Cces
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He said he prefers playing 7 & enjoys having the ball in his hands more often. CNK stated he was solely a Fullback when RTS joined the club. Blokes are allowed a preference
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I think people that play like Boyd (organizers with a high ceiling kicking game) in a decent team will set you up to play better more often than someone that can pull Rabbits out of hats (obviously there are once in a generation players like Cleary Thurston Johns et al that can do both).
I also think Boyd doesn't get that type of credit as often as he deserves.
Take our last game against a spirited Eels where we flicked the switch and crushed them in the final minutes (a reoccurring pattern under Boyd this season with the Warriors clearly pouring the late points on). We were the fitter of the two sides. Where does that extra energy come from? We tend to focus on individual fitness, astute use of the bench, but overlook the value of winning the territorial game which starts with having a decent kicker.
Webster likes to go into half time having only used two replacements, it is a actual ploy of his, to keep his guns fully loaded. It is why they run Ford and used to run Egan non stop. And it is where Webster sees Morgan Gannon's role as an eighty minute option "he gives us more minutes" said Webster of Gannon.
Webster has been shaped in the fires of horrific and unfair injury tolls. Rather than shrug his shoulders and go 'well that is outside of my control, in the hands of fate' he has taken that experience and experimented a lot with using his bench in a minimalist way to future proof himself.
Boyd's kicking game is critical to that type of approach, constantly kicking the forwards out of trouble, sees us have more juice than the opposition.
So while I don't disagree that Boyd looks a lot better off the back of a decent forward platform, I also see Boyd (and CHT) helping to keep his men rolling.
Imagine if all our players played the club with this proffesionalism.
Ford would be an edge backrower, RTS and CNK would be fullbacks with one running around in cup.
It isn't professionalism at all.
Professionalism is a private conversation between Andrew Webster and Luke Metcalf that none of us nor media ever get to speculate on.
Let's hope it is a fiction.
Cces
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When Metcalf was ushered back in early we were 3W-0L with essentially 3 different 5/8s in those games so it kind of felt Webster had a free shot at the stumps against the Tigers but instead it opened a Pandora's box.
The 7W-2L start comparison of the last 2 seasons is an interesting one. On paper this year is way better, especially because we broke our Melbourne drought. Our attack in '25 was not as sharp but DWZ didn't play any of the opening 9 games so our Wing appearances were shared between Tuaupiki (9), RTS (3), Kosi (3) and Pompey (3). None of which finish opportunities like DWZ or AKP have done this season. We also lost Dylan Walker after 3 games which compounded Tohu's offseason loss. We are so much better prepared this year & have better carryover from the previous season than last.
It would be great to see Metcalf in the #7 behind the current pack but unless Boyd gets injured it's an unjustified selection, so he has to bide his time.
The 7W-2L start comparison of the last 2 seasons is an interesting one. On paper this year is way better, especially because we broke our Melbourne drought. Our attack in '25 was not as sharp but DWZ didn't play any of the opening 9 games so our Wing appearances were shared between Tuaupiki (9), RTS (3), Kosi (3) and Pompey (3). None of which finish opportunities like DWZ or AKP have done this season. We also lost Dylan Walker after 3 games which compounded Tohu's offseason loss. We are so much better prepared this year & have better carryover from the previous season than last.
It would be great to see Metcalf in the #7 behind the current pack but unless Boyd gets injured it's an unjustified selection, so he has to bide his time.
Blain
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If true, and he is disgruntled.. If you look at Boyd's attitude and grind in 2025, the drive and desire is worlds apart. Boyd is the first proper NRL 7 we've had other than SJ (would argue his second stint only, played mostly like a 6 early on) for YEARS. Perhaps even decades. His kicking game is one of the best in the competition, which we have always lacked.
Metcalf clutched up several times last year, and showed us his attacking potential. He was brilliant at times. But in between individual plays, our team was a bloody hard watch. We were disjointed and sloppy on attack. This year year looking slick, and a large part of that could be down to Boyd.
I dunno where this will go, I want to keep these 3 guys, but perhaps that's just not possible with them all worthy of being an NRL half. Careers are short, I won't hold a grudge on any of these guys if one leaves.
Metcalf clutched up several times last year, and showed us his attacking potential. He was brilliant at times. But in between individual plays, our team was a bloody hard watch. We were disjointed and sloppy on attack. This year year looking slick, and a large part of that could be down to Boyd.
I dunno where this will go, I want to keep these 3 guys, but perhaps that's just not possible with them all worthy of being an NRL half. Careers are short, I won't hold a grudge on any of these guys if one leaves.
Fonzie
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Hi mate. I like Metcalf, but I’ve always thought he’s more a 6 than a 7.
However the club had no real 7 option on the horizon after SJ and I didn’t think Boyd was the guy, so I was happy enough with the Metcalf to 7 plan.
With Boyd going to another level the situation has changed - we have another quality 7 option. Is he a better 7 than Luke? Jury is still out because we probably don’t have a big enough sample from either.
Is Luke a better 6 than Chanel? I think his ceiling is higher, but ceilings aren’t everything if you are only fit 50% of the time.
So it’s a wicked problem.
Then there’s the question of who the senior players like Fish most respect and want to play with.
But let me put it this way - if I was Perth and could choose any 2 of the 3 to start a new club, and I thought they all had the same attitude, I’d choose Metcalf 6 and Boyd 7.
These stats paint a clear picture to me. One guy who produces individual brilliance and the other who creates opportunities for the team.
Can we be real about Metcalf? Last year he produced individually brilliant moments mostly, and was building the other parts of the game. He was on a really exciting trajectory, but he wasn't proven. You could see him becoming a class seven, but he hadn't yet become one. We took a bet on that trajectory continuing when he came back from injury, and maybe it could have, but Tannah is now on his own trajectory, and really it's more impressive than Metcalf's was last year. Fonzie on the TWL podcast keeps saying that Metcalf at six with Boyd at seven has the highest ceiling of all combinations available to us, and is the only one premiership-worthy. All respect to Fonzie but I strongly disagree. Metcalf is proven at neither six or seven. I think he could do it, but it's a bold claim to say with confidence that his ceiling at six is our best bet. I think Boyd is growing week on week and is already a form seven in the comp, and CHT is growing hugely, his trajectory is heading for the stars I think. They're not proven, but I think if I was forced to bet the house on Boyd and Metcalf taking us to glory or Boyd and CHT, then I'd go Boyd and CHT.
Wahs_Ultras
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Welcome Nathan Cleary
Ryno 2.0
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A bit premature from Metcalfs management you reckon? ACL injury out for several months, comes back and injures a hammy. If he has been playing NSW cup for several rounds I could kind of understand it.
Sounds like they are trying to force Websters and the clubs hand which I don’t like.
Smoke.. Fire.. etc
As weird as it feels to say, I think Met leaving and signing Boyd/CHT is the best outcome
As weird as it feels to say, I think Met leaving and signing Boyd/CHT is the best outcome
I hope we sign CHT and Boyd in the coming days
This is pretty crazy
I mean after what Webby has done to middle of the road Jackson Ford, Erin Clarke, Tannah Boyd, and reserve grade AKP, you don't think he knows what he's doing with Anderson?
Named in the starting side for the Rabbitohs this weekend. Good luck Ed.
Fuck this is so good! This is the start of a golden age!
The best thing about waiting for these injury prone players to come back.....Rocco, Mets, is our season is not entirely dependent on it. We seem to be doing a job with equally talented players, the halfs are killing it, Ali is improving week on week. Identifying others like Anderson to fill a role when Roger leaves keeps us in good stead. It's a far cry from the old days!
Thought this deserved to be acknowledged - Unbelievable effort!
Payne Haas, AFB, Patrick Carrigan, Taniela Paseka, Terrell May, Naufahu Whyte, Junio Paulo, Joseph Tapine, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Thomas Flegler, Stefano Utoikamanu, Leo Thompson, Jason Taumalolo... ALL SALUTE YOU!!!
Payne Haas, AFB, Patrick Carrigan, Taniela Paseka, Terrell May, Naufahu Whyte, Junio Paulo, Joseph Tapine, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Thomas Flegler, Stefano Utoikamanu, Leo Thompson, Jason Taumalolo... ALL SALUTE YOU!!!