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I think he is like a lot of the team. He is pretty bog standard with great commitment and a winning attitude. When the team is going well with our stars in play he is a useful player (better than that on defence), and when the team is short on numbers and he is one of an over-concentration of average players, he looks poor.
I think CNK is a fantastic member of our squad, as are a few other players that aren't necessarily gifted. Our issue is this over-saturation of these players. We just need to add quality in a couple of positions and the others will become assets again. That said, fullback is a crucial position offensively.
What we don't want to do is to throw the baby out with the bathwater and get rid of all of our reliable, committed stock and end up with enigmatic youth as we have been guilty of in the past. There is a balance.
TMM extension now confirmed for another year.
We let Selestino Ravutaumada go way too early. He turned into a gun union player
One thing I'd like to see when Healy is in the side. Have him on at the same time as Clark.
If he comes off the bench, time it with Clark's second stint. Or if he starts and comes back to close out the game, have him come on when Clark is on.
Even late in the game when our go-forward is struggling, it is noticeable when Clark is back on. Direct hard running.
I've always been keen if you have a dummy half option that is a running threat. Going direct late in the game and trying to speed things up. If you have a forward who provides the hard runs for the dummy half. Time If possible time the interchanges to match
If he comes off the bench, time it with Clark's second stint. Or if he starts and comes back to close out the game, have him come on when Clark is on.
Even late in the game when our go-forward is struggling, it is noticeable when Clark is back on. Direct hard running.
I've always been keen if you have a dummy half option that is a running threat. Going direct late in the game and trying to speed things up. If you have a forward who provides the hard runs for the dummy half. Time If possible time the interchanges to match
Great decision, a win for both parties.
Media reporting TMM will extend for one further year with the club.
3rd game on the trot we’ve lost and most of you lost your shit, forgetting we’ve lost a rep player and best halfback, not forgetting all the other injuries. None of us possess half the skill of footy experience that Webster has, yet think you could do better, half the teams shit but would love to see some of you play 80 minutes at that level. I sure as shit can’t and for that reason I refrain from criticising players even when they have a poor game. It’s a game, your life doesn’t depend on the outcome, yes I get pissed off like every one else but I’m over it 10 minutes after full time. I found something else to moan about, like the kids not washing up after themselves. Count yourself very fuckin lucky, you can sit in front of the tv pay for Sky sports now, in a warm house, drinking beer and food on the table, watch our team win or lose. Others are far less fortunate than us. End of the day it’s a game, nothing more nothing less.
Here's my potentially tin foil hat theory as to how they've done it.
I suspect they spent the cap when they carried out some of the upgrades by loading on to existing contracts with the players agreeing to reductions for future contracts. Therefore not technically front loading as they are different contracts
For example, here's my hypothetical situation:
Let's say Leka was on an existing 250K per year contract through to the end of 2026 (signed back when he was 17/18).
Then let's say his new contract was going to be worth 850K per year from 2027 to 2029.
But instead of giving him 850K per year for that second contract, both parties agree prior to signing that deal, that they'll reduce it to 650K per year for those 3 years (total reduction of 600K) on the proviso that Leka gets that 600K added to the final 2 years of his existing 2025/2026 contract.
That way we still spend the current years cap, we don't technically front load a contract as they're separate contracts and we have great cap management for those future years.
Plus Leka gets 600K in his pocket sooner than he would have. So it's a win win.
Do that a few times with Laban, Leka, TSS etc to spend the current cap and we've spent the left over money for this year, and set ourselves up with value players for the future.
Hope that makes sense.
I'm not saying we're good enough. We're not.
And I'm not playing the victim mentality syndrome either.
Wasnt it obvious to you Gee has a clear bias against the Warriors. He has as a history of it.
Last night went exactly how i expected it would go. All 50/50 calls against us.
Continual repeat 6 agains for who knows what.. then the prick tried to square up the stats towards the end of the game by giving us 3 continuous repeat 6 agains on the first and second tackles.. what a joke
Giving this game to him is the NRL taking the piss....
But oh no, lets all be positive here.. its not the refs fault but he sure as hell didnt help
I turned off at half time. That's the first time in several seasons that I haven't watched every game of the season right through. I started watching the second half this morning but only got about 20 minutes in. I quit when Adam Gee awarded another very cynical 6 again at the end of a Bulldogs set.
I hate 6 agains. And Adam Gee. And right now the whole NRL.
We were very very unlikely to win last night. We are a decent team at full strength but we were far from that last night. I think even the diehard fans knew it. The officiating made sure of it. Kikaus try has been a double movement since double movements were a thing. Even Voss agreed. Not too loudly because he has his job to consider but he did comment on it. The lost challenge on the shepherd was ludicrous. As was Demi getting belted head high.
Add in the 6 agains and penalties at critical moments to keep the Dogs rolling and we had no show.
We didn't help ourselves by giving Gee opportunities to ping us, but probably 75% of tackles and play the balls could be penalised for something if the ref wanted to be pedantic.
I made the decision to cancel my Sky subscription this morning. It was costing me $55 a month. By paying that I'm both paying to watch us get screwed and I'm supporting the system that does it. Fuck it, I'll watch a couple of days later on YouTube or see what I can find on the VPN
I'm not saying that the referees are corrupt and that they're getting bags of cash from the NRL to influence games. Or that we would have won last nights game even if penalties and 6 agains were evenly distributed throughout the game. We weren't good enough. We don't have the players.
But I do believe that when a sport is big business and television rights are involved decions get made and the outcomes that produce the highest viewer numbers are preferred. And that anyone can be subtly influenced. Even the decisions made by the face of the business on game day
I hate 6 agains. And Adam Gee. And right now the whole NRL.
We were very very unlikely to win last night. We are a decent team at full strength but we were far from that last night. I think even the diehard fans knew it. The officiating made sure of it. Kikaus try has been a double movement since double movements were a thing. Even Voss agreed. Not too loudly because he has his job to consider but he did comment on it. The lost challenge on the shepherd was ludicrous. As was Demi getting belted head high.
Add in the 6 agains and penalties at critical moments to keep the Dogs rolling and we had no show.
We didn't help ourselves by giving Gee opportunities to ping us, but probably 75% of tackles and play the balls could be penalised for something if the ref wanted to be pedantic.
I made the decision to cancel my Sky subscription this morning. It was costing me $55 a month. By paying that I'm both paying to watch us get screwed and I'm supporting the system that does it. Fuck it, I'll watch a couple of days later on YouTube or see what I can find on the VPN
I'm not saying that the referees are corrupt and that they're getting bags of cash from the NRL to influence games. Or that we would have won last nights game even if penalties and 6 agains were evenly distributed throughout the game. We weren't good enough. We don't have the players.
But I do believe that when a sport is big business and television rights are involved decions get made and the outcomes that produce the highest viewer numbers are preferred. And that anyone can be subtly influenced. Even the decisions made by the face of the business on game day
Pompey is the best player we have if you consider what he does for what he costs our salary cap he is a rare gem indeed. Also he is physically robust and can take the knocks.
Lastly Pompey is a late bloomer, his story hasn't ended, he gets better year on year.
The Warriors are renowned for uncovering rules that don't exist.
But many around here refuse to be honest that there is a ref problem in the NRL for the Warriors. They think it makes them objective. Which is ironic when head shots on Warriors have at multiple times in this comp been ignored.
According to some there is no such thing as a cheat or a human being with bias once they put a Whistle in their pockets. According to some here a crook cannot get a job in their beloved narrative. Apparently the Refs become holy men when they put the uniform on and have no human frailty ever, apparently every single Ref that has ever existed and ever will exist for the next ten thousand years is going to be honest and without prejudice.
Someone should call a meeting at the next United Nations gathering and propose that the entire body be replaced by Australian Rugby League referees because they are Fkn perfect human beings and all world conflicts will end tomorrow and have fair and just outcomes for all.
Some really considered observations here post match, and I dont think anything is more divisive than AW team selections and bench management recently.
I really would have liked to have seen Taine move to the halves last night when TMM went off because we went full one dimensional with CHT running the show compounded by no creativity from DH until Healy came on - way too late.
Charnze to FB and Leka to Centre would have been something different.
I personally think Boyd had been going ok without help from others in last 2 games from halves partner. His kicking game was missed last night.
Last nights conditions I thought warranted a bigger body on the bench - Tom Ale anyone. Vaumanga again showed he has some lovely handing and ball playing skills
.
I don’t agree with the JFH shade, but he does need a compelling partner in crime. This is why he was so good at Penrith.
Marata is so out of sorts it’s not funny. He is playing like a guy who seriously does not want to be there.
Lastly.. a plea to the NRL - if a player is forced out of the game in the first 20 mins with an HIA - let the 18th man come into the game.
Crazy to have a team play such a physically demanding game a player down through not fault of their own.
Next two weeks are huge! We have the team, all they they need is some self belief. I hope for a fantastic home ground turnout!
I really would have liked to have seen Taine move to the halves last night when TMM went off because we went full one dimensional with CHT running the show compounded by no creativity from DH until Healy came on - way too late.
Charnze to FB and Leka to Centre would have been something different.
I personally think Boyd had been going ok without help from others in last 2 games from halves partner. His kicking game was missed last night.
Last nights conditions I thought warranted a bigger body on the bench - Tom Ale anyone. Vaumanga again showed he has some lovely handing and ball playing skills
.
I don’t agree with the JFH shade, but he does need a compelling partner in crime. This is why he was so good at Penrith.
Marata is so out of sorts it’s not funny. He is playing like a guy who seriously does not want to be there.
Lastly.. a plea to the NRL - if a player is forced out of the game in the first 20 mins with an HIA - let the 18th man come into the game.
Crazy to have a team play such a physically demanding game a player down through not fault of their own.
Next two weeks are huge! We have the team, all they they need is some self belief. I hope for a fantastic home ground turnout!
Sure the Dogs got their game on tactically.
The officiating was dire. The stockholm syndrome mentality of wanting to not acknowledge officiating plays a huge part of results is deluded.
That's away two games in a row vs the Bulldogs with Gee that there have been some truly baffling calls going on (Video Ref or Onfield)
Dallin get's warned it will be a penalty if he stays down....
Yet Critter sells the biggest Hollywood of all time and Gee seems angry for him.
The obstruction call. When is that ever seen in the game?
The line speed. cmon now 6 - 0 6 agains at one point.
And then the non call in 2024.
Once would be a coincidence but two years of wtf calls gets very suspect.
The officiating was dire. The stockholm syndrome mentality of wanting to not acknowledge officiating plays a huge part of results is deluded.
That's away two games in a row vs the Bulldogs with Gee that there have been some truly baffling calls going on (Video Ref or Onfield)
Dallin get's warned it will be a penalty if he stays down....
Yet Critter sells the biggest Hollywood of all time and Gee seems angry for him.
The obstruction call. When is that ever seen in the game?
The line speed. cmon now 6 - 0 6 agains at one point.
And then the non call in 2024.
Once would be a coincidence but two years of wtf calls gets very suspect.
Reffing aside, some of the same things keep popping up.
It's a heavy rain game, so what does that mean? We need heavy forwards and heavier backs.
Taine, I love. Not in this game. CNK to FB, get Kosi to the wing (if not injured I don't know)
Lussick is too small, Healey to start.
Boyd to start because heavy rain and slick field usually means it's tight in the forwards and kicking game is too important.
Marata is a big body, should have been at prop and Leka to be at edge.
TSS is too small, Ale should have been in his spot.
I feel like these are lessons that should have been learnt from previous games/years but they still rearing it's ugly head.
It's a heavy rain game, so what does that mean? We need heavy forwards and heavier backs.
Taine, I love. Not in this game. CNK to FB, get Kosi to the wing (if not injured I don't know)
Lussick is too small, Healey to start.
Boyd to start because heavy rain and slick field usually means it's tight in the forwards and kicking game is too important.
Marata is a big body, should have been at prop and Leka to be at edge.
TSS is too small, Ale should have been in his spot.
I feel like these are lessons that should have been learnt from previous games/years but they still rearing it's ugly head.
No, he's well off first grade. People bank on his last name rather than actually looking at how he plays in Cup.
He still needs some physical development, and his overall game is still developing. Apart from an outstanding game against essentially the Rabbitohs Flegg side, he hasn't been performing well enough to garner a call up to first grade.
Asking for a friend
Has there been any other incident in the NRL this year where a player has been shouldered to the head & the ref doesn't give a penalty because "he lowered his head into his shoulder"?
For goodness sake we see head shots because a player is slipping and the pen is given and the slipping mitigates the actions of the defender but never exonerates him but last night it became the fault of the attacker
Has there been any other incident in the NRL this year where a player has been shouldered to the head & the ref doesn't give a penalty because "he lowered his head into his shoulder"?
For goodness sake we see head shots because a player is slipping and the pen is given and the slipping mitigates the actions of the defender but never exonerates him but last night it became the fault of the attacker
Pompey is literally the only healthy 'specialist' first grade centre we have left
Just remember we had no halfback.
All the so called analysis after that is just noise.
No halfback, means no game plan is possible, no matter how well thought out it is, flogging the Warriors and the coach for that is just dumb.
All the so called analysis after that is just noise.
No halfback, means no game plan is possible, no matter how well thought out it is, flogging the Warriors and the coach for that is just dumb.