General Warriors early season review

[sup42]

this is why I think it is critical we beat one of Melbourne/Brisbane after the bye or both. Not going to convince anyone until we start beating top teams consistently. We have the makings of a strong finals year. But we really need to prove ourselves against the very top.

I don't expect us to beat the Storm or Brisbane yet. But if things are tracking the way I hope then I expect us to put in a good showing and be even more competitive the next time we play one of those big boys.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

We have no reason not to stun both the Storm and Broncos. They have points in them and particularly Melbourne in Melbourne is as Goliath as we have to face. So because only we think we can do it is exactly why our focus should be on beating Melbourne in Melbourne.

Don't turn up to make up the numbers.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I don't expect us to beat the Storm or Brisbane yet. But if things are tracking the way I hope then I expect us to put in a good showing and be even more competitive the next time we play one of those big boys.

I disagree: if we are going to beat these sides, it's going to be towards the beginning of the year when they are still rusty and working things out. Odds are that we'll still lose to Melbourne in a tight one, but I actually do like our chances against Brisbane at Mt Smart. We certainly have the gameplan to trouble the broncs: we play very similarly to Canberra, who towelled them up not too long ago. Their expansive style might work well on the dry tracks of Sydney and Brisbane. But it's certainly not the way to approach the colder, dewey surfaces of Canberra and Mt Smart where the passes are far less likely to stick. That's certainly the mistake Manly made in rd 2 when they thought they could just run around us as they did at Brookie the week before.

 

[snake77]

A win against either the Storm or Broncos would be great for the teams confidence.

It is also a good test to see how we are going as it is a step up in competition.

I'm not too worried about the state of the teams we have played already and how they are travelling now. Put it down to the Warriors factor.
The teams we had for the first 4 rounds were a good test with the unknown on how we'd go after 2024. There was also a bit of an unknown on how some of our opposition would go this year. Manly and the Roosters were coming off good wins the week before playing us. The Roosters win against the Panthers can be looked at a bit differently now but we didn't know that at the time.

Some of the other sides have had pretty easy runs. Playing both the Eels and Dolphins when they have been terrible. Even the Dragons were pretty dire the first few weeks.

I'm more confident in the Broncos game with it being at home. A win and we go a step closer to turning Mt Smart into a fortress.




After the Eels and Dolphins winning yesterday the competition has a different dynamic. If we lose these next two games and they win one or both there isn't much difference in the competition ladder. The opposition results isn't something we can control. It just means we need to stay focused and take care of what we can control. Our preparation and our performance on the field.

 

[Tragic]

Metcalf is a good 6 and average 7

That's true today. The key to our success is how much he can progress quickly. Right now he is our best option so we gotta back him, can't chop n change and expect success

 

[run_it_str8_again]

That's true today. The key to our success is how much he can progress quickly. Right now he is our best option so we gotta back him, can't chop n change and expect success

His progress is directly related to the team's progress. I don't see it around the other way yet.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Just letting my nuts hang out here.

I think the Melbourne and Brisbane games are going to expose our gameplan. But unfortunately it’s more a personal thing than the actual game plan itself.

And I point to.
11. Capewell
12. Niukore
13. Clark
How many of these 3 would start consistently for Melbourne, Penrith, Cronulla or Brisbane.
I don’t think any of them would.
Even Canberra and Manly…….

We will beat the lesser teams and hit a wall against the better teams, picking up a few scalps IMO.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Just letting my nuts hang out here.

I think the Melbourne and Brisbane games are going to expose our gameplan. But unfortunately it’s more a personal thing than the actual game plan itself.

And I point to.
11. Capewell
12. Niukore
13. Clark
How many of these 3 would start consistently for Melbourne, Penrith, Cronulla or Brisbane.
I don’t think any of them would.
Even Canberra and Manly…….

We will beat the lesser teams and hit a wall against the better teams, picking up a few scalps IMO.

We can revisit this post in 2 weeks. But to put my own opinion out there, I think our gameplan is exactly the blueprint for beating Brisbane in particular. It's how Canberra beat them in rd 2: beat the living crap out of them for the first 20 minutes at all cost and see how they respond. With zero enforcers in their pack, they’ll most likely fold or Reece Walsh’s brain will implode. One or the other or both. That's literally a description of how we play as well.

Regarding the roster point, I think you are being very unfair on Erin Clark. Clearly been the buy of the season for us alongside JFH and is a revelation at lock. For our game plan, he's exactly the type of 13 we need and I'd definitely take him over the other 13s in the comp. As for Capewell and Niukore, they are both doing a good job so far and fit in well with Webby's game plan. Whatever you think of Capewell, he is still an incumbent origin player and Niukore is one of the most damaging ball runners in this comp when he gets going.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

We can revisit this post in 2 weeks. But to put my own opinion out there, I think our gameplan is exactly the blueprint for beating Brisbane in particular. It's how Canberra beat them in rd 2: beat the living crap out of them for the first 20 minutes at all cost and see how they respond. With zero enforcers in their pack, they’ll most likely fold or Reece Walsh’s brain will implode. One or the other or both. That's literally a description of how we play as well.

Regarding the roster point, I think you are being very unfair on Erin Clark. Clearly been the buy of the season for us alongside JFH and is a revelation at lock. For our game plan, he's exactly the type of 13 we need and I'd definitely take him over the other 13s in the comp. As for Capewell and Niukore, they are both doing a good job so far and fit in well with Webby's game plan. Whatever you think of Capewell, he is still an incumbent origin player and Niukore is one of the most damaging ball runners in this comp when he gets going.

Canberra forward pack is better than ours bro. Plus they have the personnel to beat Brisbane up. (Tapine didn’t even play against the Broncos)
Tapine > JFH
Barnett > Papalii
Nicholson > Capewell
Young > Niukore
Horsbourgh > Clark (maybe even, but if I had to pick I’d pick Horsbourgh)

I think Payne Haas and Carrigan are going to blast straight through us like they did in 2023. Im absolutely positive they’re not going to be bullied.

Who have we faced really?
Roosters sitting 16
Tigers although better will slide. (Brisbane just smashed them btw, we only just won)
We were given that Manly game
And got obliterated by Canberra.
That’s the truth…..

Now to your point about my point.
You kinda bounce around it without answering it (which is fine). And funnily enough I kinda agree. Especially Erin who is playing extremely well. But unfortunately our gameplan will probably be exposed and if he’s “perfect” for it.
That means it’s inferior…… Right?
Or are we beating Melbourne in your opinion? (Btw, nothing would make me happier this season. Besides winning the whole thing)

Now………
Would those 3 start for any of the better teams? Consistently………. Probably not.

 

[Noitall]

Canberra forward pack is better than ours bro. Plus they have the personnel to beat Brisbane up. (Tapine didn’t even play against the Broncos)
Tapine > JFH
Barnett < Papalii
Nicholson > Capewell
Young > Niukore
Horsbourgh > Clark (maybe even, but if I had to pick I’d pick Horsbourgh)

I think Payne Haas and Carrigan are going to blast straight through us like they did in 2023. Im absolutely positive they’re not going to be bullied.

Who have we faced really?
Roosters sitting 16
Tigers although better will slide. (Brisbane just smashed them btw, we only just won)
We were given that Manly game
And got obliterated by Canberra.
That’s the truth…..

Now to your point about my point.
You kinda bounce around it without answering it (which is fine). And funnily enough I kinda agree. Especially Erin who is playing extremely well. But unfortunately our gameplan will probably be exposed and if he’s “perfect” for it.
That means it’s inferior…… Right?
Or are we beating Melbourne in your opinion? (Btw, nothing would make me happier this season. Besides winning the whole thing)

Now………
Would those 3 start for any of the better teams? Consistently………. Probably not.

We were given that manly game? Really? I thought we really deserved that. Watching Olakau’atu at the moment and what he’s done this season, the way we shut him down was pretty impressive I thought

 

[Boats n Hoes]

We were sitting 6th this time last year with the same amount of wins, had lost a couple of close games we shouldve won but playing decent enough. Had just come off giving Souths a touch up and signed Fisher Harris......everything looked like it was coming up Warriors.....then of course it all fell off a cliff.

So far this season its been our pack (apart from the Vegas game) thats been laying the foundation, and our defence which looks like its regained that resilient 2023nedge thats been keeping us in games. We're certainly not going to blow teams off the park and we need to take teams into the grind every week. Thats where the likes off Barnett, Fisher Harris, Clarke all excell....in the grind.

I think what the next few weeks may exspose is our halves inabilty to break defences. We've dominated long periods in attacking zones where we havent thrown a lot at defensive structures (most our points seem to come off the back of individual brilliance) but have got away with it so far. Against the classier teams coming up those oppertunities lessen so we really need to nail them when we get them.

Interesting few weeks coming up

 

[Noitall]

We were sitting 6th this time last year with the same amount of wins, had lost a couple of close games we shouldve won but playing decent enough. Had just come off giving Souths a touch up and signed Fisher Harris......everything looked like it was coming up Warriors.....then of course it all fell off a cliff.

So far this season its been our pack (apart from the Vegas game) thats been laying the foundation, and our defence which looks like its regained that resilient 2023nedge thats been keeping us in games. We're certainly not going to blow teams off the park and we need to take teams into the grind every week. Thats where the likes off Barnett, Fisher Harris, Clarke all excell....in the grind.

I think what the next few weeks may exspose is our halves inabilty to break defences. We've dominated long periods in attacking zones where we havent thrown a lot at defensive structures (most our points seem to come off the back of individual brilliance) but have got away with it so far. Against the classier teams coming up those oppertunities lessen so we really need to nail them when we get them.

Interesting few weeks coming up

Yeah it’s going to be interesting to see how we progress. Amazing what in the space of a season can do, but unfortunately some of the games we failed miserably in coincided with SJ coming into the team last year. That rabbits one you mentioned was he and TMM and you’re right that there was a lot of optimism. So much of our current halves success revolves around our forward pack laying a good platform and Egan constantly threatening. We’re finding a new impact in our bench with these young guys replacing the impact that Walker had in his time here, particularly the first season and a half. What I like is we’re getting wins while they find their feet because you don’t want them peaking now and our halves will only get more familiar with each other, biggest thing is staying healthy

 

[sup42]

I think what the next few weeks may exspose is our halves inabilty to break defences. We've dominated long periods in attacking zones where we havent thrown a lot at defensive structures (most our points seem to come off the back of individual brilliance) but have got away with it so far. Against the classier teams coming up those oppertunities lessen so we really need to nail them when we get them.

Interesting few weeks coming up

It almost looks as though the coaching staff held a war council about the issues with the attack from the pov of being unable to repeat the successes of their first (2023) season in season 2024 and gave us this radical new 2025 look.

It is as though this lack of team work and fluidity in attack is by design, as if they threw the attack sheet out the window at Mt Smart and decided to start again with nothing. When I say it is by design I mean what we are seeing now, this total lack of team attack - may in fact be an intended consequence - an anticipated rebuild of the entire system. And I believe that the choice of our halves is actually supporting argument for this intentional 'start from scratch' deliberate planned management approach.

Like any company, when you want a new approach, you clean out all the experienced people and bring on junior staff that are more likely to adopt change.

The block plays and all the set play stuff worked brilliantly in 2023, especially down Dallins edge, he was untouchable in those set plays to give him air at the corner post.

Last year people commented a lot on how it looked as though other clubs had worked us out and shut our attack down.

After that we had nothing meaningful to offer, no way to try a plan B.

To me it seems the plan is to get these blokes away from structure to give them a chance to develop the type of game which offers an alternative (the plan B fans were baying for).

If that is true, then the structured footy will reappear when the off the cuff stuff is working well.

 

[Ref]

It almost looks as though the coaching staff held a war council about the issues with the attack from the pov of being unable to repeat the successes of their first (2023) season in season 2024 and gave us this radical new 2025 look.

It is as though this lack of team work and fluidity in attack is by design, as if they threw the attack sheet out the window at Mt Smart and decided to start again with nothing. When I say it is by design I mean what we are seeing now, this total lack of team attack - may in fact be an intended consequence - an anticipated rebuild of the entire system. And I believe that the choice of our halves is actually supporting argument for this intentional 'start from scratch' deliberate planned management approach.

Like any company, when you want a new approach, you clean out all the experienced people and bring on junior staff that are more likely to adopt change.

The block plays and all the set play stuff worked brilliantly in 2023, especially down Dallins edge, he was untouchable in those set plays to give him air at the corner post.

Last year people commented a lot on how it looked as though other clubs had worked us out and shut our attack down.

After that we had nothing meaningful to offer, no way to try a plan B.

To me it seems the plan is to get these blokes away from structure to give them a chance to develop the type of game which offers an alternative (the plan B fans were baying for).

If that is true, then the structured footy will reappear when the off the cuff stuff is working well.

Sup.
I called it and I quote “Webster Ball, whatever the hell that is” in another post on the Pick your team Melbourne thread.

The game must evolve from rehearsed dummy runners and second man plays.

I think Webster has seen the light and will be gradually shedding the minutes for Capewell and Niukore.

RTS has been immense lately but TT is closing on the 1 jersey.

 

[Gummy bear]

This may surprise some of you, it certainly surprised me.
5 rounds in the Wahs are the most disciplined team in the comp. I never thought I would see that day. OK, its only 5 rounds and not all teams have had a bye but...
The Wahs have;

1. Highest completion rate
2. Lowest number of handling errors
3. Lowest number of judiciary charges
4. Lowest penalties conceded
5. 13th for missed tackles ie we are in the best third
6. 15th for ineffective tackles.

We are winning by wearing teams down due to the above.
If our attack improves while maintaining this level of discipline we will be hard for any NRL team to beat.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

The next 9 games before bye 2 are interesting:

Storm away
Broncos at home
Knights at home
Cowboys at home
Dragons away
Dolphins away
Raiders at home
Rabbits away
Sharks away

The way we've played so far we should be looking at 5-8 wins here.
Imo, wins against Cowboys, Dragons, Dolphins and Knights are absolute must wins (banana skin game anyone?), with Raiders and Rabbits a step above them, while Broncos and Sharks are a step up from there, with Storm obvs the prize scalp we all want.

Winning 6 of those means that we'd be 9/14. Last year 12 wins made the 8 so that would leave us needing to win 3 or 4 of the last 11 games, which is very doable.

Year of the ambush baby

 

[sydneywarrior92]

The benefit of having our first bye early is that we play more games during origin. So I would add the sharks game to the winnable column. Having said that, I would just be cautious about extrapolating current form. 2 weeks ago, Cows would have been on everyone's list for wooden spoon and Manly, Cronulla seemed like contenders. Two weeks is a long time in rugby league, let alone 9.

The next 9 games before bye 2 are interesting:

Storm away
Broncos at home
Knights at home
Cowboys at home
Dragons away
Dolphins away
Raiders at home
Rabbits away
Sharks away

The way we've played so far we should be looking at 5-8 wins here.
Imo, wins against Cowboys, Dragons, Dolphins and Knights are absolute must wins (banana skin game anyone?), with Raiders and Rabbits a step above them, while Broncos and Sharks are a step up from there, with Storm obvs the prize scalp we all want.

Winning 6 of those means that we'd be 9/14. Last year 12 wins made the 8 so that would leave us needing to win 3 or 4 of the last 11 games, which is very doable.

Year of the ambush baby