Pick Your Team Warriors vs Titans - Round 8, 2024 PICK YOUR TEAM

[ndp26]

Agreed Capewell has been disappointing to date. Don't see any desperation, nor much talk. Attack he is below par overall for a first grade backrower, his defence and leadership need to be better.

Was at the game - at one stage following a heavy collision in making a tackle, he looked like he was going to vomit. He got up and made another tackle before going back to his edge and chundering on the field. My bet is that he is playing injured and taking a needle to play due to his rib injury from earlier in the season, as our lack of depth in the forwards isn't allowing Webby to give him the rest he needed/needs to fully recover.

Capewell isn't a highlight reel attacking player - he is a grafter. However, I agree that we need to find a way to get him more involved in attack - he looks like when Curran was learning to play with Johnson. I was actually surprised when Webby didn't move Ford to the right side in the preseason, given (1) his style of play suits Johnson's side and use of second rowers - e.g., he likes to be turned under for his runs (like Marata) and runs good block play shapes - and (2) Capewell has played more left side in recent years, would help the defensive structures on the left and would probably be more suited to the TMM/Metcalf style of play (can also ballplay on a shortside if TMM takes a tackle, like he did tonight... a lot).

TLDR - Give him a bit of time in attack, but yes he needs to be better. However, I wouldn't be questioning his desperation / defence / leadership at this stage given he is putting in for the team.

 

[ndp26]

Probably our best team. Still missing a hard running second rower and need SJ to stick to the right side of the ruck a little more and let the left have a bit of space and ball.

Agree - SJ seems to be doing too much, neither TMM nor Metcalf has had much luck in unlocking the left side and I think at least part of that is due to SJ sweeping around to the left. Fine for SJ to control the right side and general direction, but Wayde should be controlling the middle and TMM owning the left side (IMO). We have the opportunity to be a threat on both sides of the field, but we seem to get cramped up on the left and TMM takes the tackle or Roger crabs back in field. I don't know if it is a lack of trust or what, but hopefully our left side is a focus for Webby at training this week as they're not evening stringing passes/shape together at the moment. Dare I say it, I'm being pulled in by the "Rog to wing and Pompey to centre" camp... as much as I really don't want to be!

 

[Noitall]

Agree - SJ seems to be doing too much, neither TMM nor Metcalf has had much luck in unlocking the left side and I think at least part of that is due to SJ sweeping around to the left. Fine for SJ to control the right side and general direction, but Wayde should be controlling the middle and TMM owning the left side (IMO). We have the opportunity to be a threat on both sides of the field, but we seem to get cramped up on the left and TMM takes the tackle or Roger crabs back in field. I don't know if it is a lack of trust or what, but hopefully our left side is a focus for Webby at training this week as they're not evening stringing passes/shape together at the moment. Dare I say it, I'm being pulled in by the "Rog to wing and Pompey to centre" camp... as much as I really don't want to be!

Think with RTS coming back it was always going to take some time to adjust to a new position, especially one as important and specialised as centre has become. I think it’s becoming clear why Pompey was kept rather than letting him go to the knights- in case centre didn’t work out for RTS? To which it’s hard to know how long to persevere with it before it affects the outcome of the season. Montoya isn’t consistent enough for me at present week in and week out to where I’d consider swapping him for RTS but then you’ve got another new edge for Pompey and RTS to trust each other whereas Montoya and Pompey had last year to gain some confidence in each other holding their position, especially on defence. It seems crazy that we’ve got RTS on the left and all our attack went through the right

 

[Makasene]

Think with RTS coming back it was always going to take some time to adjust to a new position, especially one as important and specialised as centre has become. I think it’s becoming clear why Pompey was kept rather than letting him go to the knights- in case centre didn’t work out for RTS? To which it’s hard to know how long to persevere with it before it affects the outcome of the season. Montoya isn’t consistent enough for me at present week in and week out to where I’d consider swapping him for RTS but then you’ve got another new edge for Pompey and RTS to trust each other whereas Montoya and Pompey had last year to gain some confidence in each other holding their position, especially on defence. It seems crazy that we’ve got RTS on the left and all our attack went through the right

It feels like change needs to come.

I think with the winless Titans coming to Auckland, Webby will give it all one more chance.

A clunky outing next week and big questions need to be asked, it's 1/3 of the season gone and we're not in the 8 .

Webby needs to get out of his own way though at times. That bench selection and rotations was one of the worst I can think of. Can't really give him benefit of the doubt either because he's had a few mares in this area - still wouldn't trade him though .

We need our middles back desperately. Our entire gameplan pretty much relies on their dominance. Walker, Marata, Bunty, Jazz would all have made an enormous difference

 

[Noitall]

It feels like change needs to come.

I think with the winless Titans coming to Auckland, Webby will give it all one more chance.

A clunky outing next week and big questions need to be asked, it's 1/3 of the season gone and we're not in the 8 .

Webby needs to get out of his own way though at times. That bench selection and rotations was one of the worst I can think of. Can't really give him benefit of the doubt either because he's had a few mares in this area - still wouldn't trade him though .

We need our middles back desperately. Our entire gameplan pretty much relies on their dominance. Walker, Marata, Bunty, Jazz would all have made an enormous difference

For whatever reason we’re chasing a score better than holding a score? We started as good as you could hope last night but for whatever reason it didn’t last, not sure if we panic when we don’t cross the tryline easily or what? All games we’ve won, the opposition has scored first and that was something that was often present in our performances last year too

 

[Inruin]

For whatever reason we’re chasing a score better than holding a score? We started as good as you could hope last night but for whatever reason it didn’t last, not sure if we panic when we don’t cross the tryline easily or what? All games we’ve won, the opposition has scored first and that was something that was often present in our performances last year too

Last season we had impact coming from the bench. Walker made a noticable difference to our attack when he came on, add Curran and Jazz energy and Sironen with his utility value. Last night we dominated for 15 minutes and then the Dragons bench started to come on. We have forwards who can play long minutes, doesn't make them effective minutes though and we are asking a lot for them to match teams week on week who are rolling subs on regularly.

We are severely under strength due to injuries. We desperately need some players back and to trust the ones we have filling in.

 

[John Nick]

Last season we had impact coming from the bench. Walker made a noticable difference to our attack when he came on, add Curran and Jazz energy and Sironen with his utility value. Last night we dominated for 15 minutes and then the Dragons bench started to come on. We have forwards who can play long minutes, doesn't make them effective minutes though and we are asking a lot for them to match teams week on week who are rolling subs on regularly.

We are severely under strength due to injuries. We desperately need some players back and to trust the ones we have filling in.

Unfortunately if we were to lose SJ right now our season is fucked.
No Metcalf or CHT. Who do we play at 6? Dont want to go down the Tohu road again & no Walker .

 

[Damo]

1. CNK
2. DWZ
3. Berry
4. RTS
5. Montoya
6. TMM
7. Johnson
8. Fonua-Blake
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Ford
12. Capewell
13. Harris
    
    
14. Walker
15. Ale
16. Laban
17. CHT

Not going to panic and I don't think Webby will either. Hopefully his bench makeup and utilisation of is 1000 x better though.
Titans also have their fair share of injury worries so going to be an interesting game.

 

[Playdaball]

What happened to CHT?

 

[tyrael]

Won't be the team cause I think Webby too conservative but...

1. CNK
2. DWZ
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. RTS
6. CHT
7. SJ
8. AFB
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Ford
12. Laban
13. Tohu

14. Capewell
15. Ale
16. Walker
17. Zyon Maiu’u

 

[rugged]

Would not panic, but would def start Ale and have Barnett come on for impact.

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Would not panic, but would def start Ale and have Barnett come on for impact.

Well Ale certainly doesn't make any. He will struggle against a fresh lineup.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Was at the game - at one stage following a heavy collision in making a tackle, he looked like he was going to vomit. He got up and made another tackle before going back to his edge and chundering on the field. My bet is that he is playing injured and taking a needle to play due to his rib injury from earlier in the season, as our lack of depth in the forwards isn't allowing Webby to give him the rest he needed/needs to fully recover.

If he's not right don't play him

Laban could start on his edge

 

[peewee]

Our sides too old

Nicoll-Klokstad
Tuivasa-Sheck
Leiataua
Berry
Watene-Zelezniak
Harris-Tavita
Johnson
Fonua-Blake
Egan
Ale
Ford
Laban
Harris

Walker
Barnett
Zyon Maiu’u
Capewell

Almost have to agree with this team.

 

[Wrighty]

The way rog was kicking off, the drags were already at the 30 after the 1st tackle a number of times.

And Webby has not noticed this because it was happening against the Knights as well.

 

[rugged]

Well Ale certainly doesn't make any. He will struggle against a fresh lineup.

Thought Ale was ok. 70 meters in a 30 minute stint, 35 post contact meters. Nothing amazing but he can hold his own in first grade

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Anzac Day game will be my first time seeing the wahs play at Mt Smart Stadium. Soo looking forward to it. Hopefully a good Anzac show and game are put on.