Team List Warriors v Titans - [Round 21, 2025]

[Wrighty]

Yes John
Afoa and Ale
Afoa 113 kg
Ale 109 kg
Our starting front row is popcorn weight
I agree Ford is ok not a starter though
Fords problem is coach Aw plays him for too many minutes

I agree Ford off the bench would a be strong proposition. That is what we were doing before Barnett's injury. Ford as a starting prop who plays 65 minutes is leading to us struggling to put teams like the Knights away. We need another answer. Whether that be Afoa or someone else.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Don't put down the value that Ford brings to the team .Webby can see his work ethic.
Fish while not a showy type in the AFB mold is instrumental to where we sit on the ladder currently.
Would have been great to get another middle when Barnett went down but who
Who knows who was available and willing for a short term job
Any suggestions

Ford may not be the biggest middle but he is doing a job for us there. ATM he is currently averaging approximately 136 meters per game as a starting middle. Number drops down to 130m when you include games when he came off the bench. That's actually comparable with Tino at the Titans who is averaging 143 m per game this year. Not to mention his defensive workload and motor.

As Bloke pointed out the other day, Ford stepping up is a huge reason why our middle hasn't collapsed in a heap with the loss of Barney, as many in Aussie predicted we would. Him, JFH, Demi, Erin and co aren't the biggest middles but they are incredibly mobile and their superior fitness has helped us get over the top of much bigger packs this season. Sharks game is case in pt. They need to maintain a four forward bench because all their big middles other than AFB are buggered after 20-30 minutes. That inability to hold proper utility cover cost them big time when they lost two of their backs in that game.

 

[kos]

Ford may not be the biggest middle but he is doing a job for us there. ATM he is currently averaging approximately 136 meters per game as a starting middle. Number drops down to 130m when you include games when he came off the bench. That's actually comparable with Tino at the Titans who is averaging 143 m per game this year. Not to mention his defensive workload and motor.

As Bloke pointed out the other day, Ford stepping up is a huge reason why our middle hasn't collapsed in a heap with the loss of Barney, as many in Aussie predicted we would. Him, JFH, Demi, Erin and co aren't the biggest middles but they are incredibly mobile and their superior fitness has helped us get over the top of much bigger packs this season. Sharks game is case in pt. They need to maintain a four forward bench because all their big middles other than AFB are buggered after 20-30 minutes. That inability to hold proper utility cover cost them big time when they lost two of their backs in that game.

Tino plays less minutes than Ford
I would like to see more size in the first 20 minutes
Ford is playing way too many minutes and in the end of his long stints makes misses and errors/ the too many minutes is on the coach
Add Afoa or Ale or both in there for 30 minutes a game to get size effective tackling and a lower error rate

And yes TSS can move back to NSW cup

 

[Wrighty]

Tino plays less minutes than Ford
I would like to see more size in the first 20 minutes
Ford is playing way too many minutes and in the end of his long stints makes misses and errors/ the too many minutes is on the coach
Add Afoa or Ale or both in there for 30 minutes a game to get size effective tackling and a lower error rate

And yes TSS can move back to NSW cup

Thumbs up.

 

[kos]

Ford may not be the biggest middle but he is doing a job for us there. ATM he is currently averaging approximately 136 meters per game as a starting middle. Number drops down to 130m when you include games when he came off the bench. That's actually comparable with Tino at the Titans who is averaging 143 m per game this year. Not to mention his defensive workload and motor.

As Bloke pointed out the other day, Ford stepping up is a huge reason why our middle hasn't collapsed in a heap with the loss of Barney, as many in Aussie predicted we would. Him, JFH, Demi, Erin and co aren't the biggest middles but they are incredibly mobile and their superior fitness has helped us get over the top of much bigger packs this season. Sharks game is case in pt. They need to maintain a four forward bench because all their big middles other than AFB are buggered after 20-30 minutes. That inability to hold proper utility cover cost them big time when they lost two of their backs in that game.

I should have added
“You can say that again “”

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Tino plays less minutes than Ford
I would like to see more size in the first 20 minutes
Ford is playing way too many minutes and in the end of his long stints makes misses and errors/ the too many minutes is on the coach
Add Afoa or Ale or both in there for 30 minutes a game to get size effective tackling and a lower error rate

And yes TSS can move back to NSW cup

I agree he is playing too many minutes. Him being tired cost us a try through the middle against the tigers. But his work rate is Bunty + Ale combined. You saw the drop off in our middle performance in that Dolphins game where Ford had the 1 week stand down and Bunty came in for a straight swap. So Ford has to be part of the forward rotation imo.

As for TSS, I actually like what he has been bringing. Not the biggest body but always brings energy off the bench, especially his defensive output. Can be a bit loose with discipline but that comes with youthful exuberance.

 

[kos]

I agree he is playing too many minutes. Him being tired cost us a try through the middle against the tigers. But his work rate is Bunty + Ale combined. You saw the drop off in our middle performance in that Dolphins game where Ford had the 1 week stand down and Bunty came in for a straight swap. So Ford has to be part of the forward rotation imo.

As for TSS, I actually like what he has been bringing. Not the biggest body but always brings energy off the bench, especially his defensive output. Can be a bit loose with discipline but that comes with youthful exuberance.

Fair enough mate
We all see different aspects of games and players
I must watch nsw cup on Saturday bar tv 1035 am to update how those guys are going.

 

[CWC]

How cool was it in the last 46 seconds Fish took 2 hit ups along with Roger and Egan and they were all super effective, some teams in that situation just drop the ball second tackle

 

[WHB]

Looking into my crystal ball the refs are trying to bring the top four back to the pack. Maybe they want Panthers in the top four.
Anyway I think we are going to get cooked with more head scratching calls this weekend and lose.
The ref on the weekend called us for stripping when it was a one on one tackle. He knows the rules. The ref did not have amnesia or make a mistake. He is professional ref who knows the rules in his sleep. We are not this match. Especially given it is Des' 500th match. The only counter hope I have is that it is at Mt Smart and the fans have a way of yelling at the ref to scare him into giving us our fair share of the calls. So maybe we will win if the fan support is strong. But if we get up it will like 4 points or 6 points.

Have that same gut feeling.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

You should listen to the podcasts of the lower ranked teams (Tigers, Dragons, Parra). They are convinced of the exact opposite: that the top 4 teams are getting more of the calls as we get closer to finals.

Have that same gut feeling.

 

[Wrighty]

Have that same gut feeling.

Do you agree with me also WHB that the refs have been overly influential not just in the Warriors matches but for everyone in the past two rounds? Some matches I felt like yelling at the TV "Let them play !!!".......Anyway I hope we get a sell out on Saturday that will help our cause no end.

 

[Bay39er]

Can u believe Erin Clark hasnt scored a try yet this season?

Yes I can
I’ve had $10 on him every game to score a try so I’m down a wallop and at $7 to score this week unless I up the ante I’m not getting it back!!

 

[WHB]

You should listen to the podcasts of the lower ranked teams (Tigers, Dragons, Parra). They are convinced of the exact opposite: that the top 4 teams are getting more of the calls as we get closer to finals.

Sure Dylan Walker would beg to differ being a former Warrior.
Watched the game 3 times.
The closer the finals come I think it will be the same ir worse than the Knights game.

 

[CWC]

Ya howlers starting to creep back in against us recently, they probably want the broncos there for ratings. The worst part is the TMO as they influence directly on tries, or the one TT threw, Latrell’s ones were fine but backwards is forward, make it make sense. Or penalty try/sin bin. The ones against the knights were not directly in a scoring play. If Leka passed and someone else scored they probably rule it offside and let their boss shrug it off on Monday

It literally took Leka’s brilliance to win that one, and Boyd choking didn’t help, that was from a 4D chess challenge too, whoever designed the plan deserve a dally m point, even the timing to kick the first field goal was great, just failed execution

 

[WHB]

Do you agree with me also WHB that the refs have been overly influential not just in the Warriors matches but for everyone in the past two rounds? Some matches I felt like yelling at the TV "Let them play !!!".......Anyway I hope we get a sell out on Saturday that will help our cause no end.

I noticed it as well.
I love rugby league.
I coach a school boy and a Kotiro team and the volunteer refs do it for there teams and not the game.
I despise that behavior whether it be from grassroots school age or NRL.
Great full my kids listen and understand me on that part of the game,I see a few of them straighten up there parents after games when it gets the better of them.
We can't blame them.

 

[watcher]

There would be a big decision to put Ali at right Centre and Capewell to the edge. Does Niukore go to middle who drops off the Bench?

 

[Playdaball]

I have concerns of DWZ defense come finals time

I'll give you a hint ... take a look at the other wing

 

[sup42]

I am sorry the front row pairing of Ford and Fish is the worst in the NRL and the smallest front row by far. Fish is 105 kgs and Ford is 101Kgs. Afoa comfortably ahead of Ford if only for the fact Bunty is much bigger at 113kgs,

Yes to your clarification question Bunty is only good for 35 minutes tops so the two bench props would have to step up. I said all along but you all dissed me. We should have recruited a loaner middle before June 30th once Barnett went down.

You are forgetting that Jackson Ford is new to propping. In this regard he is making great strides.

Specific improvement as seen with the reduction in his errors from when he first joined us.

He has gained muscle mass, is harder in the contact both sides of the ball. He has managed this while possibly even increasing his speed.

Webster ball is about leg speed for play the ball speed. And it is a system that deals with in game injury to a forward pack by having eighty minute capable forwards.

The aim for Ford is to make him JFH and Barnett like. A project like that takes two or three years he is half way there in development.

Watch the end of the game last week, JFH is the player (plus RTS cameo) that uses his leg speed to win the ruck and make meters with two very critical runs that get us withing range of a shot, this is what he is there for. When you need it most, he is fit enough to put on two sprint bursts in the seventy minutes plus zone that their middles couldn't handle.

Webster is very transparent in this regard. Ale and Bunty have been outdated by the emergence of more eighty minute styled players in the form of Leka,
Dimitric and Laban.

Webster will have his cake and eat it too, he will eventually have a bench that only carries one unavoidable interchange (Clarks understudy) which means Websters teams can lose multiple forwards in one game and still win a game.

By giving different guys eighty minutes every other week he is keeping them all fit.

Ford is critical to that type of model. There is nothing wrong with him and JFH, yes an argument could be made about Ford conceding penalties, but hey it used to be the full Jazz, errors and penalties.

The team are entitled to defend his penalties in any given game. The Roosters and Storm win championships off deliberately giving away penalties.

Chronologically Ford is physically about to have his peak....stay the course, be patient.

 

[sup42]

How cool was it in the last 46 seconds Fish took 2 hit ups along with Roger and Egan and they were all super effective, some teams in that situation just drop the ball second tackle

Yes because Fish is an eighty minute capable prop, so he has the fitness to sprint twice in the 79th minute and win you a game, few Props that get talked up around here can do that.

I keep reading people saying Fish better step up this week. They really don't understand managing work load for endurance and sustained quality.

They really do not think it through, what happens if JFH burns out earlier in games? What happens when he has to stay on longer because of injury, or sin bins?

Step it up my arse.

Dude is doing exactly what he was hired for, he is the Simon Mannering of Props.

 

[CWC]

Wow 3 of the top 4 team's halfbacks gone, Fogarty the only one left standing