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

[Inruin]

"that period" and how long was that period again? Pretty sure it was less than 10% of a season. Again I'm desperate for him to be the player some people says he is.

I don't think you are to be honest.

I mean you keep asking the same questions and getting the same answers. All people are saying is that they think he is the best option at 7 currently if we want to do anything this season.

He had 8 games at 7 for us last season from memory so a third of the season. The first few games we had our b and c team running out with him and we beat the 4 time premier Panthers. We were playing terrible football and before Magic round no one could see where our next win would come from. Our attack and defensive numbers both improved significantly and during that period he had something like 14 try assists, a couple of trys, 12 line break assists, 3 line breaks. We won the majority of those games and lost to the Dogs away in golden point, the raiders away by 2 points despite scoring 4 trys to 3 (terrible goal kicking) and the Dolphins by 2 after being thrown in at 7 last minute.


I mean this has been covered numerous times. We get it, you don't like him. But those stats and results don't back you up in this instance.

 

[Canonball]

That has to be the best advice I have seen on this forum. Discipline has to be paramount, strong defence is required and the attack in the red zone must be unpredictable.
This advice must be taken up by the whole team acting in unison. Everyone knows their role as laid down by the coaching staff and executes it accordingly. If we stick to a plan, I am confident we can keep our position in the top4.

Mentality Shift - This is the biggest lever. The Warriors can’t limp into the finals hoping to “find it when it matters.” They need to flip the narrative now:

From “holding on” to “taking games to opponents.”
From “under pressure” to “dangerous outsiders.”
From “being written off” to “spoilers with momentum.”

Yes, the Warriors have been ravaged by injuries. Yes, the last couple of months have been riddled with below-par performances. But the bigger issue is mindset. Sticking to the “safety-first” game plan is sucking confidence out of the group and doing nothing to silence the critics. If anything, it’s adding fuel to the fire.

The debate now is simple: should they bunker down, play conservative football, and hope for stability? Or should they back themselves, open up the playbook, and start throwing punches before the finals arrive?

For mine, the answer is clear. Playing it safe is killing this team.

This is not the time to shrink into a shell. The next three weeks should be treated as a rehearsal for finals football — and that means playing with freedom, aggression, and intent.

That doesn’t mean chaos. The forwards still need to lay a platform, the kicking game has to be sharp, and discipline remains non-negotiable. But within that structure, the Warriors need to rediscover their DNA: second-phase play, offloads, and attacking footy that brings the whole squad into the game. That’s where confidence is rebuilt. That’s where the fear factor returns.

Flying under the radar might sound clever, but it’s not fooling anyone when the on-field product looks flat. The Warriors don’t need to hide their cards — they need to show opponents why they’re dangerous. Finals teams aren’t worried about a side scraping completions and grinding through sets. They’re worried about a side that can break you open with one offload and swing a game in ten minutes.

Right now, the Warriors are being written off. That’s fine. Use it. But don’t prove the doubters right by serving up more of the same.

This is the moment for a mentality shift: from survival mode to attack mode. From holding on to taking games away. From being passive to becoming a team no one wants to face in September.

Could we see this against the Gold Coast Titans and the remaining teams that we play?

I like the outlook and I think the coaches probably have been intending a similar shift for this period in the year... problem being is that injuries have screwed with the timing on when to pull the trigger - putting it in a less rigorous way : I could have seen a shift up to 'freer' attacking game-plan earlier if we were safely within the 8 - Webby talked about that in his presser after Friday's game, and it has to be the direction we take for the next 3 even without that safety net - probably what was intended with Te Maire against the Dogs, and certainly the evidence is there the intent remains with the instruction coming down for Boyd to run it in the second half - which is why I think we'll see TMM back this week.

 

[John Nick]

I don't think you are to be honest.

I mean you keep asking the same questions and getting the same answers. All people are saying is that they think he is the best option at 7 currently if we want to do anything this season.

He had 8 games at 7 for us last season from memory so a third of the season. The first few games we had our b and c team running out with him and we beat the 4 time premier Panthers. We were playing terrible football and before Magic round no one could see where our next win would come from. Our attack and defensive numbers both improved significantly and during that period he had something like 14 try assists, a couple of trys, 12 line break assists, 3 line breaks. We won the majority of those games and lost to the Dogs away in golden point, the raiders away by 2 points despite scoring 4 trys to 3 (terrible goal kicking) and the Dolphins by 2 after being thrown in at 7 last minute.


I mean this has been covered numerous times. We get it, you don't like him. But those stats and results don't back you up in this instance.

Actually tmm played 16 games last year for 6 wins from what I can see
His best games were definitely at 7 and was poor in the 6 jersey outside SJ
Lacking the quality of a decent fg 7 but probably on a par with Boyd
I would prefer Boyd for his field/goal kicking. I would also prefer Healey in the 14 spot

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Yes I agree. There's this stigma that senior or first choice players need to be selected in the team after injury or suspension is bs I reckon. Healey offers more than TMM imo.

Healy does not offer more in the utility role. Healy is a backup 9. Yes, An exceptional young talent. But he isn't the answer in that role. Whether you loathe or love TMM we lose a spine player and he covers all those positions nicely.

 

[Sammyw]

whoever we pick at 7 this weekend needs to be the 7 for the remainder of this season

 

[John Nick]

Healy does not offer more in the utility role. Healy is a backup 9. Yes, An exceptional young talent. But he isn't the answer in that role. Whether you loathe or love TMM we lose a spine player and he covers all those positions nicely.

I just think that with the injury situation with Egan it's insurance to have a good 9 on the bench. He wouldn't be out of place in the halves at a pinch either

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Healy does not offer more in the utility role. Healy is a backup 9. Yes, An exceptional young talent. But he isn't the answer in that role. Whether you loathe or love TMM we lose a spine player and he covers all those positions nicely.

Why do we need coverage tho? Most teams don't have someone specifically on their bench covering injury. Some have a 14 who can be a livewire to inject when needing a spark, but no one's carrying a spine player just in case one gets injured.

Also, we have Healey on the bench who covers Egan.
If a half goes down, we bring Healey on at 9 and Egan covers half. If full back goes down we have Roger and DWZ who can cover. So, were kind of set without TMM on the bench

 

[Sammyw]

I just think that with the injury situation with Egan it's insurance to have a good 9 on the bench. He wouldn't be out of place in the halves at a pinch either

what about boyd as the 14 if TMM is 7, boyd has played a fair bit of 9 at NRL level and covers halves.

 

[Kav1]

Our potential swing on the ladder this week makes me sick.

To finish the round in 4th: We win.
To finish the round in 5th: We lose, Penrith lose against Canberra, Brisbane lose against Newcastle.
To finish the round in 6th: We lose, only one of Penrith or Brisbane wins.
To finish the round in 7th: We lose, Panthers beat Canberra, Brisbane beat Newcastle.

There are still plenty of ifs and buts. All we can do is win the next three against teams sitting 10th, 14th and 17th.
We can only hope that teams snapping at our heels fight over the scraps and lose one or two games in doing so.
Our destiny is in our hands; we can't let it slip at this late stage

 

[Inruin]

whoever we pick at 7 this weekend needs to be the 7 for the remainder of this season

IMO there are three probable combinations in the halves we can go with.

Boyd 7, CHT 6. Quite vanilla with limited creativity.
Boyd 7, TMM 6 provides a good combo, some creativity and covers general kicking and goal kicking
TMM 7, CHT 6 provides the best defensive pair of halves, creativity and previous combo from last season.

I'd go with the TMM CHT combo personally. I think that's where AW was heading with the bulldogs game. TMM showed in his 8 games at 7 last season what he can do there. CHT needs a creative half to partner with to play his best I feel.

We need to add an attacking game to our make up at the moment. Which is why I'd be picking TT, CHT, TMM, Egan as the spine and have Healey on the bench.

We will know around this time tomorrow what AWs thoughts are

 

[John Nick]

what about boyd as the 14 if TMM is 7, boyd has played a fair bit of 9 at NRL level and covers halves.

I just prefer Healey as cover for Egan.
Specialist position and Healey is a better fit but hey..

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I just think that with the injury situation with Egan it's insurance to have a good 9 on the bench. He wouldn't be out of place in the halves at a pinch either

It still doesn't fix the other positions if a spine player needs to be replaced. We don't need to move a backrower into centre or wing or into the halves if one of the spine is taken off. TMM can play 1 - 6 - 7 - 9 - 3 & 4.
Healy may be the future. We all get it. But for the betterment of the team. TMM is less of a disruption. A straight swap. Instead of shuffling a heap of players around.

 

[Noitall]

whoever we pick at 7 this weekend needs to be the 7 for the remainder of this season

I reckon the team who lined up against bulldogs is the team going forward, but with Egan starting when Lussick did against them. It had to be changed because of the TMM head knock forcing him out. The interesting one is who will replace Ford?

 

[Kav1]

I just think that with the injury situation with Egan it's insurance to have a good 9 on the bench. He wouldn't be out of place in the halves at a pinch either

Te Taire needs to start to add attacking flair. I have suggested fullback. Healey must start off the bench and be given more time (at least 30 minutes) to relieve Egan.

 

[Inruin]

I reckon the team who lined up against bulldogs is the team going forward, but with Egan starting when Lussick did against them. It had to be changed because of the TMM head knock forcing him out. The interesting one is who will replace Ford?

Surely Ale gets a shot? I'm really not sure what has happened there but his fall from grace has been very noticeable.

 

[Kav1]

I reckon the team who lined up against bulldogs is the team going forward, but with Egan starting when Lussick did against them. It had to be changed because of the TMM head knock forcing him out. The interesting one is who will replace Ford?

Bunty or Ale?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Why do we need coverage tho?

Why not when you have someone as versatile as TMM? Why fuck up team dynamics by shuffling a heap of players around, When TMM can slot right in? Dylan Walker was that for us. Several teams have a Dylan Walker/TMM on the bench. With Egan's injury history. Healy will get his chance. Right now, TMM is suited for the utility role. Not saying TMM is a better player lol.

 

[Noitall]

Bunty or Ale?

Could be TSS starts and EIT stays on the bench?

 

[John Nick]

Te Taire needs to start to add attacking flair. I have suggested fullback. Healey must start off the bench and be given more time (at least 30 minutes) to relieve Egan.

Interesting decision to be made and it will depend on a few things to which combinations Webster prefers along with this week's training sessions and who has niggles.
Good to have options even with the current injuries

 

[Kav1]

1. RTS
2. DWZ
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. TT
6. CHT
7. TMM
8. JFH
9. Healey
10. Ford
11. Halisima
12. Capewell
13. Clark

14. Egan
15. Niukore
16. Vaimauga
17. Fatialofa

Ford is suspended for three matches. TSS to take his place?