We have currently the leagues 4th best defence and 13th best offence. One area has much more room to improve. If AKP can even be a slightly below average winger defensively thats a net gain considering what he offers on attack.
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We have currently the leagues 4th best defence and 13th best offence. One area has much more room to improve. If AKP can even be a slightly below average winger defensively thats a net gain considering what he offers on attack.
Cameron George says there's only 1-2 spots on the roster next year then clarifies it's one. NRL website currently lists 26. "Lots of kids coming through". When pressed on external recruits he mentions looking for someone fast but states that could be an outside back or a forward. On that, on Facebook today I've read someone reckon that they saw AKP at Auckland Airport last week, prior to the Titans team flying in.
Recruitment chat from 8:30 onwards.
View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qkWmf2rQsnLILCWP68YfD?si=lBn0fKLDRK-kwPqIJJbNVw
Recruitment chat from 8:30 onwards.
View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qkWmf2rQsnLILCWP68YfD?si=lBn0fKLDRK-kwPqIJJbNVw
1. Tuaupiki
2. DWZ
3. Pompey
4. CNK
5. RTS
6. TMM
7. Boyd
8. Vaimauga
9. Healey
10. Niukore/Ford
11. Halasima
12. Capewell
13. Clark
14. Lussick
15. Laban
16. Niukore/Ford
17. EIT
Really hope it ends up something like this
2. DWZ
3. Pompey
4. CNK
5. RTS
6. TMM
7. Boyd
8. Vaimauga
9. Healey
10. Niukore/Ford
11. Halasima
12. Capewell
13. Clark
14. Lussick
15. Laban
16. Niukore/Ford
17. EIT
Really hope it ends up something like this
In the modern game with the 2nd man plays, decoys and stacking sides with numbers means man on man is rarely the case and an edge defender has to jam in pending on the shift. I think also what people need to realize if your an edge defender and the ball is on the opposite side of the field your never standing opposite your winger or centre to start with. Your inside shoulder or probably even further infield to compress the defensive line which closes that space up around the ruck. Always get a chuckle when i hear "why wasnt he on his man"
Dals issue seems he doesnt let the play unfold as to wether his insides can actually recover before he makes that decision to jam and presents that outside oppertunity when if held out a little longer there was none.
In saying that tho against the Titans u couldnt fault Dal for the tries being scored on his edge. Capewell was the one jamming in early and Dallin just followed him. Any good winger knows when your centre jams in u follow him. He followed policy. Week before he was diabolical thoi.
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No shrine mate but the last 5 games or even more have shown we needed to lift our attacking threat. It won't be one player that wins or loses this game. Hopefully Boyd/TMM can click and deliver, though like most pundits know, it's difficult for halves to prosper if the forwards arent laying a platform. Can ours do enough to at least get parity?
I'm hoping TT comes into fullback and CNK to the centres because that bench looks very light and I don't have faith with Capewell in the centers.
Look, I don't think we were going to go far with a Boyd/CHT halves pairing. It will be a massive effort if we get the win, but even a strong showing could be enough to give confidence for a run home. The Dolphins are a very good side and play good football. They are deserved favourites but we have seen this season that doesn't necessarily translate in to results.
I'd rather a team with TT, Boyd, TMM and Healey as the spine playing footy and trying stuff than falling to dour losses from robotic play.
Let's see how we go, nothing to lose really is there.
Shaun Johnson.
Couldnt tackle for shit when he came to the club.
Reuben Wiki took him under his wing, ran at him every practice until eventually he was putting the likes of Sam Burgess on his arse.
Darren Lockyer another. Was a shit defender so every team targetted him until through probably sheer repetition he became competent,
Dallins issue isnt tackling, its reading the play.
Jett’s contract has been upgraded from train and trial to top 30, making him eligible to make his first grade debut this season.
www.zerotackle.com
Jett Cleary
Jett Cleary of New Zealand Warriors player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.
www.zerotackle.com
We have an edge of a guy with zero lateral mobility next to a guy with poor initial contact next to a guy who struggles with decision making.
He doesnt jam, he goes halfway and second guesses himself then hesitates.
Pompey jams, RTS jams, Taine jams, even Ali jams, DWZ gets isolated and exposed
Jett Cleary
Jett Cleary of New Zealand Warriors player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.
www.zerotackle.com
Jett Cleary into the top 30 for rest of the season in a contract upgrade
I actually feel bad for Webster. He has taken a roster that lets face it is not top 4 on paper to the top 4. He then gets to see us perform like that in the weekend. When I heard about Tohu, I actually posted somewhere on here that I thought we would be bottom 3. I am still surprised that we are in the top 4.
At the beginning of the year we had a quality pack with fast defensive line speed and had some effort players like Capewell and Rocco that would chase the kicks in the corner. We had very limited x-factor which was our rookie half and Leka and to a lesser extend Demi but he mainly plays a middle role. Somehow he gotten us to win 12 times. It is a limited and fairly boring game style but it suits the team he has.
I also see plenty of people post that we should recruit this player or that player but the reality is that we as a club have always struggled to get players over here. Sure we get the odd players which we can all name but we are not a destination of choice for NRL players. This why Webster does not have fast outside backs. We will have to rely on our pathways, take a chance on a NSW Cup player or hope a Kiwi NRL player gets homesick.
As to the gameplan. They had a preseason and practice every week to play a certain way. To change it radically at this stage I just could not see it happening. Next year though if LM is still unavailable then a Boyd/Linnane looks interesting. Linnane seem to be quick off the mark. I would also have TT at fullback. Would love to see him play a role like Papenhuyzen does for the Storm or Drinkwater does for the Cowgirls. CNK would be in the Centres as our current ones Pompey aside seem to be broken most of the time.
Webster is a quality coach in my view. We just seemed to have run out of steam. That could change as a week is long time in the NRL but the team looks broken and tired atm.
At the beginning of the year we had a quality pack with fast defensive line speed and had some effort players like Capewell and Rocco that would chase the kicks in the corner. We had very limited x-factor which was our rookie half and Leka and to a lesser extend Demi but he mainly plays a middle role. Somehow he gotten us to win 12 times. It is a limited and fairly boring game style but it suits the team he has.
I also see plenty of people post that we should recruit this player or that player but the reality is that we as a club have always struggled to get players over here. Sure we get the odd players which we can all name but we are not a destination of choice for NRL players. This why Webster does not have fast outside backs. We will have to rely on our pathways, take a chance on a NSW Cup player or hope a Kiwi NRL player gets homesick.
As to the gameplan. They had a preseason and practice every week to play a certain way. To change it radically at this stage I just could not see it happening. Next year though if LM is still unavailable then a Boyd/Linnane looks interesting. Linnane seem to be quick off the mark. I would also have TT at fullback. Would love to see him play a role like Papenhuyzen does for the Storm or Drinkwater does for the Cowgirls. CNK would be in the Centres as our current ones Pompey aside seem to be broken most of the time.
Webster is a quality coach in my view. We just seemed to have run out of steam. That could change as a week is long time in the NRL but the team looks broken and tired atm.
Egan has only missed 1-2 games all season, Healey is a much bigger waste on the bench.
People are overreacting due to Egans early injury.
Fact of the matter is, Te Maire covers 1, 6, 7 very well. Covers centres averagely and covers 9/13 poorly.
Healey covers 9 very well. Thats it. He would barely get 20 mins if Egan is fit the entire game. Thats a wasted bench spot.
I think anyone expecting anything different from what we are seeing now from Webster will be disappointed. He is conservative in his approach and style. As much as there was talk about learning from last season, I'm not seeing it. Capewell clearly busted, CHT looks like he is too (3 runs for 19m against the Titans) Add in CNK and DWZ. He would rather play them than rest them to get them right even with someone like TT available. SJ and Tohu from last season ring any bells? Talk of not playing Egan for 80min a game but still doing so this season. We were comfortably in the top 4 with a buffer. If not against the last placed Titans when is a good time to actually manage the rosters work load especially with all our byes taken now? Last season he only really made changes after being absolutely forced to and then changed back to type from something that was working as soon as he could. Our gameplay this season is based on effort and out enthusing the opposition. Which is fine but over the course of the season takes its toll, particularly if you don't appear to have a plan B. There is only so long you can get up for the fight after week on week effort. Rugby League also isn't just about defense. Having the ability to convert position and possession in to points is crucial. We are approaching the pointy end of the season now and those sides that we managed to beat in effort areas have improved and matching that. That's literally all the Titans did, matched our effort areas, completed their sets but had the attacking gameplan to convert in to points. The attack asking questions of the opposition makes it so much harder to defend and following on from that it takes your energy away when you do have the ball. As has been talked about for the majority of the season, our attack has been very limited, I think 12th best attack in the league now? And how many tries have we scored from kicks? Must be close to top of the league in that regard? Our conversion of possession in the opposition 20 to tries is or very close to the lowest in the competition. And that has been for the most part with a very competitive forward pack and in most games a dominant one until Barnetts injury. Yet very rarely do we create space through attacking play. Rarely do we see variety when trying to make yardage, to often one out hit ups and kick. We are essentially the knights, defensively fairly strong and good effort but we have managed to close out the tight games early in the season through some individual play. I think the results have masked over a number of issues and many are quick to dismiss them because we managed to squeak some wins we probably shouldn't have got. The reality is we are a 6th - 12th type team currently. We do have some x factor available if AW wants to use them but that would mean being a little more flexible in his gameplan. We have the second worst winning percentage of current top 8 sides this season for games against top 8 sides. Something needs to change if we want any hope of not getting knocked out in the finals straights away - assuming we don't completely bottle it and miss the 8. I mean anything could happen in the finals but I don't fancy our chances currently against the majority of the teams in the 8 now.
Don't take this as an anti Webster post either. He is the best option for us currently. That doesn't make him beyond criticism or scrutiny though.
Don't take this as an anti Webster post either. He is the best option for us currently. That doesn't make him beyond criticism or scrutiny though.
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Here, here.
Some people have short memories. This club was rudderless, pre 2023.
We at least look competitive for a large portion of the season now.
Webby knows what he's doing and I think it is pretty clear that all the young guys have picked up on it really well.
Demi V looks like a future captain and leader to me, very akin to a young JFH.
Stay the course. We will see the results in the near future.
Dear Andrew Webster.
Please do not listen to the experts in here, me included.
Webster has the correct game plan, the sport is defensive. It is an attrition and endurance based.
What Webster lacks is the best possible players to deliver that plan, so he has worked miracles with this sub par group to get them to over achieve.
People calling for more attacking players are ignoring the fundamentals of the sport. They are ignoring the past three decades, where not placing the foundations first, has seen the Warriors rarely make it into the finals.
If Webster went out tomorrow and played all the names I constantly read in pick your team, he would destroy what he has built and turn this place back into the old Warriors, he would turn us into the Titans....fast exciting attack, no fundamentals of Rugby league.
What people tend to misunderstand, is that many players cannot learn the fundamental defence of this sport, nor develop the endurance to deliver consistency for eighty minutes.
They think that you take a bunch of attacking players who are rubbish at defence and you 'coach' them with some magical fantasy football coaching secrets and make them into defensive players.
Yet this competition proves that there are some where this is possible and many who will never get it...the latter being the kind of exciting attackers Craig Bellamy will not hire...because he know's he hasn't got a magic wand, he has magic game plan, staffing set up, magic salary cap (players willing to sign for unders) and he only hires people that can be taught.
Webster needs to stick to the plan. It is a five year vision, one where some kids will become the next Leka Halasima etc, and many will never get there, despite what they are doing in cup or lower grades right now.
The cold hard truth is some do not have the heart, the motivation, the drive, the intelligence, most of all the desire to turn their talented physical gifts into
the type of player that can play Webster ball.
And I know many hate that, but without it we are back to the same rubbish.
If the Gods are with us, a decent bunch of these star juniors come through the system that Webster has built, play Webster ball, play percentages, and bring the attack everyone craves.
Time.
Please do not listen to the experts in here, me included.
Webster has the correct game plan, the sport is defensive. It is an attrition and endurance based.
What Webster lacks is the best possible players to deliver that plan, so he has worked miracles with this sub par group to get them to over achieve.
People calling for more attacking players are ignoring the fundamentals of the sport. They are ignoring the past three decades, where not placing the foundations first, has seen the Warriors rarely make it into the finals.
If Webster went out tomorrow and played all the names I constantly read in pick your team, he would destroy what he has built and turn this place back into the old Warriors, he would turn us into the Titans....fast exciting attack, no fundamentals of Rugby league.
What people tend to misunderstand, is that many players cannot learn the fundamental defence of this sport, nor develop the endurance to deliver consistency for eighty minutes.
They think that you take a bunch of attacking players who are rubbish at defence and you 'coach' them with some magical fantasy football coaching secrets and make them into defensive players.
Yet this competition proves that there are some where this is possible and many who will never get it...the latter being the kind of exciting attackers Craig Bellamy will not hire...because he know's he hasn't got a magic wand, he has magic game plan, staffing set up, magic salary cap (players willing to sign for unders) and he only hires people that can be taught.
Webster needs to stick to the plan. It is a five year vision, one where some kids will become the next Leka Halasima etc, and many will never get there, despite what they are doing in cup or lower grades right now.
The cold hard truth is some do not have the heart, the motivation, the drive, the intelligence, most of all the desire to turn their talented physical gifts into
the type of player that can play Webster ball.
And I know many hate that, but without it we are back to the same rubbish.
If the Gods are with us, a decent bunch of these star juniors come through the system that Webster has built, play Webster ball, play percentages, and bring the attack everyone craves.
Time.
I do find the sentiment in here pretty funny at times. (I'm guilty of this stuff too).
Since the 2011 GF (13 full seasons) we have an average ladder position at seasons end of 11th!
Were clinging into 4th and people want to check the coach.
It's a good reminder we're on an upwards trajectory at the moment, but not much more than that.
And long may that continue.
Since the 2011 GF (13 full seasons) we have an average ladder position at seasons end of 11th!
Were clinging into 4th and people want to check the coach.
It's a good reminder we're on an upwards trajectory at the moment, but not much more than that.
And long may that continue.
Dear Andrew
I hope this message finds you well.
Over my 20 years of coaching from the couch, I have come to a significant realization: good teams improve as the season progresses.
Please bear with me, as the point I wish to make is not immediately obvious.
Our style of play has been quite safe and conservative. Many would argue that this approach has secured our position in the top four after 21 rounds of rugby.
They believe it is too late in the season to make any changes, and the same argument is made for not dropping senior players.
However, if we continue with this low-risk, safety-first approach, we risk being outplayed in the remaining rounds of the season.
This strategy worked earlier when teams were still adjusting, but now, as the season concludes, their error rates have decreased and their attention to detail has increased.
Essentially, playing it safe will likely result in losses nine times out of ten.
Andrew you need a game strategy that evolves throughout the season.
While starting with a low-risk, conservative approach is sensible, we must transition to a more expansive style as the season progresses.
Currently, we are stuck in first gear while other teams, notably Penrith, are firing on all cylinders.
Our reliance on non-contested bombs, the lack of offloads, and the failure to hold senior players accountable for recurring mistakes, such as DWZ, are not winning the trust and support of the team and fans.
The style of play last night mirrored the same approach we've had since round one.
The problem now is that the opposition is more focused, determined, and has studied our conservative, non-threatening approach.
The Titans executed this perfectly by keeping possession, avoiding mistakes, identifying our weaknesses, particularly on the right side, and using their speed and decoy runners to exploit those weaknesses.
This resulted in an easy victory for them. We put zero pressure on them.
We didnt deserve to win, we didnt win, and we wont win if this is the game plan for the rest of the season.
Wake up and smell the coffee Andrew. It’s still not too late for 2025.
If you need more proof, consider the 2023 finals, particularly the game against the Broncos. We stuck to our usual approach of not contesting bombs and exerting zero pressure on them. On the other hand, the Broncos suddenly employed a full offload strategy, continuously passing and playing expansive finals football. This approach could have, and probably should have, won them the Grand Final if it weren't for the individual heroics of Nathan Cleary. The strategy and formulation for winning finals football were clear.
It's time to abandon the conservative approach. Now is the moment to step things up, Andrew. Make the changes. It's not too late.
Kind regards
AI Co-Pilot aka Beastmode.
I hope this message finds you well.
Over my 20 years of coaching from the couch, I have come to a significant realization: good teams improve as the season progresses.
Please bear with me, as the point I wish to make is not immediately obvious.
Our style of play has been quite safe and conservative. Many would argue that this approach has secured our position in the top four after 21 rounds of rugby.
They believe it is too late in the season to make any changes, and the same argument is made for not dropping senior players.
However, if we continue with this low-risk, safety-first approach, we risk being outplayed in the remaining rounds of the season.
This strategy worked earlier when teams were still adjusting, but now, as the season concludes, their error rates have decreased and their attention to detail has increased.
Essentially, playing it safe will likely result in losses nine times out of ten.
Andrew you need a game strategy that evolves throughout the season.
While starting with a low-risk, conservative approach is sensible, we must transition to a more expansive style as the season progresses.
Currently, we are stuck in first gear while other teams, notably Penrith, are firing on all cylinders.
Our reliance on non-contested bombs, the lack of offloads, and the failure to hold senior players accountable for recurring mistakes, such as DWZ, are not winning the trust and support of the team and fans.
The style of play last night mirrored the same approach we've had since round one.
The problem now is that the opposition is more focused, determined, and has studied our conservative, non-threatening approach.
The Titans executed this perfectly by keeping possession, avoiding mistakes, identifying our weaknesses, particularly on the right side, and using their speed and decoy runners to exploit those weaknesses.
This resulted in an easy victory for them. We put zero pressure on them.
We didnt deserve to win, we didnt win, and we wont win if this is the game plan for the rest of the season.
Wake up and smell the coffee Andrew. It’s still not too late for 2025.
If you need more proof, consider the 2023 finals, particularly the game against the Broncos. We stuck to our usual approach of not contesting bombs and exerting zero pressure on them. On the other hand, the Broncos suddenly employed a full offload strategy, continuously passing and playing expansive finals football. This approach could have, and probably should have, won them the Grand Final if it weren't for the individual heroics of Nathan Cleary. The strategy and formulation for winning finals football were clear.
It's time to abandon the conservative approach. Now is the moment to step things up, Andrew. Make the changes. It's not too late.
Kind regards
AI Co-Pilot aka Beastmode.
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Probably all been said on the thread already but can’t be bothered trolling back through all the pages.
Was at the game and obviously we came out ready to roll. I thought we would go on with it.
Their first try was just a numbers game with Egan on the deck. Taken advantage of well.
The second, which was on Dals edge was on Capewell coming flying in leaving him in no man’s land.
From there we could just get no momentum with the titans completing high, and numerous six agains and penalties, which was frustrating as hell to watch. Sutton didn’t have a great game.
We also lost out way when Fish and Clark were off at the same time.
Yes DWZ is well out of form and I’d prefer TT there at present, but Capewell wasn’t great last night. I can now see why he has the highest missed tackle count - rushes up quickly and makes contact but hardly ever seemed to stick.
Our missing troops really showed through tonight. I didn’t think Tanah was that bad, took on the line a number of times and is pretty crisp with his distribution, but we miss Metcalf’s speed and X factor for sure.
I always think a teams PD is a better indicator of where they should be on the ladder, and think 6th is deserved. Just hope the boys hang in there over the next month or so and notch up enough wins, but can also see some teams smelling blood at this point.
Was at the game and obviously we came out ready to roll. I thought we would go on with it.
Their first try was just a numbers game with Egan on the deck. Taken advantage of well.
The second, which was on Dals edge was on Capewell coming flying in leaving him in no man’s land.
From there we could just get no momentum with the titans completing high, and numerous six agains and penalties, which was frustrating as hell to watch. Sutton didn’t have a great game.
We also lost out way when Fish and Clark were off at the same time.
Yes DWZ is well out of form and I’d prefer TT there at present, but Capewell wasn’t great last night. I can now see why he has the highest missed tackle count - rushes up quickly and makes contact but hardly ever seemed to stick.
Our missing troops really showed through tonight. I didn’t think Tanah was that bad, took on the line a number of times and is pretty crisp with his distribution, but we miss Metcalf’s speed and X factor for sure.
I always think a teams PD is a better indicator of where they should be on the ladder, and think 6th is deserved. Just hope the boys hang in there over the next month or so and notch up enough wins, but can also see some teams smelling blood at this point.
