Pick Your Team Storm v Warriors - [Round 6, 2025]

[Inruin]

I know NSW Cup is a few levels below First Grade but Boyd really controlled that game to a tee. I guess at some stage we will see him in action with the top side but have to say he certainly looks like a controlling 7

Take more from a Cup game than a meaningless preseason game against the Storm C side

 

[Rick O’Shay]

Got to take into account that was against the last place opposition in NSW Cup also.

For sure and we are doing ok with our halves as they are. However, you have to play what's in front of you using the skillset and I thought he did that even if it was a training run

 

[AlwaysOptmistic]

We won despite our halves not because of them (albeit the goal kicking was top level)

100 sets on their line with nothing set up from out halves isn’t sustainable.

Our halves are gaining experience and doing the job in defence but there will be a point where major questions need to be asked.

And the question is which pairing can take us deepest into the finals. I’m thinking that answer is currently in NSW cup.

In NSW cup for a reason

 

[Po11um]

I think we need to win one of our next 2 matches to prove to ourselves as well as the wider NRL that we can go back to the finals this year. Personally, I think we stand a much better chance of beating Brisbane at home than overcoming our Melbourne hoodoo but stranger things have happened this year. Somethings gotta give eventually as hoodoos don't last forever.

To beat Melbourne in Melbourne, a lot of variables have to be in force. We need to execute our gameplan to absolute perfection for the full 80 minutes. We need to dominate the ruck and take time and space away from Munster, Hughes and Paps. Run our big boys at Grant all game and take their big wingers out of the game by constantly peppering them with high balls. We also have to hope Melbourne are a bit rusty due to Hughes being out of action for a couple of weeks.

Nothing is impossible. But Hughes has a tendency to save his best games for us, so I would take a 1-12 pt loss like in 2023, 2024. I'm more interested in how we perform the week afterwards at home against Brisbane.

Agree,
I think we need to win 1 of next 2 games probably more likely brisbane.

 

[Damo]

Agree,
I think we need to win 1 of next 2 games probably more likely brisbane.

I don't think we need to. It would be nice though

 

[Ref]

People are talking up the Storm who just lost to St George and Brisbane who have been so so.
Aren’t we the form team to be worried about?
Or has the loss of SJ, Tohu, Walker, RTS, DWZ make us seem weaker to the journos and mainstream league followers so we will be underrated week after week, waiting for the bubble to burst.
We have covered those losses because to be fair SJ and Tohu were busted, Walker was solid only this year, and our outside back cover isn’t bad at all.
And we are unbeaten in the reserve grade.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

People are talking up the Storm who just lost to St George and Brisbane who have been so so.
Aren’t we the form team to be worried about?

In my mind, we aren't in form due to our halves still working it out.

I'd prefer the narrative that we aren't as historically we shit the bed when external expectation gets high.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

What makes me nervous about this game are two things. Firstly, the return of Hughes who loves to carve us up. Secondly, we generally have not done well after byes with Webby. Melbourne have been looking vulnerable however. Their last 2 games have been shaky. Even in the game against Penrith, their edges were really exposed after their explosive first 20 minutes. If they are off their game, we may have a chance.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

In my mind, we aren't in form due to our halves still working it out.

That’s what makes us so dangerous I think. It’s a long season and our halves haven’t even started to click yet and we are still winning.

If these guys start to gel properly, we are a finals threat. You don’t win the comp in March.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

How the fook does Hughes only miss one game with bones broken in his hand?!

Our only hope is he trips over his Superman cape when he's putting it on before our game and pulls a hammy or something.

 

[Evil_Mush]

What makes me nervous about this game are two things. Firstly, the return of Hughes who loves to carve us up. Secondly, we generally have not done well after byes with Webby. Melbourne have been looking vulnerable however. Their last 2 games have been shaky. Even in the game against Penrith, their edges were really exposed after their explosive first 20 minutes. If they are off their game, we may have a chance.

Well we've done OK since our first week off this year post-Vegas

Just take each game as it comes, screw the history (e.g. Manly bogey team, Roosters losing streak, Kosi terrible winger streak ).

We are so due to give Broncos and Storm a good old spanking

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Well we've done OK since our first week off this year post-Vegas

Just take each game as it comes, screw the history (e.g. Manly bogey team, Roosters losing streak, Kosi terrible winger streak ).

We are so due to give Broncos and Storm a good old spanking

We gave Brisbane a spanking last year, albeit during origin. For me, having a 4-2 record after these two tough matches would be ideal. It would give us confidence that we are a good side and finally get the Aussies to start paying attention to us instead of busting their load over the tigers. Out of the 2 games, I prefer our chances of knocking over Brisbane at Mt Smart. But if Melbourne are off their game, I think we have a chance to pull off a shocking upset in Melbourne next week as well.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

In my mind, we aren't in form due to our halves still working it out.

I'd prefer the narrative that we aren't as historically we shit the bed when external expectation gets high.

This is exactly how 2023 started. We had a 5-2 record leading into the Anzac game with the Storm, but many of those games featured clunky attack and were won with gritty defense. Attacking shape came much later in the season. Give Mets and CHT more time to gel and I have faith they will start to click. I actually think the departure of Walks might even be a good thing since he was basically another half on the field, limiting the amount of time with the ball that our halves got. Let Egan control the spine and allow CHT and Mets to play as two ball-running halves. Forcing Mets and CHT closer to the ball leads to great plays like the Mets try we saw on the weekend.

 

[Evil_Mush]

We gave Brisbane a spanking last year, albeit during origin. For me, having a 4-2 record after these two tough matches would be ideal. It would give us confidence that we are a good side and finally get the Aussies to start paying attention to us instead of busting their load over the tigers. Out of the 2 games, I prefer our chances of knocking over Brisbane at Mt Smart. But if Melbourne are off their game, I think we have a chance to pull off a shocking upset in Melbourne next week as well.

Oh yeah, kinda forgot about any games we won last year

Still need to balance the spanking ledger though with the old foe I reckon!

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

This is exactly how 2023 started. We had a 5-2 record leading into the Anzac game with the Storm, but many of those games featured clunky attack and were won with gritty defense. Attacking shape came much later in the season. Give Mets and CHT more time to gel and I have faith they will start to click.

Yeah, this was my point.

Are we right the form team of the comp right now? No.

Can we be the form team of the comp at some point this year? Sure.

I think Metcalf and CHT have the potential to be a potent halves pairing, but it will take time.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Here's hoping Manly and Tigers do us a solid this week by bashing up Melbourne and Brisbane players this week. An injury/suspension would be nice.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Yeah, this was my point.

Are we right the form team of the comp right now? No.

Can we be the form team of the comp at some point this year? Sure.

I think Metcalf and CHT have the potential to be a potent halves pairing, but it will take time.

They are both great ball runners. I say let Egan as the experienced spine member take a greater role in the game management and let these two young halves run the ball more. I think we started to see some of that on the weekend.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I think we started to see some of that on the weekend.

They had a bit of that going on at the Storm trial, from memory. Looked good to see it in the regular season.

There's glimmers of fancy stuff there. I'm okay waiting for it to develop.

 

[CWC]

Yeah, this was my point.

Are we right the form team of the comp right now? No.

Can we be the form team of the comp at some point this year? Sure.

I think Metcalf and CHT have the potential to be a potent halves pairing, but it will take time.

interesting you mentioned the form team, 2 years ago NAS called us the form team too when we went there to take them on, similar start? screwed by the ref of course

 

[sydneywarrior92]

interesting you mentioned the form team, 2 years ago NAS called us the form team too when we went there to take them on, similar start? screwed by the ref of course

If we are being honest, we really should have won in Melbourne both times (2023, 2024). First time defeated by the ref and injuries. Second time defeated by Coates.