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    Can't wait! Just touched down in Auckland from the US for this one.

    Don't hold me to it but I'm a relatively good omen- last two times I made the trek to MSS was i) last year when we fielded a Cup side to down the full strength Broncos and ii) 2015 when we last beat Melbourne. Both games we won despite the odds being massively stacked against us for both games.

    I think we will get at least one of the 2 home games to start the year. My gut tells me this is the one.
     
    Mixed Martial Arts Sport GIF by UFC
     
    Can't wait. Flying over from the US for the first 2 home games against Chooks and Raiders. Can't imagine a better 2 home games to start the season. JFH vs Whyte alone is worth the price of admission for this game.

    This is a strong chooks side and we are right to be nervous. But we should remember that other than DCE, the team they have named is pretty similar to the team we beat in last year's corresponding fixture at go media. So this game is very winnable if we turn up with the right physical attitude.

    As for the game plan, I'm sure Webby will approach it the same way as last year's win. Roosters are a highly ill-disciplined team that lack patience at times. During the parra trial, they were trying to score on every play, shifting the ball even within their own red zone. They tried this last year too but go media's slippery surface played its part in neutralizing the running style they came to town with. They weren't willing to engage with us in the physical dogfight which is why we wore them down and won it in the end.

    Strategy has got to be the same again. They beat us if we allow them to turn this into a game of touch footy. But if we can make this into another dog fight I like our chances. If we are patient and apply the pressure physically, chooks ill-discipline will present the opportunities to win this game.

    I predict another low scoring affair like last year. Something like 12-6 to us.
     
    Lomax for Barney this year??? Have we all hit the sauce early? 😂

    Can’t believe what I am reading. It’s the off field stuff money can’t buy that Barney influences our inexperienced youngsters.

    Lomax, breaks contracts, like I do gym memberships. Not due to his young family and his sons needs, but for his own greed and over exaggerated self worth.

    Yeah sweet, that’s exactly the culture you build a future on… fark me.
     
    Wrighty said:
    Cam George is Whistling Dixee. He has no bargaining leverage. He can't hold Barnett back unless a player is given in compensation as Barnett is refusing to play here next year. We have no bargaining position. We have tried before to get compensation given to us for players and failed eg we tried with Reece Walsh (don't ask me for an article to prove that I just remember it, if you don't remember that then let's go with your memory I don't care).
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    Diden't we sorta get TMM out of his contract early for that?

    Also assuming that since they've known since november, it feels safe to say they've already got some offers for a trade. But i'd say because of this line
    ... guessing who or what that [compensation is until Barnett’s agent rings us and says ‘Club A is interested in Mitch and this is what they can offer up. Or is there something else you prefer?
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    they've already aligned on what price barnett would accept. And therefore the deciding factor on what club he goes to is at the discretion of the warriors. To which i think the criteria would be:

    1. The club is willing to let go of the player(s) for barnett.
    2. The player is offerable. I.E
    • The player is on the outer already so offering them to the warriors would not ruin there motvation to play.
    • The player has reached out to there manager saying they'd be interested in going to the warriors for a opportunity.
    • The player has a strong connection to NZ.
    • The warriors have airmarked the player and communicated with their club that the warriors are willing to make the trade for that player. ( I think this is unlikely, as it would require the club to admit they value barnett over themselves, and hope that player is willing to move).
    3. The warriors can/will offer them what they think the're worth.
    4. They have cap space for barnett.
    5. They have to be on contract for 2027. Because otherwise it's not a player swap.
    6. The warriors want them.

    And to that i think three clubs want barnett the most. That being Broncos, they need an experienced forward outside of patty. The eels as Paulo and Walker are in their final year this year. And finally the knights as they've lost Thompson and only really have Saifiti left. They need a pack leader. And with that being said here are some prospects i think are possibilities:

    1. Deine Mariner. - Broncos
    • Born and raised in auckland. Although his family has moved from here to aus. His grand parents are still here.
    • Is contracted till the end of 2027.
    • Currently signed in 2023 to the broncos till 2027 a couple of months after his debut. And because of salary cap and it being an early contract we can very likely offer a lot more money than the broncos are willing to pay him in 2027.
    • Plays center and winger, positions we lack strike power in. But also a position the broncos are stacked in. Winger for most of last year, with only 4 good games at center. But he did play center for samoa and for most of 2024.
    • Why not x from the broncos? Arthars is not signed for 2027. So if we want him we will be negotiating now. Staggs resigned in 2025 for good mone and i cannot imagine the broncos willingly losing him. But his partner's dad is Richard Bechts who is the media manager here, so he does have a connection to NZ (and would the the prefrence over mariner IMO). Willison/Riki they will not trade, nor do i think we need them. Te Kura is a born and raised bronco.
    2. Kalyn Ponga - Knights.
    • Parents are from NZ.
    • Is contracted till the end of 2027
    • Is on a speculated 1.2m, with the knights also paying for Dylan Brown at 1.2-1.4m, Best at 700k+. Knights will be struggling to get or even keep any talent in the front row.
    • Sandon Smith has signed for 4 years. I don't think he signed to play NSW grade. Fletcher sharpe is to good to not be playing. Brown is paid to much to not play. Surely either they need to move smith on directly after signing his 4 year contract or move on ponga to make room for sharpe.
    • Personally sharpe being the fullback and allowing brown to be the best 5/8 in the world while also bringing in one of the best props in the world for ponga could be worth it.
    • We need a great fullback with x factor. An attacking threat.
    • What makes it unlikely? Price (we'd have to pay an extra 400k i think above Barnetts). If they wanted to roll ponga off, surely he would start co-captianancy this year, so im unsure newy would ever let him go. Would ponga want to leave?
    • Why not x from the knights? Sharpe is the knights future. There are no forwards to take. Gagai is to old. I think best would be the better option over ponga, but he has no connection here. Nor is he on the outer.
    3. Starford To'a - Tigers (surprise pick)
    • Born and Raised in Auckland.
    • Signed till the end of 2028
    • Would be on a fair wage as he resigned in 2025.
    • Same as Mariner here, plays center, wing and fullback. Mainly center and has amazing attacking upside while still holding his own very well. 7 TAs and 9 Ts in just 16 games.
    • With Taylan May's coming into the squad there is one extra center for the tigers. So although it would hurt to lose him, it's not ruining the future for a short term prop game.
    • Although the tigers front rowers are not lacking like the broncos will be without haas or the knights. They are lacking in a true leader and exprence. Barnett brings that in truck loads. They also lack a good lock. I think they will really want barnett if they can afford him.

    Overall though, if we don't find a transfer before late this season. I agree with most that barney will be leaving regardless. I just think Barnett is doing right by the club by allowing them to use him as levarge to break contracts. Also unsure if it truely matters to him where in aus it is. As long as it's not radiers, bears or cowboys. As Sydney and Queensland have great hospitals.
     
    Cam George is going to go out to the media and other clubs and exaggerate, embellish, schmooze and negotiate by saying whatever it is that he thinks will get the best outcome for the Warriors.

    He will then get one of the below outcomes..

    1. Barnett swap for a star in 26 or 27 (Ponga)
    2. Barnett swap for a low/mid tier player in 26 or 27 (e.g Mariner/Kelly)
    3. Barnett swap for no one (and gone in 27 with blessings)

    It doesn't really matter if he only gets #3.
    But it's his job to try his best for #1 and #2.
     
    defensivebomb said:
    If we were to get elite & committed NAS, then great.

    However I get the feeling he's always viewed the warriors as unworthy. Plus he's a boofhead that gets in fights in Bali and considers himself a boxer.

    I reckon Demitric will come into his own this season

    NAS can join if he offers value for money. Otherwise, keen to back some young guys that can have the keys to prop if they continue their trajectories
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    Why is anyone talking about Nelson ? It's not his game anymore
     
    WarriorsNrlFanatics said:
    Does anyone see Webster being under a bit of pressure this year and next year
    What if we don’t make finals. Cause we haven’t really strung back to back finals appearances under Webby yet. Just a question.
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    The club would be stupid if they put performance pressure on Webster from here.
    Every year the team is as fit as the fittest sides in the NRL.

    Every year they play near or at the peak of their talent.

    Every year a core of players improve and I see Ali Leiatua as the exception that proves the rule, he is the odd man out of the Elite group of developing players that have all made huge gains.

    Surely our owner and CEO know the tremendous pressure Webster is under all year, pressure from within, the pressure someone like him puts on themselves....the sleepless nights, the how to fit round pegs into square holes. I dunno how he manages it (or any NRL coach for that matter, none of them look healthier for taking on the job of coaching).

    Most of all Webster has built an environment where his staff in the form of his players are having fun, they look happy, they say they are happy and I believe them. Now forget league, if a manager came into my work and performed all those miracles I would be thinking (enjoy it while it lasts, this is a rare time in your working life).

    I think this view applies right across the organization, it is people that have turned the Warriors around, not money (although that helps) not luck or some random interweb up the Wahs viral saying (although that helps too, it has grown into a cult fan culture thing despite what the sour old prunes who don't like it say).

    I appreciate the question being asked and I certainly think it would be relevant if Webster had the kind of roster access that the Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Broncos can roll over (when those guys need a player they just walk up to the player tree and pluck the ripest fruit - we have grow that shit and pray).

    The fundamental landscape/the scaffolding of the Warriors is different to the rest of the NRL. Yesterday our marquee Prop forward, a genuine star player announces he is leaving end of season. The Warriors would be extremely lucky to find like for like replacement. This is our reality, the and unlike Aussie clubs, even winning a title won't stop us being behind the eight ball when it comes to access to the best and biggest player pool.

    This problem is even more stark when it comes to recruiting head coaches by virtue of the pool in NZ being non existent and the Warriors have not attracted an established, successful, Australian NRL coach since John Monie. If Webster goes, expect shit to get real.
     
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    Fizurg said:
    The best thing Barnett has done for the Warriors is shown that an Aussie player can come here and boost his career, rather than taking overs and tanking his career. Barnett, Clark and Metcalf were all mid ranger guys who are now considered elite.
    That's got to be huge when the Warriors go to market looking for new players.
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    He’ll go down as one of our goat recruits

    How many Aussies have gone from mediocre NRL starters to State of Origin starters in the space of 2 years with us?

    Webby deserves loads of credit too
     
    The best thing Barnett has done for the Warriors is shown that an Aussie player can come here and boost his career, rather than taking overs and tanking his career. Barnett, Clark and Metcalf were all mid ranger guys who are now considered elite.
    That's got to be huge when the Warriors go to market looking for new players.
     
    sydneywarrior92 said:
    Too similar to TT in my view. Why go for something we kind of already have. I'd rather go for broke and go all in on getting KP once rival clubs can start talking to him at the end of this year. I'm all for backing our youthful pack and offloading Marata and Capes at the end of the year so we have the cap space to offer KP 1.2-1.3m a year.
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    I personally don't think TT is anywhere close to Kini. Kini has an insane celling and killer x factor. Just a much better fullback. Where as TT is turning into a swiss army knife of backs coverage.
     
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