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

[Noitall]

Both Reynolds and Papz came off with hamstring tightness...any chance these players miss their next game or two, would be a big boost for us

Think Coates came off too. Think it shows that he’s not taking Warriors lightly and expect both were probably taken off as precaution for the next game? I’m usually worried after we have a bye, but we came back against manly after a week off and played our best game so far. I really think we’re going to be up for this

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Think Coates came off too. Think it shows that he’s not taking Warriors lightly and expect both were probably taken off as precaution for the next game? I’m usually worried after we have a bye, but we came back against manly after a week off and played our best game so far. I really think we’re going to be up for this

Stop Grant Munster and Hughes running
U stop the rest

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Melbourne has the best spine in the comp by far and that should rightly be an important focus for us. But all games are won in the middle and yesterday was no different. Their pack is rather unheralded and isn't made of the biggest humans but the way they outmuscled the big Manly pack was central to that victory yesterday. On top of that, they did all of this without NAS who has been out with concussion and is back for our game this week (what a surprise!).

Our hopes hinge on controlling the middle like we have for most of this year and not capitulating like the Manly pack did yesterday. Taking time and space away from their spine by dominating the ruck is how we almost won the Melbourne game last year. When we have the ball in their red zone, we really have to make it count this week. Although yesterday's game made them seem invincible, they still conceded 24 pts. So there are chinks in their armor that we can/should exploit which I think Webby will be all over.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Melbourne has the best spine in the comp by far and that should rightly be an important focus for us. But all games are won in the middle and yesterday was no different. Their pack is rather unheralded and isn't made of the biggest humans but the way they outmuscled the big Manly pack was central to that victory yesterday. On top of that, they did all of this without NAS who has been out with concussion and is back for our game this week (what a surprise!). Our hopes hinge on controlling the middle like we have most of this year and not capitulating like the Manly pack did yesterday. Taking time and space away from their spine by dominating the ruck is how we almost won the Melbourne game last year.

As a Wahs fan I will go into this game with a low expectation
And hoping for an upset
Take no notice of what the press says
It’s all in your head now
To beat Storm move up stop Hughes etc running
Let them come to you without moving up
You can guess the result

 

[Noitall]

Stop Grant Munster and Hughes running
U stop the rest

Grant Anderson is a really good player too and someone to keep an eye on, but agree that limiting those you mentioned as going a long way to getting over them

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Papenhauzen has a cork he's fine

 

[MXRecord]

The Storm has an insane amount of speed and can move the ball around at will with some of the best heads up players around. I can't see us keeping up tbh.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I've seen more of Matty Johns than I have of Andrew the last few years.

When I have seen him on YT clips he has seem either out of touch or miserable. Or saw one clip where he was complaining about the HIA crackdown to the point he sounded similar to Buzz Rothfield complaining about that Magic Round that got ruined years ago.

I wouldn't be surprised on a quote like that. He does seem like someone that would quote something that doesn't match the current product. Or a theme that may have been true in the past. We haven't been the Storm's bogey team for a long time.

there's too much of an old boys network in NRL. Just because you are immortal and were an amazing player doesn't mean you'll be good at other parts of the game like NRL commentary. A lot of his takes, not just about the wahs, are cliches that aren't really insightful to the leyman who has never played the game.

 

[Boston Boy]

I watched the Manly game. The Storm are not unbeatable, however they were ruthless in spells when Manly would make a mistake. Twice they went on a run of 3 tries in a row within the space of 5-10 minutes.

During the game they made mistakes, they let in tries. There forwards are good but not as elite as years gone by. Their super power is to create tries out of nothing capitalising on mistakes and releasing the pressure being built up on them. Our game of building pressure in theory can create the pressure and mistakes to beat any team, it just gets much more difficult to execute against the top sides and if we make too many mistakes we end up getting more gassed than the other team and things can go down hill from there.
We can beat them, but we will need to play error free football, have a neat kicking game and be very patient. Obviously we must take our chances.

Their defense is very good but Toulu Koula was having a field day out there in the centres. He found a fair bit of space and scored a couple of tries. However none of our centres posses that speed, I don't believe Pompey will have anywhere near the same success, such a shame we don't have RTS, his metres and threat would be invaluable create even more doubt in amongst their centre and edge defenders. Manly probably could have scored another try or two out there. After softening up the middle, its their edges that seem the spots to test, however Howarth seemed pretty sound.

 

[Noitall]

I watched the Manly game. The Storm are not unbeatable, however they were ruthless in spells when Manly would make a mistake. Twice they went on a run of 3 tries in a row within the space of 5-10 minutes.

During the game they made mistakes, they let in tries. There forwards are good but not as elite as years gone by. Their super power is to create tries out of nothing capitalising on mistakes and releasing the pressure being built up on them. Our game of building pressure in theory can create the pressure and mistakes to beat any team, it just gets much more difficult to execute against the top sides and if we make too many mistakes we end up getting more gassed than the other team and things can go down hill from there.
We can beat them, but we will need to play error free football, have a neat kicking game and be very patient. Obviously we must take our chances.

Their defense is very good but Toulu Koula was having a field day out there in the centres. He found a fair bit of space and scored a couple of tries. However none of our centres posses that speed, I don't believe Pompey will have anywhere near the same success, such a shame we don't have RTS, his metres and threat would be invaluable create even more doubt in amongst their centre and edge defenders. Manly probably could have scored another try or two out there. After softening up the middle, its their edges that seem the spots to test, however Howarth seemed pretty sound.

You had me until Pompey, I reckon he’ll be alright. He’s finding some confidence and is awkward for defenders. Will cop it, but really like Kosi’s size here and if he can have the mistake free game you’re alluding to, I think he could be important in this one. I think Tuaupiki’s agility is going to see him have a big one. Was really impressed how quickly on the wing he’s managed to limit being driven back in the tackle with the limited size he possesses. Don’t think it’s getting much attention the physical nature of our defence either, manly and roosters picked up some injuries to important members of their roster in playing us. I think there’s an acknowledgment to go to the next level, we have to be beating the best or at least competing. That’s why the panthers game last year was so important and I reckon it’s still firmly in our minds of that one that slipped in round 2 against storm

 

[Boston Boy]

You had me until Pompey, I reckon he’ll be alright. He’s finding some confidence and is awkward for defenders. Will cop it, but really like Kosi’s size here and if he can have the mistake free game you’re alluding to, I think he could be important in this one. I think Tuaupiki’s agility is going to see him have a big one. Was really impressed how quickly on the wing he’s managed to limit being driven back in the tackle with the limited size he possesses. Don’t think it’s getting much attention the physical nature of our defence either, manly and roosters picked up some injuries to important members of their roster in playing us. I think there’s an acknowledgment to go to the next level, we have to be beating the best or at least competing. That’s why the panthers game last year was so important and I reckon it’s still firmly in our minds of that one that slipped in round 2 against storm

I am not saying Pompey isn't a decent centre, it was Koala's speed that caused huge issues. Something Pompey doesn't have. Storms scramble is top notch but Koulas speed had them struggling to cover the lapses that their scramble usually makes up for. Pompey does not have that type of speed is my point.

Re Kosi, I like his big body. Love his hit ups when he is dialled in. His lack of speed may become an issue however. I guess we will see. My point is I prefer RTS as he provides good hit ups and enough speed to cover defensively.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

This game is so high up in the air.

The boys CAN weather the storm.

I actually think we did pretty well to contain the tigers attack. With Luai and Galven, it is incrediably dynamic and those tries in the middle were a result of how young and fit their pack is.

Defensively we have to be perfect and if we capitalize on the few opportunities that the storm will give us - we can definitely walk away with the win.

However, this is going to be a very tough game.

 

[Boston Boy]

This game is so high up in the air.

The boys CAN weather the storm.

I actually think we did pretty well to contain the tigers attack. With Luai and Galven, it is incrediably dynamic and those tries in the middle were a result of how young and fit their pack is.

Defensively we have to be perfect and if we capitalize on the few opportunities that the storm will give us - we can definitely walk away with the win.

However, this is going to be a very tough game.

The biggest challenge will be IF Storm score a couple of quick and easy tries. How will we respond psychologically. I think we are in a decent head space but for real, this will be a challenge and a half.

 

[Noitall]

I am not saying Pompey isn't a decent centre, it was Koala's speed that caused huge issues. Something Pompey doesn't have. Storms scramble is top notch but Koulas speed had them struggling to cover the lapses that their scramble usually makes up for. Pompey does not have that type of speed is my point.

Re Kosi, I like his big body. Love his hit ups when he is dialled in. His lack of speed may become an issue however. I guess we will see. My point is I prefer RTS as he provides good hit ups and enough speed to cover defensively.

Not speed but solid footwork and strength and the more he can draw in is the more his offload comes into play. RTS would be in there but have to work with what you’ve got and Kosi’s asset is his size that needs to be utilised

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I watched the Manly game. The Storm are not unbeatable, however they were ruthless in spells when Manly would make a mistake. Twice they went on a run of 3 tries in a row within the space of 5-10 minutes.

During the game they made mistakes, they let in tries. There forwards are good but not as elite as years gone by. Their super power is to create tries out of nothing capitalising on mistakes and releasing the pressure being built up on them. Our game of building pressure in theory can create the pressure and mistakes to beat any team, it just gets much more difficult to execute against the top sides and if we make too many mistakes we end up getting more gassed than the other team and things can go down hill from there.
We can beat them, but we will need to play error free football, have a neat kicking game and be very patient. Obviously we must take our chances.

Their defense is very good but Toulu Koula was having a field day out there in the centres. He found a fair bit of space and scored a couple of tries. However none of our centres posses that speed, I don't believe Pompey will have anywhere near the same success, such a shame we don't have RTS, his metres and threat would be invaluable create even more doubt in amongst their centre and edge defenders. Manly probably could have scored another try or two out there. After softening up the middle, its their edges that seem the spots to test, however Howarth seemed pretty sound.

Agree with all of this- not just this game, Melbourne have had edge problems all year. That Penrith game they were getting stripped almost every time and almost got run down by the Cleary-Less Panthers who are really out-of-sorts atm. Wabrick coming back in for this game is good for us because he has been largely responsible for those defensive issues.

We just cannot give them an inch. Outside those 2 5 minute spurts where they scored 36 pts, I actually think Manly looked the better side. They were actually on top until Garrick got pinged for losing balance in the early part of the second half. From that moment on, Storm scored 3 straight over the next 5 minutes and the jig was up.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

The biggest challenge will be IF Storm score a couple of quick and easy tries. How will we respond psychologically. I think we are in a decent head space but for real, this will be a challenge and a half.

I was thinking about this last night, during the doggies, knights game.

I actually think we could have won that, two tries down with 20 to go.

It remains to be seen, but I feel far more comfortable being behind on the scoreboard - than I have pre 2023.

 

[Boston Boy]

It remains to be seen, but I feel far more comfortable being behind on the scoreboard - than I have pre 2023.

Yeah, we are growing in our ability to capitalise and turn pressure into points. We have players who are growing in their ability to be weapons, Ali and Leka jump to mind. We just really need one of the halves to start growing in that area. That's why Martin is so attractive I guess because he feels the closest to being a clutch half when we need to score points.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Yeah, we are growing in our ability to capitalise and turn pressure into points. We have players who are growing in their ability to be weapons, Ali and Leka jump to mind.

It's the attitude, right? Never out of the fight. Probably the most difficult thing to keep consistent.

We just really need one of the halves to start growing in that area. That's why Martin is so attractive I guess because he feels the closest to being a clutch half when we need to score points.

Obviously this is a very contested point. I've established my view on it, so I won't repeat that.

I see signs of brilliance (the Egan, CHT, Metcalf break in the Tigers game) so I'm happy to proceed with the current setup with the ceiling being that high.

 

[juju]

This game is so high up in the air.

The boys CAN weather the storm.

I actually think we did pretty well to contain the tigers attack. With Luai and Galven, it is incrediably dynamic and those tries in the middle were a result of how young and fit their pack is.

Defensively we have to be perfect and if we capitalize on the few opportunities that the storm will give us - we can definitely walk away with the win.

However, this is going to be a very tough game.

We might beat them.

We might concede 60.

This fixtures a bit like that.

 

[Noitall]

It's the attitude, right? Never out of the fight. Probably the most difficult thing to keep consistent.



Obviously this is a very contested point. I've established my view on it, so I won't repeat that.

I see signs of brilliance (the Egan, CHT, Metcalf break in the Tigers game) so I'm happy to proceed with the current setup with the ceiling being that high.

Think both our halves biggest asset is their support play and their ability to play and stick to a plan. Just about all the tries CHT has scored at the back end of last season and this season have been by being there in support. I agree regarding that try that Egan, Metcalf and CHT were involved, against the rabbits last year it was Egan, SJ and TMM and it was executed with just as much polish by the current