Team List Tigers vs Warriors - [Round 4, 2025]

[Warriorsitsouryear]

I don't believe this has been said by anyone. People think Laban is wasted as a 20-30 minute replacement.... but is he better to start than Niukore straight away or ease him in off the bench - Webby likes to ease the young forwards in....however, let's hope he reads this.

Another idea and I stress idea.... Laban comes in to start in the back row for Niukore who moves to the bench. Clark starts as he has the previous fortnight with Leka subbing for him.... and Niukore subs for Laban in the last 20 minutes. As stated Leka has been training there. Nothing else needs to change.

We have a bye after that and it gives 2 weeks for Webby to look at the alternatives if needed.

 

[Makasene]

The thing for me is we didn't sign Healey to play cup. We don't sign anyone to play cup come to think of it (except Harper hopefully )

A spot has opened up on the bench and I'll be very surprised if he doesn't get it.

 

[Milking!]

You reckon Webster would have given Ale a shot?

I have my doubts, and not because I don't think he can do it but Webster has kind of shown his hand with the likes of Bunty & Ale unfortunately.

Very fair point, maybe it’s Ale-tinted glasses, just every now and then he’d got a role on and flash a little something special, but then would get injured/minimal game time and go MIA.
A big problem is that what Walker does is very hard to replicate with the candidates.
TMM - you get the ball playing and a solid enough defender for a half, but putting him the washing machine of the middle seems a waste
Laban - Not ideal, cos I think he’s fantastic a bit wider out, but could do the job defensively and is a excellent athlete, and I recall some chat somewhere that he had a bit of skill to him
Vaimaunga - can do the middle stuff, but you lose the ball playing - but if he’s already on the bench, maybe he makes Ale/Afoa expendable (which makes your point)
Healey - is a sign that we either don’t have a forward that’s good enough at doing Walker-stuff, so we’ll try to save Egan a bit, play him a bit at lock and likely tweak up the other forward minutes (which long term isn’t a bad play, cos playing Egan 80mins every game feels unsustainable to me).
Leka - just let him go nuts and see what happens?

 

[Makasene]

In thinking further, maybe this is a role for Egan?

Healey comes on, Egan moves to that first receiver position?

 

[Naynay]

Have to remember that a number of people didn’t consider that LanceH was physical enough to play at 14 but, IMO, he’s the best utility in the club’s history.

I agree he is, but he played a different role to Dylan. A revised game plan would set TMM to be a good 14 but currently I would have concerns for him to do the tough work Dylan does.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

No bald brothers

No SJ

No Tohu

No Addin

Interesting times

A better record 3 weeks in too. We were 1-2 last year

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I know AW has publicly backed Metcalf but if he doesn't start to show his ability on a more consistent basis surely the pressure comes on him as the least performing of the two halves to date. Both Boyd and TMM are doing what they need to in Cup. Boyd's general all round game and goal kicking must be in consideration vs LM 1 in 3 (so far) attacking ability and higher ceiling.

Bro I know you back TMM but this is rubbish. All Metcalf needs to do is win more than 50% of his games.

In fact, he could play exactly as he has for 3 weeks for the rest of season and not get dropped. Why? 66% win percentage.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

It's difficult for me to track how things develop on this forum since I am in the US time zone. But why are we talking about TMM all of a sudden? Don't mess with the halves! They've been improving each week and should be given full faith and confidence until we start losing on a continual basis.

As for the Walker issue, I think the answer is clear. Halasima subs for 13 (Erin). Bring in Laban. Having 3 forwards on the bench is important for our grinding game style. I might even think about starting Laban and moving Marata to the bench. Marata is a damaging ball runner who might be better utilized in limited spurts when bodies on the edge are getting tired.

 

[CWC]

In thinking further, maybe this is a role for Egan?

Healey comes on, Egan moves to that first receiver position?

And runs straight hard lines between 2 props when there is nothing on?

 

[CWC]

How is sam Healey's D to slot in at 13? I Haven't seen too much of him but kinda makes sense to bring him in as his passing and running is okay from what I've seen.

Think Lussick’s D when he first came over but taller, bigger that he can lift forwards into dangerous positions The only reason I didn’t pick him was he didn’t know where to pass in the trials, once he’s learned the system that 14 is his

 

[Makasene]

NRL.com are reporting Laban will win the bench spot in their late mail

NRL Late Mail: Round 4 - AJ back to chase history

See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Round 4 of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership competition.

www.nrl.com

 

[sydneywarrior92]

NRL.com are reporting Laban will win the bench spot in their late mail

NRL Late Mail: Round 4 - AJ back to chase history

See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Round 4 of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership competition.

www.nrl.com

confirmation that webby reads this forum!!

 

[Inruin]

Bro I know you back TMM but this is rubbish. All Metcalf needs to do is win more than 50% of his games.

In fact, he could play exactly as he has for 3 weeks for the rest of season and not get dropped. Why? 66% win percentage.

Actually I mentioned Boyd v Metcalf in reply to maybe looking at moving CHT. And I think if Metcalf plays like this we won't get 66% or 50% win percentage. And I have said keep the dynasty halves as they are until at least rounds 6-8.

 

[jonesy101]

confirmation that webby reads this forum!!

If he read this forum Selwyn Cobbo would be named at fullback.

 

[PhilsySH35]

Going to be interesting who replaces Walker for this game. He has played 232 NRL games so very experienced. If it is Healy I do not think he has played a NRL game? He seems the most likely as he can handle the tackling in the middle and looks lively when he plays so will add a spark. Wonder what his link play is like though.

noticed when playing for the sharks in nsw cup he sometimes played in the 7 jersey.

 

[Makasene]

I'm not a fan of Laban getting the spot and really I think the late mail should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The bench requires some utility - Laban, Ford, Halasima, Vaimaunga I think is too much of a good thing (if such a thing exists).

In terms of balance Healey or TMM should be on the bench

 

[snake77]

I'd prefer Healy to debut. It gives Egan a spell.

Sure, we have the buy next week so Egan gets to refresh a bit there. The other reason I'd like a dummy half on the bench the Tigers have been playing a dummy half off the bench which allowed Korisau to freshen up. The try on the weekend has gotten a lot of coverage.

I'd counter that with our own threat.

Someone posted the other week about Vaimauga's play the ball speed. Get Healy on with the right players and concentrate on going direct. Get him to run where possible.

It gives us a different dynamic.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

This is a big game for early in the season. It’s one thing riding the wave of a home crowd and winning, another thing winning an away game against a team who have had a decent start.

We need to show some serious resilience in defence, especially early on when I expect tigers will be giving it a good go

 

[Kaos A.D.]

Going by the Oz punter rd4 tips most have tigs to take out the wahs, which I find astonishing considering who both sides have had as opposition, prob more to do with hoping Tigers have a good season, I actually think we are going to strangle them out the game then run in some points... this is a good game to introduce Healy, he's got attacking flair which we need to replace Walker even though I want Laban to get more runs I don't think his game is what we need here, he'll get his chance soon I'm sure, he's probably first called up if a backrower goes down

 

[Canonball]

I'm not a fan of Laban getting the spot and really I think the late mail should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The bench requires some utility - Laban, Ford, Halasima, Vaimaunga I think is too much of a good thing (if such a thing exists).

In terms of balance Healey or TMM should be on the bench

Yeah, I don't think Nrl.com knows... it all depends on what the contingency for Walker was anyway, whether Webby was going to stick with a game plan which had Walker as 'a ball playing lock' throughout the season, or whether they were training Halasima pre-season there for this eventuality, which would probably change the strategy somewhat. We know Halasima has some qualities but he's not the same as Walker in any sense - I'd say he's an excellent option for lock but that probably requires some ball-playing from elsewhere to be added somehow? IDK, it's intriguing - Walker wasn't adding as much the first 3 games so this is a great chance to change things up