Post Match Sydney City Roosters v NZ Warriors - [Round 1, 2026]

[WAH MAN]

We do have points in us. There have been a lot of players, coaches and tactics maligned in here but there was so much to like in one game.

 

[WAH MAN]

This is not good.

" In an sad postscript, the Roosters have called out some of their fans for posting “death threats” towards players on social media following their 42-18 loss to the Warriors."

We get pretty forthright but that is wrong

 

[kos]

How good was that.
No near heart attacks because the score was close.
Comfortable win.
RTS was superb.
Pompey very good.
CHT superb an unsung hero this guy.
Boyd great hope he got a shirt tonne of self belief.
Clark and Fish great.
Ford great played too many minutes risking injury thats on the coach.
Laban he is another unsung player our esteemed poster reckoned he was going to be the best of the zesty boys maybe true.
Egan excellent,
Ali plenty of other comments pointed out his poor tackling style.
DWZ was ok tonight.
Charnze worked his arse off as usual.
Leka did some pretty stuff esp that try boy could play AFL
TSS and Demi played tough and contributed.
Healy ok will improve.
Great team performance works ons from Ali.
And Capewell tough old fella from Charleville in outback queensland hes tough hes a footballer.

Roosters DCE was bog average.
RTS got the better of Mark N.
Teddy winging all night.
We outplayed their origin and kiwi props sorry Fanu.

 

[kos]

Whinging Teddy

 

[Noitall]

We get pretty forthright but that is wrong

Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s gamblers losing a chunk of coin on roosters thinking it was as sure as they seemed to think themselves. Roosters forum absolutely teeing off on DCE

 

[sup42]

A pt about Capewah: I have never seen him run such a good line like he did tonight. Maybe we are just used to him being such a defensive rock and an important leadership ingredient that we forget that he is also a great footy player. Hopefully we see more of that for the coming weeks.

Yeah when we lost Metcalf we magically lost Capewells line breaks and support play on attack.

Last night was a return to the form the Warriors found in the last game 2025 vs the Panthers.

I cannot stress how important that statement in bold is:

The biggest problem of the Warriors club is that they can randomly get up for one off high adrenaline games like a finals game against the Panthers, then a week later come out flat and get a hiding.

We have never seen this club an offseason later come out and smash a team stacked with more famous NRL players than our makeshift halves last night.

Andrew Webster is starting to correct a lot of life long imbalances at this club.

So what has that to do with Capewell? well that attacking game last night of his was on display without his familiar combination with Metcalf....so Webster has done some amazing preseason work/transformation of these players....unbelievable....truely was the best preseason ever....

He gets caught in that grey area where you’re hesitating to commit to the tackle, he’s holding off waiting for the right opportunity because once you commit you either make it or not.
So ye he holds and holds then just ends up getting burnt on the outside.

Having watched Ali's defensive issues closely over multiple seasons.....you have outlined the mechanics of what he is doing.

Problem is, lets be brutally honest here, the reason he misses tackles is that he is looking to avoid the contact period, that is the fundamental problem of why he hesitates.

And I am not making this up. Why are we even trying to find excuses when ALL of us should have seen this movie before.....with countless young Warriors star hopefulls (especially pre Webster/ Tangata Toa).

What Ali does, is what Hurrel did. What Carlos Tuimavave did. What dozens of Warriors made products have done time and memorial. They coast through Juniors and Reggies carving up on attack while hoping to get away with it on the defensive side.

Ali's problem is not technical, it is psychological.

You know how I know this 100%? Because the exact same very talented player types from our system also avoid doing the dirty work when we have the ball, they either pass before the line without drawing players, or they frankly hide when a dummy half run needs taking.

When you see that off the ball behavior in tackling, and you see it on the ball....you have a syndrome....you have a undeniable pattern of avoidance of contact and extra effort.

I wish people would stop suggesting all these types of players "to give us more Xfactor" without squaring the ledger of these claims with actual solutions for how are you gonna put star attacking player X in there when this sport is won through defence....not Try's (ever wondered why the Dolphins are not a Top NRL club? the Titans anyone?....or Stickies old Raiders - now using defensively sound rounded attacking players).

Ali will not come right with coaching. He has had that all his life, he will get it right when he is put in Cup and told, this is it mate, start tackling and running the ball up or your being pulled from NSW cup and what you do from there probably should involve your manager.

 

[WAH MAN]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s gamblers losing a chunk of coin on roosters thinking it was as sure as they seemed to think themselves. Roosters forum absolutely teeing off on DCE

Meanwhile at warriors forum the anti Leiataua crew are on point. The anti Tanah cohort are happy after his wonky early kick. The historical anti Pompey crew continue to come around to sense and Webby won't be sacked this week. Neither will the too old Capewell.

A safer bet these days is "will Trump piss more people off today?"

 

[WAH MAN]

Yeah when we lost Metcalf we magically lost Capewells line breaks and support play on attack.

Last night was a return to the form the Warriors found in the last game 2025 vs the Panthers.

I cannot stress how important that statement in bold is:

The biggest problem of the Warriors club is that they can randomly get up for one off high adrenaline games like a finals game against the Panthers, then a week later come out flat and get a hiding.

We have never seen this club an offseason later come out and smash a team stacked with more famous NRL players than our makeshift halves last night.

Andrew Webster is starting to correct a lot of life long imbalances at this club.

So what has that to do with Capewell? well that attacking game last night of his was on display without his familiar combination with Metcalf....so Webster has done some amazing preseason work/transformation of these players....unbelievable....truely was the best preseason ever....



Having watched Ali's defensive issues closely over multiple seasons.....you have outlined the mechanics of what he is doing.

Problem is, lets be brutally honest here, the reason he misses tackles is that he is looking to avoid the contact period, that is the fundamental problem of why he hesitates.

And I am not making this up. Why are we even trying to find excuses when ALL of us should have seen this movie before.....with countless young Warriors star hopefulls (especially pre Webster/ Tangata Toa).

What Ali does, is what Hurrel did. What Carlos Tuimavave did. What dozens of Warriors made products have done time and memorial. They coast through Juniors and Reggies carving up on attack while hoping to get away with it on the defensive side.

Ali's problem is not technical, it is psychological.

You know how I know this 100%? Because the exact same very talented player types from our system also avoid doing the dirty work when we have the ball, they either pass before the line without drawing players, or they frankly hide when a dummy half run needs taking.

When you see that off the ball behavior in tackling, and you see it on the ball....you have a syndrome....you have a undeniable pattern of avoidance of contact and extra effort.

I wish people would stop suggesting all these types of players "to give us more Xfactor" without squaring the ledger of these claims with actual solutions for how are you gonna put star attacking player X in there when this sport is won through defence....not Try's (ever wondered why the Dolphins are not a Top NRL club? the Titans anyone?....or Stickies old Raiders - now using defensively sound rounded attacking players).

Ali will not come right with coaching. He has had that all his life, he will get it right when he is put in Cup and told, this is it mate, start tackling and running the ball up or your being pulled from NSW cup and what you do from there probably should involve your manager.

I still have tickets on the Ali train. If Tanah can improve. So can this lazy hua we have at centre.

 

[John Nick]

I still have tickets on the Ali train. If Tanah can improve. So can this lazy hua we have at centre.

Imo he is lacking confidence and needs to find something to be willing to make a defensive decision and then commit 100 to the tackle

 

[Lord Gnome of Mooloolaba]

Didn't see that coming

 

[kos]

Yeah when we lost Metcalf we magically lost Capewells line breaks and support play on attack.

Last night was a return to the form the Warriors found in the last game 2025 vs the Panthers.

I cannot stress how important that statement in bold is:

The biggest problem of the Warriors club is that they can randomly get up for one off high adrenaline games like a finals game against the Panthers, then a week later come out flat and get a hiding.

We have never seen this club an offseason later come out and smash a team stacked with more famous NRL players than our makeshift halves last night.

Andrew Webster is starting to correct a lot of life long imbalances at this club.

So what has that to do with Capewell? well that attacking game last night of his was on display without his familiar combination with Metcalf....so Webster has done some amazing preseason work/transformation of these players....unbelievable....truely was the best preseason ever....



Having watched Ali's defensive issues closely over multiple seasons.....you have outlined the mechanics of what he is doing.

Problem is, lets be brutally honest here, the reason he misses tackles is that he is looking to avoid the contact period, that is the fundamental problem of why he hesitates.

And I am not making this up. Why are we even trying to find excuses when ALL of us should have seen this movie before.....with countless young Warriors star hopefulls (especially pre Webster/ Tangata Toa).

What Ali does, is what Hurrel did. What Carlos Tuimavave did. What dozens of Warriors made products have done time and memorial. They coast through Juniors and Reggies carving up on attack while hoping to get away with it on the defensive side.

Ali's problem is not technical, it is psychological.

You know how I know this 100%? Because the exact same very talented player types from our system also avoid doing the dirty work when we have the ball, they either pass before the line without drawing players, or they frankly hide when a dummy half run needs taking.

When you see that off the ball behavior in tackling, and you see it on the ball....you have a syndrome....you have a undeniable pattern of avoidance of contact and extra effort.

I wish people would stop suggesting all these types of players "to give us more Xfactor" without squaring the ledger of these claims with actual solutions for how are you gonna put star attacking player X in there when this sport is won through defence....not Try's (ever wondered why the Dolphins are not a Top NRL club? the Titans anyone?....or Stickies old Raiders - now using defensively sound rounded attacking players).

Ali will not come right with coaching. He has had that all his life, he will get it right when he is put in Cup and told, this is it mate, start tackling and running the ball up or your being pulled from NSW cup and what you do from there probably should involve your manager.

And on the positive side
Give us a technical review of Laban s performance

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Just on the Capewell try the off the ball movement in this spread is elite and really does reinforce these guys weren't just running sand dunes over the off season.

Boyd receives it on the run from the ruck, drops 2 forwards under, accelerates to get outside his man (his speed off the mark is a tad underestimated i think) then has Ford running a hard front line and goes out the back to Chanel. who has Pompey out the back and Capewah running that hard Briton Nikora like out to in run.

@Dannevegas u wouldve enjoyed that? U were commenting on our decoys lack of intent,,,,,the key i think is that nobodies really a decoy.....all runners are live and thats the way they should be expecting it,

Incidently Egans crisp service from dummyhalf doesnt get enough mention. Have another look at Tannah's try where he strolls through. Recieving it from the ruck on an out line, that pass is flat and bullet like from Egan which puts him straight away on the outside of his man.....looks simple but executed perfectly.

 

[sup42]

I still have tickets on the Ali train. If Tanah can improve. So can this lazy hua we have at centre.

I should say I haven't gone off Ali or any player making it under this coaching regime.

There is a mental disconnect there, Ali has had about two or three games where he was great on defence, which can at times be even more frustrating.

The reason I get concerned about tolerating half heartedness at the Warriors is that as we all know it spreads fast and the coach is the one that dies from it, not the players, the coach just gets added to the mountain of Former Warriors coaches skeletons.

Webster knows what he is doing. If I were Ali I would use some of that speed he has to kick chase like a less talented Center was doing to hold the jersey from him. But yeah nah so far he sprints to find the Cameras....seen that movie before too.

 

[WAH MAN]

I should say I haven't gone off Ali or any player making it under this coaching regime.

There is a mental disconnect there, Ali has had about two or three games where he was great on defence, which can at times be even more frustrating.

The reason I get concerned about tolerating half heartedness at the Warriors is that as we all know it spreads fast and the coach added to the mountain of coaches skeletons.

Webster knows what he is doing. If I were Ali I would use some of that speed he has to kick chase like a less talented Center was doing to hold the jersey from him. But yeah nah so far he sprints to find the Cameras....seen that movie before too.

He's not in form. Is in some kind of shape but he looks massive which doesn't help his speed. As you elude to, his mental disconnect is before him. I don't think that ship has sailed yet.

 

[sup42]

Just on the Capewell try the off the ball movement in this spread is elite and really does reinforce these guys weren't just running sand dunes over the off season.

Boyd receives it on the run from the ruck, drops 2 forwards under, accelerates to get outside his man (his speed off the mark is a tad underestimated i think) then has Ford running a hard front line and goes out the back to Chanel. who has Pompey out the back and Capewah running that hard Briton Nikora like out to in run.

@Dannevegas u wouldve enjoyed that? U were commenting on our decoys lack of intent,,,,,the key i think is that nobodies really a decoy.....all runners are live and thats the way they should be expecting it,

Incidently Egans crisp service from dummyhalf doesnt get enough mention. Have another look at Tannah's try where he strolls through. Recieving it from the ruck on an out line, that pass is flat and bullet like from Egan which puts him straight away on the outside of his man.....looks simple but executed perfectly.

Hope Healy's concussion is ok, but I let out a big sigh of relief when he went off and Egan the Rock came on...game was in the balance...needed him back urgently to close the deal.

 

[Noitall]

I should say I haven't gone off Ali or any player making it under this coaching regime.

There is a mental disconnect there, Ali has had about two or three games where he was great on defence, which can at times be even more frustrating.

The reason I get concerned about tolerating half heartedness at the Warriors is that as we all know it spreads fast and the coach is the one that dies from it, not the players, the coach just gets added to the mountain of Former Warriors coaches skeletons.

Webster knows what he is doing. If I were Ali I would use some of that speed he has to kick chase like a less talented Center was doing to hold the jersey from him. But yeah nah so far he sprints to find the Cameras....seen that movie before too.

Clear to see effort is why Berry wins that jersey when healthy

 

[sup42]

He's not in form. Is in some kind of shape but he looks massive which doesn't help his speed. As you elude to, his mental disconnect is before him. I don't think that ship has sailed yet.

someone mentioned he might be one that blooms with a passport to another club....could do.

Personally, l would like to see Ali get six full rounds of NRL to answer the question once and for all. If he cannot make even small improvements in effort over that period....then you can't blame form, we are talking effort improvement rather than any dynamic play.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Hope Healy's concussion is ok, but I let out a big sigh of relief when he went off and Egan the Rock came on...game was in the balance...needed him back urgently to close the deal.

Yeah so did i. Just that control around the ruck he has helps settles things down i think.

Yeah 12 points ahead that game was still in the balance for me,,,,,,cause all they need to do was score once then its squeaky bum time

 

[WAH MAN]

someone mentioned he might be one that blooms with a passport to another club....could do.

Personally, l would like to see Ali get six full rounds of NRL to answer the question once and for all. If he cannot make even small improvements in effort over that period....then you can't blame form, we are talking effort improvement rather than any dynamic play.

If he can add durability to his list it will provide the reps he would benefit from. Let's see if he's still in the team or on the field by round 6.

 

[Noitall]

Yeah so did i. Just that control around the ruck he has helps settles things down i think.

Yeah 12 points ahead that game was still in the balance for me,,,,,,cause all they need to do was score once then its squeaky bum time

Perhaps Egan needs to close the game out and Healey comes on for a period and causes havoc?