Post Match NRL 2018 - Round 2 - Warriors vs Titans Post Match Discussion

[bruce]

They maybe had half an argument with the one where Johnson was being obstructed, their player seemed to stand his ground, but the others were clear cut.

Just watching the replay. James actively obstructed Shaun Johnson. No doubt so enjoy your breakfast.

 

[Horriors2013]

How about take your rant and shove it up your fucken arse. I was super happy last week and posted accordingly. This week I saw some problems and I've posted about them. I'm entitled to cast a critical eye over the game, and if us winning means you can't then I really don't care.

Lol. You can. It's a free world. It's just me pissed off with posts about things that didn't happen. If you're going to run a critical eye over things be prepared for people to run a critical eye over your comments too. That's healthy debate.

Lord knows I've had to eat humble pie over Maumalo and Kata. Despite my assertion they are not well-rounded enough skill-wise to offset their faults, they have been giving it their all and showed they actually have the ticker to make up for it.

My big peeve is that some people are not really making fact-based analysis . They actually just want to say " The Warriors are still not good enough because if I admit they are, I'd be shitting on my own past comments " .

 

[Sup42]

One thing about the Titans this year is that they really unsettled us in the trial game also.

We seem to lose our Chi against them and struggle in parts.

Banana skins....part of it has to be to do with not showing them the respect they deserve based on the past ?

 

[YeahNah 4020]

You two will never be happy. What you wish for is something that wasn't in the game.

It's like you don't watch the games. Titans came back and won a game they had no right winning last week. They play as a team. They're not that bad. There's 2 sides to a game. You can play a great game but the opposition has a say also. They can be tough too.

Ryan James and Kevin Proctor are known to be tough competitors and highly skilled. They've stiffened up the defence there. They are resilient. But we were more resilient and had the flair to make a difference.

We smoked the Bunnies who have an amazing attack led by monster forwards.

Each game is different. I forgive you for the James quote because I realize you're still in 2012-2017 recovery.

But if anybody thinks we were lucky today and that the better teams would smoke us, take a look at the ladder fuckers!

Were we lucky for 21 years? Did we get the benefit of the doubt most of the time? If we got a couple of breaks today it was only the rugby league God's belatedly starting to pay us back a small portion of what we 've endured.

So don't try to be the typical bandwagon All Black supporter talking like every performance could be better. Coaches can get away with saying it because they are keeping their team focused.

But considering we all slammed them to hell last year, the least we can do is give credit where it's due.

It was a grinding game from second quarter to 3rd quarter. The Titans came to play. I'm telling you there was no way we were going to run up a huge score. Their defence is their strength.

Yes we made mistakes, but that is the cost of Warriorball. I can tolerate mistakes when it is in search of a way through a tough defence. Especially when our defence is so good.

So please spare me the 'we were lucky' shit speech. Because they were offside and throwing passes forward and did not get pulled up on them.

This team has heart I've never seen here before . It's a team effort. No one individual bearing the biggest burden. You can see it in the stats.

Rant over..

 

[YeahNah 4020]

You two will never be happy. What you wish for is something that wasn't in the game.

It's like you don't watch the games. Titans came back and won a game they had no right winning last week. They play as a team. They're not that bad. There's 2 sides to a game. You can play a great game but the opposition has a say also. They can be tough too.

Ryan James and Kevin Proctor are known to be tough competitors and highly skilled. They've stiffened up the defence there. They are resilient. But we were more resilient and had the flair to make a difference.

We smoked the Bunnies who have an amazing attack led by monster forwards.

Each game is different. I forgive you for the James quote because I realize you're still in 2012-2017 recovery.

But if anybody thinks we were lucky today and that the better teams would smoke us, take a look at the ladder fuckers!

Were we lucky for 21 years? Did we get the benefit of the doubt most of the time? If we got a couple of breaks today it was only the rugby league God's belatedly starting to pay us back a small portion of what we 've endured.

So don't try to be the typical bandwagon All Black supporter talking like every performance could be better. Coaches can get away with saying it because they are keeping their team focused.

But considering we all slammed them to hell last year, the least we can do is give credit where it's due.

It was a grinding game from second quarter to 3rd quarter. The Titans came to play. I'm telling you there was no way we were going to run up a huge score. Their defence is their strength.

Yes we made mistakes, but that is the cost of Warriorball. I can tolerate mistakes when it is in search of a way through a tough defence. Especially when our defence is so good.

So please spare me the 'we were lucky' shit speech. Because they were offside and throwing passes forward and did not get pulled up on them.

This team has heart I've never seen here before . It's a team effort. No one individual bearing the biggest burden. You can see it in the stats.

Rant over..

Lengendary brother!!
2 sides to each argument but I firmly stand on your side my man.

 

[Horriors2013]

Hiku saved a try after allowing the try to nearly be scored in the first place by missing a critical tackle. I will stand up for Kata as a centre any day over Hiku. He had a rough 2017 when a lot of shit was going on in his life. He will be good for us in 2018.

I'll watch the replay. You may be right. But one thing you can't deny. At this stage of the season, 2 rounds in, how many tries have been scored down Hiku's side? Answer: a shitload less than previous years.

Hiku/Harris/Fusitua looks to be the dominant combo in the comp right now IMO.

 

[bruce]

Loose is exactly the right description. After the elation of us playing so well last week I thought we took a few backward steps today - a number of sides would have smoked us. Ryan James was right about the disallowed tries as well, we were very lucky with the ref decisions at key points in the game.

I don't usually disagree with you brother but all those obstruction calls were fair. Also Peta Hiku had 10 missed tackles last week and is showing the same this week on the NRL website so if that is correct he had no missed tackles this week. He also ran for 132 metres which was more than Ken who had a pretty good game himself. Sadly I cannot find a decent stats site (I am not paying Murdoch to get onto his site) so subject to me being corrected on stats I think your opinion of Peta Hiku is harsh.

 

[Horriors2013]

My MOM would be Gavet. He gets better at bending the line. But also because he was the first one to help the camerawoman who fell off her segway.

I think he's not a natural leader but has accepted the role maturely in the forwards and has been an example of someone who will get knocked down and get back up again to show his team-mates they can do it.

I feel like today he made inroads.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck first equal. The guy is high octane. He only does things at full tilt. Watching him catch high balls pre-match, he treats even practice as if it was the game. His eyes focus so intensely. It's quite remarkable.

The way the team has turned around has exceeded my wildest dreams. The spine is so dangerous. All because the other components are performing their roles. See what that can do?

Shaun Johnson, Bullyand Roger Tuivasa-Sheck look like they are going to rip it up this year. Bully leading DH runs and top 3 in tackle turnovers.

 

[Stone]

The beauty of being 2-0 is that for the first time in a long time the Warriors are now in a position to set up their season

2-0 can all of a sudden become 4-0 ... 6-0 etc just as 0-2 can suddenly become 0-4 etc & then before we know it we're chasing our season

Winning breeds confidence & belief ... a confident Warriors outfit brimming with self belief is a dangerous prospect for any team in the comp

Losing breeds pressure & doubt ... in this state past Warriors sides have shown the unfortunate capacity to more or less beat themselves

This current team will lose eventually, might be next week or the week after that or a month from now, that's a given

The real litmus test will be how they bounce back from their first taste of defeat in 2018

A top side will back up a loss with a vengeful performance the following week, lesser sides tend to retreat into their shells & sometimes stop playing real footy altogether

A top side will endeavour to avoid back to back losses at all costs, lesser sides seem to get worse the harder they try

Here's hoping we see the former & not the latter when the inevitable losses come

 

[MurrayTD]

Proud..it has been a while for all involved.

 

[Fonzies Tram Line]

I saw the Titans presser, neither James or Brennan criticised the Officials.

It wasn’t at the presser mate, it was the interview straight after the game.

 

[Deranged]

It wasn’t at the presser mate, it was the interview straight after the game.

Yeah it came across a bit sulky but give him the benefit of the doubt that he was frustrated at losing and hadn’t had time to process his shit.

 

[Jaka]

My MOM would be Gavet. He gets better at bending the line. But also because he was the first one to help the camerawoman who fell off her segway.

I think he's not a natural leader but has accepted the role maturely in the forwards and has been an example of someone who will get knocked down and get back up again to show his team-mates they can do it.

I feel like today he made inroads.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck first equal. The guy is high octane. He only does things at full tilt. Watching him catch high balls pre-match, he treats even practice as if it was the game. His eyes focus so intensely. It's quite remarkable.

The way the team has turned around has exceeded my wildest dreams. The spine is so dangerous. All because the other components are performing their roles. See what that can do?

Shaun Johnson, Bullyand Roger Tuivasa-Sheck look like they are going to rip it up this year. Bully leading DH runs and top 3 in tackle turnovers.

I am not even 90 on our defence but i am loving our flare and what we see in front of us

 

[Pozza]

I am not even 90 on our defence but i am loving our flare and what we see in front of us

Good effort lads while not perfect it’s two points and at the end of the year no one will care how and why we got them. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck first half running stats very impressive

 

[bruce]

Good effort lads while not perfect it’s two points and at the end of the year no one will care how and why we got them. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck first half running stats very impressive

What you wouldn't have seen on TV was the blowing and hands on hips of the Titans. They were stuffed before half time and even had twice the possession of the Warriors so it should have been the other way around. You could tell that as soon as the possession started to even out the Warriors would take over. This side is very fit, and I cannot see a fitter side this season, so relax and enjoy.

 

[Pozza]

What you wouldn't have seen on TV was the blowing and hands on hips of the Titans. They were stuffed before half time and even had twice the possession of the Warriors so it should have been the other way around. You could tell that as soon as the possession started to even out the Warriors would take over. This side is very fit, and I cannot see a fitter side this season, so relax and enjoy.

You betcha. No need for the sedatives

 

[Beastmode]

Ah, how good is this win aye?...

My mood feels so different.

It’s hard to explain this feeling.

Happiness?....

I always thought of this team like a toxic chemical.

But now.... it’s my antidepressant!

I mean even if we go on to lose the next few games I have these good memories in my head now...

You made my weekend Warriors. So thank you.

And what’s more, to put icing on the cake, my second fav club, team Cleary knocked off the defending champs!!!

A top weekend of footy.

 

[Run_it_str8]

You betcha. No need for the sedatives

No red bull required

I also do not miss

Foran
Thompson
Lolohea
Matulino
Hingano (unless Green gets injured)
Hoffman

 

[Danpatmac]

Just thought I'd post this here because the Warriors are 2 and 0 so f**k you footy show. First big test of the season coming up against the Raiders. Would make two changes to the team Vete and Paasi in for Papalii and Cook.

This team can't afford to not have a dummy half back up option.
Cook stays until Lawton or Cherrington are ready, unless there is someone else whoi can cover Luke if he goes down during the game?

Paasi for Papalii is a straight swap, probably an upgrade.

 

[bruce]

Hiku/Harris/Fusitua looks to be the dominant combo in the comp right now IMO.

David Long agrees with you.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...-they-have-a-real-edge-about-them-this-season
Last year all the talk was about the Warriors' spine but two games into this season it should be about their stunning right edge.

Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris Harris, Peta Hiku and David Fusitua were sensational in the win over the Titans at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night. Just as they were the previous week against the Rabbitohs.

Given that Hiku and Harris are new to the Warriors NRL team this year, the way they're playing together on attack makes it all the more remarkable.

Johnson and Harris are both great creators, while Fusitu'a is becoming one of the best finishers in the NRL, so that leaves Hiku to be the glue that holds it all together.
But Fusitu'a said during preseason they weren't clicking as well as they should have and they needed some direction from Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.

"It's something we missed out on in the preseason games," Hiku said after the 20-8 win.

"Tohu Harris has got the skill to pull out whatever he needs to do and play with the ball.

"That was something after the preseason games that Stephen Kearney wanted us to work on.
"We can make little plays for ourselves and get used to how each other plays. If we get that right, we can go a long way. "

Fusitu'a had in the past wanted to be a centre rather than a winger, but so well is he playing in that position that he's making it hard for himself to be given a run anywhere else.

His leaping try from a Johnson kick in the second half, was something to marvel at.

"Fusitua is great in the air," Hiku said.

"But last week he picked up the ball at his feet when he was going at speed.

"He can do anything if you can get the ball to him.

"Having him outside me is great, I'm so glad he's there."

The hype going into this game at Mt Smart Stadium was big, because of the win over the Rabbitohs, but that's only going to increase in the build up to next weekend's game against the Raiders in Canberra.

"There was a lot of hype around how we're going, but we're trying block it all out, but now the job is done we can enjoy it," Hiku said.

For a young, but experienced player like Hiku, who has previously played for the Sea Eagles, Panthers, Warrington and the Kiwis, he's able to handle the expectations on him. But for the younger players in the team, dealing with it, is something they're going to have to handle.

"If we can leave all that hype to the side and focus on what we need to do, we should be able to do what we need to do," the 25-year-old said.

"The hype will always be there and it will be tough for some players to leave that out.

But if our team can block that aside then we should be OK."

- Stuff