Post Match Raiders v Warriors - [Round 1, 2025]

[MrFrankWhite]

Who would you start as our pack to gain that middle dominance?

Its not just a starting pack, its the game plan. Sticky figured us out beautifully; thats why the Raiders spent the 1st 20 dropping the ball underneath, moving our fowards and back row around tiring them out.

Our forwards are small and mobile and our back row is big and slow.

8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

 

[John Nick]

Its not just a starting pack, its the game plan. Sticky figured us out beautifully; thats why the Raiders spent the 1st 20 dropping the ball underneath, moving our fowards and back row around tiring them out.

Our forwards are small and mobile and our back row is big and slow.

8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

Gotta do something after todays crap performance Frank.
It all starts up front & always has.Our biggest asset was supposed to be upfront & that failed.
Also think RTS has to be the FB. We obviously lack talent in the outside backs.Have we anyone worthy of a crack on the wing?
Unfortunately our roster is shit & our youngsters are not be a fair go.

 

[Boston Boy]

Its not just a starting pack, its the game plan. Sticky figured us out beautifully; thats why the Raiders spent the 1st 20 dropping the ball underneath, moving our fowards and back row around tiring them out.

Our forwards are small and mobile and our back row is big and slow.

8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

Fish won't be benched but you got some good elements in there, including more speed, threat and size.

 

[jumpman5xl]

Tough watch. A couple of lucky tries from Canberra, a couple begging from us which would have flattered the score line a little more.

Feels like raiders had a plan and got away with it (pushing up in the line, slowing down ruck excessively, pushing up off the mark hard) and I don’t think they get away with any of that vs a team like Cronulla who will shred your edges if you do that, or a storm/manly/penrith who will just pepper the ball behind your line all day.

Anyway, Vegas is silly. Hope we can bounce back, we’ve got some weird combinations at the moment. Struggling to find a place for CNK in my team at this rate

I was thinking that as I was watching it too. That they were lying down alot longer than we were. Same with their line speed. And no offside penalties

I like the backline. I would go that but with Healey at 14 and Walker 17. CHT is so difficult, he offers so much promise but I believe his best position is 14, however I think Healey adds more spark on attack. So CHT for me is now our second best 14.

I like Healey at 14 however if our forwards aren't going forward it slows his running game which is his best attribute.

Gotta do something after todays crap performance Frank.
It all starts up front & always has.Our biggest asset was supposed to be upfront & that failed.
Also think RTS has to be the FB. We obviously lack talent in the outside backs.Have we anyone worthy of a crack on the wing?
Unfortunately our roster is shit & our youngsters are not be a fair go.

I think Sio Kali could be him. Looks big with some speed too. Compared to Tuaupiki who I would put at the back. Where he belongs.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Gotta do something after todays crap performance Frank.
It all starts up front & always has.Our biggest asset was supposed to be upfront & that failed.
Also think RTS has to be the FB. We obviously lack talent in the outside backs.Have we anyone worthy of a crack on the wing?
Unfortunately our roster is shit & our youngsters are not be a fair go.

Agree but disagree. Full team

1 TMM
2 Taine
3 CNK
4 Ali
5 RTS
6 CHT
7 Metcalf
8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

 

[tyrael]

View attachment 11933

More like

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Fish won't be benched but you got some good elements in there, including more speed, threat and size.

Could easily swap Barnett and Fish. I think Fish would be more effective off the bench but you are right

 

[Inruin]

its the game plan. Sticky figured us out beautifully;

I said it in an earlier thread that our only focus needs to be winning this game. We have all preseason to prepare and best believe Ricky is doing exactly that and will have a plan prepared.

I didn't see any signs of a plan at all apart from being fixated on bomb it and chase. Hugely disappointing and I can't see it getting any better. We may turn in a solid performance or two and jag a couple of wins somewhere but the annoying thing is we aren't competing for the finals and we aren't rebuilding the side. We are stuck doing neither of these things and you really have to be doing at least one of them each year.

Manly, Roosters, Tiger, Storm, Broncos are our next games. Anyone think we will win any of them with the status quo?

 

[Warriorsfan92]

We flew over for the game. The vibe early on was awesome, crowd were into it. Huge warriors turnout & the warriors fans were the most represented in Vegas by a country mile. Made me proud & seeing fellow kiwis on the street was awesome.

From the start, the raiders were offloading at will. They couldn’t contain horsburgh & they were dominating the middle. Our edges varied, Capewell consistently missed simple tackles and made stupid errors. He’s not a threat & is brought in to bring leadership but leaders don’t make that many defensive misreads. Niukore still has an error in his game, but his work rate is my biggest gripe. I watched him today & he doesn’t go looking for work. Tellingly, both our edges were dragged with time to spare. These two are under immense pressure, Niukore specifically by our young bucks. I think the tough calls will be made in the near future.

Metcalf & cht were Mediocre. Whenever given an opportunity in the opposition 20, they failed to capitalise & lacked threat. I’m still backing Metcalf but they really need to offer more when given opportunity.

I’m a cnk fan, but today he not only made crucial errors, but he lacked any attacking threat & didn’t make yardage - his Main attribute. He’s under pressure, but for me it’s taine who needs to move there.

Also, webby playing the bench was poor. Ford was blowing & losing the battle, and he decides to bring on the young bucks right when the game was over. This pissed me off the most. Playing halasima for 15 min & vaimauga for 10, when the game is done for is literally pointless. They’re 20-25 mins each, or bring someone else in. A coaching error & one he needs to rectify.

Overall, an amazing experience but I’m glad I tied it into seeing a bit of the US. I genuinely feel sorry for the fans who flew specifically over for the game, as all we ask for is effort on effort, defence is an attitude and they didn’t turn up. You can’t leak 30 points and except a W - that’s the most frustrating aspect from today.

All and all, im sure the warriors fans have had a great time and won’t be defined by 80 mins of a sports game but they do deserve better & the team did not deliver. A huge red flag for our year but at the same time, an acknowledgement of where we’re at as a club.

 

[Funky Ed Koosie]

I thought JFH played alot better than people are giving him credit for.
Egan was let down by the players around him, he had absolutely no support when he ran out of dummy half, fucking disgraceful from our game plan.
Tane got monstered in the tackle but was easily our best back.
Ford, Niukore, Clarke and to a lesser extent Capewell were ther to take up a 1st grade spot because Webby has no other plan.
Walker was the only bright spot in attack and of course there's talk of him leaving next year.
It's gunna be a long long year with Webby selecting his rubbish favourites AGAIN

 

[KPWarrior]

Have to acknowledge all the fans and forum members who made the trip over there, repping the club and the jersey, not a great result in the end but good to see the passion and support the club has.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I didn't see any signs of a plan at all apart from being fixated on bomb it and chase. Hugely disappointing and I can't see it getting any better.

Webbys obsession with Pantherball may be his undoing. We dont have Nathan and he isnt Ivan.

We may turn in a solid performance or two and jag a couple of wins somewhere but the annoying thing is we aren't competing for the finals and we aren't rebuilding the side. We are stuck doing neither of these things and you really have to be doing at least one of them each year.

As I said if the Warriors had come out and said "rebuild!" and played they young guys, I could handle losing. But the same old shit by the same old players? Yeah miss me with that shit.

 

[John Nick]

Agree but disagree. Full team

1 TMM
2 Taine
3 CNK
4 Ali
5 RTS
6 CHT
7 Metcalf
8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

Certainly the back of the scrum has plenty of power and potential

 

[jumpman5xl]

We flew over for the game. The vibe early on was awesome, crowd were into it. Huge warriors turnout & the warriors fans were the most represented in Vegas by a country mile. Made me proud & seeing fellow kiwis on the street was awesome.

From the start, the raiders were offloading at will. They couldn’t contain horsburgh & they were dominating the middle. Our edges varied, Capewell consistently missed simple tackles and made stupid errors. He’s not a threat & is brought in to bring leadership but leaders don’t make that many defensive misreads. Niukore still has an error in his game, but his work rate is my biggest gripe. I watched him today & he doesn’t go looking for work. Tellingly, both our edges were dragged with time to spare. These two are under immense pressure, Niukore specifically by our young bucks. I think the tough calls will be made in the near future.

Metcalf & cht were Mediocre. Whenever given an opportunity in the opposition 20, they failed to capitalise & lacked threat. I’m still backing Metcalf but they really need to offer more when given opportunity.

I’m a cnk fan, but today he not only made crucial errors, but he lacked any attacking threat & didn’t make yardage - his Main attribute. He’s under pressure, but for me it’s taine who needs to move there.

Also, webby playing the bench was poor. Ford was blowing & losing the battle, and he decides to bring on the young bucks right when the game was over. This pissed me off the most. Playing halasima for 15 min & vaimauga for 10, when the game is done for is literally pointless. They’re 20-25 mins each, or bring someone else in. A coaching error & one he needs to rectify.

Overall, an amazing experience but I’m glad I tied it into seeing a bit of the US. I genuinely feel sorry for the fans who flew specifically over for the game, as all we ask for is effort on effort, defence is an attitude and they didn’t turn up. You can’t leak 30 points and except a W - that’s the most frustrating aspect from today.

All and all, im sure the warriors fans have had a great time and won’t be defined by 80 mins of a sports game but they do deserve better & the team did not deliver. A huge red flag for our year but at the same time, an acknowledgement of where we’re at as a club.

I'm there with ya. Flew me and the family over for this occasion. However still get to see some of the US. Wouldn't have minded a loss as long as we were competitive but were simply blown outta the water. Which is the most frustrating/disappointing bit.

 

[kos]

F minus

F as in f**cking dreadful.

Just can’t understand that total lack of connection or sense that they have practiced any attacking plays, at all this pre season. Boggles the mind.

Wahs jumper off. Back in the drawer. Not gonna burn it just yet but man they need to make some improvements to see me getting it back out again. Unreal.

Its not just a starting pack, its the game plan. Sticky figured us out beautifully; thats why the Raiders spent the 1st 20 dropping the ball underneath, moving our fowards and back row around tiring them out.

Our forwards are small and mobile and our back row is big and slow.

8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

Youth energy speex

Its not just a starting pack, its the game plan. Sticky figured us out beautifully; thats why the Raiders spent the 1st 20 dropping the ball underneath, moving our fowards and back row around tiring them out.

Our forwards are small and mobile and our back row is big and slow.

8 Barnett
9 Healey
10 Bunty
11 Laban
12 Halasima
13 Clark

14 Egan
15 Walker
16 Fish
17 Demetric

Youth energy speed
I noticed capewell missing tackles
Jfh is no AFB but ok
Where s your backline selection Frank?

It was noticeable in the ten minutes Tapine was off it’s was still 90 per cent one out rubbish
I was screaming pass it give the ball air
But no I guess they had to follow the boring useless AW game plan

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Youth energy speex

Youth energy speed
I noticed capewell missing tackles
Jfh is no AFB but ok
Where s your backline selection Frank?

It was noticeable in the ten minutes Tapine was off it’s was still 90 per cent one out rubbish
I was screaming pass it give the ball air
But no I guess they had to follow the boring useless AW game plan

1 TMM
2 Taine
3 CNK
4 Ali
5 RTS
6 CHT
7 Metcalf

 

[kos]

Youth energy speex

Youth energy speed
I noticed capewell missing tackles
Jfh is no AFB but ok
Where s your backline selection Frank?

It was noticeable in the ten minutes Tapine was off it’s was still 90 per cent one out rubbish
I was screaming pass it give the ball air
But no I guess they had to follow the boring useless AW game plan

Backline selection seen posts slow to go up

Cnk has to improve
He is solid but stodgy
Tmm got to be in somewhere seems to be the Only player with an attacking brain

 

[Canonball]

Yeah, if I was looking for one aspect I think the first thing we have to fix is that starting second row ... has a major contribution to make in controlling the play defensively and they weren't doing it, not at all - but where do you go ? I believe it is a personnel issue - let's not talk about the attacking shape too much as were getting shut down so quickly nothing could develop ... amazing we got the two tries in the end really

 

[Mr Drag]

The Coach was a let down in this game, JFH only had 47 minutes and Barnett only 52 minutes! Total disgrace!

 

[John Nick]

Backline selection seen posts slow to go up

Cnk has to improve
He is solid but stodgy
Tmm got to be in somewhere seems to be the Only player with an attacking brain

Probably 7 for TMM or even Boyd