Highlighted posts

3rdstriker said:

Good interviews with Luke Metcalf while it would be good to resign him before November the 1st, it also would be good to give him more time to bed himself in and see if he remains injury free.

Metcalf: Really pleased to see Capes lead us out this week

Luke Metcalf on Kurt Capewell as captain and contracts for Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban.

www.warriors.kiwi

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Very level headed young man, seems to understand exactly where he is and where we're at as a club and how quickly things can change.

I know anything can happen but he seems to be enjoying his footy here, I'm not getting compassionate release vibes.

If you include NSW Cup & preseason, it'll be the 18th straight game for Metcalf tomorrow. How many does he need to string together before the apprehension about his hammy disappears when considering an extension?

Last 5 weeks have been great but they have really just been the warm up for this game. If we win this without JFH and Barney against the monster Raiders pack, which I believe we can, this will send a signal to the rest of the comp that we are a serious team this year. It will also mean that we never have to talk about Vegas again.

I'm so sick of hearing about it every week, even if we win. It's been 3 months since Vegas and we've won 8 of 9 since then yet all we ever hear from the Aussie haters is "... but Vegas". Every team has s**t the bed at some pt this year. Melbourne got belted by the Dolphins who currently sit in the bottom 4. Raiders got pummeled by Manly who have been inconsistent all year. Bulldogs got smashed by Broncos who currently sit outside the 8. Yet none of these teams are haunted by those horror shows to the same extent we are with our Vegas debacle.

It all ends this week. Packed and Blacked out for our first home game in a month. Revenge on the menu. Special Occasion with the Dear Warrior Jerseys. Raiders coming to Mt Smart fatigued and tired from travel and the lack of a bye. Wet and dewy surface on a Sunday Auckland Night hampering the open attacking style of the Raiders and benefitting our defensive gameplan. All of the stars are aligning this week for a reverse ambush and six in a row. Win this and we go 4pts clear of 3rd and 2nd place is ours to lose. So the ceiling of how far we can go this season will be dictated by the outcome of this game.

Noitall said:

Credit where it’s due though, he put some beauties up that led to tries on the weekend

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All season for me. He has been very accurate and the shallower height gives the opposition less time to catch/spoil. Metcalf has been good too.

CHT's weaker area is his long kicking, but I've been impressed the role he is playing this year. He has taken the line on a lot and looked quite zippy doing so. Like many before him, he is sitting in the shadows because the NRL hype train has got to make a superstar out of one player at a time. Metcalf is going great guns, but he is being ably supported by CHT, Egan and our big boys.

Lance155 said:

I need to watch Laban more closely, haven't formed an opinion on him yet. What player would people say he is similar to at this stage?

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I see Sup42 compared him to a Hugh McGann and I think that is a good call.

My view is that he hasn't filled out into his frame yet. When he does he will be an absolute unit, along the lines of the great Steven Kearney. Perhaps he doesn't have the chisel edge of SK, but his motor, size and skill makes me think once he is fully developed, he could be an absolute weapon.

Noitall said:

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5XbhASWPj/

These guys love this club

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So heart warming

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5XbhASWPj/

These guys love this club

cock_o said:

MGT signed to Rabbitohs for 26

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Good on him! Well done warriors for getting this kid back home and building him up for an NRL oppertunity.

God, it's hard to not be excited about the future of this club.

Well played, Warriors recruitment. Well played.

Laban is a relief.

I was not worried about Leka. The club know what they have there. Pleased they know Laban is a future star of a different kind also.

That Try Laban scored this week, his first NRL Try, is absolute text book Laban, he has done that before, more than one, followed the kick, plucked the ball out of the air, found the turf. It is a specialty of his.

Laban reminds me of Hugh McGahan at the same age. A defensive backrower who was highly fluid when he ran - Ali Lauitiiti ran like that, you can just see it...he glides....that Try where he regathers a bobble from a mid air challenge for the ball, twists and slam dunks it is what I am talking about....that is classic Ali Lauitiiti mobility for a large body.

Laban has a unique combination of Traits for a young Warriors product, Size, mobility, engine, hand eye coordination.

If you were to critcize his game (some have started already) he when compared to Leka and Demitric lacks explosive power and off the mark speed.

Give Laban time and patience, he will be the most balanced forward of the lot. His game is a defensive game and he has been blessed with the ability to fool the defence in critical moments because teams will see him as a tacklebot.

Warriorsfan92 said:

Huge.

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Let's Go!!! That's some of the best news all year.

Sick, don’t even care about the money, they seem like hard workers and they can’t get homesick. Skies the limit

Ponga at 27, playing fullback? I’d take that in a heartbeat. Sure, we’d likely have to let a few forwards go, maybe some aging outside backs—but pair him with Luke and Egan and it’s pure fucking

All we’d need is a steady, low-cost 6 to steer the ship. With that forward pack? We’d be scary AF.

Let’s be real, he hasn’t had a proper 6, 7, or 9. Not even a ball-playing lock. And some of those coaches, absolute duds!

KP wouldn’t cop the ire of Knights fans either, only snipes from us palooka’s Those against, book in for a brain scan!

Fuck me 4 years ago we’d be happy with a signing of the calibre of Kane Evans. Now we’re knocking back Lamborghini’s

Get them onside ref! said:

Vaiamauga still not convincing me
Early days I guess

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I’ve been a big fan personally. Think we’ve been spoiled with how Leiataua came onto the scene and what Halasima has been doing since getting his opportunity and Vaimauga and Laban will get better and better

Id say if Ali is moving fine at training, fitness test etc he plays. But dont mind capewell at centers. Blokes been super solid for past 3 weeks.

I still get baffled with all these people on FB calling for Taine over Rog (even though Rog carried for 200+m). Him and charnze carrying first two hit ups sets a lot of us.

Dal should get better too. Overall nice team.

Will be a cracker

Great move by Webby to make Capes Captain. Counters the disappointment from Origin selection and I bet he’ll want to prove to the selectors that he’s still got it.

Noitall said:

Apparently Maguire has approached broncos management and hierarchy saying saying he needs to turn the roster over. Could become some good players available, but attitude might not be optimal

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Jessie Arthurs would be good for a wing spot. Plays tough and seems to be one with a good head on his shoulders.

I'm just pleased that it's nearly June and we haven't started the traditional "have we still got a mathematical chance of making the Top 8" thread yet

Tookey 2.0 said:

Jeeze I hope we didn't piss Jake Friend off at any point (or who ever that is) as he's got some of our top young fullas. Leka, Laban, and Vaimauga all to the Roosters?

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Jordan that is, one of his brothers is the team socials manager, and another is a coach in the juniors, so we should hopefully be sweet lol- They are all nephews of Dean Bell I believe, as well