The Warriors aren't a rep team and neither are the Knights. They did the anthems as part of an ANZAC ceremony. Ponga has NZ background. That's all. Nothing to do with league contracts. Whether he comes here or not, he's not dropping hints by singing the anthem.
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Funny thing is, its almost entirely self inflicted. Him and Capewell were on the outer and Capes kicked in the turbo while Marata cant get out of 1st.
there has been many criticisms of Webby (from myself included). But, he has improved every single player that has come here.
That's pretty special. And he seems to be working out his issues with bench and rotations too.
Loved to see this quote from Erin Clark
“I’m happy here, bro,’’ the Kiwis international said. ”I’m valued here and I’m learning heaps under this coaching staff and the players.“
“I’m happy here, bro,’’ the Kiwis international said. ”I’m valued here and I’m learning heaps under this coaching staff and the players.“
We never once looked like losing that game. From set 1, we looked hungrier and more effective than the knights and for me, it was just a matter of time before the floodgates opened. And that’s pretty much how it was.
Our defense was solid. I thought as a defensive unit, we were gritty and executed well on the hole. Clark was once again outstanding and a lock for POTY. What a gem we have found to replace Tohu!
Marata going into the middle is inspired - whilst there were a few errors there and a sin bin (a touch unlucky but that’s where the game is right now) I thought he did ok and added some steel alongside Egan Ford and Barnett. Bench prop is probably his bag now.
We bombed a few opportunities but we are creating! TT was unlucky - Dal prob would have score that though! CNK was unlucky - Leka was perhaps a touch naive with his running line.
Our team (despite OB injuries) is looking way more balanced with Demetric Leka and Jacob in the side. Wish Fish RTS and Dal not far away, it’s going to be tough on a few players who will ship back down to Cup. Our depth this year has really improved!
Pathways and an injection of classy young players have lifted this team into the best position we have had in years. And they look like a super happy squad too. Don’t underestimate how culture is impacting results. Maybe it was time for SJ Tohu AFB to leave to let others shine.
Really happy with the performance and still we haven’t hit our ceiling. Cows next at Magic Round.
Once again,, my favorite coach to batter in Toddy P. Mr Rejection has a few issues up there and the way we are playing, we should beat them.
Anzac Day wins are special and it’s another curse we have now shaken off. Only the Melbourne one remains.
Onwards to Brisbane. I hope Titans win today and beat Dogs next week.
Our defense was solid. I thought as a defensive unit, we were gritty and executed well on the hole. Clark was once again outstanding and a lock for POTY. What a gem we have found to replace Tohu!
Marata going into the middle is inspired - whilst there were a few errors there and a sin bin (a touch unlucky but that’s where the game is right now) I thought he did ok and added some steel alongside Egan Ford and Barnett. Bench prop is probably his bag now.
We bombed a few opportunities but we are creating! TT was unlucky - Dal prob would have score that though! CNK was unlucky - Leka was perhaps a touch naive with his running line.
Our team (despite OB injuries) is looking way more balanced with Demetric Leka and Jacob in the side. Wish Fish RTS and Dal not far away, it’s going to be tough on a few players who will ship back down to Cup. Our depth this year has really improved!
Pathways and an injection of classy young players have lifted this team into the best position we have had in years. And they look like a super happy squad too. Don’t underestimate how culture is impacting results. Maybe it was time for SJ Tohu AFB to leave to let others shine.
Really happy with the performance and still we haven’t hit our ceiling. Cows next at Magic Round.
Once again,, my favorite coach to batter in Toddy P. Mr Rejection has a few issues up there and the way we are playing, we should beat them.
Anzac Day wins are special and it’s another curse we have now shaken off. Only the Melbourne one remains.
Onwards to Brisbane. I hope Titans win today and beat Dogs next week.
Yeah can’t get enough of Erin Clark
What a UNIT
Built like. A Tank
Low center of gravity
Good hands
Doesn’t give away penalties
Doesn’t miss tackles
Makes the hard yards up the middle when needed
Easily the best buy so far this season…
What a UNIT
Built like. A Tank
Low center of gravity
Good hands
Doesn’t give away penalties
Doesn’t miss tackles
Makes the hard yards up the middle when needed
Easily the best buy so far this season…
Would like to show some appreciation to Harris - Tavita. Hes been a integral part of our success so far this season. A defensive rock, A steadying influence at 6 and becoming more comfortable in his role.
Unfortunately, He doesn't get the grace that Metcalf gets. Continually mocked for his disastrous goal kicking/drop goal efforts in a certain game we lost.
Kid is improving and I hope him & Metcalf become the longterm halves partners we've been waiting for.
Ford, I haven't been a fan of. But shit, He is impressing me! Big quality minutes, Speed , Footwork & now a try scoring wizard!? Lol. I tip my hat to you sir.
Unfortunately, He doesn't get the grace that Metcalf gets. Continually mocked for his disastrous goal kicking/drop goal efforts in a certain game we lost.
Kid is improving and I hope him & Metcalf become the longterm halves partners we've been waiting for.
Ford, I haven't been a fan of. But shit, He is impressing me! Big quality minutes, Speed , Footwork & now a try scoring wizard!? Lol. I tip my hat to you sir.
Yeah I just watched the replay already knowing the score
great game to watch! No stress!!
Two no-try’s from CNK and TT
Casey Badger was our friend for once. Lots of no-try’s to the Knights thank you Ms
Could have won by a lot more but I’m not complaining …
Grade : A
Leka is a beast. Wished he’d just pin his head back and go for the try line when in the red zone on his first touch. instead he stopped to step which killed his momentum ….
Old man Caps has really grown on me the last few weeks. High football IQ. That catch and pass for Pompey’s try was so good. Also found a few gaping holes to run into
Oh yeah, Clark is a BEAST
CNK solid as ever. Takes the hard yards up the middle when we need it early in the count.
Two pies to FORD. Congrats
Great way to start the weekend.
Up the Wahs
We Rocked 'em, a Fantastic crowd all round here tonight, Onya Christchurchians, Onya!! Celebrating and high five'n strangers' an adrenalin filled wholesome feeling, I mean, yeah Let's GO Baby haha! Definite result and the halftime Entertainment was just so... Right! Savage "Ooo Aah Up The Wahs, Ooo Aah Up The Wahs!" 
Egan's lead, Tackles and Try was Brilliant (again fan'fu(k^n'tastic!) Ford deserves as he serves Perfect off the pine (2 trys, right time and perfectly placed!) Pompey, guys he got some smarts (errors aside but 2 trys!) Charnze IS Our FB (Monster!) Could and should post more but I'm goooone as Fatty V would say.
Anyhow, Sleep well my NZWarriors Whanau. We gonna beat them cowgirls next weekend.
Up The Wahs! *Drops mike
Egan's lead, Tackles and Try was Brilliant (again fan'fu(k^n'tastic!) Ford deserves as he serves Perfect off the pine (2 trys, right time and perfectly placed!) Pompey, guys he got some smarts (errors aside but 2 trys!) Charnze IS Our FB (Monster!) Could and should post more but I'm goooone as Fatty V would say.
Anyhow, Sleep well my NZWarriors Whanau. We gonna beat them cowgirls next weekend.
Up The Wahs! *Drops mike
Awesome atmosphere, big ups to the Cantabs for getting out to support the boys. I agree with you, being at the ground it didn't seem like an ugly game at all and we were fairly dominant throughout. Also, unlike most, I thought Marata was pretty good tonight.It actually wasn't very cold at the game, quite mild in fact. I didn't think it was an ugly win, we never looked like losing, only time Knights got on top was at the start of the second half. Knights kicking was terrible. Savage was great and we're not sick of the team song down here in CHC
Bring on next year at the new stadium!
Our attack is still clunky but I actually think we made some real progress on attacking shape this game. Just to drop a few comments here:
1. Kicking: I'm tempted to giving the kicking tee to TT. He kicked a clutch goal for us in magic round last year and nailed his not-so-difficult attempt today. Sooner or later the kicking is going to cost us a game.
2. Forwards: Even without JFH, we dominated the middle. Outran by over 300m and ran for close to 2000M again. 5 forwards ran for over 100 m (Capewell, Ford, Barney, Leka, Clark). In comparison Knights only had one (Thompson). Ford gets a lot of shit on this forum sometimes but he always does a job for us in the middle, both on attack and in defense. Capes finding a bit of form. The four forward bench works for us.
3. CNK: 270M. What a beast. Vindicated the extension decision. He may not be the flashiest FB in the Reece Walsh mould but he's exactly what we need within our system. TT has flair but he can't do what CNK does for us in terms of yardage. It's no wonder we went back to our 2000ish meter average in this game. Our meters in the Broncos game was down without him (only roughly 1500m instead of our 1900-2000m norm).
5-2-1 and solidifying our position in the top 4 for another week is awesome. Next week we can do even better and solidify a top 3 position because Canberra plays Melbourne. So if we beat the cows, we can move 2 pts ahead of the loser of that game who will be 4th.
1. Kicking: I'm tempted to giving the kicking tee to TT. He kicked a clutch goal for us in magic round last year and nailed his not-so-difficult attempt today. Sooner or later the kicking is going to cost us a game.
2. Forwards: Even without JFH, we dominated the middle. Outran by over 300m and ran for close to 2000M again. 5 forwards ran for over 100 m (Capewell, Ford, Barney, Leka, Clark). In comparison Knights only had one (Thompson). Ford gets a lot of shit on this forum sometimes but he always does a job for us in the middle, both on attack and in defense. Capes finding a bit of form. The four forward bench works for us.
3. CNK: 270M. What a beast. Vindicated the extension decision. He may not be the flashiest FB in the Reece Walsh mould but he's exactly what we need within our system. TT has flair but he can't do what CNK does for us in terms of yardage. It's no wonder we went back to our 2000ish meter average in this game. Our meters in the Broncos game was down without him (only roughly 1500m instead of our 1900-2000m norm).
5-2-1 and solidifying our position in the top 4 for another week is awesome. Next week we can do even better and solidify a top 3 position because Canberra plays Melbourne. So if we beat the cows, we can move 2 pts ahead of the loser of that game who will be 4th.
That and the cut out pass to TT bulleting right past Ali. Shame TT didn't lift his legs, DWZ lands that every time. And before that the Leka shepherd no try. There were a good few set plays that were inches away from being a try.
Two players that I reckon are getting unfair criticism tonight
Pompey - had a big hand in 3 of our tries and is usually safe in the air and safe in defence. Yes, he's a bit slow, but still a great player for us with such an outside back crisis right now.
Ponga - what's he gonna do in that Knights team right now? Front foot ball for us running off our plays and he'd be great I think. In fact I think there'd be a few good players looking at us right now knowing that they might be the missing piece. I reckon we need one big signing to get 1 or 2 more as players look for the next big premiership contender.
Pompey - had a big hand in 3 of our tries and is usually safe in the air and safe in defence. Yes, he's a bit slow, but still a great player for us with such an outside back crisis right now.
Ponga - what's he gonna do in that Knights team right now? Front foot ball for us running off our plays and he'd be great I think. In fact I think there'd be a few good players looking at us right now knowing that they might be the missing piece. I reckon we need one big signing to get 1 or 2 more as players look for the next big premiership contender.
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People saying Ponga's done - Geez, who's playing well in that Knights team? Knights look badly coached.
Be a pretty boring game for the neutral, ol’ Kasey badge getting the microscope out, lots of bomb to Pompey.
Metcalf plays with heaps of effort, how many halfbacks are scrambling to the corner to save tries.
Good to see leka start and also a good reality check that he won’t just break the line for tries every week.
Poor old knights looked like the late stage Kearney teams, toiling away but no idea how to score points.
Metcalf plays with heaps of effort, how many halfbacks are scrambling to the corner to save tries.
Good to see leka start and also a good reality check that he won’t just break the line for tries every week.
Poor old knights looked like the late stage Kearney teams, toiling away but no idea how to score points.
It actually wasn't very cold at the game, quite mild in fact. I didn't think it was an ugly win, we never looked like losing, only time Knights got on top was at the start of the second half. Knights kicking was terrible. Savage was great and we're not sick of the team song down here in CHC
run_it_str8_again
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With 2 fullbacks and 3 centres we won with zero wingers and our marquee signing and a whole bunch of mid level wouldn't get a start at any other club guys.
Winning in itself is a challenge. But winning cold night games, wet rainy night games and being where we are after 7 games is so much further ahead than I envisaged pre season.
Winning in itself is a challenge. But winning cold night games, wet rainy night games and being where we are after 7 games is so much further ahead than I envisaged pre season.
From the press conference it sounds like Niukore's days as a backrower are over. Webby pretty clear that his future is probably at prop and Leka needs to start and Laban deserves to be in the team...