Gameday Witzer Pre-Season challenge round 2- Warriors vs Manly

[WAH MAN]

I think he gets a lot of flack for his kicking game. He has a decent short kicking game. Doesn't have the distance of the better halves running around though. But with our pack it shouldn't be required to get us out of trouble. And against the Panthers in that famous magic round upset he was the sole kicker and kicked for nearly 600m

I don't think it's as big of an issue as some make it out to be and the upside of his playmaking negates this for me.

His lack of long kicking can be mitigated by kicking earlier and randomly to allow for metres gained to be gained by chip and chase and medium distance chase and regather.

 

[kos]

Now you are confusing me!
Post Office?
Post Office Savings Bank Great South Rd Remuera
Comes to mind
Before ATM s
Withdrawing cash there on a Friday to spend on the weekend
Just round the way from Alltrans Express Freight terminal Market Rd Remuera

 

[WAH MAN]

It’s probably premature but I can’t shake that knights game and really are riding on some nrl and and a good showing in nsw cup and state cup to get us off to a good start to the season with Boyd. There was a discussion around ego on some players yesterday and how Boyd could use some, looking like not a hugely confident player in my eyes, and it’s far too early to make this distinction that his season will be like this but it just looked like much of the same as last year when he took over at 7. I’ve probably hyped myself up a bit but seeing the slow start to the season for the young lads, I’m just going to simmer a bit. I think we started slow in grades last year too didn’t we, not that that had a bearing on the top team

If Tanah doesn't get some positive internal dialogue happening, he's doomed.

I was gana say "if he doesn't sprout a pair of mango sized testicles soon he'll never become the ram he needs to be".

 

[Inruin]

His lack of long kicking can be mitigated by kicking earlier and randomly to allow for metres gained to be gained by chip and chase and medium distance chase and regather.

There are various other options that can be utilized but it would also require a change of tactics from AW

 

[kos]

If Tanah doesn't get some positive internal dialogue happening, he's doomed.

Stacey should be able to fix him - surely

 

[Dannevegas]

one trial game down and a shit load of chicken littles'! It was a good hit out for the greater player base and the second trial always presents more clarity but let's not forget that rnd 1 is in March..

I don’t think we can just brush off getting rolled by Manlys jersey flegg side, when we had 12 first graders in the 17 especially after last years back end

 

[WAH MAN]

I don’t think we can just brush off getting rolled by Manlys jersey flegg side, when we had 12 first graders in the 17 especially after last years back end

Maybe you're right but let's see how the season progresses.

 

[Wrighty]

I don’t think we can just brush off getting rolled by Manlys jersey flegg side, when we had 12 first graders in the 17 especially after last years back end

We didn't get rolled.

 

[Canonball]

Stacey should be able to fix him - surely

That's what so confounding about Boyd and our set up - you'd think there would be precise consistent messaging about what he should be working on - it's unfair, and too soon, but on the back of yesterday and recalling the end of last year I can't see any improvement in the guy's game within our system - it's like he's running the training shapes, both with no real commitment nor effective improvisation when that is required ... it's hard to take, especially when we all saw where Luke was at the start of last year and where he was heading before he got injured ... Boyd's a smart guy, you can tell - perhaps too 'book smart' - -- 100% saw more from Inch that had me optimistic in yesterday's effort and than from Tanah... and I reckon Inch would be a better fullback than he might be a half too ... i really don't know eh, but we need some answers from our halves depth sooner rather than later

 

[Brightman]

I don’t think we can just brush off getting rolled by Manlys jersey flegg side, when we had 12 first graders in the 17 especially after last years back end

so you want to start the sack Webby thread eh..

 

[WHB]

Doesn't need dumbing down bro. More that I could say it better.

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.

Thank you.

Really appreciate you understanding me and not thinking I was being D@#khead.

Yes,about everything on Boyd.

 

[Dannevegas]

so you want to start the sack Webby thread eh..

No but a couple of adventurous brain cells in his head would help

 

[Makasene]

I don’t think we can just brush off getting rolled by Manlys jersey flegg side, when we had 12 first graders in the 17 especially after last years back end

It depends what the goals of the match are. I'm certain 'winning the game' is not high on the list.

The young Manly guys are playing to impress. As did many of our young guys.

I have only one concern and that's Boyd. I really do think we have already seen everything he has to offer. He's not going to get better.

 

[mrblonde]

I don’t think we can just brush off getting rolled by Manlys jersey flegg side, when we had 12 first graders in the 17 especially after last years back end

Yep. Was that complacency or something that requires more work than a swift kick to the goolies to fix?
I think that Manly team played like they wanted some KOE action this year. We played like "We got bigger things to think about, can we just get this over?!"

 

[Noitall]

I thought I’d get a bit of context of how we were tracking last season around the first trial and if anyone else wants to have a look, the trials are around page 13 in the Warriors threads. Interesting reading that we played a sharks b team described by some to a 12 all draw. By the looks we played Metcalf, JFH and plenty of our first team players too. I would say the comments largely mirror this trial, people had concerns about Capewell and Erin Clark after their first trial but a comment that stood out is none of our young players look ready. That’s a real contrast to what I saw on Saturday with the young guys being the most impressive I thought. Interesting was to look at Pasikala last year and the comments, all at sea sea etc. Complete contrast this time with Pasikala impressive I thought, probably best outside back in my view watching against manly. Both opponents well under strength in 2025 and 2026 so neither opponent worthy of consideration that was the harder game

 

[WAH MAN]

No but a couple of adventurous brain cells in his head would help

Do you reckon Webby's hit his ceiling?

No adventurous brain cell training coming up for coaches by the NRL?

Thinking about it from an observational perspective. Webby seems to like our highest octane level and so do I. When we are on, we can foot it with anybody and destroy even the best defences.

But because we can't sustain it enough to go all the way in games and the premiership....... that appears the gap he's trying to plug by increasing fitness and fundamentals.

I agree those things are important but it negates x factors. And I really like x factors.

 

[WAH MAN]

I have only one concern and that's Boyd. I really do think we have already seen everything he has to offer. He's not going to get better.

Bugger. He's our first up guy.

We've had a few low ceiling halves in our time.

 

[Canonball]

Yep. Was that complacency or something that requires more work than a swift kick to the goolies to fix?
I think that Manly team played like they wanted some KOE action this year. We played like "We got bigger things to think about, can we just get this over?!"

When your Dally M Lock of the year doesn't chase out from marker when backed up on the line to let a try in then, yeah, it's something like complacency

 

[Noitall]

When your Dally M Lock of the year doesn't chase out from marker when backed up on the line to let a one out try in then yeah it's something like complacency

Pretty much 16 points put on us in both halves apart from a dropped goal at the end means defensively is where I’d like to see us be better in the next one. Again in consideration to the trial last year, it was interesting reading the comments that Vaimauga impressed in that game. Though he had debuted it was last season that he cemented himself in the team, I think we’ll see that with TSS and Laban where they’ll become regulars this season and by next season EIT at that point. Though he’ll still see plenty of game time and with a 6 man bench probably a good option to carry

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I dont get the hate for Boyd? Hes going to be great for our cup team!