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

[sup42]

I was never on the train. For those of you on it, time to get off it asap. In my view, we don't have the luxury of waiting for Ali to find his feet: we need to nip this issue in the bud asap. In the next few weeks we will come up against teams with as much firepower as the chooks who will be able to exploit it in an even bigger way without any of the clunkiness that the chooks showed yesterday. In particular, we are facing Melbourne very soon in Melbourne. If we don't want to be embarrassed like we were last year, we need to address this issue asap. I don't care who comes in (Capewell, RTS moving in, etc) but something has to be done before that game. I'm just so sick of losing to those pricks.

You are probably right. I am worried about next week.

On a positive note, this team of ours is solid defensively for most part, what that means for Ali is that his issues stand out like dogs bollocks, and if he doesn't fix them, he will get pulled.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I saw Erin Clark was penalized for dissent last night. Was just wondering if that's an automatic charge or not?

Nothing in the judiciary charges and it includes a Bronco from the Panthers game.

NRL Judiciary: Pompey cops two-match ban; Laulilii, Fale out for one

Warriors centre Adam Pompey has been suspended for two matches after unsuccessfully challenging a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact charge at the NRL judiciary.

www.nrl.com

 

[Beastmode]

You are probably right. I am worried about next week.

On a positive note, this team of ours is solid defensively for most part, what that means for Ali is that his issues stand out like dogs bollocks, and if he doesn't fix them, he will get pulled.

Who you putting in to take his spot?

CNK could be the go with TT at fullback?

I’m not worried about Ali’s potential. only 23. Attacking weapon. Put him back in Cup. A full season there for him to figure it out w/o the spot light will do him a world of good

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I saw Erin Clark was penalized for dissent last night. Was just wondering if that's an automatic charge or not?

According to the 2020 rules, it can result in being on report.

https://www.nrl.com/siteassets/operations/documentation/nrl_laws_interpretations_2020.pdf

(Page 11)

I dont think it's automatic in the majority of cases, though.

 

[sup42]

Who you putting in to take his spot?

CNK could be the go with TT at fullback?

I’m not worried about Ali’s potential. only 23. Attacking weapon. Put him back in Cup. A full season there for him to figure it out w/o the spot light will do him a world of good

Gee I have gotten lazy with team machinations under Webster, I just let him sort it out and pretend like that was what I would do after the fact....

I think on the face of it your suggestion makes the most sense, especially since CNK has looked good sound playing in other positions recently.

 

[Gods_17]

As I said in the match thread Jacko Ford is like a wierd Rubberman. The guy can like squirm through multiple tacklers and he's just ungainly and lanky but so fit and made of oak.

Yes he bends but, doesn't break. He deserved the MoM imo but imho... They ALL Did!

 

[WAH MAN]

I was never on the train. For those of you on it, time to get off it asap. In my view, we don't have the luxury of waiting for Ali to find his feet: we need to nip this issue in the bud asap. In the next few weeks we will come up against teams with as much firepower as the chooks who will be able to exploit it in an even bigger way without any of the clunkiness that the chooks showed yesterday. In particular, we are facing Melbourne very soon in Melbourne. If we don't want to be embarrassed like we were last year, we need to address this issue asap. I don't care who comes in (Capewell, RTS moving in, etc) but something has to be done before that game. I'm just so sick of losing to those pricks.

You're cool because you never got on the train so don't have to get off.

I will stay on a while longer. But telling people to do what you want in a fan forum is a bit rich for me. But it is your right to say as you will and I'll uphold that even when we disagree.

 

[enterthewarrior]

Leiataua's inability to tackle/defend is a technical problem, not confidence problem. He needs to be trained properly at sessions by someone who knows what they're doing(I presume tackling/ defence coach). How can he be confident if he's not doing right.

 

[CWC]

They should introduce a 5 in the bin to cut this nonsense out

It’s a bad look for kids watching

10 is too harsh but if you mouth off at the ref disrespecting them it should be an automatic 5 in the bin to cool off

Simple. Act like a child. Get treated like one

New rule should be dissent players should be made mandatory to take the next kick off hit up

 

[WAH MAN]

New rule should be dissent players should be made mandatory to take the next kick off hit up

Or walk the line in front of all the match officials.

 

[CWC]

Send Ali to union for a month, Roger can tackle like a beast these days

 

[WAH MAN]

Send Ali to union for a month, Roger can tackle like a beast these days

Make him chase AKP for extras until he loses about 8kg and catches him

 

[Bluecat]

All those with little faith before the game thinking Roosters will win

REPENT!!

I feel this season is special

Boys look like hardened vets ready to win it all

Guilty. Sorry guys. I have been flat since the news that Barney was moving on. I very nearly didn't wake my Sky Sport package up for the season I was that off. It was 2 minutes before kick off that I signed back up.
So pleased I did

 

[sup42]

Leiataua's inability to tackle/defend is a technical problem, not confidence problem. He needs to be trained properly at sessions by someone who knows what they're doing(I presume tackling/ defence coach). How can he be confident if he's not doing right.

How does that work when all the other Juniors have learned to defend brilliantly under the same technical coaching?

Not having a go, just saying why? when there is plenty of evidence the Warriors school of defence is excellent.

 

[3rdstriker]

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.

Put him down to reserve grade when Berrys back might be the best option with Ali, he's a great player with great potential im sure the coaches see all his deficiencies especially when he got dropped last year.
He might have to have that Edward Kosi/manu Vatuvei 50-70 point thrashing where he's officially targeted by Bellamy or Cleary for him to finally come right.

 

[WAH MAN]

Put him down to reserve grade when Berrys back might be the best option with Ali, he's a great player with great potential im sure the coaches see all his deficiencies especially when he got dropped last year.
He might have to have that Edward Kosi/manu Vatuvei 50-70 point thrashing where he's officially targeted by Bellamy or Cleary for him to finally come right.

A bunch of our guys who fired last night have been semi to virtually forum crucified. Tanah and Chitty for example.

Yet with whatever preseason and other stuff has transpired since early career Chitty opting out for sabbatical and being not up to par. He's doing great one game in. And it matters that he's had some process time to get to where he is firing

 

[enterthewarrior]

How does that work when all the other Juniors have learned to defend brilliantly under the same technical coaching?

Not having a go, just saying why? when there is plenty of evidence the Warriors school of defence is excellent.

Maybe he's having a hard time getting it correct. Every person is different. I suppose confidence also comes into it. Just my POV anyway. Im not saying I'm 100% right.

 

[MaybeTop8]

I forgot Radley was out too....how the hell can the Roosters fit that squad under the cap???

 

[WAH MAN]

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

That sounds exactly like his winger with the flowing locks too.

 

[3rdstriker]

A bunch of our guys who fired last night have been semi to virtually forum crucified. Tanah and Chitty for example.

Yet with whatever preseason and other stuff has transpired since early career Chitty opting out for sabbatical and being not up to par. He's doing great one game in. And it matters that he's had some process time to get to where he is firing

Yeah this pre-season seems to have worked wonders for not only our team but our structures also.
As bad as leiataua is, imo Dwz is much better at the arm grabs!