Team List Sharks v Warriors - [Round 14, 2025]

[CWC]

Most important feature for our centres is defense and him and Pompey are probably our best defensive option. He's handled Holmes, Staggs, Farnworth with relative ease. Don't imagine he'll have trouble managing Jesse Damien who has been out of form all year according to the sharks forum.

It might not line up that way on game day but I actually love the second row pairing of Marata/Leka. That is our most damaging backrow pairing on attack. Did a real job on the broncos the last time our back row lined up that way with both wreaking havoc. Can see both causing nightmares if we run them at their halves, neither of which are known for their defence.

Either way, it's a solid team that can win on Saturday. Our pack without JFH/Barney held their own against Canberra, who are much stronger in the middle than Cronulla. So we'll be fine with JFH against Cronulla. Gameplan has to be to bomb to their wingers (especially Hiroti) who have been heavily exposed their last two games against Coates and Tupou. Katoa is coming off a three month layoff without even a pre-season, so he will be very rusty. I'm not convinced he's going to play, with an outside back (Atkinson) on their bench.

He ended Walsh with the opening tackle of the game too

It must affect the other team’s psyche when he does that or send Herbie flying

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Looking at the comp since the Dolphins arrived it seems that 13 wins will get you in the 8 and 16 will get you in the conversation for top 4.

It is a strange and even comp this year, but if measuring against the past the Warriors would need 4 wins from 12 games for that top 8 guideline and 7/12 to take us to top 4.

I'd still be happy to be anywhere near 5-6th. That would be a great season, so I wouldn't be too disappointed if we dropped a few from here.

The Titans twice, Knights, Eels, Dragons, Tigers, Dolphins. No one is an easy beat, but I'd like to think we win 5/7 of those, maybe knock the soft Broncos over and then just need to jag a win or two from the Dogs, Panthers (I'm still waiting for them to roar to life), Sharks and Manly.

Everyone's a much of a muchness this year, which makes it a tough top 8 to predict.

 

[Five&Last]

So if the last bench spot was between TSS and ALE, who is your man.
TSS looks first grade ready and gives me Sam Rapira vibes.
Ale has been brutal in NSW Cup, was a victim of Covid when new to league and now has the miles on the clock and the smarts.

Ale was a victim of injuries not covid.

He was arguably most destructive forward in QLD cup for the dolphins in covid years before the ACL

Ale is better than TSS right now imo but i understand the investment in TSS

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Looking at the comp since the Dolphins arrived it seems that 13 wins will get you in the 8 and 16 will get you in the conversation for top 4.

It is a strange and even comp this year, but if measuring against the past the Warriors would need 4 wins from 12 games for that top 8 guideline and 7/12 to take us to top 4.

I'd still be happy to be anywhere near 5-6th. That would be a great season, so I wouldn't be too disappointed if we dropped a few from here.

The Titans twice, Knights, Eels, Dragons, Tigers, Dolphins. No one is an easy beat, but I'd like to think we win 5/7 of those, maybe knock the soft Broncos over and then just need to jag a win or two from the Dogs, Panthers (I'm still waiting for them to roar to life), Sharks and Manly.

Everyone's a much of a muchness this year, which makes it a tough top 8 to predict.

At this pt, winning all our home games (5) alone will get us into the finals. So I would be really disappointed if we just scraped into the finals (ie 6-8). Especially when you consider that a victory this week will put us 6 pts ahead of 5th place with a bye coming up. At that pt, top 4 would be ours to lose given the relative toughness of our draw vs. sharks who are realistically the only side currently outside the four that could take our place.

 

[Stalefish540]

Glad Webby didn't go the safe route with Bunty.

Happy enough with either TSS or Ale. Ale probably adds a bit more attack, but TSS isn't as straight up and down as Bunty.

Unfortunately only catch the 10min YT highs for NSW cup these days, so maybe Ale's D isn't quite there as the attack definitely is.

 

[CWC]

Ale was a victim of injuries not covid.

He was arguably most destructive forward in QLD cup for the dolphins in covid years before the ACL

Ale is better than TSS right now imo but i understand the investment in TSS

We probably need the best players step up right now given the circumstances ie Ale first

I hope Laban gets more play time too since he’s ready anyway and is invested

 

[sup42]

Ale was a victim of injuries not covid.

He was arguably most destructive forward in QLD cup for the dolphins in covid years before the ACL

Ale is better than TSS right now imo but i understand the investment in TSS

Why do you think the club is going with TSS over Ale as the next emergent forward?

 

[Boston Boy]

Surely Healey for TMM? How did Ali go in NSW Cup?

 

[Garry Saloon]

Some bloke on FB said it, not sure there's anything to it.

Warriorholic is bad content man. He'll spread any low quality gossip and has nothing to offer besides that.

 

[Garry Saloon]

Yep the only way we're gonna lose this with our platform we have, is the top 2 inches and DWZ's edge!

Listen to twl podcast from last night. Good defence of DWZ by Fonz.

 

[VB89]

Arise Sir Prop Jackson

 

[Bobbysea]

Glad Webby didn't go the safe route with Bunty.

Happy enough with either TSS or Ale. Ale probably adds a bit more attack, but TSS isn't as straight up and down as Bunty.

Unfortunately only catch the 10min YT highs for NSW cup these days, so maybe Ale's D isn't quite there as the attack definitely is.

Bunty was playing with a heavily strapped leg in cup , probably wasn't in the equation

 

[kos]

Bunty was playing with a heavily strapped leg in cup , probably wasn't in the equation

And also same heavily strapped leg against the raiders in fg.
Wonder why they just dont rest him.

 

[WHB]

Btw I am seeing a lot of stepping this year - Bunty, Charnz, Demi, Ford swirls around first tackler

Never realised how quick Ford was when he was swerving around first defenders in the Canberra game.
It works for him.

 

[3rdstriker]

Listen to twl podcast from last night. Good defence of DWZ by Fonz.

wing is a hard spot but I didn't notice Taine getting spunround as much as Dallin.

 

[CWC]

wing is a hard spot but I didn't notice Taine getting spunround as much as Dallin.

To be fair Taine just gives up and stands there when he gets caught out Dallin actually turns and chases

 

[Noitall]

To be fair Taine just gives up and stands there when he gets caught out Dallin actually turns and chases

Tuaupiki got caught out bad against cowboys

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

It is like we signed the White Ruben Wiki.

Imagine telling 2024 sup42 that you were going to make that comparison in a years time.

Gotta hand it to ol Capey, he's come a LONG way.

 

[Lance155]

I fear AFB is going to destroy us this weekend, really missing Barney to hold a tough D line.
Want to see a long term plan with Niukore, what is he? Edge or middle?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I fear AFB is going to destroy us this weekend, really missing Barney to hold a tough D line.
Want to see a long term plan with Niukore, what is he? Edge or middle?

Like Lattrel on the weekend, he's only one man. AFB will go well but the rest of the forwards will make up for that by getting dominated