Post Match Warriors v Sharks - [Round 1, 2024]

[Wellington Taniwha]

Thought Ford was ok defensively and that would be a tough debut for Laban up against Katoa or Chan. Could just identify another short ball threat that Ford put a few down? Laban had a few mistakes in nsw cup and looked upset with himself which I think means he’s been told if he continues the trajectory he’s on, he’ll debut soon. There’s probably enough there to take that gamble and play him? Also watching the nsw cup game, I think Leiataua is close to playing his way into the team and I thought he and TMM had a nice report going between them. If Capewell is injured they might not have much choice but to play Laban or Bunty starting prop and Barnett to an edge?

I don’t think Bunty offered a lot in the minutes he was on. I think you start Bunty as a softening up prop before AFB comes on and makes yardage….

Why was Ale even on the bench? Sometimes the prop rotation by Webster is puzzling. Compare this to roosters, panthers and storm who have a tried and tested formula

 

[Leon Black]

As much as I’m a Pompey supporter, I’d have Leiataua and TMM for their combination I saw in nsw cup. A step up in grades but TMM is the senior halve behind SJ and Leiataua has debuted. I think the team could benefit from the confidence Leiataua has. Good option to have SJ and Berry on the right and TMM and Leiataua on the left I reckon

So RTS to NSW Cup or fullback? And what about when CNK returns?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

SJ was playing for a long period there with a rookie FB who I thought was actually pretty good, just needs to work more on those link plays (CNK took a while to get them too), a back up 9 and a 6 who was missing - and he still kept us in the game.

I think this is an excellent point and probably where we fell down. I don't think it's been talked about enough...

Egan was gone for more than half the match, so SJ was playing with Tuaupiki, Metcalf and Lussick for 45 minutes... Very tough for SJ to game manage when the other 3 spine players have probably played feck all together. Those 3 have about 60 games between them...maybe you can ride out that level of inexperience mid season, but its pretty clear how we looked so clunky when it's round 1 with all of those changes.

To put that in to comparrison, Broncos had their full spine and Penrith had 3/4 of theirs.

If Wade is injured and not playing next week, I think you have to either bring TMM in or shift Rog back to FB. Were not going to get very far against the Storm with such a green spine combination. Shit maybe you even bring both of them in?

 

[Leon Black]

Tmm made a fatal error in getting sucked into the ruck when the dummy half went through the middle and scored. Needs to get that out of his head.
Cht kicking and general play is not up to FG standards yet.
Metcalf needs more time with SJ and RTS.
Any new 6 will be the same

I remember when we were based at Redcliffe how irate I’d get at CHT’s under 10 metre high bombs on tackle 5 like he was Under 14 level. In his defence could of been a Nathan Brown tactical play

 

[Makasene]

Just on RTS
Did he pass the ball to Montoya at all during the game?

Not to put him away or anything like that - just given no room, far too sideways.

I could be wrong but I thought it was about the 51st minute when RTS got his first good shift ball

 

[Cces]

Just on RTS
Did he pass the ball to Montoya at all during the game?

I can't recall a pass to Montoya but can't recall a good opportunity to that went begging either. Can't differentiate between his work at Centre & Fullback but stats say he passed it 4 times, Berry 3, Ramien 1 & Talakai 6. None of RTS' passes were from dummy half so all in general play

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

Berry was fantastic on defence

But absolutely a no show with the ball

I thought he ran it up well a few times and hit some holes. His confidence on attack is still coming but he’s got the tip on and defence pretty much downpacked….although at the end that pass to dwz was a shocker.

In regards Metcalf, yep went completely missing in the second half. He’s an explosive player though and needs to learn his combos with RTS and Montoya. Backup RTS on the inside. If we can unlock that side it puts us up there.

Sharks defence was incredible and they are a good top 8 side. Outside backs are tough and up there with the best in the comp. Kiwi wingers! If we’d iced those opportunities in the first half or got a penalty try we would have come out on top.

No need for panic just yet. Don’t debut Laban against the Storm, but Fords gotta be on notice. Trust in Lussick but bring CHT onto the bench. Try and contain the storm but I feel like rhe season starts R3.

 

[Inruin]

I really laughed at this part in particular. Love it!

Sums it up perfectly! I think we can all get behind a saying like this...

Bitch Hate
verb
feel intense dislike for.
"Inruin continues to bitch hate on LM"
Similar:
loathe
detest
dislike greatly

noun
intense dislike.
"feelings of unrelentless dislike for a player despite that player doing some things quite well"
Similar:
loathing
hatred
detestation
dislike

It's easier to dismiss as that I guess. But my points still stand. They have have been consistent and the only real response to any of these points has been 'but he has speed' or 'he just needs more time'. Which indicates to me that the points are valid ones.

What would be the opposite of that? Where a player does one thing well and fans just automatically dismiss the obvious issues because of that one good thing?

The Lolo effect?

The LM's grand dad phenomenon?

 

[kurgal]

Am I the only one who thinks RTS is overrated? There was nothing to like about his performance.

 

[Cces]

Am I the only one who thinks RTS is overrated? There was nothing to like about his performance.

2nd most Post Contact Metres in the team, 2nd most metres from dummy half, most Offloads, 5 Tackle Breaks & no defensive reads leading to tries. Not bad for his first NRL start as a Centre

 

[John Nick]

It's easier to dismiss as that I guess. But my points still stand. They have have been consistent and the only real response to any of these points has been 'but he has speed' or 'he just needs more time'. Which indicates to me that the points are valid ones.

What would be the opposite of that? Where a player does one thing well and fans just automatically dismiss the obvious issues because of that one good thing?

The Lolo effect?

The problem is we need to settle on a 6.
CHT clearly not ready yet for FG.
Tmm promising but made glaring mistakes last night and would be a risk to play FG right now.
Time will be needed by any of the 3 to get the combinations right.
I guess I shouldn't defend our Warriors players when they are under pressure.
I would have thought that as Warriors supporters we would get behind our guys
But hey there you go..

 

[John Nick]

Am I the only one who thinks RTS is overrated? There was nothing to like about his performance.

Disappointed last night.
Especially after that unbelievable trial game.

 

[tyrael]

Coming in a close 2nd of shithouse performance after our attack for 60 minutes was the ground announcer trying to get the crowd going. It's not authentic and thought it made the atmosphere worse.

 

[Uster101]

I know it was just the first game but they went away from what worked last year. They never got the ball to the wingers who were lethal last season. Did our wingers actually get the ball apart from running back for a Sharks kick? The fist 20 mins was pretty good, but the entire team went missing in the final 60 mins. Storm this weekend? After that performance and seeing the Storm play we don't have a chance in Melbourne. 2 games into the season and we will already be dropping well off the pace!

 

[kos]

I can't recall a pass to Montoya but can't recall a good opportunity to that went begging either. Can't differentiate between his work at Centre & Fullback but stats say he passed it 4 times, Berry 3, Ramien 1 & Talakai 6. None of RTS' passes were from dummy half so all in general play

So Metcalfe cramped up RTS space passing the ball to him.
Montoya had no runs apart from one ups from the dummy half.

So Montoya had zero scoring opportunities.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

RTS isn't gonna be able to do much ball in hand playing on the left with Metcalf and Ford that's for sure. It's even worse for him when Lussick is on.

I maintain I was disappointed when we let Curran go, in my mind he is a far superior player than Ford. Ford is literally one of the most error prone players I've ever seen.

Would be looking to shift Metcalf and Lussick for TMM and CHT too. They were abysmal apart from Metcalfs one moment of brilliance but that's not what we need from a half.

 

[Inruin]

RTS isn't gonna be able to do much ball in hand playing on the left with Metcalf and Ford that's for sure. It's even worse for him when Lussick is on.

I maintain I was disappointed when we let Curran go, in my mind he is a far superior player than Ford. Ford is literally one of the most error prone players I've ever seen.

Would be looking to shift Metcalf and Lussick for TMM and CHT too. They were abysmal apart from Metcalfs one moment of brilliance but that's not what we need from a half.

Ford is a player that you really want to like and want to do well but just seems to keep coming up with an error or a penalty.

I liked Curran too but obviously on the outer here. Thought he lifted the energy when he used to come on.

Was also happy with Sironen as our utility and I think he will be missed more than some realized at the time.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

A lot to like about that game. high completion rate of 82%. We dominated possession with 54% as well, so disappointing we didn't go on with it. As a couple mentioned playing with a different spine to what we've been training with all pre-season with Egan only playing 34 mins and Tuaupiki replacing CNK.

Also when AFB and Barnett came off we started losing up the middle, Sharks had a clear plan to weather the storm and come home strong with Rudolf and Finucane off the bench. We simply weren't able to convert all the pressure we applied into more points and let them off the hook early with Ford dropping the ball too many times, then letting the pressure off more with yardage penalties our of their end as well - should have tidied that up after they were given the first penalty.

Plenty to work on, but to keep one of the best attacking sides currently in the comp to 16 points was a pretty decent effort.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Ford is a player that you really want to like and want to do well but just seems to keep coming up with an error or a penalty.

I liked Curran too but obviously on the outer here. Thought he lifted the energy when he used to come on.

Was also happy with Sironen as our utility and I think he will be missed more than some realized at the time.

Yeah mate completely agree, Ford does some things really well, no question, but the penalties and errors really hurt us.

Curran was a big loss and yeah Siro was a much better utility than Lussick. Two big loses even if I am happy with acquiring both RTS and Capewell.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Foran Killed it at dummy half last year for GC. Who knew aye??

Maybe mould CHT or is it too late??

In all seriousness it's about growing Lussick who has dummy half foundations. I think its too important a position to have a hybrid unless it's of a high quality player. Too early to panic. Just need to keep your heads in the game for the whole game. Turn up. Switch on. Stay on. Lussick is it. A problem and a solution. Perhaps if Charnze returns, Lussick goes better. Charnze, Niukore and Egan to come back and meanwhile. We have Lussick. Still better than Jazz in my opinionated opinion.