Post Match Preseason 2025 Trial 1 - Warriors vs Sharks

[Inruin]

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???

The first half there were a few times we had a shift to the left with TMM, Pompey and Kosi with a three on one overlap and went short each time to a crash ball to the second rower. Poor decision making and execution. Hopefully it's just rust.

One other comment in our style of play being generic and predictable. It detracts from players being able to play what's in front of them. The shifts I mentioned above are an example. The turn over in our own end where we shifted it straight away and dropped it because I think it was Niukore and the others weren't ready or expecting it.

Early days but signs arent looking any different to last season

 

[Canonball]

The first half there were a few times we had a shift to the left with TMM, Pompey and Kosi with a three on one overlap and went short each time to a crash ball to the second rower. Poor decision making and execution. Hopefully it's just rust.

One other comment in our style of play being generic and predictable. It detracts from players being able to play what's in front of them. The shifts I mentioned above are an example. The turn over in our own end where we shifted it straight away and dropped it because I think it was Niukore and the others weren't ready or expecting it.

Early days but signs arent looking any different to last season

Fair criticism but I'm staying optimistic - I sorta hate the 'slingshot shift to the right' now - very effective in 2023 and then worked out by other teams, and it has fundamental flaws as a play anyway - the timing has to be precise or you're always going to get what happened with DWZ in the trial - going over the sideline and damaging his wrist - what i really liked about friday was the play on which Charnze scored, it started to look like a shift came back into the middle with Walker and then Demtric offload and backout to Walker again for the assist to charnze in a gap opened on the uncertainty it put into their line - that was a great variation

 

[Inruin]

Fair criticism but I'm staying optimistic - I sorta hate the 'slingshot shift to the right' now - very effective in 2023 and then worked out by other teams, and it has fundamental flaws as a play anyway - the timing has to be precise or you're always going to get what happened with DWZ in the trial - going over the sideline and damaging his wrist - what i really liked about friday was the play on which Charnze scored, it started to look like a shift came back into the middle with Walker and then Demtric offload and backout to Walker again for the assist to charnze in a gap opened on the uncertainty it put into their line - that was a great variation

It was a good try. I felt it was more good luck than good management though. Hopefully we mix it up more than what we are seeing.

 

[Canonball]

It was a good try. I felt it was more good luck than good management though. Hopefully we mix it up more than what we are seeing.

oh yeah, it utterly depended on that offload from Demitric Vaimauga, which you can't plan for - however Walker was running that link path a lot, so planned to that extent

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Fair criticism but I'm staying optimistic - I sorta hate the 'slingshot shift to the right' now - very effective in 2023 and then worked out by other teams, and it has fundamental flaws as a play anyway - the timing has to be precise or you're always going to get what happened with DWZ in the trial - going over the sideline and damaging his wrist - what i really liked about friday was the play on which Charnze scored, it started to look like a shift came back into the middle with Walker and then Demtric offload and backout to Walker again for the assist to charnze in a gap opened on the uncertainty it put into their line - that was a great variation

Would be nice to hit Leiataua to straighten up

 

[Canonball]

Would be nice to hit Leiataua to straighten up

Yeah would love that - TMM with the short ball

 

[Dannevegas]

By the looks of our game plan webby relies too much on structure. Our players need to play more eyes up, players in motion, second phase, playing to your instincts.
That’s where to Te-Maire struggles, sticking to his side of the field trying to make plays with what he’s left with from our style or structure. Our Fullback should be linking both sides of the field so they’re creating the over lap. Teams know our fullback only links on the right side, so they just stack that side.
Disappointing webby hasn’t seen that and adjusted, I know it was a trial so maybe we have we’ll have to wait and see

 

[Inruin]

By the looks of our game plan webby relies too much on structure. Our players need to play more eyes up, players in motion, second phase, playing to your instincts.
That’s where to Te-Maire struggles, sticking to his side of the field trying to make plays with what he’s left with from our style or structure. Our Fullback should be linking both sides of the field so they’re creating the over lap. Teams know our fullback only links on the right side, so they just stack that side.

If you look at Cooper Cronks breakdown of TMM play from magic round it showed exactly how good he was at setting up the opposition and his decision making while play making. He really needs that space and amount of possession to be effective and produce in attack across an entire game. If he isn't 7 then we may as well put CHT or CNK at 6.

After basically pulling the team out of the fire last season with his performances it's really strange to see LM with very little time at 7 previous given the keys.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Yeah would love that - TMM with the short ball

That's why I would like Leiataua and RTS on that short side. What the fuck do I know though

 

[roguei]

If you look at Cooper Cronks breakdown of TMM play from magic round it showed exactly how good he was at setting up the opposition and his decision making while play making. He really needs that space and amount of possession to be effective and produce in attack across an entire game. If he isn't 7 then we may as well put CHT or CNK at 6.

After basically pulling the team out of the fire last season with his performances it's really strange to see LM with very little time at 7 previous given the keys.

Assuming of course LM is the 7 here and it isn't based soley off of skill in the preseason that we have no vision into. Do you think it's because of age? Or maybe TMM is just happy to fill in any role we are lacking? As this is now his thrid season where he's been practicing 5/8 for the warriors (i think he's been 5/8 other than with the bronx for a year). 2024 being the only ever time he got a chance at halfback with a total of 8 games. He did also learn off of the best with thruston at 5/8. I just wonder if he wants halfback, or has always seen himself as a 5/8.

 

[Inruin]

Assuming of course LM is the 7 here and it isn't based soley off of skill in the preseason that we have no vision into. Do you think it's because of age? Or maybe TMM is just happy to fill in any role we are lacking? As this is now his thrid season where he's been practicing 5/8 for the warriors (i think he's been 5/8 other than with the bronx for a year). 2024 being the only ever time he got a chance at halfback with a total of 8 games. He did also learn off of the best with thruston at 5/8. I just wonder if he wants halfback, or has always seen himself as a 5/8.

Of course assuming LM is the 7.
TMM has also played 7 in cup a bit. Experience wise he is around 100 first grade games vs 30ish for Metcalf. Obviously we don't have insight into what is happening behind the scenes. As some have mentioned , he hasn't been resigned or extended contract wise so maybe something there. Could also be just one preseason game and things change for the next. I'm just looking at the fact he played those games last season at 7 and the results were very good. It wasn't just one game or two games where he produced either. So for our chances this season TMM at 7 and LM at 6 gives us our best chance of any type of success. Throw in TT at fullback and moving CNK to centre instead of Pompey I think increases that further. Not doing this doesn't maximize our opportunity in my opinion and we aren't good enough to not be maximizing what we have.

 

[Gods_17]

The change they made previously where you would be penalised for an incorrect play of the ball if you didn't have your feet planted was enough - this new rule is just over reaching and we all know it's not going to be officiated correctly.

It may be a matter of calling it as the boys see it. How many times have we heard players yelling "Forward" after a dodgy pass?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Of course assuming LM is the 7.
TMM has also played 7 in cup a bit. Experience wise he is around 100 first grade games vs 30ish for Metcalf. Obviously we don't have insight into what is happening behind the scenes. As some have mentioned , he hasn't been resigned or extended contract wise so maybe something there. Could also be just one preseason game and things change for the next. I'm just looking at the fact he played those games last season at 7 and the results were very good. It wasn't just one game or two games where he produced either. So for our chances this season TMM at 7 and LM at 6 gives us our best chance of any type of success. Throw in TT at fullback and moving CNK to centre instead of Pompey I think increases that further. Not doing this doesn't maximize our opportunity in my opinion and we aren't good enough to not be maximizing what we have.

While your tactical analysis is correct, the strategic is wrong. TMM isnt here next year.

 

[Inruin]

While your tactical analysis is correct, the strategic is wrong. TMM isnt here next year.

Only if TMM doesn't get resigned and you think strategically it's a good thing to go down this path with LM at 7. I don't think he is a 7 but could be a very good 6, so for me, strategically I would be playing him at 6 and recruiting a 7. And we still need to be competitive for fans, sponsors and young players coming through. Two seasons in a row of single digit wins isn't a good thing at all for the club or the culture

 

[John Nick]

Of course assuming LM is the 7.
TMM has also played 7 in cup a bit. Experience wise he is around 100 first grade games vs 30ish for Metcalf. Obviously we don't have insight into what is happening behind the scenes. As some have mentioned , he hasn't been resigned or extended contract wise so maybe something there. Could also be just one preseason game and things change for the next. I'm just looking at the fact he played those games last season at 7 and the results were very good. It wasn't just one game or two games where he produced either. So for our chances this season TMM at 7 and LM at 6 gives us our best chance of any type of success. Throw in TT at fullback and moving CNK to centre instead of Pompey I think increases that further. Not doing this doesn't maximize our opportunity in my opinion and we aren't good enough to not be maximizing what we have.

I prefer LM at 6 with more space and time.
Tmm has been a disappointment for me as a 6. Played best when he was at hb.
While LM went good on Friday night at 7
for the good of the team I would have tmm/Boyd in the 7 and LM at 6.
Just my thoughts

 

[Beastmode]

What happened to CHT?
Is he injured?

 

[Inruin]

What happened to CHT?
Is he injured?

AW said him and Boyd had minor niggles and likely available for second game

 

[John Nick]

AW said him and Boyd had minor niggles and likely available for second game

Also Ford Leka Ale minor injuries.
Rocco indefinite.

 

[Wrighty]

I prefer LM at 6 with more space and time.
Tmm has been a disappointment for me as a 6. Played best when he was at hb.
While LM went good on Friday night at 7
for the good of the team I would have tmm/Boyd in the 7 and LM at 6.
Just my thoughts

So LM can't be the best player he can by learning to be a 7, the position he prefers, because TMM sucks shit at being a 6 so LM has to do what is best for the team and be 6 himself? How about instead Boyd or CHT get a chance at 6 in the next trial with LM? That is my counter view.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

So LM can't be the best player he can by learning to be a 7, the position he prefers, because TMM sucks shit at being a 6 so LM has to do what is best for the team and be 6 himself? How about instead Boyd or CHT get a chance at 6 in the next trial with LM? That is my counter view.

How about Boyd and Martin?

This is my problem, it's not obvious and clear as to who should play where, because they are all so so.

Metcalf is the best of an average bunch.

I feel like if Boyd can't beat out Metcalf for the 7 jersey, then that says a lot.