Pick Your Team Storm v Warriors - [Round 6, 2025]

[Damo]

Boyd and TMM have had plenty of first grade experience and have had success at the top level.

They would have every chance of nailing it, with so much good front foot ball laid as a platform by our pack.

I feel that platform isn’t being capitalised on but accept all 4 of our halves have their strengths and weaknesses with none really commanding the top spots.

Where has Boyd had success at the top level?

TMM got carried by an awesome Cowboys team with Michael Morgan in crazy form. Other than that, been okay for the most part with short stints of being outstanding.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Eh, for me our halves have 4 tries, 4 try assists and 3 forced drop outs. Essentially that's from 3 games as the Raiders was a write off.

Imo for early season, that's passable form and as we've been winning, clearly it's been enough and we haven't been found wanting. Webby has said Rd 6-7 he thinks we'll see the best of what the pairing has, so well see it til then at the very least, or until someone gets injured

 

[run_it_str8_again]

You only want good organisation to help you win. If you are unsatisfied with Metcalf’s win % then that’s on you.

CHT and Metcalf just beat Laui and Galvin.

Old SJ and subservient TMM couldn't fire the bullets when Addin and co got us in range.

Now halves are firing bullets and we are winning at 3-1. If we win enough this season (for my mind that's at least make the 8) I don't mind who wears the jersey. But Chitty and Lucky Luke are at what I would consider a gaining slow traction stage. I'm happy to wait while they gather momentum on the back of that.

 

[peewee]

You only want good organisation to help you win. If you are unsatisfied with Metcalf’s win % then that’s on you.

CHT and Metcalf just beat Laui and Galvin.

I thought a team had 13 players.
Your comment is rubbish

 

[Ref]

Less structured league has arrived.
We have shown to be pretty good at it.
Finally less pointless hit ups and some good use of the ball as an alternative at times.
Panthers and Storm could becomes dinasours.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I thought a team had 13 players.

Which one of those 13 players scored 14 of our 24 points?

 

[sup42]

Someone wanted an early season review thread to keep us entertained, but the bickering in here shows that there will be no lack of post wars in the coming two weeks.

In a way I would like to see Kosi play the Storm to give him a chance to exorcize his demons.

 

[Beastmode]

We won despite our halves not because of them (albeit the goal kicking was top level)

100 sets on their line with nothing set up from out halves isn’t sustainable.

Our halves are gaining experience and doing the job in defence but there will be a point where major questions need to be asked.

And the question is which pairing can take us deepest into the finals. I’m thinking that answer is currently in NSW cup.

The real test will come against the Storm and Broncos.

What i do like about Metcalf and CHT is they don’t shy away from defence nor shy away from hitting the line and taking a tackle.
That was the one thing i hated about SJ. Ball shuffling and refusal to take the line on and get tackled.

CHT and Metcalf need to raise their situational awareness and timing.
Too many times they’re rushing through a set move oblivious to what the defensive line is doing or where the holes are.

CHT should park the dummy passes, and Metcalf the skip pass. Neither are any good at it.
Got to do a better job of reading the opposition defense.
That should come with more experience but I'm not willing to wait.

 

[Beastmode]

Which one of those 13 players scored 14 of our 24 points?

I'm giving him his flower.



Kicked us to a win for sure.
CHT would have butchered those conversions

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I think we need to win one of our next 2 matches to prove to ourselves as well as the wider NRL that we can go back to the finals this year. Personally, I think we stand a much better chance of beating Brisbane at home than overcoming our Melbourne hoodoo but stranger things have happened this year. Somethings gotta give eventually as hoodoos don't last forever.

To beat Melbourne in Melbourne, a lot of variables have to be in force. We need to execute our gameplan to absolute perfection for the full 80 minutes. We need to dominate the ruck and take time and space away from Munster, Hughes and Paps. Run our big boys at Grant all game and take their big wingers out of the game by constantly peppering them with high balls. We also have to hope Melbourne are a bit rusty due to Hughes being out of action for a couple of weeks.

Nothing is impossible. But Hughes has a tendency to save his best games for us, so I would take a 1-12 pt loss like in 2023, 2024. I'm more interested in how we perform the week afterwards at home against Brisbane.

 

[Boston Boy]

We won despite our halves not because of them (albeit the goal kicking was top level)

100 sets on their line with nothing set up from out halves isn’t sustainable.

Our halves are gaining experience and doing the job in defence but there will be a point where major questions need to be asked.

And the question is which pairing can take us deepest into the finals. I’m thinking that answer is currently in NSW cup.

You might have a point. It's a real balancing act though as Metcalf's kicking as mentioned was the difference. Perhaps we get better structure and shape on attack with Boyd but do we have worse defence with him in our line that lets in a try?
I love the idea of TMM in the topside because of what he is capable of, but he hasn't always delivered. I personally prefer him over CHT.

I do think what you are asserting is true, that the NSW cup halves are definitely providing great attacking structure/shape and helping the team to maximise their talents and abilities in attacking areas, something that needs to improve for the topside. I believe we will have change in the halves within 4-6 rounds, whether that is injury forced or form I am not sure, I just believe it will happen.

I believe TMM and Luke Metcalf are our best halves combination, then Boyd next drop with CHT a good 14.

 

[John Nick]

You might have a point. It's a real balancing act though as Metcalf's kicking as mentioned was the difference. Perhaps we get better structure and shape on attack with Boyd but do we have worse defence with him in our line that lets in a try?
I love the idea of TMM in the topside because of what he is capable of, but he hasn't always delivered. I personally prefer him over CHT.

I do think what you are asserting is true, that the NSW cup halves are definitely providing great attacking structure/shape and helping the team to maximise their talents and abilities in attacking areas, something that needs to improve for the topside. I believe we will have change in the halves within 4-6 rounds, whether that is injury forced or form I am not sure, I just believe it will happen.

I believe TMM and Luke Metcalf are our best halves combination, then Boyd next drop with CHT a good 14.

TMM @ 7 & Metcalf @ 6 is my preffered pairing. However we will never know until they are tried .Why change a winning & improving combo just to find out. Makes no sense to me.So far AW has been proven right

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

To be faaaaaaaairrrrr to the halves, we basically played 6 props on the weekend. You would hope you got middle dominance, but does not do much for the attacking structure.

Clark and Barney can pass but put it away in the wet, Fish was the one bouncing away from the line and then spread it to the real GOAT Warriors Centre, Adam Wetere Pompey*. Bunty and Ford don’t (and shouldn’t) pass, Demetric appears to have skill, but probably better he just runs hard at this stage.

There were opportunities to move it wider, but clark would tuck it under. This shows cuddles is adapting to the cattle he’s got, its rainy and they are making May play 80, good idea to pound it up the middle instead of asking them to act out a Yeo type role they may not be suited to.

*why do we have to replace him with Berry again, how many years until Rocco can score a try like that you reckon? I’ll allow it while our wingers are injured.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

To be faaaaaaaairrrrr to the halves, we basically played 6 props on the weekend. You would hope you got middle dominance, but does not do much for the attacking structure.

Clark and Barney can pass but put it away in the wet, Fish was the one bouncing away from the line and then spread it to the real GOAT Warriors Centre, Adam Wetere Pompey*. Bunty and Ford don’t (and shouldn’t) pass, Demetric appears to have ball skills, but probably better he just runs hard at this stage.

There were opportunities to move it wider, but clark would tuck it under. This shows cuddles is adapting to the cattle he’s got, its rainy and they are making May play 80, good idea to pound it up the middle instead of asking them to act out a Yeo type role they may not be suited to.

*why do we have to replace him with Berry again, how many years until Rocco can score a try like that you reckon? I’ll allow it while our wingers are injured.

That try from Pomps was actually insane

 

[John Nick]

That try from Pomps was actually insane

Lekas try was unbelievable but Pomps wasnt far behind especially in determination.
Nothing wrong with Metcalfs either.Spine growing together.Good signs.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Lekas try was unbelievable but Pomps wasnt far behind especially in determination.
Nothing wrong with Metcalfs either.Spine growing together.Good signs.

That 6,7,9 ball playing needs to be a feature. That reminded me of Melbourne. Part of the reason why I don’t want to break up the halves.

 

[france]

i would'nt mind throwing Boyd on the bench..CHT takes Clarks place when he's off & Boyd to the halves..another ball player/kicking option/goal kicker if needed & maybe give Egan a spell as well..just my thoughts

 

[tajhay]

MODERATORS

Can we start an “Early season review” thread or something similar? (I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes)
Give us something to discuss/concentrate on over the next couple of weeks during the bye.

Yeah feel free to create it. Dont feel shy in creating threads (no stepping on toes), if we feel the need to merge it into an existing one that already exists (to avoid duplication) we do, otherwise we leave as is. You guys can create whatever threads you see fit - we just cover the primary ones for discussion.

 

[Rick O’Shay]

I know NSW Cup is a few levels below First Grade but Boyd really controlled that game to a tee. I guess at some stage we will see him in action with the top side but have to say he certainly looks like a controlling 7

 

[Damo]

I know NSW Cup is a few levels below First Grade but Boyd really controlled that game to a tee. I guess at some stage we will see him in action with the top side but have to say he certainly looks like a controlling 7

Got to take into account that was against the last place opposition in NSW Cup also.