General Warriors early season review

[Tohu’s_Knees]

How are you feeling heading into the bye after the first 4 games?
Where is this team going?
Who’s playing well?
Who isn’t?
Do we make the eight?

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

How are you feeling heading into the bye after the first 4 games?
Where is this team going?
Who’s playing well?
Who isn’t?
Do we make the eight?

1. Pretty good.

2. I feel like, similar to 2023, there's a solid base that a decent halves combo could work wonders with. We have pretty normal issues in defense (defending low percentage plays) that we've seen used against us. But for the most part, the attitude is there and the morale is recovering from 2024/Vegas.

3/4. I actually think, considering our personalle losses, the vast majority of the player base is doing well. I'm not huge on Capewell and Niukore at this point, but I know atleast one of those will beast out around Origin.

5. I think so. It's a long season, but I feel that much like 2023, the floor of this team is pretty solid. The ceiling remains to be seen.

6. Up the fucking wahs!

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I give our season so far a B+. Can't overlook Vegas because there's no guarantee it won't happen again. However the last 3 games showed grit we haven't seen since 2023. But if we're being honest we've largely beaten teams that are edge 8 teams at best so far. So the next two games will define our season: Storm (A) and broncs (H).This is our chance to see where we are really at. If we can jag one win (or heaven forbid) 2 wins, I think it bodes well for our finals chance. Lose both heavily and I fear we will just be a footnote for the rest of the year.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

3 from 4 is without a doubt impressive. I can’t say I saw it coming tbh.

Where have we been most impressive?
Undoubtedly the forwards. They’re just playing for each other and clearly it shows from the results. Lead by JFH and Barnett.

Where have we struggled?
IMO, probably the halves. But that’s just a case of time and reps. I’ve posted several times that I want to stick with CHT and Metcalf as much as possible heading into 2027, when I think we’ll actually be contenders.

Most important player.
Wayde Egan. Period.

Most impressive player.
Erin Clark, you can’t doubt this guys heart and tenacity. IMO, we’ll be better served by him being the 14. (That’s not hate btw)

Most disappointing player.
Marata Niukore, yes his pay packet is probably factored into that. But he does a few decent runs a guy and that’s it. Doesn’t play 80 either.

Most exciting player.
Y’all already know. It’s Leka

Most improved player.
Jackson Ford, very impressive off the bench for us.

Where to from here?
I’m not complaining, but I feel like we got a little lucky over the last few weeks. Especially the Manly game where we got some VERY generous “6 agains”.
IMO, we’re playing a style of footy that will fairly comfortably beat the bottom teams, but will hit a wall against the better teams.
However the grinding style ensures we will always be competitive and have a chance of winning.

Will we make the 8?
I put us 6-8th. Up the Wahs

 

[Po11um]

Good start. May finish 7th or 8th if they keep winning their home games.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I did not have much hope for this team at the beginning of the year. After Vegas I was worried as it was such a shit show. Now I believe we are punching above our weight. We may make the 8 but I feel injuries will determine that for us.

I can't shake the feeling that Webster is kind of writing off this year. He is blooding a new half pairing and if he persists with it then next year is when we will benefit from it. CNK and TMM gone next year. Likely Ale and Bunty as well. Leka and Demetric getting more minutes. I expect Laban to come in at some stage and EIT to get his first game in FG. Makes me think he is going for 2026 onwards for our premiership window.

Those performing well. Clark has been outstanding, Barnett and JFH as well. Liking what we are getting from Ford. Leka just awesome. Egan may play SOO this year if his form continues.

Worst would be Capewell for me.

 

[Theking267]

It has to be a B 3 out of 4 ain’t bad at all. But the disaster in Vegas has to acknowledged. Had a good draw so far lots of rest in between games, haven’t a short turnaround yet. Good to see Webster bringing in some young talent. Still our glaring weakness is our lack of speed out wide.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

How are you feeling heading into the bye after the first 4 games?
Where is this team going?
Who’s playing well?
Who isn’t?
Do we make the eight?

1. Pretty stoked. Remember a fair few of our supporters were talking wooden spoon at the beginning of the year, and then on top of that we had Tohu retire, Dallen out for 12 rounds, and then Walker leaving after being named....
Taking those onto account, 3/4 including wins over the Roosters and Manly is top shelf.

2. Hopefully to the playoffs. I think there's a big gap between the top 4 or 5 teams and the next 10 or so, so as long as we're winning most of those against the middle teams and get the odd victory over Manly, Broncos, Penny etc. I think we're on the road to victory

3. Forwards are looking great - Fish, Barney and Clark are setting the tone, with the young guns Ali, Leka and Vaumunga offering excitement with that youthful exuberance. Wayde looking like having a career year too

4. Not that anyone's playing poorly, but as we all know, Lukey Metcalf and CHT are developing as a halves pair. Hoping they start to click, because if they do we're going to go far.

5. By my calculations we need to win 9 out of our last 21 games. Suuuper manageable and imo we should do that comfortably. If we don't make it from here we've fucked up quite royally.

 

[John Nick]

1. Pretty stoked. Remember a fair few of our supporters were talking wooden spoon at the beginning of the year, and then on top of that we had Tohu retire, Dallen out for 12 rounds, and then Walker leaving after being named....
Taking those onto account, 3/4 including wins over the Roosters and Manly is top shelf.

2. Hopefully to the playoffs. I think there's a big gap between the top 4 or 5 teams and the next 10 or so, so as long as we're winning most of those against the middle teams and get the odd victory over Manly, Broncos, Penny etc. I think we're on the road to victory

3. Forwards are looking great - Fish, Barney and Clark are setting the tone, with the young guns Ali, Leka and Vaumunga offering excitement with that youthful exuberance. Wayde looking like having a career year too

4. Not that anyone's playing poorly, but as we all know, Lukey Metcalf and CHT are developing as a halves pair. Hoping they start to click, because if they do we're going to go far.

5. By my calculations we need to win 9 out of our last 21 games. Suuuper manageable and imo we should do that comfortably. If we don't make it from here we've fucked up quite royally.

I put my hand up I was one of the doubters early on especially after Vegas

 

[MrFrankWhite]

 

[Canonball]

How are you feeling heading into the bye after the first 4 games?
Where is this team going?
Who’s playing well?
Who isn’t?
Do we make the eight?

Really difficult to know 'how the team is going' as I don't think we've seen the team as a whole click together at all yet. There are, however, a lot of very encouraging bits there:

- Tighter defense than last year, for the most part - against the Tigers we were poor, but I think that was more to do who was on the field and when - the Laitu try was embarrassing, yet I don't think that happens if we had Barney or Fish on in that moment
- Speaking of Fish and Barney, this is what is getting us through right now, the attitude and the grit - so good, and so good to watch - a real building block, a serious team.
- Injuries have been limited almost to one specific area - but that has allowed us to see some creativeness and guile from TT, who has been awesome - how do we keep him on field when all are fit?
- Yes, we make the 8 - the trajectory can only be up - and in the major area of what the halves are contributing in good ball

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I put my hand up I was one of the doubters early on especially after Vegas

Yeah mate we looked pretty terrible in Vegas so I can see why anyone would think that. That's why I'm so pleased, I remember telling the Mrs we looked so bad in the first game that I just want to see us compete against Manly, and show that we're not gunna come last.

Nek minute, smashing their long necks all over the ground

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I just want to see us compete against Manly, and show that we're not gunna come last.

Not good enough for a premiership.

Not shit enough for a spoon.

Mediocrity is the true plight of Warriors supporter.

 

[3rdstriker]

Great timing to have 3 wins and a bye coming up.
We have been good grinding wins out, everyone seems to be on the same level playing for each other. Fisher Harris signing has to be adding to our culture and his involvement is massive.

But the Nrl season is huge and we have good depth but we're only a few injuries away from disaster, the way the Tigers ran through us it feels like the Bellamy and the storm maybe threatening to expose us fully.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

3 out of 4 is great

Our propensity to play shithouse is an opportunity for improvement.

Our ability to stay in an arm wrestle game is one of the best things so far.

Niukore's hot time is great. Keeping him there is only possible in using him as a super sub. Limited minutes. Redline him. Hook him. That's the best way I can see him staying included and best bang for all those bucks.

Egan's form and leadership for the spine has been good. And 4 games for zero head knocks is awesome.

The halves - stay with them barring injury.

There's heaps more but more later

 

[Beastmode]

After Rd 1 debacle to have 8 points out of a possible 10 after 5 rounds?
I'll take that every day of the week and Sunday.

 

[Mr Drag]

Wayde Egan 1st in the NRL for Dummy half runs at 32, 2nd place is 18

 

[sup42]

We are doing a lot better than I dared to hope really.

Especially beating decent names like Manly and the Roosters, they are real NRL clubs who have had the wood over us for a long time.

I didn't care about results coming into this season, that hasn't really changed, I just want to see us developing into a long term decent NRL team, same thing I want every year.

The foundation of positive change in the NRL is defence, and ours is pretty good. Then the game is about winning the ruck, we are holding our own there.

From there it is about the kicking game, and ours is pretty good. So yeah I don't care about our horrible attack because it is also hard for opposition coaches to plan against, since our try''s are coming a lot from individuals beating their opposites in one on one duels.

Erin Clark has been the stand out player for mine, seems to tip the balance in our favor off the back of FIsh and Barney.

But lots of players deserve a shout in this team, Halasima of course is the flavor of the month, deservedly.

One thing I noticed when we had all the young guys on, we conceded a try to the Tigers through the most massive gapping hole on our line, that is the reason right there why you don't just pick all the young guns and throw them on, give them all the minutes that fans want them to have.

Simple things like positioning leaving big gaps is why you use older players eh.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

One thing I noticed when we had all the young guys on, we conceded a try to the Tigers through the most massive gapping hole on our line, that is the reason right there why you don't just pick all the young guns and throw them on, give them all the minutes that fans want them to have.

Bunty was the senior bloke there, I was a bit disappointed in him. Poor on Demetric and Leka too though.

 

[sup42]

Bunty was the senior bloke there, I was a bit disappointed in him. Poor on Demetric and Leka too though.

Yeah, looked like lack of cohesion and communication. Not even one of the lapses through poor effort, rather a total break down.