Was meaning if they HAD to put a 2nd rower into the centres why not the guy that was a little underweight for the forwards and has experience in the halves (some ball distribution skills). Trials are the times you give such things a shot
Gameday Witzer Pre-Season challenge round 2- Warriors vs Manly
- Thread starter Wahs_Ultras
- Start date
Teets
♀️
I wouldn't go that far, but he has slowly but surely overtaken every other guy the forum and club rated ahead of him so it's definitely not a crazy line of thinking down the track.
Right back to his initial SG Ball class where he sat behind forum favourite Etuate Fukofuka in the pecking order, who seemed to be anointed by both the club and the forum solely on being a union halfback for a big 1st XV despite Tafua being a much better league hooker.
Hitro
📈
After rewatching the second half (mainly to see how the pathways boys were looking) with a little less caring about the scoresheet, I actually think webby would be happy with the majority of the boys.
All of them looked fit and seemed dialled in, except from the expected rust. It was clear from his pre match interview he wanted everyone to get a run.
We definitely didn’t throw anything at them but I don’t think we were even trying to, more focused on individuals playing well. It looked like the fringe 1st graders were almost more subdued than some of the younger boys getting a chance.
The other big takeout for me was how depth we have in our backs now, compared to last year and the year before. Not just the new boys but the ones who have been here for a year or two ( Kali, pasikala, Hansen) all played way better than previous years. Motu particularly, he was green as anything last year, but looked solid this year.
Highlights for me
- Mellars has the athleticism to be a real problem on the wing eventually
- pasikala and Kali are way ahead of this time last year
- inch is a great runner, looks strong in bouncing out of contact and a good footy brain
- RTV has the height and frame to be a monster and looks very aggressive.
- junior Sikuvea seems very strong on the carry and tough on D. Looks promising as a replacement for Clark eventually
- jack Thompson has some classy playmaking skills and puts his body on the line. Just needs to break 70 kg
- Tafua looks like natural scrappy hooker, good instincts
- tss was clearly a level above some of the other middles on the park. Again, awesome progress vs this time last year
- putuko looks like a great OB prospect
It looked like we had the most energy and go forward in the last 20 when the young ins came on and had a crack.
Rant over, Exciting times!
All of them looked fit and seemed dialled in, except from the expected rust. It was clear from his pre match interview he wanted everyone to get a run.
We definitely didn’t throw anything at them but I don’t think we were even trying to, more focused on individuals playing well. It looked like the fringe 1st graders were almost more subdued than some of the younger boys getting a chance.
The other big takeout for me was how depth we have in our backs now, compared to last year and the year before. Not just the new boys but the ones who have been here for a year or two ( Kali, pasikala, Hansen) all played way better than previous years. Motu particularly, he was green as anything last year, but looked solid this year.
Highlights for me
- Mellars has the athleticism to be a real problem on the wing eventually
- pasikala and Kali are way ahead of this time last year
- inch is a great runner, looks strong in bouncing out of contact and a good footy brain
- RTV has the height and frame to be a monster and looks very aggressive.
- junior Sikuvea seems very strong on the carry and tough on D. Looks promising as a replacement for Clark eventually
- jack Thompson has some classy playmaking skills and puts his body on the line. Just needs to break 70 kg
- Tafua looks like natural scrappy hooker, good instincts
- tss was clearly a level above some of the other middles on the park. Again, awesome progress vs this time last year
- putuko looks like a great OB prospect
It looked like we had the most energy and go forward in the last 20 when the young ins came on and had a crack.
Rant over, Exciting times!
WAH MAN
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Doesn't need dumbing down bro. More that I could say it better.Can you dumb that down for me please.
No disrespect
Got lost at allocation because it heightened after that.
The young bucks have been observed in this forum by some as having big egos. Some see it as a positive and others not so much. My statement about Tanah is that he seems not to believe in himself to be a great or legendary halfback. My observation in his first grade appearances are that he looks like he has the goods to me. But not in his own eyes. If he believed in himself or had a big ego as some suggest Leka, Leiataua and Vaimauga have...... He'd probably back himself more and have the confidence to "be him".
Needs a rite of passage type be a man thing. Like go and slay a Goliath or purposely tackle a big bugger at full flight. Or nail a play that wins a game. Unlike his game against Newcastle last year.
Excellent post
Good observations
That’s what you take out of trials
The score is well - wgaf
WAH MAN
⭐
I thought Gannon was 190ish.
Anyway. I give him one year, another pre season and half a season before I pass judgement on his fit. Like with plants and children. If you take them from their natural environment and put them somewhere new it can take time for them to get used to the new place.
And wives!
Post of the day
Makasene
🌅
I'm based in the UK and made a point of watching every Leeds game after we signed him.
I didn't want to be a negative nelly without giving him a shot, but I literally did not see him do a single thing in any match that made me think he would make it in the NRL.
Not to say he can't, but in a jammed position he looks way down the pecking order.
I was excited to see him play, but he seemed off the pace in that game. Hopefully he’ll look better in the next one!
I noticed that after he won mom early in the year then got injured that Brad Arthur seemed to put him in the player that is leaving next season basket.
Thing is, that Leeds side had multiple dominant ball players and Gannon looked like one too many, they barely used him, especially when their thirteen Cameron Smith was on.
Ideal team for him to come to in the Warriors, one starved of a ball player, he will get plenty of opportunities here. He needed to get out of Leeds.
People here are a bit harsh on Gannon. This is his first game in Australasia for a 21 year old kid who is still growing up in many ways. People need to recognize he's not a toughened 200+ game super league and England capped veteran forward coming over like Jimmy Graham for the Dogs in 2012 or Burgess before that. So expecting him to fire straight away in his first game is wildly unrealistic to put it mildly. He will be better for the hit-out, as with all the young boys who got to have a run.
Threads make me appreciate the time off we had after last season. It is too early to freak out over anything. Premierships aren't won in February as they say. In many cases, pre-season form is probably even negatively correlated with NRL results. Roosters, Melbourne and Penrith all got done convincingly in their trial matches, yet no one believes that they won't feature deeply in finals this year. Conversely Cows, Tigers and Tits all got up but I daresay none of them will feature in finals this year.
Webby got what he needed to get out of this first trial match. Get the young guns a taste of what it is like to play against men. Also give other guys who haven't played in a while some match fitness. The Phins trial is probably going to be a better reflection of where we are at and what Webby is thinking for round 1.
Threads make me appreciate the time off we had after last season. It is too early to freak out over anything. Premierships aren't won in February as they say. In many cases, pre-season form is probably even negatively correlated with NRL results. Roosters, Melbourne and Penrith all got done convincingly in their trial matches, yet no one believes that they won't feature deeply in finals this year. Conversely Cows, Tigers and Tits all got up but I daresay none of them will feature in finals this year.
Webby got what he needed to get out of this first trial match. Get the young guns a taste of what it is like to play against men. Also give other guys who haven't played in a while some match fitness. The Phins trial is probably going to be a better reflection of where we are at and what Webby is thinking for round 1.
Makasene
🌅
I know you've watched a fair bit of him too Sup and been positive so I didn't want to jump down on it all.
To be fair, there are very few guys in Super League that are being lined up by NRL clubs, the Kangaroos tour showed just how far back they are.
I'm sure Gannon will offer something and a 3 year contract means it may not be until next year that he gets a real crack but who knows.
Makasene
🌅
Not sure anyone expected him to fire straightaway?
Not seeing too many kneejerk reactions either.
Webby loves a project and wouldn't it be awesome if he could grow into something.
In reality though, 22 (he's not 21) is not that young and Super League lacks the physicality required to prepare for the NRL.
So I'm seeing a long road ahead for him. Opportunities will come, hope he takes them.
RE: Gannon, he is obviously tall but lacks the muscle or bulk that most NRL players have built over years. Looks like he's a while away from constant NRL unfortunately and should be in Cup for the year barring an incredibly bad run of injuries
Hitro
📈
Agree. Webby definitely seems like he gives his players pretty simple assignments when they are playing their first games at new levels. I think he’s naturally patient with players and keeps them to a small defined role as they build confidence at a higher level.
Look at how the debutants in the last 2 years are fed into NRL, small minutes, very structured roles, not much licence to go out and try to set the world on fire. TSS, EIT last year had very clear simple jobs. Demi, Laban and Leka are a few more games in and probably have earns more license to have a crack and trust their instincts.
It speaks to Webby style of coaching and man management - focus on your own job first, don’t get sucked into low percentage plays, play inside the system.
Gannon’s brief yesterday was likely just get some minutes under your belt, get comfy with the NRL. Don’t try and win the game yourself
As diehard fans who see a lot of the younger players, we want them to come out and have blinders in their early games, but Webby got them on the slow burn.
Recruitment and staff is a production line right?
SO where are they on the line after T1?
Gannon's not arrived as the finished product. He looked keen and different from our 'usual' back row skills & frame and not NRL-ready = debate over: season in NSW and let's put him in a position to play his part in 27.
Exciting moments from Thompson, Inch & Tafua.. and some others you can see real NRL futures, not making the numbers but high ceilings. But when they were on it was basically a youth team playing a youth team. Hopefully they'll be put into NSW for the season, harden up against full grown men, & they'll be close for 27. TBH I'd already be looking closely at Tafua over Healey, but maybe Healey is just trying too hard to be the 'spark' rather than doing his core role well.
I still think our window is '27-28. We need enough out of 2026 to make the team feel like winners with momentum. Including last years rookies consolidating and being able to win against top 8 sides consistently, and being a constant threat not just a chasing the highlight reel moments
Agree, I do think we need to recruit some spark in the spine, Fullback and Halves are our obvious weaknesses there.
RiceOwl
👍
Re: Gannon - he is more of a ball playing back rower having played in the halves previously, so yesterdays game wouldn’t have been a great platform him to show that aspect of his skillset. There was very little shape or plays that he could’ve played a pivot role.
My two cents on the game…
It was disappointing but I’m pretty apathetic about it. Trials are just so hard to get a true gauge on. Will get a clearer picture next week.
I liked the look of Thompson. The vision to throw that long ball was nice for a young kid.
Mellars is raw but there is talent there to develop. I can see a future where he is a first drop winger. That height is a real advantage and didn’t shirk contact.
I’m on the no to Leka at centre train as well at this stage, but maybe he just wasn’t all that enthused yesterday like many of the first choice players.
My two cents on the game…
It was disappointing but I’m pretty apathetic about it. Trials are just so hard to get a true gauge on. Will get a clearer picture next week.
I liked the look of Thompson. The vision to throw that long ball was nice for a young kid.
Mellars is raw but there is talent there to develop. I can see a future where he is a first drop winger. That height is a real advantage and didn’t shirk contact.
I’m on the no to Leka at centre train as well at this stage, but maybe he just wasn’t all that enthused yesterday like many of the first choice players.
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