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

[Tim burgess]

Not detracting from the win is the official attendance correct, just over 14000.

On Television it looked a lot bigger.

 

[roadrunner]

My one eyed fan view of the game is that so far this season is that it has been such a long time since I have seen them so focused. Their belief in each other in plays and fitness so far is way ahead of past seasons. They are standing up and being accountable to each other and for every game they win or go close will I reckon just maybe turn them into a top 4 or 6 team. Yea I know its only 2 games but hey I have already climbed from the back seat into the front so for the first time in many seasons I am going for the ride. Give it to the Raiders boys next week.

 

[bruce]

Not detracting from the win is the official attendance correct, just over 14000.

On Television it looked a lot bigger.

It would be correct. There were a lot of empty seats, especially in the platinum seats. So either season ticket holders did not go or had bought limited game options on their seats. I think the double header will be different. I think most of the decent seats have long gone.

 

[gREVUS]

It would be correct. There were a lot of empty seats, especially in the platinum seats. So either season ticket holders did not go or had bought limited game options on their seats. I think the double header will be different. I think most of the decent seats have long gone.

i wonder why they think double headers will work? arent they just splitting the take 4 ways? plus how many people will go for both games and how many will only sit down just before the warriors play and get up just after? I mean this aint Perth with 1 game every 6 months.

 

[Gizzyfan]

I think this win was more important for the mental toughness of the team. I don't mean our Spine or players like Harris and Blair. I mean guys like Maumalo, Kata, Afoa, Cook.

They worked hard in off season and had to go to Perth, three timezones isn't it. Play a Rabbitohs side that everybody, including a lot of their own fans had installed as overwhelming favourites.

They then had to return home, recover, and face the new found expectation, often unrealistic, of those same fans, in front of a large crowd, against a Titans team containing some good players who had nothing to lose. That is the epitome of a banana skin game. To be frank I would have been gobsmacked with a fast start.

I thought they handled it well, particularly as the game went on. The senior players led well and even the injury to Papalii, a real shame for the young man, and I hope not too serious, should show them that they can overcome such adversity.

Attitude is a huge factor, whether good or bad. This squad seems to be developing a harder nosed approach than previous Warriors teams. They will need it, it is a long hard march and their backs will be against the wall on occasion where this mental toughness will be key.

 

[bruce]

i wonder why they think double headers will work? arent they just splitting the take 4 ways? plus how many people will go for both games and how many will only sit down just before the warriors play and get up just after? I mean this aint Perth with 1 game every 6 months.

It is an NRL promotion, not the Warriors. They have nothing to do with it except for Jim Doyle liaising between the NRL and ATEED.

It also involves ATEED (the Auckland Council) so there must be some evidence of tourists coming into town for the game. When I first looked to buy tickets pre season I was surprised at how many platinum seats had already been sold (my season platinum for example). So my guess is there are substantial bookings from the visiting clubs.

 

[InsideBall]

Man, what a crazy game and crazy beginning to the year.

Somehow, in the space of one season, it's gone from one absolute extreme - the most ultra-conservative, simple, plain, boring football this club has ever played - to the other; the most cavalier, brave, reckless football we've seen in a long, long time.

The fact that this change has happened under Kearney is absolutely mind boggling. Everything about this play style is so distinctly un-Kearney. I have to give him an enormous wrap for doing probably the hardest thing to do as a coach; go against your own inclination to allow the team to play the way that best suits it.

The difference is evident. The structure last year was clearly strangling the team; we looked uninspired, mechanical and robotic, which will naturally happen when you're bored playing the game. Just giving the team the freedom to play eyes up, makes everyone engage mentally because the ball could be alive at any moment.

We're finally starting to see the real Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in a Warriors jumper... and he looks happy. Harris, Blair, and Pulu have made an immediate, and tangible difference to the pack. There's such an intelligence to Harris' play, backed up by his monstrous physical ability; he could go down as one of our best ever signings. Our outside backs are all playing well. Our bench is bringing impact. But the two players I have to single out for the most praise, are Green and Johnson. Green is really the linchpin of all of this change. He is the fulcrum around which this team, and this playstyle, is being built; and because of this, we're seeing Shaun Johnson-ascendent... man it could be scary what Shaun Johnson could be if we really get into the groove this season. There won't be a team in the game that won't fear him.

As an aside, anyone else see the irony we're now playing this way after Matulino left us? He would be absolutely devastating in this new system, with the new found freedom the team has.

Early days, so I won't get ahead of myself, but.... 2/2 to start a season. That's no small deal for us.

 

[bruce]

Somehow, in the space of one season, it's gone from one absolute extreme - the most ultra-conservative, simple, plain, boring football this club has ever played - to the other; the most cavalier, brave, reckless football we've seen in a long, long time.

I didn't see it that way. None of the play was Warrior Ball reckless. They have been practising offloading all off season, it was all structured, everything down to the defence. The defence was stifling, not big hit sensations, almost boring to watch in comparison.My only worry is Johnsons goalkicking.

 

[InsideBall]

I didn't see it that way. None of the play was Warrior Ball reckless. They have been practising offloading all off season, it was all structured, everything down to the defence. The defence was stifling, not big hit sensations, almost boring to watch in comparison.My only worry is Johnsons goalkicking.

I'm not saying it was all reckless, but to say that NONE of it was, is completely disingenuous. There were some passes that shouldn't have been thrown, but that comes with the territory of giving your side freedom to play ball. It's a good thing.

 

[bruce]

I'm not saying it was all reckless, but to say that NONE of it was, is completely disingenuous. There were some passes that shouldn't have been thrown, but that comes with the territory of giving your side freedom to play ball. It's a good thing.

Fair comment but why I saw it differently was watching them at training. They are working on offloads all the time and seem to have a structure of decision making about an offload. Any offloads that went to ground were well behind the advantage line so somebody could pick it up. If you recall there were very few offloads during the trials. Kearney and maybe Smith have planned this and I would not be surprised if they have more up their sleeve.

It was the same with the defensive line, very structured and very impressive, but not spectacular.

 

[gREVUS]

As an aside, anyone else see the irony we're now playing this way after Matulino left us? He would be absolutely devastating in this new system, with the new found freedom the team has.

Early days, so I won't get ahead of myself, but.... 2/2 to start a season. That's no small deal for us.

ive only seen the highlights but how did Muts go in the tigers win? Was it him getting sent off?

You've hit the nail on the head with that last statement, early days. So much to happen in the season still.

 

[Toopi is King]

Looks like I have egg on my face, I called it for the Warriors to win by 20+.

Seriously though, I'm super impressed with how the team is going and how they look after the game. IMHO I feel that we will win most games this season and we will win well (not necessarily by heaps of points, but by winning well), against teams that have a structured team play, ie Storm, broncos, sharks and the like and will win not so convincingly against the teams with an adlib approach to playing footy. I feel the structures we have in place and the way the game plans are organised it is easier for us against the structured teams where as the Newcastle's, Titans, Eels and Raiders are too adlib to have a set plan to.

LETS GONE WARRIORS

 

[gREVUS]

LETS GONE WARRIORS

Get that GONE out of there. It might have been funny when the warriors were losing every day, but this is a new era. No time for silly jokes about mistakes, their a professional outfit at last. They play with Pride and Passion at Last. So make that a

"Time for vigorous efforts Warriors"

 

[Toopi is King]

Get that GONE out of there. It might have been funny when the warriors were losing every day, but this is a new era. No time for silly jokes about mistakes, their a professional outfit at last. They play with Pride and Passion at Last. So make that a

"Time for vigorous efforts Warriors"

LOL, sorry to offend you, but that too me is part of the Warriors for life now, so I will forever be using it and never mean it for anything other than a message of support for the boys and my complete and utter undivided love for the club. Sense of humours don't cost much either

 

[Warrior482]

I was pleased that the boys had a cool enough head late in the game to shelve the ad lib stuff and close the game out. A small thing but significant imo

 

[Run_it_str8]

Congratulations on a good win for the NZW, from a Wigan Warrior.

Great to hear from you again Sam Tomkins.

 

[Run_it_str8]

Get that GONE out of there. It might have been funny when the warriors were losing every day, but this is a new era. No time for silly jokes about mistakes, their a professional outfit at last. They play with Pride and Passion at Last. So make that a

"Time for vigorous efforts Warriors"

My new contribution will be the banner that says

"Let's form a circle with arms linked and all close our eyes then simultaneously inhale.....hold....aaaannnnndddddd exhale.....again.......there you go chaps doesn't that feel better?"

 

[Rick O'Shay]

Fair comment but why I saw it differently was watching them at training. They are working on offloads all the time and seem to have a structure of decision making about an offload. Any offloads that went to ground were well behind the advantage line so somebody could pick it up. If you recall there were very few offloads during the trials. Kearney and maybe Smith have planned this and I would not be surprised if they have more up their sleeve.

It was the same with the defensive line, very structured and very impressive, but not spectacular.

I'm also sure they still have a few things we haven't seen yet. Green's comments in his after match interview alluded to it.

 

[davewjnz]

The other thing of note is with Papalii going off so early and Cook not coming on till the last 10 minutes we practically operated on a 2 man bench.
Coaching staff are obviously way confident in the guys fitness.

Game was scrappy as already pointed out but hey , once the team starts gelling more we will start to see a combination of structure as per the Rabbits game mixed with the offloading.
Nice to see we can play scrappy and still win and who is to say a better team would have capitalised on our scrappy play, we don't know this. For all we know we may have scored a couple of times from our offloading.

We are still a work in progress and after enduring a 9 game losing streak we have the right to be celebrating our 2 from 2 wins.

 

[Jez]

NRL 2018 - Round 2 - Warriors vs Titans Post Match Discussion
New Zealand Warriors ? vs ? Gold Coast Titans
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

View attachment 24473
​

Thread to share your thoughts on the Round 2 game between the New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans after the match.

Name your Man of the Match, discuss the coach, captain, starting team, bench, opposition, game tactics, substitutions, errors (or lack thereof), penalties (or lack thereof) highs, lows, refs etc...

PLZ warriors CUT your Hair fade Trims you dont play good when you have your hair in your face Plz CUTT your Hair