Pick Your Team Warriors v Manly - [Round 2, 2025]

[Jonno13]

I don’t see AW making any changes other than Berry into r/center and Ali moving to the left. Going by his previous decisions, he’s def giving that Wk1 team another run. AS everyone’s already said, the game plan needs sorting though and just as importantly, his bench rotations need to improve. We had tired forwards out there and we only used 7 of our subs. Crazy!!

We played our best when Tohu started at 13, then moved into prop. He played 45-50mins straight then brought back on for the last 15 mins to close out the game. Is Clarke the answer. I’m guessing thats why we bought him. Walkers not the answer for that role. He’s to good in his current role of bringing the energy. The ‘bald brothers’ in 2023 killed it.

If I was picking the team, I’d move both Capewah and Marata out of the back row and outta the squad. Not dynamic enough and just not 2 way players. Bring on the youth.

With our current cattle v Manly I’d go with

TT
RTS
Ali
Berry
CNK - hard runs from our wingers is our goto
Metcalf
TMM
JFH - 25/25
Egan
Barnett - 55/15
Laban
Halasima
Clarke

Walker
Demetric
Niukore - 25 mins playing as prop only!!
Healy - gets 20mins for Egan. He can’t go 80
* One of JFH and Barnett always on field. *Laban to go 80mins like all quality back rowers should
* Clarke plays mix of 13 and prop
* My head says Boyd into 7 and TMM into 6. All good teams succeed with good kicking games and we currently don’t have that. Metcalfe is a turnstile on D and will be targeted all season. Learn your trade in Res’s son. Not in 1st grade

 

[kos]

Boyd and Tmm are playing in the halves in NSW cup 1 pm Saturday at Leichhardt oval

I hope some of forumers can get to that game and give us a report
The game is not on tv in Aus

 

[CWC]

Didn’t Ford open the Red Sea for the second try because he was called offside?

And then he played double the minutes of Demetric and Leka combined Probably less blowback if he takes Marata or Capewell’s spot

 

[Ego sum deus tuus]

Boyd and Tmm are playing in the halves in NSW cup 1 pm Saturday at Leichhardt oval

I hope some of forumers can get to that game and give us a report
The game is not on tv in Aus

Game is on bartv $6.45 for a 48 hour pass or 20 per month subscription

 

[pleatedpantspete]

We’ve got nutty already, I saw someone had Harper on their team sheet

Drop cnk for me. He was rubbish last season and he offered nothing last game. Taine at the back if we’re sticking with rog on wing. Rts the better fullback but it’s close and I think rts is safer on the wing.

Ford… drop him for the rest of the year plz

 

[Dannevegas]

If webby picks the same team we’re 100% fucked. It’s like racing a bloody Honda civic against a Bugatti no chance. I don’t care if they’re rookies we need to match their speed. The only way we win with Websters round 1 team is if manly beats themselves.
I like Martin out the back as a 3rd playmaking option and he pops up both sides and plays eyes up, unstructured, our block plays are too predictable.

Martin
Tuivasa-scheck
Leiataua
Berry
Graham-Taufa
Metcalf
Harris-Tavita
Fisher-Harris
Egan
Barnett
Laban
Halasima
Clark

Walker
Vaimauga
Ale
Healey

 

[ROCCO]

01. TMM
02. T Tuaupiki
03. A Leiataua
04. CNK
05. RTS
06. L Metcalf
07. T Boyd

08. JFH
09. W Egan
10. M Barnett
11. M Niukore
12. K Capewell
13. E Clark

14. D Walker
15. L Halasima
16. D Vaimauga
17. J Ford

 

[Damo]

If I could pick the team:

1. T Tuaupiki
2. A Leiataua
3. R Berry
4. C Nicoll-Klokstad
5. R Tuivasa-Sheck
6. L Metcalf
7. T Martin
8. J Fisher-Harris
9. W Egan
10. M Barnett
11. L Halasima
12. J Laban
13. E Clark

14. D Walker (share lock with Clark)
15. D Vaimauga (sub JFH off 15 mins either side of HT)
16. K Capewell/ M Niukore (middle mins primarily, & 2nd row/backline cover)
17. S Healey (share hooker mins with Egan / lock if needed)

 

[Naynay]

Didn’t Ford open the Red Sea for the second try because he was called offside?

And then he played double the minutes of Demetric and Leka combined Probably less blowback if he takes Marata or Capewell’s spot

He did it was a bit of a team effort on rewatch tho, Egan was called offside at marker and just stopped the other marker went the other way and didn’t turn to make an effort after the dummy half was running and then Marata and Erin Clarke were next on both sides and made no effort to close the gap. Erin was atleast on the far side of the PTB but Marata made no effort to attempt to tackle starling and pretty much just watched him run past.

I dont think ford should be starting over Laban or Leka. I just think hes become a bit of a scape goat

 

[kos]

Game is on bartv $6.45 for a 48 hour pass or 20 per month subscription

Thanks mate I ll pick that up.

 

[kos]

If the cyclone doesnt close down our power -interwebby

 

[Woofa]

Boyd and Tmm are playing in the halves in NSW cup 1 pm Saturday at Leichhardt oval

I hope some of forumers can get to that game and give us a report
The game is not on tv in Aus

NSW Cup has a TV app that works on mine (Samsung few years old).. I think I'll be watching the rejects harder than the first grade.

 

[kos]

NSW Cup has a TV app that works on mine (Samsung few years old).. I think I'll be watching the rejects harder than the first grade.

Agreed
The cup team is more interesting
Hopefully they are not playing to an AW game plan or bench use cock up

 

[sup42]

Game is on bartv $6.45 for a 48 hour pass or 20 per month subscription

Thanks for that, I was gonna skip using that app after reading the season sub costs.
Mostly on principle, getting sick of being charged for lets face it sub standard product (the NSW cup is not at a level where is deserves to be stinging viewers to watch semi pro athletes in a B level comp.

I will however spend this weekend since we have no game on.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

How does he start though. Barney to 13 was a failure so I expect that to be the only change for next week.

Did it fail though? I mean yeah, we lost.
But did that specifically fail?
Was that the cause of our loss?
If only Erin had of started we would’ve won?

Canberra started with 3 props and were clearly on top after 20 minutes……. So it clearly works.

We lost because of our shit bench rotation. And our lack of direction. (Until Walker came on, kinda)

I think “resting” CNK and putting TMM could be a solution as an extra play maker for a bit more direction. Nullify this “obsession” with a ball playing 13.

Would you prioritise a “ball playing 13” as a different point of attack. Or prioritise a prop/workhorse 13 to lay a foundation, and give Egan and our halves a better chance.
We have Walker on the bench to inject as a “ball player”.

8. JFH
10. Afoa
13. Barnett, handle the Raider pack better IMO.

After sobering up I very much doubt Webster is going to do anything.

 

[sup42]

All NRL coaches are conservative, and if they aren't they last five minutes.

I dunno what people expected from Metcalf in his first game at seven?

Seriously what do people think happens when you switch a guy for the first time and play them in the most complicated role in the sport?

There have been plenty of flogs running around in the NRL that have the number seven on their backs. Ergo there are plenty of coaches that understand they have to take a gamble on a player as part of being an NRL coach.

I would understand the criticism if 7 was Metcalfs reserve grade and juniors position.

The reality is that he is going to have to grow into it and that takes years, Realistically you are looking at next season to see if he really is an NRL halfback proper.

I know that will go down like a led balloon around here, but that is reality calling.

So let me ask the people calling Webster conservative to explain logically how Andrew Webster taking a gamble on Luke Metcalf (a total noob at 7 ) in thee hot seat of an NRL team is in anyway conservative?

I know it is a new cheap shot at Webster around here to call him coach conservative - but explain that to me since he has given the keys to a player that has never driven the Ferrari??

Talk is cheap. People come up with all sorts of bs labels for Warriors coaches....all of them are code for "I do no agree with him...I know better".

Personally I have no idea if Metcalf is the answer at halfback, how could I? the bloke hasn't even had a decent shot yet?

 

[John Nick]

All NRL coaches are conservative, and if they aren't they last five minutes.

I dunno what people expected from Metcalf in his first game at seven?

Seriously what do people think happens when you switch a guy for the first time and play them in the most complicated role in the sport?

There have been plenty of flogs running around in the NRL that have the number seven on their backs. Ergo there are plenty of coaches that understand they have to take a gamble on a player as part of being an NRL coach.

I would understand the criticism if 7 was Metcalfs reserve grade and juniors position.

The reality is that he is going to have to grow into it and that takes years, Realistically you are looking at next season to see if he really is an NRL halfback proper.

I know that will go down like a led balloon around here, but that is reality calling.

So let me ask the people calling Webster conservative to explain logically how Andrew Webster taking a gamble on Luke Metcalf (a total noob at 7 ) in thee hot seat of an NRL team is in anyway conservative?

I know it is a new cheap shot at Webster around here to call him coach conservative - but explain that to me since he has given the keys to a player that has never driven the Ferrari??

Talk is cheap. People come up with all sorts of bs labels for Warriors coaches....all of them are code for "I do no agree with him...I know better"

All NRL coaches are conservative, and if they aren't they last five minutes.

I dunno what people expected from Metcalf in his first game at seven?

Seriously what do people think happens when you switch a guy for the first time and play them in the most complicated role in the sport?

There have been plenty of flogs running around in the NRL that have the number seven on their backs. Ergo there are plenty of coaches that understand they have to take a gamble on a player as part of being an NRL coach.

I would understand the criticism if 7 was Metcalfs reserve grade and juniors position.

The reality is that he is going to have to grow into it and that takes years, Realistically you are looking at next season to see if he really is an NRL halfback proper.

I know that will go down like a led balloon around here, but that is reality calling.

So let me ask the people calling Webster conservative to explain logically how Andrew Webster taking a gamble on Luke Metcalf (a total noob at 7 ) in thee hot seat of an NRL team is in anyway conservative?

I know it is a new cheap shot at Webster around here to call him coach conservative - but explain that to me since he has given the keys to a player that has never driven the Ferrari??

Talk is cheap. People come up with all sorts of bs labels for Warriors coaches....all of them are code for "I do no agree with him...I know better".

Personally I have no idea if Metcalf is the answer at halfback, how could I? the bloke hasn't even had a decent shot yet?

A running half ( Metcalf) should be playing at 6 .
Tmm/Boyd should be at 7 .Unfortunately Boyd was injured during the trials .
I have been saying this since ever

 

[sup42]

A running half ( Metcalf) should be playing at 6 .
Tmm/Boyd should be at 7 .Unfortunately Boyd was injured during the trials .
I have been saying this since ever

I believe that Andrew Webster knows full well that Stand off is Luke Metcalfs best positon.

However I also believe that Andrew Webster has decided to give Metcalf the shot at seven he wants.

And I firmly believe that none of us know what kind of Seven Luke Metcalf could become which is why Webster is playing him there.

Like I said in my post, people calling Webster conservative because they think they know better (not aimed at you) are just using code for thinking they know better.

Calling Webster conservative is the same thing they leveled at Kearney, it is an insult when you are losing and a compliment when you are winning...(Ivan Cleary was the most conservative coach the Warriors have ever had and many around here gag for his return).

 

[Old Sid]

My objection to all of this is to hand the keys to LM knowingly to learn on the job, without even an extended period of build up in NSW Cup. (Same as RTS last season and RTS is a superstar compared to LM) If he performs to a reasonable or even better, high standard there in the NSW Cup then he can unseat our proven best 7 TMM, or Boyd if he's also proved himself to be better than TMM in the interim.
Another display like the team gave, very much including LM in this statement will very quickly kill our season and much of the good will built up over the past 2-3 years. 1st grade is not the place to voluntarily give someone unproven a go for several weeks in such a critical role. to me it smacks of desperation.

For context, I am an AW fan, but he's making it real hard as many other have commented.
TMM (or Boyd) would be my pick in 7 this week with CHT at 6 for longer kicking and left side plays.

 

[CWC]

Warriorholic on Devlin was like halfbacks need about 100 games to mature, give Luke a chance and I was like

Luke has about 80 more games to go, 4 seasons. 2029 will be our year!

The wild thing is he’s our best 6 so we are just gonna hand him the key at 7 cuz he and Webby has faith in him when he hasn’t even reached his ceiling at 6, I always thought you promote them once they’re too good for that position. This is the same playbook as Walker thrown to 6 because we believe he is a great utility, so we lose our best impact forward who can play as a mid 6, or centre. And TMM stuck at Cup, talk about killing 2 birds with one stone