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    To describe the first 3 weeks as easy is not truly reflective of how tough they actually were. Roosters brought it back to 30-18 with 20 to go. We were 6-6 at half-time v the Raiders. If not for Leka's last minute try, we go into HT only 12-6 up v the knights. In all 3 games, there were moments where we could have been looking at a nervous 1-12 pt game instead of 13+ blow outs. But in all 3 games, Tannah stepped up and guided the team away to a comfortable shellacking. So to say that Tannah hasn't been tested in tight situations I don't think is quite fair.

    I also think that we have a rosy view of how things really were under Mets as the controlling half. Even though we were dominating the ruck most weeks, our attack was clunky af this time last year. He'd have a brilliant moment here and there but we were only eeking out 1-12 pt wins like the dogs are this year. This year we are scoring 40 pts on average and only conceding 12 pts against. Marked improvement with Tannah as the controlling half.

    Lance155 said:
    100% Boyd has been a lot better. Don't get me wrong if he keeps going I am all in. I am just surprised how quick people are to jump. Boyd has shown to be quite shakey when things are tight. We haven't seen that tested yet. I also worry that we are in a situation where things might have to go really south before we change back to what was working.
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    Some random points

    CNk right selection for a wet slippery surface, safe under high balls

    Ali criticism a bit OTT. Humid conditions drain you. Look at Halasima after his try. In saying that he needs to up his workrate.

    Metcalf if he plays will play as long as his fitness lasts.

    Laban has come of age. His line and angle running will happen

    Great to have Pompey back. A very under rated player.

    Egan should be called the Ferret, comes up with cunning plans

    We have the best middle rotation in the comp

    On a humid afternoon the structure and dupport play never let up.

    Hope the Tigers play well, remember they were the ONLY team to give up their home game after covid.
     
    Marata Niukore has agreed to terms with the Knights on a 3-year deal but his manager is away at the moment. Depending on whether the 10-day cooling off period is enforced it could be two weeks before it’s officially announced. No chance of an early release this year, even if the Warriors agreed to it the Knights would have to let go of someone on big money to squeeze him in.

    Mitch Barnett was willing to take $200k less per year to come back to the Knights. Direct quote from Barnett “we wanted to come back here and I was willing to take big unders but I never even got an offer.”

    Scott Dureau has apparently been dealt with some more bad news medically but Toohey doesn’t divulge what that is.

    Says Sandon Smith would’ve been uncomfortable in the video session after his defensive performance against the Warriors.

    SG Ball hooker Diesel Hagan made his NSW Cup debut over the weekend and will join the development squad next year







    Barry Toohey’s news in knights forum
     
    FormerlyJamesW said:
    I just wanted to throw a bit of perspective as to the start of our season, compared to the high point of last year.


    View: https://youtu.be/EA9_jl1oIcQ?si=v3zGwFcraYVM4D3t

    1) we look far fitter and far more intense at the moment.

    2) Luke is very good at linking up with the younger lads.

    3) CNK is clutch in defence.

    So what?

    Well, here's my thoughts.

    1) Tanah has been really good at linking up with the rest of the team. I'm not saying that Luke won't be, but what I'm saying is that there's strengths to having both out on the field.

    2) Luke should, in theory, have to do less of the core attacking and can focus on the x factor stuff that we know he has in him.

    3) both halves are supported by a much fitter and grindier team this year.

    I'm looking forward to seeing how this is going to work. In my opinion, we could be looking at a Penrith style workrate, with more creative options in attack.

    Less safe than Penrith, but more explosive.
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    at least for this week, I'm sure the plan is for TB to take control as a way for Mets to ease into his first game back. Let Tannah take care of the kicking (both general and goal kicking) and Mets can focus on looking for opportunities to run.

    Something I feel we are missing is fast support play. When TB made that break down the sideline, it was a bit worrying that it was JFH who was the main support back through the middle. Luckily his strength and power got him to the line, But it would have been an easier thing if it was Mets backing up on the inside. TT and Wayde made many breaks through the middle in the first half last week but there was no support back on the inside. Mets coming back hopefully changes that dynamic.
     
    RTS already came out in a pod ast he was on a little while ago about his next contract, he said he wouldn't want to play for another NRL team, if the Warriors weren't going to resign him, because of how passionate he is about the jersey and the culture and that he'd be going back to rugby or possibly R360 if the right offer came about or super League if worse came to worse, his not quite ready to lace up his boots
     
    RTS has earned a comfortable retirement and hefty payday to end his career. He came over when everyone told him that it would be career suicide and has been instrumental in guiding us through some of our darkest years. Would have been painful to see him front up for another NRL club but I'm more than happy for him to finish up in Japanese Rugby or the UK super league. He deserves to end his time here as a prem winner: I hope we do this for both Barney and RTS this year.
     
    Hey guys, just a few quick observations and keeping some talent we have on your radar. The Warriors have built probably the best ever factory of young stacked talent i have ever seen at any club. It's utterly epic.

    When we look at guys like Will Warbrick and Grant Anderson they are simply there to come in keep the high standards and do the job.

    All the superstars are being manufactured from within the club.

    Here is who looks to be putting pressure to be integrated into the NRL roster over the next 12 - 18 months.

    What stands out immediately is the Warriors are drowning in elite level talent in the forwards right now. You basically have your next 5 - 7 years of forwards EASILY sorted. Our halves youngsters get a 10/10 rating too - if we can hold on to them. The outside back depth is awesome too but these guys are still 12 - 18 months off NRL level though the cavalry or should i say 'the freight train' is coming..

    This is not a ranking on talent but who likely gets to have NRL Impact sooner. Almost all these guys will require injuries in their positions to get game time. That is simply down to have ridiculously stacked roster the Warriors are enjoying right now. No club in the NRL boasts the the depth in talent across multiple positions as the Warriors do right now. How they built this has to be celebrated if you love league.

    #1 Christian Sikuvea - On a rocket ship trajectory. It's insane he is already a starting lock in NSW cup. A+ level talent... totally flying under the warriors fans radar. You may know him, you may not realise how good he is!! Sikuvea is an ELITE talent with a massive motor. Extremely dynamic and impactful small forward. This guys looks like a hybrid of Victor Radley and Kalani Going mixed together. With the type of forward pack the Warriors have and continue to build this guy will do a lot of damage coming on in that Erin Clarke/lock rotation role. His high energy, hard running style will cause a huge amount of headaches for tiring opposition forward packs. He may even push Erin Clarke to prop.

    #2 Makaia Tafua - Legit NRL talent coming through. Crafty, strong, direct, game-breaker. I feel very comfortable knowing if Egan or Healey go down this guy will come on and we will not skip a beat. Like Christian Skiuvea, Makaia brings a lot of energy and direction to a forward pack. I think he is probably the best hooker come out of the NZ system for many years. Its not a matter of if but when Makaia plays NRL.

    #3 Jett Cleary - I think if this guy was at any other club, the fans there will be beside themselves hyping him up. I wonder because we all secretly believe he will leave the Warriors and go back to the panthers that we kind of play him down. He may of been somewhat a later developer than his famous big brother but he is becoming each week more and more of a replica of Nathan Cleary. What Jett has in him is the DNA of the Cleary's. Winners. He has vision, he has running ability and he has golden moments where he is so unbelievably good that he can't be stopped. I think he is one year away from being an NRL player. I wouldn't let him go what so-ever but we have Metcalf and maybe Boyd being locked in. So it is a genuine headache. If I was Cameron George i'd lock Boyd in for two years and give Jett third Half Back role at the club - letting TMM go. Potential to be a 10-year Warrior.

    #4 Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea - Rodney looks a lot more developed this year. Watch him off the ball. The positions he is getting himself into. The lines he is choosing to run into the teeth of the defense. The activation in his body pre-ball in hand. The energy he displays... He is switched on! and this is an extremely good tell on a prop that is going to make impact across his career. He looks to be a major beneficiary of Jason Salalilo being injured to begin this season. I still think he is a year off but it is clear the development work that has gone into him.

    # 5Jason Salalio - Jason Salalilo once he is injury free and gets a run of games is likely to get some NRL time. He compliments Tanner Stowers Smith perfectly in that they are both roughly 6'1, broad and physical and just keep punching forward. When played as a duo in NSW Cup they wore teams down through brutal physicality - they were corner stones of last years forward pack that won the NSW cup title. Jason can also can play the Erin Clark role but with more cement punch over ball distribution.

    #6 Bishop Neal - Oh boy!! 17 years old, debuts NSW cup... Starting!! in the 2nd row and plays 80 mins, picking up a try. He is literally our Viliame Kikau and I think a major piece of our premiership puzzle. When you need impact he has got it. When you need an unfair advantage, he has got it. When you need a cheat code... he has got it. I think he needs time to simmer away, his impact across every level of league so far says "I'm playing NRL soon" Where do you fit him in. If the NRL commentators were blown away from Leka the Wreka, Laban and Demetric.... what will they say when they see this monster unleased?

    #7 Jack Thompson - This is kid could be anything. Honestly he looks just like a young, brilliant Daly Cherry Evans. It's obvious he will be on the radar of most NRL clubs. He can run, pass and kick all at outstanding level of execution. Jack Thompson at #6 and Jett Cleary at #7 could be a dynasty. The Warriors have been so smart building the relationships between these players so early that they all know each other so well they will want to stick together and win titles together. Jack needs a one to two seasons of NSW cup like Cleary has been gaining to fully develop his craft. If there was a reason th Warriors didnt lock Boyd in long term then Thompson and Cleary would be it but they will need to be locked in long term and willing to take the time the club needs to develop and earn it.

    You know its crazy because look who is still waiting in the wings - And i will be missing guys too

    AFP - Speed kills (Get his other parts of his game right and he will become a star similar to the fox)
    Cassius Tia??? - What could he be at our club?
    Gannon - The guy is good! He is so smart as a player - his vision as a 2nd rower is unreal - Webster clearly rates him!! And it would surprise me if he becomes a cornerstone in our pack.
    EIT - The guy is rock solid - super dependable and hard working - anywhere else and he is playing NRL
    Kayliss Fatialofa - This guy was a superstar in NSW cup last year. A small forward with electric pace. Can he even get a glimpse of game time? Seems really unfair to him.
    Jye Linnane - Where does this guy even fit into the picture? Surely not the halves with Jett Cleary and Jack Thompson - Is fullback his only go here?
    Cooper Page-Wilson - This guy looks good and he is big and hard edged! he offers something different in our pack and is play good enough to make you ponder - does he potentially earn Barnetts or Niukores spot?
    Rocco Berry - Is it over for him? All that potential never fulfilled at the Warriors or does he get one last shot to nail and win a premiership here?
    Caelys-Paul Putoko - Athletically gifted and being given plenty of NSW cup time to develop. Raw but major upside if he puts it all together. Looks like they are backing him
    Haizyn Mellars - Getting better and better every single week. Starting to look like a decent winger. Offers obvious threat in the air.
    Motu Pasikala - The kid can play, he just didn't develop into a freak talent as quickly as everyone expected. Looked very good in the trials.
    Tepatasi Laumalili - Getting serious NSW cup time off the bench. Monster prop with great attitude and potential for serious impact.

    Now look at that depth and then potentially include Will Warbrick and Grant Anderson.

    And then we have a stack of phenomenal talent coming through in Jersey Flegg that is bound for NSW cup.

    Sio Kali
    Brandon Norris
    Emosi Ravosai
    Gordon Afoa
    Harry Inch
    Tyson Hansen
    Nganatatafu Vake
    Kahu Capper
    Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi
    Jeremiah Lemana
    Joseph Ratcliffe
    Kaian Olsen

    So my question to you - We can't keep them all, in fact - many of these guys will not play NRL here at the Warriors - so who are the top 3 guys we simply can not lose under any circumstances?
     
    WAH MAN said:
    When Metcalf did his ACL last year it was quite gloomy with how Tanah was performing and our slight decline to finish 6th.
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    There’s something deeply satisfying about being a long suffering supporter of a club that is now able to take a player with performance issues at the end of a season and turn him into the bloke everyone is talking about at the beginning of the next season, straight after having done the same thing, pretty much, the year before. Our training on attack, our recruitment selection, and of course our overall coaching: everyone involved is producing the goods.
     
    Not many bigger Roger fans than me, always defended him against wild claims of being overrated, because he didn't put up try assists when part of some terrible backlines.

    But he would be one of the oldest outside backs in the game next year, currently only Gagai, Tupou and Tedesco are older, and the first two of them should probably hang it up.

    As boring as it sounds to have a generic like Grant Anderson instead of him - younger, cheaper, more versatile, easier to mug off if one of the youths jumps up.
     
    Yeah expect Grant Anderson to sign up for the Warriors. Both Barnett and Anderson managed by same agent - Gavin Orr.

    Whilst not thrilled with the signing, if it means he replaces the "depth" we lost with Kosi, MGT, Harper, im all for it. And who knows, our upcoming youngsters may need to see that there is another hardworking challenger for these positions...
     
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