Post Match Raiders v Warriors - [Round 1, 2025]

[Davo]

After all the hype and anticipation, with a new roster, low on star quality, being asked to have faith in some players playing in key positions that don`t impress, we end up being unravelled on the biggest stage.
This loss has hit me harder than most because I just can`t see where to from here.

 

[Dippa]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw1YKDXeXrA

 

[John Nick]

After all the hype and anticipation, with a new roster, low on star quality, being asked to have faith in some players playing in key positions that don`t impress, we end up being unravelled on the biggest stage.
This loss has hit me harder than most because I just can`t see where to from here.

The old saying goes something like
"The more things change the more they stay the same ".

 

[Dippa]

The Bloke in A Bar review of the game is exactly it.

Everyone is confused just like us fans, and at the same time, their message around player choices and positioning is just as accurate.

So, why is this coaching department making such random decisions around certain players when the entire Rugby League world knows the obvious.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

After all the hype and anticipation, with a new roster, low on star quality, being asked to have faith in some players playing in key positions that don`t impress, we end up being unravelled on the biggest stage.
This loss has hit me harder than most because I just can`t see where to from here.

Continue on this trajectory to nowhere or improve. If he names a bench and thinks they aren't up to it then it's Webby that needs to learn that the 17, 18 and 19 are all important. Bench players are not your not good enough to be starters they are the ones who improve on what the starters have done. Anyway, improvement is in them but the unknown is if they will apply it

 

[Makasene]

After all the hype and anticipation, with a new roster, low on star quality, being asked to have faith in some players playing in key positions that don`t impress, we end up being unravelled on the biggest stage.
This loss has hit me harder than most because I just can`t see where to from here.

What troubled me most was it was all self inflicted.

Poor last minute changes

Poor bench use

 

[juju]

The Bloke in A Bar review of the game is exactly it.

Everyone is confused just like us fans, and at the same time, their message around player choices and positioning is just as accurate.

So, why is this coaching department making such random decisions around certain players when the entire Rugby League world knows the obvious.

Also Bloke in the bar breaking down the Raiders and their strengths - makes you pretty jealous of Weekes, Savage, Tamale as a back 3

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Also Bloke in the bar breaking down the Raiders and their strengths - makes you pretty jealous of Weekes, Savage, Tamale as a back 3

They would have been rubbish behind as powerless a pack as ours. But they were allowed to run riot.

Contrary to my own point is that from we were struggling to put Savage Tamale and Weekes down let alone Kris let alone their larger performing pack.

 

[Kav1]

Not doubting you but where is this reported? Want to read as some of our players played like they were out all night. In saying that I have known some guys who been out all night before a game and played 80 minutes and just smashed it.

I wonder if Webby was out for some of the night, given his cheesy grin behind a a player being interviewed. His antics looked like he had had one or two too many and probably had contributed to the team's miserable effort. I cannot imagine any other NRL coach acting like a clown in this way.

 

[Woofa]

Warriors have released the name of the guy Agar supposedly grabbed by the throat despite him not wanting to be named. Warriors are saying they want to be transparent and seem confident that cctv footage has a different story to tell

he is a Pom, the current WOKE capital of the world, Agar prob gave him an eye roll and said to him, nice hair princess and he feels hugely agreived and entitled to apublic apology and 1 million compensation.

 

[Spence]

I just saw CHT in public (99% sure anyway, I did a double take as I wasn’t expecting them back yet), and he looked like he’s just come back from war - thousand yard stare - must have been a somber flight home.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I just saw CHT in public (99% sure anyway, I did a double take as I wasn’t expecting them back yet), and he looked like he’s just come back from war - thousand yard stare - must have been a somber flight home.

They landed today in the morning.

 

[Inruin]

I just saw CHT in public (99% sure anyway, I did a double take as I wasn’t expecting them back yet), and he looked like he’s just come back from war - thousand yard stare - must have been a somber flight home.

I wonder how much damage this game has done and how long it will take the team to recover from it. I mean it feels like they have gone in to it thinking they have made good selections, prepared well, in control and then that horrible feeling of getting in to the contest and finding you aren't at the level you need to be. They were basically out played in every facet. Just from a confidence perspective that's got to make a dent in an already mentally weak team. I'm sure they will make all the right noises over the next 10 days or so but I don't think they have the answers to fix it, certainly not in that space of time.

 

[The Undertaker]

I wonder how much damage this game has done and how long it will take the team to recover from it. I mean it feels like they have gone in to it thinking they have made good selections, prepared well, in control and then that horrible feeling of getting in to the contest and finding you aren't at the level you need to be. They were basically out played in every facet. Just from a confidence perspective that's got to make a dent in an already mentally weak team. I'm sure they will make all the right noises over the next 10 days or so but I don't think they have the answers to fix it, certainly not in that space of time.

Which means they probably beat Manly next week and it’s a completely different team with a completely different bench rotation.

If they are not tearing strips off each other at training this week I will be very surprised.

I’ll say it again - we were dominated up front. JFH and MB especially should be leading the charge.

Vegas was built up as an amazing trip and I just don’t think we were there mentally - both coaches and players. Too focused on the occasion and forgot we were playing a team that had a siege mentality after the in room dust up. Canberra wanted it more. Simple.

So before we all lose our collective minds, brace yourself for a response from this group.

Pretty hard to win if you ain’t going forward - in any game of code. I expect a very different performance against the eagles.

 

[Inruin]

Which means they probably beat Manly next week and it’s a completely different team with a completely different bench rotation.

If they are not tearing strips off each other at training this week I will be very surprised.

I’ll say it again - we were dominated up front. JFH and MB especially should be leading the charge.

Vegas was built up as an amazing trip and I just don’t think we were there mentally - both coaches and players. Too focused on the occasion and forgot we were playing a team that had a siege mentality after the in room dust up. Canberra wanted it more. Simple.

So before we all lose our collective minds, brace yourself for a response from this group.

Pretty hard to win if you ain’t going forward - in any game of code. I expect a very different performance against the eagles.

It will be hard to put in a worse performance. I'm expecting a very similar team to be named and a lot of energy and intensity to start with. Not much else. No minds being lost here, just the stark reality of our current situation I think.

 

[snake77]

Which means they probably beat Manly next week and it’s a completely different team with a completely different bench rotation.

If they are not tearing strips off each other at training this week I will be very surprised.

I’ll say it again - we were dominated up front. JFH and MB especially should be leading the charge.

Vegas was built up as an amazing trip and I just don’t think we were there mentally - both coaches and players. Too focused on the occasion and forgot we were playing a team that had a siege mentality after the in room dust up. Canberra wanted it more. Simple.

So before we all lose our collective minds, brace yourself for a response from this group.

Pretty hard to win if you ain’t going forward - in any game of code. I expect a very different performance against the eagles.

And if we go on a losing streak at what point do we rest in peace.


I said a few weeks ago the draw for the first few weeks isn't too bad. Canberra in Vegas could be great or deflating. The next two are at home, then we play the Tigers who have been terrible recently but still not a given especially early in the season.

All winnable games if we perform.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Are us fans all crazy? Because it seems like we all see the same things, even the Australians identify the same things, but the warriors coaching staff will probably roll out the same.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Also can people turn down the social media bullshit?

Nothing worse than all the connected and together bullshit and then go get your arsed licked!

Who in-between now and the next game, wants to see CNK pumping up and saying let's go!

Mate have a look at yourself in the mirror!

 

[Dantheman]

After all the hype and anticipation, with a new roster, low on star quality, being asked to have faith in some players playing in key positions that don`t impress, we end up being unravelled on the biggest stage.
This loss has hit me harder than most because I just can`t see where to from here.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I felt more numb after that Vegas game than the titans thrashing last season.

 

[Next Year]

A lot of negativity about on the back of the hurt and disappointment that flowed from game one, in the faraway land. I get it. We followed the hype, we saw the build up, the trial games, the "we're going there to get the two points" consistent story line. We dared to believe. And we got slapped.

But let's not panic, yet.
It is still possible that the sky is not falling.

There was a shitload of missed tackles, which begs a significant attitude adjustment. Simple focus on that one thing will bring significant dividends. We were soft. Also it is unlikely that our attack will drift sideways like that again. Metcalf got served a big lesson there; unlikely he will be that sideways again. Walks did a job in straightening things up when he came on, and he will be in LM's ear every day. And we know our halves have a lot of growth in them. They will be undone again on occasions through the year, but they have a ton of upside that will excite us in days ahead too. Hang in there. You know what I mean.

I found that this Canberra article from the Sportress provides a bit of perspective: https://sportress.org/2025/03/02/raiders-review-the-vegas-dream/
Check it.

It in part bears out what the Rugby League Eye Test published yesterday with stats from Sunday's game. The "expected score" stats revealed that based on field position and possession, we were in a good situation. But we didn't execute on that. Coupled with the shit house defensive effort esp in the first half, the result reflected that. If you are not a subscriber to the Eye Test, check the full article here:

The smaller Vegas field continues to promote wider play - The Rugby League Eye Test

We’re now two instances of Las Vegas opening weekends for the NRL and it’s extremely clear that this is not only working, but it’s working beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. So much so that there’s already talk of going all in at Wembley in 2029, which is exactly the type of jump to...

www.rugbyleagueeyetest.com

Small adjustments can bring big changes in outcome.
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