Pick Your Team Tigers v Warriors - [Round 4, 2025]

[Zaggo]

How are people feeling about Marata after the last couple of games? From being there in the flesh I thought he was putting in heaps more effort, but his measured outputs are still miserable.

Cannot be long before Leka takes his spot. Bloke just looks deadly.

 

[Barzak]

I think the knock on CNK on attack is a bit rough. When we were rolling in 2023 he was as dangerous as any fullback. His link play was on point too. Which stemmed from having SJ in peak form.
I can’t expect him to be overly dangerous when our attack this season has been so clunky. Even the best attacking fullbacks struggle when their attack doesn’t click.
TT is coming along well but he has a way to go before he can replicate what CNK offers at this stage.
Anyway

1. CNK
2. TT
3. Berry/Leaitaua
4. Berry/Leaitaua
5. Pompey
6. CHT, wouldn’t mind TMM or Boyd
7. Metcalf
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Capewell, not loving his form so would happily have one of our young guns.
12. Niukore
13. Clark

14. Walker
15. Not sure, Ford tries hard but I think this spot could be for another young gun
16. Vaimauga
17. Halasima

 

[Canonball]

How are people feeling about Marata after the last couple of games? From being there in the flesh I thought he was putting in heaps more effort, but his measured outputs are still miserable.

Cannot be long before Leka takes his spot. Bloke just looks deadly.

He has to be on the way out eh, there's something so under-powered about the guy, where's the torque that should be coming from that rig?? Leka on the other hand...

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Said it before but....

JFH is not anywhere near as good at line bending as AFB (I didn't say that so much, lots of others have, I do not disagree).

But the point of having JFH in our pack is that he and Barnett + Ford and Leka are fast props.

All those blokes have fast leg speed coz they're not big and heavy. They can maintain that leg speed longer than heavier props. So while they may not bend the line as much, or drag the tacklers along further....what they do achieve, is less time to rest for the defensive line before contact.

Each one of our props on his own barely makes a dent in the oppositions energy reserves on his own, the effect of their leg speed is minimal on individual defenders in individual tackles (AFB types on the other hand tax the tacklers a lot with one run) but our fast prop model speeds up our game which collectively burns out the entire opposition line - rather than just one section in the line based off big impacts.

Therefore it is vital for our style of game plan that we keep the ball in play as long as possible and use our fast props to run the opposition to death.

It is also important that the fittest of our fast props (obviously Barnett and JFH) play as long as possible because they are eighty minute options and therefore we need to keep their base fitness high for that contingency in games where we are forced to have them run the whole game.

As for Wiz worrying about more running and more contact = more risk of injury....you cannot take that negative mindset into contact sports - and where coaches and players worried about potential injury....teams like the Storm, and players like Cameron Smith would never have evolved.

The Warriors are achieving (ugly) wins atm because quite simply the opposition are tanking after having to run back ten meters quickly for eighty minutes more than anything.....

Agree with a lot of this.
IMO, with our personal we’re not going to seriously challenge the better teams week in week out. We’ll pick up games here and there, sure.
I don’t see waiting on Melbourne and Penrith getting tired as a viable game plan.

Where would you rank our forward pack, including the bench?
For me, Melbourne, Penrith, Brisbane and Cronulla forwards are clearly better.
Canberra slightly better
Manly, GC and Warriors it’s just whoever turns up on the day.
As another poster suggested we benefited from some VERY generous “6 agains” against Manly. (Happily take them btw)

I’m fairly confident we’re going to beat the Tigers. (Although they use a 3 prop system and have the halves to piggyback off the platform)

And then I expect us to hit a wall against Melbourne and Brisbane.
And we simply don’t have the halves or backline to get us out of trouble.

 

[WA Warrior]

He has to be on the way out eh, there's something so under-powered about the guy, where's the torque that should be coming from that rig?? Leka on the other hand...

I totally get Webby slowly blooding Leka but I really want more minutes for him.
He brings real X Factor which we lack.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

How are people feeling about Marata after the last couple of games? From being there in the flesh I thought he was putting in heaps more effort, but his measured outputs are still miserable.

Cannot be long before Leka takes his spot. Bloke just looks deadly.

At the moment, I am just thankful that Leka is playing minutes at all lol

Injuries permitting, but my guess would be we see Leka for a few more weeks, then Webby will put him on ice for Laban

Hope not though.

The likes of Haas and Nanai debuted at 18 and were immediately starters from then on.. It would be a crime against rugby league for Leka not to finish this season with around 25 games under his belt

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I totally get Webby slowly blooding Leka but I really want more minutes for him.
He brings real X Factor which we lack.

I'm happy with his minutes so far. Building his way up off the bench, 25-40 minutes per game I think is spot on. Has literally only had 7 fg games, I feel were essentially giving him minutes to get him up to speed with how fast everything is, so far I don't think we've passed him the ball when we've had a set play going, it seems to be give him the ball with 5 defenders in the way and see what he can do.

I think as we get further into the year we'll see him start to get out in better positions on the field and have players around him to offload to.

We're winning matches as it is, so I'm happy for us to continue the way we're going and continue to build into mid season where he likely gets a few more minutes and a license to offload and just rip in

 

[Zaggo]

He has to be on the way out eh, there's something so under-powered about the guy, where's the torque that should be coming from that rig?? Leka on the other hand...

I don't get it aye. Bloke is as big as any second rower and looks to run with a good head of steam, but never fails to get easily chopped by even guys like Luke Brooks.

When's the last time he made a big dent or threw a good offload in contact?

What does he do out there?!?

 

[france]

I think the knock on CNK on attack is a bit rough. When we were rolling in 2023 he was as dangerous as any fullback. His link play was on point too. Which stemmed from having SJ in peak form.
I can’t expect him to be overly dangerous when our attack this season has been so clunky. Even the best attacking fullbacks struggle when their attack doesn’t click.
TT is coming along well but he has a way to go before he can replicate what CNK offers at this stage.
Anyway

1. CNK
2. TT
3. Berry/Leaitaua
4. Berry/Leaitaua
5. Pompey
6. CHT, wouldn’t mind TMM or Boyd
7. Metcalf
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Capewell, not loving his form so would happily have one of our young guns.
12. Niukore
13. Clark

14. Walker
15. Not sure, Ford tries hard but I think this spot could be for another young gun
16. Vaimauga
17. Halasima

laban

 

[sydneywarrior92]

BOO!!! Webby don't do it!

 

[kos]

Seems likely he was shoulder tapped that he might not being resigned.
His 2023 and R1 influence was diminishing.

Put in that sort of performance and got emotional. The prospect of no gig or changing clubs would be really unsettling.

TMM in a similar contractual situation and playing reggies would feel vulnerable too & makes an off hand comment.

Tricky for the club to keep these situations totally harmonious withe the playing group.

How would you like to be Ed Kosi
If he is not picked this week career is over.
Cnk Tmm Bunty Ale are more than good enough to get a contract with another club

 

[juju]

How would you like to be Ed Kosi
If he is not picked this week career is over.
Cnk Tmm Bunty Ale are more than good enough to get a contract with another club

I actually feel for Ed, it must be tough mentally.

I think TMM would pick up a contract with ease - not sure who might pick up CNK or Bunty though. Super league maybe

 

[miket12]

Would be interesting if Tuaupiki picked up a suspension?

Not even cited. In fact, there is only one team without having a player suspended and/or fined after three rounds.... the Mighty Wahs!!!

 

[Zaggo]

I actually feel for Ed, it must be tough mentally.

I think TMM would pick up a contract with ease - not sure who might pick up CNK or Bunty though. Super league maybe

TMM and CNK would be fine, assuming they're OK with going back to Australia.

Bunty most probably fine too. Lots of pretty average props carve out lengthy careers as depth guys. The Francis Molos of the world.

Kosi... Yeah look I think he would be in trouble. Maybe signed as NSW Cup depth like what's ended up with Maumolo, but definitely not sniffing first grade anywhere.

 

[kos]

TMM and CNK would be fine, assuming they're OK with going back to Australia.

Bunty most probably fine too. Lots of pretty average props carve out lengthy careers as depth guys. The Francis Molos of the world.

Kosi... Yeah look I think he would be in trouble. Maybe signed as NSW Cup depth like what's ended up with Maumolo, but definitely not sniffing first grade anywhere.

Thoughts on Tom Ale.

 

[John Nick]

Thoughts on Tom Ale.

What sort of money are the top Group RL clubs paying these days Kos?
A club like Southport .
And is Clive Palmer still sponsoring them

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I totally get Webby slowly blooding Leka but I really want more minutes for him.
He brings real X Factor which we lack.

How are people feeling about Marata after the last couple of games? From being there in the flesh I thought he was putting in heaps more effort, but his measured outputs are still miserable.

Cannot be long before Leka takes his spot. Bloke just looks deadly.

Brad Pitts character in Moneyball says to the over-the-hill ball player with attitude "I want to milk the last remaining ounce of baseball you got in you"

That's why I'm okay with Leka not starting yet. Lets milk the last footy Marata has left in him, while providing a great base for Leka to start his career. 3 games into the season and minutes are already increasing for the young guns. If the trend contiunes, they will be starting before the end of the year.

 

[WA Warrior]

Brad Pitts character in Moneyball says to the over-the-hill ball player with attitude "I want to milk the last remaining ounce of baseball you got in you"

That's why I'm okay with Leka not starting yet. Lets milk the last footy Marata has left in him, while providing a great base for Leka to start his career. 3 games into the season and minutes are already increasing for the young guns. If the trend contiunes, they will be starting before the end of the year.

It’s the smart play for sure and he is building like you say.
It’s like Xmas eve with him because you can see the talent but yeah I should cool my jets.
It’s going to happen just have to go through the process.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

A stat to motivate the importance of this game. Only 4 times in our history have we gone 3-1 early in the season: 2002, 2003, 2018 and 2023. In every one of those seasons, we made it to the finals series.

 

[kos]

What sort of money are the top Group RL clubs paying these days Kos?
A club like Southport .
And is Clive Palmer still sponsoring them

Mate I ll have to research
Clive has a new political party for next fed election
Called trumpetofpatriots
$100 mill
I make no comment


Ale - good enough in my book for another club