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

[MrFrankWhite]

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.

I probably like him more than I like Boyd. Im just disappointed. We arent at end stage Tohu just yet

 

[CWC]

Total Season
21 games / 437 For (20.8 avg) / 425 Against (20.2 avg)

With Metcalfe
15 games / 321 For (21.4 avg) / 310 Against (20.7 avg)

Without Metcalfe
6 games / 116 For (19.3 avg) / 115 Against (19.2 avg)

Slight uptick with Metcalf in, but not seeming to have many points in us has been a season long thing.

We only have 4 wins by 12 or more.

Out of the Top 8 teams we are last in For and in the middle in Against:

View attachment 14199

Would be interesting to draw a chart for this
We were probably trending for more points until Metcalf got hurt. He took 2 months to get going and we were supposed to have a big run like 2023

 

[Noitall]

I reckon it’ll be
Tuaupiki
DWZ
Pompey
CNK
RTS
CHT
TMM
TSS
Egan
JFH
Niukore
Capewell
Clark

Healey
Vaimauga
Halasima
EIT

Record for the most hyphenated names

 

[Kav1]

If TMM is 14 then it would mean Healey misses out.

What is wrong with starting TMM at fullback? He has experience and brings attacking flair and good organisational skills. Healey can be replacement hooker.

 

[Inruin]

I probably like him more than I like Boyd. Im just disappointed. We arent at end stage Tohu just yet

Yeah. That's the reality of the situation though. Go with Boyd who is just so vanilla and has produced very few attacking/creativity stats in his career at 7 but has a decent long kicking game and goal kicking. Or TMM who is defensively stronger and has shown impressive attacking stats playing 7 last season.

I know we aren't going anywhere with Boyd. We might with TMM if he can show that same form from 2024 when he was the 7. I say we go all in on our best attacking side, which is probably also our best defensive side and find out what we can do.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I know we aren't going anywhere with Boyd. We might with TMM if he can show that same form from 2024 when he was the 7.

I definitely can agree with this. Maybe my feelings are clouded by the fact I feel Boyd is giving 100% as limited as he is, but I don't feel TMM is giving 100%.

It will be another game that I'm hoping TMM proves me wrong and makes me look foolish for doubting him.

 

[CWC]

“TMM might not be better than Boyd at 7 this year” is all hypothetical except 15min

I think it’s not just the attack but the right edge D as well. Same issues for a month now

Marata hopefully in the middle and EIT/Leka share game time

CHT kicking for CNK and Cape might work out better

 

[John Nick]

I definitely can agree with this. Maybe my feelings are clouded by the fact I feel Boyd is giving 100% as limited as he is, but I don't feel TMM is giving 100%.

It will be another game that I'm hoping TMM proves me wrong and makes me look foolish for doubting him.

Yes Frank that's my problem with TMM also, he doesn't get into the tough stuff.
Good player lacking in the down and dirty little things

 

[kos]

Quote from Newscorp om today
Due to his complex history of concussion its possible NZW will hold TMM back from playing this week.

But before this sentence
TMM may play halfback

And Niukore to prop


bear in mid this is just Newscorp journos guessing.

 

[John Nick]

Quote from Newscorp om today
Due to his complex history of concussion its possible NZW will hold TMM back from playing this week.

But before this sentence
TMM may play halfback

And Niukore to prop


bear in mid this is just Newscorp journos guessing.

Yes Kos like all of us here.
Spit balling TLM.

 

[kos]

I m sure Webster will make the right call on 7 and 14.
I mean really it doesnt matter whether 7 is TMM or Boyd both will get the job done in different ways
Boyd has the better kicking game and CHT kicks are not that great.
TMM could pull some rabbits out.
Boyd kicking TMM rabbits equal out

 

[Tookey 2.0]

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.

What team dynamics lol. Weve been playing pretty poorly for the last 10 weeks or so. Attack hasn't been our strong point this year, with 7 of our last 9 games scoring 20 points or less. Why would you then want someone to take up a bench spot to help us maintain that?

Healey was the main hooker against the Sharks and Dolphins, two of our best games this year, scored our only try V the Dogs and was only on for 10 min on the weekend, when we managed to score the match winner. For me it's clear as day, Healey improves our team when he's on our bench, and TMM helps make our team less shit if there's an injury. I know what I'm wanting from my bench leading up to the finals.

For what it's worth, id play TMM at 7 moving forward

 

[The Warrior Waka]

What team dynamics lol. Weve been playing pretty poorly for the last 10 weeks or so. Attack hasn't been our strong point this year, with 7 of our last 9 games scoring 20 points or less. Why would you then want someone to take up a bench spot to help us maintain that?

Neither Healy nor TMM can fix that. But disrupting the make up of our team to fit in a fan favourite is ludicrous. Especially since we lose halves, Centres and FBs regularly. Where TMM just slots in. Like or not, TMM is a better fit right now. I'm not sure how you believe Healy is a better utility player than TMM. Or how you think we don't need one? Until we lose a spine player and everyone blames Webby for picking a hooker instead of a more versatile player....smh

 

[Kav1]

I think TB had a solid game last night but our right edge D is pretty slow and clunky with him there. Marata is 4th man in and TB beside him. Pompey got caught couple times waiting for them both to slide and was left slipping off tackles. Is TB to slow on his lateral D maybe and being targeted? Guessing that’s why TMM came in for him last week. Metcalfs not the biggest body but was a bit better side to side and gave his right edge more confidence. We’ve struggled the last month with both TB and Capewell defending on the right. We’re not going past Week 1 with either of them defending there.
And while I’m at it, Matata doesn’t break tackles on attack and can be caught out on D. He needs to move into the middle. He’s playing a props game on the right edge

I'd give him a rest to freshen up.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Neither Healy nor TMM can fix that. But disrupting the make up of our team to fit in a fan favourite is ludicrous. Especially since we lose halves, Centres and FBs regularly. Where TMM just slots in. Like or not, TMM is a better fit right now. I'm not sure how you believe Healy is a better utility player than TMM. Or how you think we don't need one? Until we lose a spine player and everyone blames Webby for picking a hooker instead of a more versatile player....smh

Haha mate I haven't said Healey is a utility at all?

I'm struggling with some of the things you're saying....many teams carry a hooker on the bench, because it's a tried and true tactic, especially when you have two good hookers
TMM isn't on the bench because of his impact, he's there in case we have injuries. Fair enough, it's a valid decision to make, especially as we've been hit by injuries a lot this year but to say it's disrupting the team to fit in 'a fan favourite' is a bit bizarre. Imo he's in our top 17 because his skills and style of play make our overall 17 stronger.

TMM on the bench doesn't do that, he's there for injury cover and to cover the potential loss of one of our backs.

Each to their own though, I think it's clear what you would prefer and I think it's clear what I would prefer

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Haha mate I haven't said Healey is a utility at all?

I'm struggling with some of the things you're saying....many teams carry a hooker on the bench, because it's a tried and true tactic, especially when you have two good hookers
TMM isn't on the bench because of his impact, he's there in case we have injuries. Fair enough, it's a valid decision to make, especially as we've been hit by injuries a lot this year but to say it's disrupting the team to fit in 'a fan favourite' is a bit bizarre. Imo he's in our top 17 because his skills and style of play make our overall 17 stronger.

TMM on the bench doesn't do that, he's there for injury cover and to cover the potential loss of one of our backs.

Each to their own though, I think it's clear what you would prefer and I think it's clear what I would prefer

Many teams ain't us lol. We don't have forwards like Tohu , Dylan & Capewell(Injured) to cover several positions right now. Leka & EIT are alright. You're struggling with some of the things I'm saying? You originally replied to me. In which i said it's better to have a proper utility (TMM) than to have a straight hooker replacement for Wayde. For the benefit of our team. That's it. I don't know how That's hard to understand.

I want Healy there with the right people on the bench. But we've got a very young & inexperienced bench. TSS , Deme , EIT. TMM and his experience is my personal preference with injuries & suspensions at the mo.

Agree to disagree.

 

[Kav1]

I can't see us beating The Titans. They've become our kryptonite.

Why cant we beat a kryptonite (whatever that means)

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Why cant we beat a kryptonite (whatever that means)

When you're a gang member in the evening. So you're either a Blood, Or a Kryp tonight. And the Titans are our Vato's Loco's

 

[Popdukes]

The boys will be going to GC with all intentions to win, we’re the only ones thinking they can’t

Lucky none of us playing

 

[John Nick]

you don't like him.

Bit rich to comment about Frank disliking TMM coming from you Inruin