Post Match Preseason 2025 Trial 1 - Warriors vs Sharks

[Noitall]

It's not even new rules though. It's just officiating in existing rules and what they are going to pull up. It seriously shouldn't be that hard to get up and play the ball correctly with your foot and refs to be able to make calls in it. I'm tired of all of this tinkering to speed the game up for improved 'entertainment' far too many grey areas in the game as it is.

In these situations, it’s the nrl that causes this though by seemingly wanting the game to have less stoppages and a better spectacle, like how you see a lot of travelling not pulled up in the nba. I used to be so thankful that AFB wasn’t being pulled up when playing for us, but so many doing it too that I considered the interruptions too great? I presume they’re policing it more now in hopes it’s trained into their psyche by round one, but think the nrl creates their own headlines with their own non action sometimes

 

[Inruin]

In these situations, it’s the nrl that causes this though by seemingly wanting the game to have less stoppages and a better spectacle, like how you see a lot of travelling not pulled up in the nba. I used to be so thankful that AFB wasn’t being pulled up when playing for us, but so many doing it too that I considered the interruptions too great? I presume they’re policing it more now in hopes it’s trained into their psyche by round one, but think the nrl creates their own headlines with their own non action sometimes

That's basically my point. The rule is pretty clear when it comes to play the balls. But if they want to speed the game up, they don't adjust the rules so it's then clear, they say just let that go. I loved the year when the refs were directed to officiate the rules properly. Players were shanking line drop outs, getting themselves in a tangle trying to play the ball properly etc.

This play the ball crack down. It's not even officiating the rule. It's more don't make it so obvious that you aren't playing to the rule. It's nonsense.

 

[John Nick]

In these situations, it’s the nrl that causes this though by seemingly wanting the game to have less stoppages and a better spectacle, like how you see a lot of travelling not pulled up in the nba. I used to be so thankful that AFB wasn’t being pulled up when playing for us, but so many doing it too that I considered the interruptions too great? I presume they’re policing it more now in hopes it’s trained into their psyche by round one, but think the nrl creates their own headlines with their own non action sometimes

The NRL have crack downs on certain aspects of the game every year and often it's in the PTB areas. Standing square for example.
After a few rounds it's almost forgotten.

 

[Noitall]

That's basically my point. The rule is pretty clear when it comes to play the balls. But if they want to speed the game up, they don't adjust the rules so it's then clear, they say just let that go. I loved the year when the refs were directed to officiate the rules properly. Players were shanking line drop outs, getting themselves in a tangle trying to play the ball properly etc.

This play the ball crack down. It's not even officiating the rule. It's more don't make it so obvious that you aren't playing to the rule. It's nonsense.

Best year recently I can remember where we were officiated most fairly or even got the rub of the green was when the sponsor made noise I reckon. NRL openly admits there’s a bias towards the top teams and lower placed teams often on the receiving end of a 50/50 call, but we went from being a top 4 team in 2023 and admittedly getting those good calls that year, also being the one the sponsor publicly complained back to head scratchers from first thing 2024. We’ve been the first team to play televised in 2025 and become the first team to have roll balls penalised in 2025, so nothing to see there, but the one I was most puzzled about was the disrupter penalty around interference. They introduced it and it actually cost us a game early on, perhaps sharks? Where Capewell went up and came down with it only for to be called back. Didn’t really see too much more of it as the season went on. Next one was round 2 against storm which was nothing around rule changes but a Montoya try sent up as try to be overturned by the bunker with no footage to disprove the on field ref wrong. Listening to Cronk’s commentary in our game, I agree all fans want is consistency

 

[Noitall]

The NRL have crack downs on certain aspects of the game every year and often it's in the PTB areas. Standing square for example.
After a few rounds it's almost forgotten.

And that’s what I’m saying, is that they let it happen by letting the standards slip. But they obviously don’t want to call it all game or there’d be too many stoppages, so how do they decide which they’ll make an example of if both teams and other games are committing the same? Does it come down to the ref or a pre conceived notion to be actively watching for something specific?

 

[Canonball]

Capewell had a few errors in him but the guy will come back better. Marata wasn't as bad as people thought. Would be nice if Webster defines a role for him. Looked like he played Centre there for awhile. TMM is interesting. Webster could have told him to take a backseat this game. No need to show everyone what has been practiced in the preseason. I also would I like to see what would have happen if Leka was receiving those short balls on the left instead of Capewell. JFH played well. The 1% were there especially pressuring the kicker. We have been bad at that usually. Clark I already mentioned.

Yeah, without buying into some 4d chess theory, i think this is exactly what happened - TMM instructed to play a less prominent role because they were primarily testing Metcalf - we're all triggered by it because of the halves shitshow last year - you simply can't follow this team, let alone coach it, and not realize something about the halves structure has to change for this season, quite apart from the available personnel - I mean it would've have been great for spectators to see a 7 and 6 really dishing it in tandem, but that probably damages the goal of winning first round - speaking of which, have to say the Raiders' defensive discipline looks pretty good on the strength of their trial last night - so there's going to be a challenge there

 

[Canonball]

Best year recently I can remember where we were officiated most fairly or even got the rub of the green was when the sponsor made noise I reckon. NRL openly admits there’s a bias towards the top teams and lower placed teams often on the receiving end of a 50/50 call, but we went from being a top 4 team in 2023 and admittedly getting those good calls that year, also being the one the sponsor publicly complained back to head scratchers from first thing 2024. We’ve been the first team to play televised in 2025 and become the first team to have roll balls penalised in 2025, so nothing to see there, but the one I was most puzzled about was the disrupter penalty around interference. They introduced it and it actually cost us a game early on, perhaps sharks? Where Capewell went up and came down with it only for to be called back. Didn’t really see too much more of it as the season went on. Next one was round 2 against storm which was nothing around rule changes but a Montoya try sent up as try to be overturned by the bunker with no footage to disprove the on field ref wrong. Listening to Cronk’s commentary in our game, I agree all fans want is consistency

There was a weird disrupter call in the trial too - also with Capewell?

 

[Noitall]

There was a weird disrupter call in the trial too - also with Capewell?

Most recent trial Friday?

 

[Canonball]

Most recent trial Friday?

Yeah, I meant to go back and look at it again - came out of nowhere on first look

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

How fucken hard is it ref!!! I swear they are overthinking things. Why can't games be origin reffed every game!

If it's obvious, ping them!

The new HIA rule the clubs want will make this game shit!

Again! If it's an obvious intention then bin them!

 

[Warriorsfan92]

He can't dent the line from wing, how is he going to do it against a line that's set?

He actually ran for 180m, 2nd behind CNK & had the most post contact metres in the game at 70m. Whilst I don’t mind the idea of moving him to prop, it’s probably too late now & should’ve been done ages ago. It would mitigate his biggest issues around handling kicks, but he still did knock it on in a play the ball which wouldn’t change at prop. He’d be on peanuts contract wise, but every time he runs out with the team he’s going to be targeted & he gives me the shits every time it’s kicked to him. The thing is, making such a crucial error in the modern game is literally the difference between winning and losing, as noted the sharks scored the very next set because of the field position they got from it

 

[Inruin]

He actually ran for 180m, 2nd behind CNK & had the most post contact metres in the game at 70m. Whilst I don’t mind the idea of moving him to prop, it’s probably too late now & should’ve been done ages ago. It would mitigate his biggest issues around handling kicks, but he still did knock it on in a play the ball which wouldn’t change at prop. He’d be on peanuts contract wise, but every time he runs out with the team he’s going to be targeted & he gives me the shits every time it’s kicked to him. The thing is, making such a crucial error in the modern game is literally the difference between winning and losing, as noted the sharks scored the very next set because of the field position they got from it

and making three of the ones he did as a winger isn't close to good enough. You can understand if it was an error from a contested kick or a chance at scoring a try but a straight fumble from a kick, a drop in the play the ball and I think the other was just from a hit up. All an early tackles, all put the team under pressure straight away.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

and making three of the ones he did as a winger isn't close to good enough. You can understand if it was an error from a contested kick or a chance at scoring a try but a straight fumble from a kick, a drop in the play the ball and I think the other was just from a hit up. All an early tackles, all put the team under pressure straight away.

Yeah man I agree, I think the experiment is over just for clarity. But he actually did make good metres & have good post contact metres which does lean towards him going ok at prop, just for arguments sake

 

[mrblonde]

The NRL have crack downs on certain aspects of the game every year and often it's in the PTB areas. Standing square for example.
After a few rounds it's almost forgotten.

Not so much forgotten as it's dumped because "it ruins the spectacle".

A lot of the time fans agree that the NRL should crack down on a certain thing - PTBs being a prime example, why the eff can't players do that simple effing thing properly!? - and so the NRL generally have most people onside when they announce "Referees have been told to stop the game when a PTB is done incorrectly". But when that idea is actually put into practice, it's ugly, it's repetitive as players keep doing PTBs half-assed like they've always done, it ruins the flow of the game and it's not Entertainment so the media and the fans get the shits and the NRL, who should say "Don't look at us, it's the players you should be staring dagger eyes at!", instead go "Oh, crap, we're getting bad reviews! Better drop the crackdown!"

 

[Kav1]

Ive been very harsh on Bunty previously, however I thought he looked like he had more leg drive and energy in the collision.

His defence has always been great, so if he was to play like that id be happy to have him in the team most weeks.

JFH also played a bit of 13 for Penny (about 2 full years worth) so if we're really looking at knuckling down and playing defensive heavy for certain games, we could have Fish at 13 and start with Bunty and Barny as starting props. Or who ever this mystery prop is were looking at from Manly

Lodge has opted to stay with Manly. Might have strengthened our forwards

 

[Damo]

Not the Kosi should be a prop ones
Best thing for him would be to stick to Cup and we move him on at the end of his current contract at the end of the season.

 

[John Nick]

so much forgotten as it's dumped because "it ruins the spectacle".

Yeah mate. Delete forgotten and put in ignored

 

[Kav1]

Other than Tusupiki at 1, Ur dreaming.

CNK played 6 for the kiwis!

 

[Falcon]

Could an interchange of Bunty Afoa + Demitric Vaimauga Vaumanga become the Warriors version of the ‘Hair Bears’ - former Panthers back rowers and wrecking machine Tony Puletua and Joe Gulavau?

 

[Dangerous]

One thing that hasnt been mentioned is how we are still right side attack dominant. We seem to go there even when we have an overlap on the left. Also thats why TMM was quiet. This was a huge issue last year as all teams knew how to defend us because of this. Webbys had all off season to sort it but its looks unchanged???