Post Match NRL 2016 - Round 17 - Warriors vs Titans Post Match Discussion

[NZWarriors.com]

NRL 2016 - Round 17 - Warriors vs Titans Post Match Discussion
New Zealand Warriors 27 vs 18 Gold Coast Titans
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Who was your MoM?
Did the boys give Simon Mannering the result he deserved?
Simon Mannering get a meat pie?
Did Jonathan Wright end up as a late inclusion?
How did the tactic of Tuimoala Lolohea and David Fusitua swapping fullback duties workout?
Did Blake Ayshford and Tui gel again?
Ben Matulino better off the bench?
Manu make a late bid for the #5 jersey?
Ken Maumalo. What happened to him?
Shaun Johnson take on the line?
Thomas Leuluai overcall the ball?
Bodene Thompson play out of his skin as usual?
Captain Ryan Hoffman lead from the front?
How was the bench players?
Anyone go to the game? How was the atmosphere?

Dont forget to rate the players... https://www.nzwarriors.com/matches/nrl-2016-round-17.68/

 

[Jay M]

Matulino MOM for me. Really made a difference when he came on. Our middle was soft in the first 20. Initial stats for him this game are impressive.

Ayshford kept us in it in the first half.

Thompson had a monster second half.

 

[Brother Faisal]

fusitua's gotta be warrior of the year at this point. what great development by the club and hope he continues onward. must be kept

 

[Apus]

Bodene MOTM. Guy has been on fire this season.

One legged Shaun Johnson still carves people up, hopefully he gets a good break over the bye cause his kicking has been (even more) shoddy.

I feel like when Manu comes back we should put Tui in reserves for a bit. I love the guy but Fusitua needs to be fullback and not have to worry about covering for a midget every set.

 

[Jordan G]

We won, that's what counts.

We were flat for the majority.

Can't underestimate the effect of missing Hoffman, not so much on an individual basis but the changes that had to come, the use of our interchange and the need for players who don't normally play longer minutes to front up.

Afoa looked good on defense, didn't get a lot of opportunity on attack

Our go forward is still way too reliant on our backs. I think Lillyman and Mannering were the only forwards who touched the ball in our first 2 sets of six.

There wasn't anyone who played badly, but only a few really stood out. Thompson, Mannering, Matulino, Fusitua were great with other players having their moments.

Our defensive organisation continues to improve. There's no way we win that game last year coming out so flat and giving the opposition 60% posession in the first half. A positive ugly win.

Maumalo isn't a winger (at least not long term), but he's got some serious talent/willpower and dedication.

 

[t-wade23]

Tough Game esp that first 60 mins but glad the boys fought through all the adversity to get the win.

Thought Ben was MOM for me came on and changed the game and put in huge efforts through the game to the forwards over the line if he played like this every game would easily be the best prop In the game. Fusitua was an close second for me dude is really growing into his game and playing with heaps of confidence im glad he has come on this strong

Shaun Johnson rocks and diamonds as always but pulls out the plays when needed to get us out of jail.

Very good game to build into the last half of the season hopefully this time we can finish the year on an high and get into the finals.

 

[MurrayTD]

A lot to like.
Vete was reminiscent of Sua Sua
Loved Johson taking dummy half role of right side, allowing Luke to play 80 quality minutes.
Captain Fucking Mannering......
Blake Ashyford AKA John Carlaw
Tactical nous too switch Fusitua to right edge for high ball.
TL looked the goods!!!
Ken Maumalo looks better every outing

 

[Bluecat again]

Fantastic result. Well done Warriors and esp. Simon Mannering
It was so good to see Simon and his kids getting the haka done for them at the start of the game. How good has he been for us?
So nice to see it all starting to come together. Johnson/Ayshford/Thompson must be one of the best combinations in the league and they keep getting better
Matulino and Vete were strong and Fusitua showed how good he is
Mannering for MOM for me. Maybe not our absolute best but another strong game and being his 250th who else could get the award

 

[Jordan G]

That last try stopped us from going ahead of the Panthers on F/A.

Come on Tigers, Janfin special thanks.

 

[diehard]

Man, if Lolo missed the tackles that Fusitua missed at fullback...we need Ivan Cleary to teach the fullbacks how to tackle
Maumalo as good or better than Manu at wing on offense, and better on defense.
Fusitua needs to move back to wing, with Lolo at fullback, now that we know that neither one can tackle.
Lulu had a good game. Damn, I said it. I hate that.
Hingano AGAIN didn't play for a week. That's twice now. Not in FG or on the B team. At his age, he needs some game time.

 

[6 Again]

If a few other results go our way this weekend we could be looking okay going into the bye.

 

[Fazz]

Fusitua needs to move back to wing, with Lolo at fullback, now that we know that neither one can tackle.

Just no. Lolohea is not a better Fullback than Fusitua. Why weaken one position to slightly strengthen a less important position? If anything, you leave Lolohea out, play him in the halves in NSW Cup and let a specialist winger play first grade. Otherwise I'm fairly happy with them as they are. Fullback is a near impossible place to defend at and Fusitua offers too much on attack to take him out of the game.

In general, very pleased with the effort today. The Titans, while understrength, are a good team. We also maintained the rage for almost the full 80. That last minute try was disappointing, but aside from that, our 2nd half was very good.

Thompson was a MONSTER in particular. Mom for me is

3. Thompson
2. Ayshford
1. Mannering (since his big moment was probably behind the performance)

Bunty was very impressive too, I thought.

 

[Jordan G]

If a few other results go our way this weekend we could be looking okay going into the bye.

Tigers beat Panthers by 5+
Sea Eagles beat Dragons
Knights beat Raiders...

That would do nicely.

Would put us 2 points from 5th (once the Eels are rightfully kicked out of the 8) and the Broncos are looking very shaky

 

[Dunedin warrior]

I thought we were a little jaded after the sharks game and it showed in the first half. The defence in the last 5 minutes in the first half was excellent and it made the difference when we got on top in the second half.

We were very composed in the second half which is an un warriors like trait, our defence continues to improve, and I thought the Titans played pretty well.

More of the same and we will make the 8

 

[diehard]

Just no. Lolohea is not a better Fullback than Fusitua. Why weaken one position to slightly strengthen a less important position? If anything, you leave Lolohea out, play him in the halves in NSW Cup and let a specialist winger play first grade. Otherwise I'm fairly happy with them as they are. Fullback is a near impossible place to defend at and Fusitua offers too much on attack to take him out of the game.

In general, very pleased with the effort today. The Titans, while understrength, are a good team. We also maintained the rage for almost the full 80. That last minute try was disappointing, but aside from that, our 2nd half was very good.

Thompson was a MONSTER in particular. Mom for me is

3. Thompson
2. Ayshford
1. Mannering (since his big moment was probably behind the performance)

Bunty was very impressive too, I thought.

Yes. Lolo was a monster on offense when he was at fullback. It was his defense that was at issue, according to Cappy. And remember, Fusitua scored three tries when he was last on the wing. Look, I'd prefer Lolo at 6, but Cappy won't let me. But Ata not playing at all this week has me mystified.

 

[nickster]

It wasn't pretty but a win is a win and I'll so take it. Winning the matches that the team doesn't play well is crucial for crunch time.

 

[Bluecat again]

Yes. Lolo was a monster on offense when he was at fullback. It was his defense that was at issue, according to Cappy. And remember, Fusitua scored three tries when he was last on the wing. Look, I'd prefer Lolo at 6, but Cappy won't let me. But Ata not playing at all this week has me mystified.

I'm not sure about Lolo. Watching him defending the kicks today was worrying. He scored a great try but that is only one part of being a winger
From what I have seen of him in the halves he isn't a world beater
And I think that Fusitua and obviously Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are better fullbacks
So where does that leave him?

 

[snake77]

The performance wasn't as good as the previous 3 wins or last week. But this competition is a marathon not a sprint so you need to pick up wins when you are not your best. But we got the result and got better as the game went on. Get weekend off next week and heal injuries and hopefully deal to our poor record in Perth.

The first 50-60 minutes was pretty scrappy due to penalties stopping the flow or wrestling in the ruck but once we got going and got some momentum we looked a lot better.

The Titans came to play and hung in there. They have a few players out and lost a couple during the game as well. I thought they'd struggle this year but they have been going alright and compete every week.

 

[facefacts]

We're winning games during this period pretty much in the fashion we do every season...they're getting the W but not very convincing, and theres always that feeling that the big soft underbelly that is the Warriors defense is just waiting to be cut wide open.

I will always celebrate a win, but i have very little confidence of the current team going anywhere in the competition this year.

 

[Rick O'Shay]

This was a critical win after the drama of last weeks loss. 2 points in the bank and a scrappy game which we would have lost 12 months ago (I think we did)

Matulino, Thompson and Ayshford were the picks for me but thought Mannering, Fusitua and Maumalo played really well. Shaun Johnson doesn't have to score off every play, just has to score the one we need, when we need it. Funny though, you could actually see what was going to unfold there on the right. It was just a matter of when.
Impressed we hung in there and ground it out. What was up with Hoffman? Bunty went well.