was surprised even in a trial match the amount of set restarts we gave away with the sharks perfect. Don’t think they gave away 1?

 

[Noitall]

Next trial against the storm will be interesting to really get a gauge. They’ll be playing all their guns

 

[Canonball]

Wasnt expecting a helluva lot and it turned out to be typical pre season - lots of rust.

Halves was what i was interested in the most, seeing how they combine, set things up. So much for the supposed change up in first and second reciever......everything went through Luke.....he didnt go too bad, went through the motions that 7s should without really creating a lot (40/20 apart). TMM im sort of thinking is either an on the ball 7 (which is where i'd play him) or not in there at all.......just has minimal impact if he's a secondary playmaker.......too early to lock into anything atm tho.

Charnze was probably the most consistent player across the board......everyone else had highs and lows he was just steady and safe as. That said i think they have to find a spot for Taine somewhere......he's just too good on his feet to not have in there.
Demitric Vaimauga and Healy probably the other standouts for me.

Capewell was poor, but as someone said has the experience where he'll just get steadier as the season rolls.
Poor old Ed, the errors and pressure it puts on the team just far outweigh any good attributes.
Once we got to the bulk changes part of the game none of the other youngsters screamed "ill be putting pressure on the first graders" to me.

Kidding yourself if you were expecting things to run fluent regardless of whatever team an opposition runs out, next week will be the same but just looking for those little improvements.

Yeah the hardest thing to work out from that was whether the over-calling LM was doing was intentional to see how he went in a game controlling position or if that was a result of TMM just not doing his job - I kinda think it was more of the former, and probably designed by the staff to test it -- the logical playing set up for LM at 7 and TMM at 6, for me, is to have LM control the middle of the field and then have TMM come in on red-zone for passing into gaps etc. or his short kicking game .... then again last night we weren't making the yards consistently to see that change (cough, AFB)

 

[1995 Sufra!]

Gotta few comments about game
Don’t want to be negative but some players go missing
TMM goes missing again
Nuikore needs to start playing for his money
Kosi not a first grader
Luke metcalf needs to take line on more
However he is being let down by no dummer half runners
Sam Healey looked good put in in as a running hooker
Lussick just a shovela
My thoughts

 

[jumpman5xl]

This might be an unpopular opinion but I think next week's trial should be Metcalf at 6 with TMM at 7. Think TMM is at his best running the show as we saw last year. Boyd on the bench. To cover if we're struggling for field possession as neither have a huge boot. Could also fill in at 9 for 15 or so minutes.

 

[1995 Sufra!]

This might be an unpopular opinion but I think next week's trial should be Metcalf at 6 with TMM at 7. Think TMM is at his best running the show as we saw last year. Boyd on the bench. To cover if we're struggling for field possession as neither have a huge boot. Could also fill in at 9 for 15 or so minutes.

 

[Damo]

This might be an unpopular opinion but I think next week's trial should be Metcalf at 6 with TMM at 7. Think TMM is at his best running the show as we saw last year. Boyd on the bench. To cover if we're struggling for field possession as neither have a huge boot. Could also fill in at 9 for 15 or so minutes.

Won't happen. I think we just have to get used to the 6 always being second fiddle. Seems to be AWs game plan

 

[1995 Sufra!]

Prepared to give TMM a little more time
However if he keeps going missing in games
His time is up for me
We need attackers from halfback five 8 and hooker
Whose the attacking coach?

 

[Noitall]

This might be an unpopular opinion but I think next week's trial should be Metcalf at 6 with TMM at 7. Think TMM is at his best running the show as we saw last year. Boyd on the bench. To cover if we're struggling for field possession as neither have a huge boot. Could also fill in at 9 for 15 or so minutes.

Think we really need to know what the future looks like for TMM though? If Metcalf is viewed as long term halfback, then I think you need to stick with him. It’ll be interesting to see if they do switch because if not, with TMM unsigned beyond this year you’d have to wonder if he’s in their future plans, or if TMM’s future is to play on?

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

This might be an unpopular opinion but I think next week's trial should be Metcalf at 6 with TMM at 7.

That certainly is an opinion.

Now's the time to give it a crack, I guess. I never read too much into preseason games.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Bunty always starts the season strong then peters out after 3-4 games or people catch up to his fitness, either way I'd start Bunty on the bench ahead of Niukore and make Niukore work for that spot... You've got to reward players who are doing the hard yards

His defence was the top in the team at 98% when he was a full season regular. He’s always been an elite defender and can dominate in tackles. One of the least penalised players as well.

His issue has always been his fitness and meters made. But realistically, where the props need defence first and your backs need to do all the point scoring, he could do the job from the bench.

Errors, penalties and poor defence kills the team. I reckon a team of 13 Buntys would beat a team of 13 Jazz’s every week.

(used as a comparison because Jazz took Buntys spot last year)

 

[1995 Sufra!]

This what I think
But what do I know
TMM being unsigned answers that
Cuddles Webster has some big decisions this year
You don’t win this comp on cuddles and niceness
Look at bellyache for Storm
We got the forward pack now
We need more attackers
All the good top 4 teams have more game breakers than the Wahs
That’s why we can’t win this title
I believe if we don’t make 8 this year
We may have to buy a playmaker
Chanel Harris nah when’s the last time he scored a try!
TMM always goes missing
Metcalf injury prone
We gunna miss SJ attacking skills in 2025
Prove me wrong webster

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

What I didn’t like with Bunty yesterday was the ref calling him as offside but he continues anyway. Was surprised even in a trial match the amount of set restarts we gave away with the sharks perfect. Don’t think they gave away 1?

I saw him playing with his hair at one point when the opposition was running at us!

Seriously bunty!

 

[1995 Sufra!]

I saw him playing with his hair at one point when the opposition was running at us!

Seriously bunty!

 

[Noitall]

I saw him playing with his hair at one point when the opposition was running at us!

Seriously bunty!

Didn’t miss a tackle so can’t have been at him