Pick Your Team Titans v Warriors - [Round 25, 2025]

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📝 Summary:

Warriors fans debate optimal team selections for the crucial Round 25 matchup against the Titans, focusing heavily on backline configurations and forward rotation. Key discussions revolve around whether to retain Taine Tuaupiki at fullback or reinstate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, with arguments citing defensive reliability versus attacking flair. Multiple lineup proposals emerge, such as a member #4 suggesting Berry’s return at center to free CNK for fullback duties, while another #26 advocates minimal changes after the previous win to maintain defensive cohesion. The suspension of Jackson Ford intensifies forward debates, with users #35#41 endorsing Tom Ale as replacement, though others anticipate veteran Bunty Afoa’s recall. Performance concerns surface regarding players like Halasima’s workload, and statistical comparisons #81 fuel the CNK-Tuaupiki debate. Overall, themes of finals preparation, risk-taking in selections, and balancing yardage with creativity dominate the thread.

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Team Selection, Fullback Debate, Player Form

📊 Data Source: Based on ALL posts in thread (total: 84 posts) | ⏱️ Total Generation Time: 13s
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CNK shouldn’t be Fullback next week. He’s averaged like 5 runs his last 3 games at centre, so he’s either injured or having a sulk he’s not playing fullback. If that’s the case should be dropped
Just being devils advocate - Or could he just be playing out of position?

I’ve actually changed my thinking and want him back at fullback. Appreciate he helps the defence on that edge but feel at this point he offers a touch more than Taine at the back.
 
Berry comes back if fit. That right side has been horrible since he’s been injured defensively. CNK back to fullback. Bit hard on Taine, but I dont think he’s made the most of his chances in the games hes had recently.

I don't know, agree he hasn't been amazing. But his heads up thinking and deception on that short side play got us the lead, and his positioning on the Sloane break brought enough time for the troops to get back.

Two big clutch plays.
 
You can’t drop Taine.
He’s been our best attacking player and the narrative that he gets rag dolled and monstered in every contact is a myth.
It seldom happens. In fact he mostly finds the ground quickly with smart body positioning against defenders.
19 runs for 25 post contact metres on Friday shows on kick returns we don't generally gain much momentum once contact is made on him. Doesn't have a particularly fast PTB either with it often averaging over 4 seconds.
With Webster holding Berry in such high regard, someone gets squeezed out on his return. Historically it's Tuaupiki and don't think there's a strong enough case to chop DWZ after the weekend or Pompey's form at left Centre to date
 
19 runs for 25 post contact metres on Friday shows on kick returns we don't generally gain much momentum once contact is made on him. Doesn't have a particularly fast PTB either with it often averaging over 4 seconds.
With Webster holding Berry in such high regard, someone gets squeezed out on his return. Historically it's Tuaupiki and don't think there's a strong enough case to chop DWZ after the weekend or Pompey's form at left Centre to date
Will be interesting to see if CNK returns to fullback when we’ve got another healthy centre option. If he stays at centre, I reckon we’ve got another fullback lined up
 
You can’t drop Taine.
He’s been our best attacking player and the narrative that he gets rag dolled and monstered in every contact is a myth.
It seldom happens. In fact he mostly finds the ground quickly with smart body positioning against defenders.
Genuinely interested if this is opinion or you’ve got some stats to back this up.
This previous game TT provided 2 try assists and 2 line break assists. The previous 2 before that provided 0 attacking stats.
Over the last 3 games his average play the ball speed is 4.01 seconds. Very slow, coupled with his low kick return meters and low PCM would indicate he does in fact get dominated in the tackle and is often called as a surrender tackle.
I could understand a slower PTB speed if he’s running for 200m and is fatigued, but that’s not the case either.
If the question is TT vs CNK, are his attacking stats really enough to have him at FB?
 
Genuinely interested if this is opinion or you’ve got some stats to back this up.
This previous game TT provided 2 try assists and 2 line break assists. The previous 2 before that provided 0 attacking stats.
Over the last 3 games his average play the ball speed is 4.01 seconds. Very slow, coupled with his low kick return meters and low PCM would indicate he does in fact get dominated in the tackle and is often called as a surrender tackle.
I could understand a slower PTB speed if he’s running for 200m and is fatigued, but that’s not the case either.
If the question is TT vs CNK, are his attacking stats really enough to have him at FB?

No stats, just an observation.

Maybe watch a full replay and pay full attention to all TT runs.
I believe he is effective enough returning the ball.

CNK pads his stats by doing multiple decent 2nd and 3rd tackle runs.
He could do plenty of those from centre.

The thing for me is, without TT, we have no flair or ball playing out wide.
That is more important IMO than CNKs metres.
 
Both really interesting takes. In full disclosure, I wanted TT at the back and CNK at centre, but now we are seeing it im just not so sure.

It is the sum of the parts and I think we lose out with not having that bigger body at the back.

Although TT attacking nous (not sure if there any stats to support it) certainly adds to his case over CNK. The winning try on Friday being a case in point. I do also like his positioning in defence on some of the breaks that have happened, where has backed off waiting for the cover defence to also getting involved rather than flying in to force a decision. That’s high footy IQ.

I’ve just contradicted myself above, but I’m just in two minds more than ever about it.
 
We are at the top of the precipice and will eventually drop out of the top4 if we play like we did against the Dragons. I am in favour of some major changes; otherwise we cannot hope to win all three remaining games. I propose putting TTM back to fullback where he adds another dimension to our attack, has pace and good defence. I'm afraid I have to demote Taine to cup. The halves are unchanged.
If Rocco is ready, he would replace CNK. I would make changes to the forwards as follows. Start with front row of Fish, Egan and Bunty, second row Capewell and TSS, Lock Clarke. Bench: Fatialofa, Healey, Demi and Leka). Egan to play first 30 minutes, Healey the next 30, and either for the last 20.
We need speed and a fresh approach for this one.
I suppose this is just pie "n" the sky as Webby will put the same team out anyway!
 
No stats, just an observation.

Maybe watch a full replay and pay full attention to all TT runs.
I believe he is effective enough returning the ball.

CNK pads his stats by doing multiple decent 2nd and 3rd tackle runs.
He could do plenty of those from centre.

The thing for me is, without TT, we have no flair or ball playing out wide.
That is more important IMO than CNKs metres.
I’ve been a Taine to fb advocate but is his ball playing even that good tho? From memory I’ve seen him throw 2 nice cut out passes 1 that was called forward apparently for Dallins no try, and one in that game in cup where he was Ko’d by the winger. To me he looks hesitant at times when it comes to throw a pass. Would either of Taine or CNK get a starting gig at Fb at any other club?
IMO our 2 best fullbacks are Martin and Roger, and they won’t be put there, so we deffs need to go to the market for a fullback.
A few realistic options that come to mind.
Averillo, Joash papalli , Linnane (already here), Chester, Stewart, Laurie
 
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I’ve been a Taine to fb advocate but is his ball playing even that good tho? From memory I’ve seen him throw 2 nice cut out passes 1 that was called forward apparently for Dallins no try, and one in that game in cup where he was Ko’d by the winger. To me he looks hesitant at times when it comes to throw a pass. Would either of Taine or CNK get a starting gig at Fb at any other club?
IMO our 2 best fullbacks are Martin and Roger, and they won’t be put there, so we deffs need to go to the market for a fullback.
A few realistic options that come to mind.
Averillo, Joash papalli , Linnane (already here), Chester, Stewart, Laurie
Martin is not in our top 2 fullbacks. He's an adequate back up though. Roger is quite clearly our best winger so won't be getting moved from there either.
Charnze is better one on one defense, but I actually think Taine is better defensively on opposition line breaks with his cat and mouse game.
 
Martin is not in our top 2 fullbacks. He's an adequate back up though. Roger is quite clearly our best winger so won't be getting moved from there either.
Charnze is better one on one defense, but I actually think Taine is better defensively on opposition line breaks with his cat and mouse game.
Close to the line he’s a speed bump
as also seen in the dragons game

Its a tough one. I love TT and what he brings to the team but his deficiencies only adds to our problems in the backline.

The hybrid props in CNK or RTS would be better to take the first hit up on kicks to get our momentum going. Then TT to find holes in the second hit up.

DWZ did have a “good” game yesterday but that’s only if you compare to “his” standards. If compared to most wingers he did his job as an experienced highly paid winger should do
 
Crunched down on their per game attacking stats at FB for this discussion:

CNK v TT
15 Games 6
0.1 Tries 0.0
0.1 Try Assists 0.7
0.3 Line Breaks 0.3
0.1 Line Break Assists 0.5
4.2 Tackle Breaks 4.7
0.5 Offloads 0.7
198 Run Metres 154
As expected a decent yardage advantage to CNK and the 44m difference there probably doesn't tell the full story. Besides that I was suprised at the very low attacking output from CNK though neither is lighting it up.

And yes, stats don't tell you who's a better player. We know.

Defensively CNK edges, probably don't need a stat breakdown to show that, though Taine credited with more try savers (flawed stat) and his positioning on line breaks is excellent.

Stats sourced from FootyStatistics.com
 
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