Post Match NRL 2022 - Warriors vs Dragons Post Match Discussion [Round 1, 2022]

[Juju]

He was a Claytons Coach...forget the rest

Because I’m just a fan and when a post like #robbiemears who has first hand knowledge of Nathan Brown I have to take notice. I really hope he can have success as I really like Brown and would like for no one more to prove people wrong but if next the next couple of weeks are poor performances, I will be a bit concerned. I only say Woolf because with one of your leaders Addin Fonua-Blake and the Tongan connection I wonder if there could be benefits in that.

St Helens have been far and away the form team in super league the last two seasons. Woolf has taken them up a level...

I mean, who else are we realistically going to be able to sign to come here to coach that has the potential to innovate. We'd struggle to sign the dregs of current available coaches.

Looking at the recent behind the scenes moves... Shane Cameron's old manager as Chairman... Dregs.

 

[Five&Last]

Perhaps the next generation in the Warrior's system are superstars in the making. @

TheCool would know better than me. But players like Chanel Harris-Tavita, Berry, and Katoa still seem pretty average at this stage of their development.

Development isn't really linear. Chanel Harris-Tavita is probably in a make or break season only because he's off contract at season end so we have to make a decision on him. And because we haven't really seen any tangible improvement in his game over the past two years.

Rocco Berry is probably ahead of his development stage. How many 20 year olds are there starting at centre for their clubs. He's looked good IMO. Probably doesn't have game breaking potential but is advanced for his age.

Vailea is a baby still. People forget that he's younger than Reece Walsh. Without any bias he's probably my favourite centre prospect in the league. You have to compare his to guys at the exact same age and position that are just dipping their toes into NRL like Selwyn Cobbo, Will Pensini, Tolutau Koula. He's a few months younger than all those guys and just as good imo. Elite prospect. The game on the weekend wasn't a good showing but ive seen enough flashes in QLD cup and the trial.

Katoa is probably slipping behind the development curve now a little IMO. He has massive potential but still makes really stupid errors (i.e. knock on from the drop out in the weekend easily avoided if he faces side on so it knocks back, among many other examples). He just isn't advanced in his IQ like Berry. But he's worth investing in still because of his frame, how many second rowers are that size and move like him (can only really think of Olakau'atu and Kikau). But he needs to start showing improvement this season

 

[Viking]

Development isn't really linear. Chanel Harris-Tavita is probably in a make or break season only because he's off contract at season end so we have to make a decision on him. And because we haven't really seen any tangible improvement in his game over the past two years.

Rocco Berry is probably ahead of his development stage. How many 20 year olds are there starting at centre for their clubs. He's looked good IMO. Probably doesn't have game breaking potential but is advanced for his age.

Vailea is a baby still. People forget that he's younger than Reece Walsh. Without any bias he's probably my favourite centre prospect in the league. You have to compare his to guys at the exact same age and position that are just dipping their toes into NRL like Selwyn Cobbo, Will Pensini, Tolutau Koula. He's a few months younger than all those guys and just as good imo. Elite prospect. The game on the weekend wasn't a good showing but ive seen enough flashes in QLD cup and the trial.

Katoa is probably slipping behind the development curve now a little IMO. He has massive potential but still makes really stupid errors (i.e. knock on from the drop out in the weekend easily avoided if he faces side on so it knocks back, among many other examples). He just isn't advanced in his IQ like Berry. But he's worth investing in still because of his frame, how many second rowers are that size and move like him (can only really think of Olakau'atu and Kikau). But he needs to start showing improvement this season

If there was only one centre spot available (say Aitkens has the other one), who would you choose between Berry and Vailea? I'd take Vailea because his attack looks more promising, Berry looks solid but unspectacular on attack to me.

Vailea physically had the harder defensive assignment on Saturday, Suli is a handful for any centre. Hard to believe that he's only 23 and he's already spent a bit of time away from the game. Lomax outplayed Berry IMO, I would've thought Brown would play Aitken at centre because he knows the Dragons backs better than any other Warrior and I'm sure he would've helped stop at least one of Ravalawa's trys. Dragons just had the better Fijian winger in the end.

If Vailea's leg isn't a 100% though, why risk him while he's this young? Can he hit top speed currently?

 

[Five&Last]

If there was only one centre spot available (say Aitkens has the other one), who would you choose between Berry and Vailea? I'd take Vailea because his attack looks more promising, Berry looks solid but unspectacular on attack to me.

Vailea physically had the harder defensive assignment on Saturday, Suli is a handful for any centre. Hard to believe that he's only 23 and he's already spent a bit of time away from the game. Lomax outplayed Berry IMO, I would've thought Brown would play Aitken at centre because he knows the Dragons backs better than any other Warrior and I'm sure he would've helped stop at least one of Ravalawa's trys. Dragons just had the better Fijian winger in the end.

If Vailea's leg isn't a 100% though, why risk him while he's this young? Can he hit top speed currently?

I'd still pick Berry right now because he's safer. But Vailea is more likely to become a strike centre because he's more dangerous with the ball and breaking tackles. I actually want Berry to develop into a fullback, I think he has potential as a third half with his ball playing out the back.

Ideally neither would be our first choice centres yet but thats the reality when we have so much money tied up in our forward pack. I mean we had something like $1.2 mil in salary from our forward pack sitting on the side line on the weekend with Lodge and Tohu Harris.

 

[#robbiemears]

I'm also perplexed by Brownie's decision to appoint Addin Fonua-Blake as fill-in skipper. Awesome player, but having watched interviews, and the post-match press conference, he's not the most inspiring of speakers, and he doesn't seem particularly enamoured with the role. I would've given the captaincy to Shaun Johnson. He's passionate about the Warriors, is articulate, and arguably the team's marquee player.

At this stage of his career, the fact that he's continually overlooked for captaincy roles perhaps tells us that there are still leadership issues with him away from the field.

 

[defensivebomb]

I can’t work out whether to tee off on that performance, or flush it and wait for next week

I think you just leave it in the bowl, because deep down you know you will need go again shortly and you just want to conserve water for the next one

 

[john nick]

There was certainly a lot of clunkiness with that performance. Dumb passes and stupid mistakes

Hopefully another game under the belt and return of Lodge and Reece will make a considerable difference.
Only one lead up game is not ideal.
If we get humped next week I would start to panic.

 

[Fonzie]

A trial short. First round. I saw some good stuff in there. Glad Walsh is back next week.
What did you think of Kodi?

Kodi didn’t play well but his outsides (inc Aitken) were running the wrong lines and he was too often getting the ball when our middles had generated no ruck speed. He needs to sort out his edge but I think he was symptomatic of broader issues.

 

[bruce]

But over multiple coaches (Elliot, McFadden, SK) and multiple fitness trainers we seem to end up in a similar position. Do you believe that it comes down to coaching or a lack of talent?

We have made 2 GFs...who was that coach again?

 

[Wheels]

Development isn't really linear. Chanel Harris-Tavita is probably in a make or break season only because he's off contract at season end so we have to make a decision on him. And because we haven't really seen any tangible improvement in his game over the past two years.

Rocco Berry is probably ahead of his development stage. How many 20 year olds are there starting at centre for their clubs. He's looked good IMO. Probably doesn't have game breaking potential but is advanced for his age.

Vailea is a baby still. People forget that he's younger than Reece Walsh. Without any bias he's probably my favourite centre prospect in the league. You have to compare his to guys at the exact same age and position that are just dipping their toes into NRL like Selwyn Cobbo, Will Pensini, Tolutau Koula. He's a few months younger than all those guys and just as good imo. Elite prospect. The game on the weekend wasn't a good showing but ive seen enough flashes in QLD cup and the trial.

Katoa is probably slipping behind the development curve now a little IMO. He has massive potential but still makes really stupid errors (i.e. knock on from the drop out in the weekend easily avoided if he faces side on so it knocks back, among many other examples). He just isn't advanced in his IQ like Berry. But he's worth investing in still because of his frame, how many second rowers are that size and move like him (can only really think of Olakau'atu and Kikau). But he needs to start showing improvement this season

I thought that was a tough kick to contain as it could have bounced anywhere even if he was side on I thought it might have gone out! Could Vailea play on the wing? I haven't seen enough of him to see his potential, just highlights - which were good. The wing position might settle his nerves and allow the transition to center to be not such a leap!

 

[wizards rage]

Kodi didn’t play well but his outsides (inc Aitken) were running the wrong lines and he was too often getting the ball when our middles had generated no ruck speed. He needs to sort out his edge but I think he was symptomatic of broader issues.

I think we need to look at the halves after the team stops bumbling, dropping balls, forward passing and making stupid errors.

We killed ourselves with lack of possession which fatigued our team. The halves had no platform because we only had 43% possession.

Get the fundamentals right and play with stability and then we can actually analyse how our spine is controlling the game.

 

[bruce]

We killed ourselves with lack of possession which fatigued our team. The halves had no platform because we only had 43% possession.

and the penalty count

 

[john nick]

and the penalty count

And dropped balls and dumb passes

 

[bruce]

And dropped balls and dumb passes

Both teams did that...they are both bottom eight material

 

[john nick]

Both teams did that...they are both bottom eight material

Agreed. Hopefully we have more improvement in our team

 

[Noitall]

Both teams did that...they are both bottom eight material

Manly looked bottom 8 last year too in the early rounds. Hopefully Walsh can have the effect Trbojevich had.

 

[jonesy101]

The only team that played a scintillating game were last years premiers. Every other team had a high error rate for the round, lots of dropped balls. It was frustrating the high risk plays we made in our own 20 which I hope we put to bed, but overall its hard to gauge where all teams are at particularly with how much squad rebalancing has happened across the board.

Losing Johnson is a massive blow for us though. So much disruption to start the year.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

I'm also perplexed by Brownie's decision to appoint Addin Fonua-Blake as fill-in skipper. Awesome player, but having watched interviews, and the post-match press conference, he's not the most inspiring of speakers, and he doesn't seem particularly enamoured with the role. I would've given the captaincy to Shaun Johnson. He's passionate about the Warriors, is articulate, and arguably the team's marquee player.

At this stage of his career, the fact that he's continually overlooked for captaincy roles perhaps tells us that there are still leadership issues with him away from the field.

Robbie do you need to be a good leader away from the field? If Shaun isn't a good leader off the field then I would be fine with that. A captain doesn't need to be your friend off the field and if that rubs people the wrong way then maybe they should be doing something else.

I think your right Shaun can carry himself a bit better then most, but hey it's the warriors and nothing makes sense at the moment. If Shaun can't be a leader then maybe recruit a leader? I will always go back to Steve Price, nz warriors best captain imo.

 

[Rick O'Shay]

Do all the other clubs in the league go through the trials, tribulations and angst that the Warriors have since '95?

Asking for a friend

 

[Five&Last]

I'm also perplexed by Brownie's decision to appoint Addin Fonua-Blake as fill-in skipper. Awesome player, but having watched interviews, and the post-match press conference, he's not the most inspiring of speakers, and he doesn't seem particularly enamoured with the role. I would've given the captaincy to Shaun Johnson. He's passionate about the Warriors, is articulate, and arguably the team's marquee player.

At this stage of his career, the fact that he's continually overlooked for captaincy roles perhaps tells us that there are still leadership issues with him away from the field.

It will be a players things. The playing group would've chosen Addin Fonua-Blake over Shaun Johnson. I doubt there are any questions over Shaun Johnson's leadership ability, on and off the field.