Post Match Preseason 2025 Trial 1 - Warriors vs Sharks

[3rdstriker]

DWZ sent for scans. Where fucked if it’s a fracture

At least our defensive systems maybe sured up

 

[Inruin]

Yep hes got it but If this his roster then why don't you sack him now!

We ain't going to get anyone better, we have a long term plan that hasn't matured yet, there is still hope if he can get the right players in the right positions.

Just pointing out that this is his third season and the roster is his now, not something he has inherited.

 

[Wrighty]

While TMM and Kosi were both shit a good news story was CNK. He was not at 2023 levels of sharpness and vitality but at least he had shaken off some of the 2024 malaise he was in. So that is a quite an outcome. Part of the reason I have been so pessismistic on my outlook and prognosis on the season is our spine. But things seem a bit brighter today. CNK actually looked reasonably passable at full back and even scored a good try with good awareness to put himself into position to receive the ball to go over.
So as much as sure there are some negatives to take away there are some big plusses for the glass is half full brigade and CNK now that i have digested the match is the biggest good news story. I mean most people thought he was cooked at full back and wanted him at centre. He looked ok and probably played within himself given it was a trial so even more upside from him to come.
The second good news story is that the commentator, i think it was Vossy, said "Demitric Vaimauga is generating genuine X factor for the Warriors off the bench." and deadset this is a true. We are talking NRL level X factor, not X factor relative to the other Warriors bench players. We could really be on to something here with vaimauga. Even much bigger than any of you are thinking. I watched him and all his work in defence was telling and techically safe tackling that won't get penalised. He is well practiced and looked like a real pro out there.
So those are two big plusses I wasn't necessarily expecting.

 

[roguei]

DWZ sent for scans. Where fucked if it’s a fracture

Well if that isn't a warriors way to start a season i don't know what is! On the other side i think Daeon Amituanai looked great out at wing before. Although he did have a couple of handling errors and never really got his defensive tested. But i really need to re-watch it and have a look at Sio Kali as well because im unsure about these stats... It says Kosi made 0 tackles, which cannot be true can it?

 

[roguei]

Bit stink that the only way to currently re-watch the match is via the nrl website. Normally the post them on youtube 24 hours after the game.

 

[sup42]

- Genuinely when are we releasing Kosi. Its actually comical how bad he is. We're clearly not going to re-sign him past this season. I know we are short on experienced wings at the moment but he's like 7th choice winger for me at the moment after DWZ, Rog, Pompey, Kali, Amituanai and Pasikala.

- Kali looked slick. Praying for an injury free season from him. Was playing center in the trial but I reckon he could get some real game time on the wing this year. Such a talent. Amituanai is one we need to keep as well, maybe him and Leiataua can reform their SG ball connection in first grade.

- Demitric looked aggressive as always. Im starting to warm to the idea of him starting at lock now as opposed to bench enforcer.
- Good minutes from Jett. Looks composed but still probably 3 years away imo.
- Taine is the best fullback at the club. But we know AW is never going to remove his son CNK from the number 1 jersey.

You forgot Moala Graham Taufa. Making Kosi eighth placed wing option.

 

[Worried2Death]

We might see a jump in blood pressure pills being prescribed when Kosi gets named for Vegas

Countdown To Las Vegas - The Ed Kosi Story

 

[roguei]

After re-watching the 1st half again here are some things i noticed that i did not before.

Postives

• The Sharks scored a try only once in every 19 times they were in our 20-meter zone.
• We, on the other hand, scored once in every 7 times we were in theirs (and it could have been 2/7 if TMM had caught the ball cleanly instead of bobbling it).
• TMM’s defense was pretty great Better than Metcalf usually is—completely shutting down plays aimed at that wing.
• Our scramble defense has improved massively, about 10 times better than before. Whenever the ball got to the Sharks' centers, at least two Warriors were already in position to cover the winger.
• This round, we seem much more aware of the wrestle. Previously, we were just pushing players back and forcing them into negative meters. Now, we’re actively turtling them onto their backs to control the ruck better.

---

Negetives

• The attack on TMM’s side struggled, mainly because Capewell and Pompey kept making handling errors—practically every second touch.
• Kosi and Pompey looked completely out of sync. At one point, TMM was on the wing with Pompey outside him, and Kosi was nowhere to be seen.
• It’s hard to blame TMM for some of these broken plays—the whole side felt like a mess. He made some great deep runs and delivered quality passes, but nothing came of them because stuff like Pompey being positioned way too far back to take advantage of TMM dragging in extra defenders.
• Although his speed is insane, and i think he'd be great in attacking sets at wing. TT i just don't think can contest the ball in the air very well.

Natural

• It looks like we only made a play to the right hand side only 3 times. Once to injury DWZ, 2nd to score that first try and thrid when TT contested the kick and somehow got the ball. Seemed like most of the plays went out left weirdly.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

After all the talk of not taking too much out of the trials a lot here are kind of writing off the season already haha. Don't take too much out of it, completely different side to last year with guys who haven't played together before. Just a hit out to get the rust off and start building some cohesion. Will take a while to get things to flow well but the foundation is there.

 

[John Nick]

After all the talk of not taking too much out of the trials a lot here are kind of writing off the season already haha. Don't take too much out of it, completely different side to last year with guys who haven't played together before. Just a hit out to get the rust off and start building some cohesion. Will take a while to get things to flow well but the foundation is there.

Be interesting to know how many are locked in for round one after the first trial.
Doubt it would be anywhere near the 80% we have been hearing about.?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I wonder why the mind games naming Laban to start then starting Noukore?

 

[run_it_str8_again]

After re-watching the 1st half again here are some things i noticed that i did not before.

Postives

• The Sharks scored a try only once in every 19 times they were in our 20-meter zone.
• We, on the other hand, scored once in every 7 times we were in theirs (and it could have been 2/7 if TMM had caught the ball cleanly instead of bobbling it).
• TMM’s defense was pretty great Better than Metcalf usually is—completely shutting down plays aimed at that wing.
• Our scramble defense has improved massively, about 10 times better than before. Whenever the ball got to the Sharks' centers, at least two Warriors were already in position to cover the winger.
• This round, we seem much more aware of the wrestle. Previously, we were just pushing players back and forcing them into negative meters. Now, we’re actively turtling them onto their backs to control the ruck better.

---

Negetives

• The attack on TMM’s side struggled, mainly because Capewell and Pompey kept making handling errors—practically every second touch.
• Kosi and Pompey looked completely out of sync. At one point, TMM was on the wing with Pompey outside him, and Kosi was nowhere to be seen.
• It’s hard to blame TMM for some of these broken plays—the whole side felt like a mess. He made some great deep runs and delivered quality passes, but nothing came of them because stuff like Pompey being positioned way too far back to take advantage of TMM dragging in extra defenders.
• Although his speed is insane, and i think he'd be great in attacking sets at wing. TT i just don't think can contest the ball in the air very well.

Natural

• It looks like we only made a play to the right hand side only 3 times. Once to injury DWZ, 2nd to score that first try and thrid when TT contested the kick and somehow got the ball. Seemed like most of the plays went out left weirdly.

Good analysis. My point of difference is that if Taine can't contest in the air, he shouldn't be a fullback either. Brent Webb wasn't massive. Nor Matt Bowen if I remember correctly.

 

[Noitall]

Good analysis. My point of difference is that if Taine can't contest in the air, he shouldn't be a fullback either. Brent Webb wasn't massive. Nor Matt Bowen if I remember correctly.

I’ve been of that mindset but was impressed how he plucked that one out of the air on attack early in that trial. Starting to be tough to leave him out with the work he’s obviously putting in. Would imagine there’s a good chance DWZ doesn’t start the season looking at how he was holding that wrist, Tuaupiki takes his wing for me. If DWZ is fit, Webster has some big decisions to make. I think it’s just a matter of time before he’s a regular though, just in what position?

 

[Noitall]

Tanah Boyd reveals hopes to fill Kiwi legend's boots

The 24-year-old recently made the move to New Zealand from the Gold Coast Titans

www.zerotackle.com

Nothing really new to add that haven’t already heard, but hope Boyd does well here

 

[JustVisiting82]

I wonder why the mind games naming Laban to start then starting Noukore?

I would guess it was an actual change of plan rather than mind games in this case what with it being only a trial - not sure as to the reason for the change though.

 

[CWC]

Did Marata play like a middle or 2nd row??

 

[Noitall]

Warriors shock looms after star outshone in trial

'Wasn't as impressive'

www.nine.com.au

Metcalf front runner for halfback so the mole reckons

 

[Teets]

Be interesting to know how many are locked in for round one after the first trial.
Doubt it would be anywhere near the 80% we have been hearing about.?

CNK
DWZ
Ali
RTS
Metcalf
Fish
Egan
Barney
Capes
Clark
Walkz
Vaimuaga
Niukore

I reckon at the very least these guys are all locked in, and Webby probably has a couple more locked in in his mind that we'd consider contentious.

 

[CWC]

Feels 2025 Webby still doesn't trust TMM to run the show and implement his "mojo" of designing a gameplan for the individual (ie let Luke do the long kicking)

 

[tajhay]

It was a nice hitout for Metcalf. It seems like he has worked hard on his fitness as he was everywhere and tried to get himself involved. At one stage he even popped up outside of TMM on the left to create a nice play. If we go with a running 5/8, that should be TMM's role to provide that level of support not Metcalf. TMM seemed content with stationing himself on the right and just waiting for the ball to get to him. Didn't seem to be directing his side well either.

Webster has said a few times that he wants both halves to take control in their respective sides of the fields (from last year). However with TMM at 6 it simply does not eventuate. Either Webster is making weird comments that are unrelated to how he wants the team to play, or we have individuals who are not able to carry out the gameplan.

Bring on CHT.

At the end of the day it was simply a trial but still disappointed to see a lack of enterprising play. We seem to have a very lop sided squad in terms of salary cap expenditure with a primary focus on the forwards. Tie this in with the emerging crop of forwards knocking on the door. In the backs, the cupboard looks like pretty bare. Pompey is a good player to have as backup/depth. I wont say anything about Kosi since people seem to be living out their fantasy with him in the team. Might as well put a team of players who play social footy at the local football field on the weekends if we want to do that because we arent winning shit with players that close to what is supposedly a professional sporting team. Teams that want to win dont give jumpers out to park footballers as charity.