Post Match Warriors v Roosters - [Round 3, 2025]

[the WARs]

Watched this live at mt smart, leka changed the entire game single handedly.

It was an arm wrestle until 60 mins, with the warriors switching from kick to winger, to run the ball and feed our beast in Ali.

Marata has a young fella chomping at his heels, and I’d expect by round 10, he’ll move to the bench as a middle with leka on the edge. He’s that good.

Best thing was our line defence, we turned them away and away, and one the territory battle.

Biggest criticism is Metcalf. He ran for 9m. That’s unacceptable, for him. He’s a ball runner, run first pass second. He’s still under a little pressure imo, Tanah & TMM making huge statements in cup. Metcalf has time, because we’re winning. But he really does need to step it up, could see dylan walker and him arguing a few times. Attack hasn’t clicked yet, but it will need too soon.

So impressed with Leka ..hope we have him locked in for many season. He is a potential superstar edge forward .. one on one he seem unstoppable even taking in three tacklers and still making ground ... more mins !!!! webby .. ford boring on the attack in comparison..

one of CHT better games .. overall whole team turned up for the Slungfest ... if only are attack had better leadership we would have added couple more try's

I can't believe we can't secure a winger replacement for RTS in NZ ... go hunt in the other code; speed and size ..run them in NSW cup ..out of all the teams in the comp I would have though NZ would have ready access to some great wingers ..

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

@Inruin To humour you, how far do you see us getting with TMM at 7 this year?

And what happens next year if the contract status remains unchanged?

Honest opinion here, we could have beaten the Raiders round 1.

Stats were dead level. Scoreboard wasn’t.

We dominated possession early and couldn’t convert it to points. Scoreboard pressure could have changed everything…. But we will never know.

 

[John Nick]

Honest opinion here, we could have beaten the Raiders round 1.

We dominated possession early and couldn’t convert it to points. Scoreboard pressure could have changed everything…. But we will never know.

My opinion for what it's worth is we were overwhelmed by the occasion.
Sounds silly but it's possible

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

My opinion for what it's worth is we were overwhelmed by the occasion.
Sounds silly but it's possible

Yea, hard to predict ifs, buts and maybes.

Time will tell if our halves can convert possession to wins.

We won against the Roosters but I don’t think it’s sustainable hoping for miracle attacking plays to win every week in a grind while our halves run around like headless chooks (pun intended)!

 

[John Nick]

Yea, hard to predict ifs, buts and maybes.

Time will tell if our halves can convert possession to wins.

We won against the Roosters but I don’t think it’s sustainable hoping for miracle attacking plays to win every week in a grind while our halves run around like headless chooks (pun intended)!

The win came from sustained pressure from up front.
With that platform you are always going to be a good chance

 

[Inruin]

@Inruin To humour you, how far do you see us getting with TMM at 7 this year?

And what happens next year if the contract status remains unchanged?

Let me be clear. We have gone with a LM/CHT combo and we need to stick with it for at least 6-8 rounds. But to not consider changing it is ludicrous to me. If we continue to struggle to get our attack going and Metcalf continues to have games like this one against the Roosters you have to start questioning if he is the best option. And every position is the same, if they aren't performing consistently then are there better options. Niukore for example had a semi decent game this round but if that's one in two or three games..... I think our attack would certainly be better with TMM currently, we have seen how good it can be with him at 7 and we haven't seen anywhere near that yet. I think we have a very good pack and A decent enough group of outside backs. This isn't a rebuild year as some might say despite losing SJ and Tohu. If TMM gets the 7 at some point and our attack looks better then you would have to question why he wouldn't be extended contract wise. If as you say, he is looking to retire, which we don't know, then I'm all in the LM/CHT combo with Boyd an option if LM doesn't improve. AW has said that rounds 6-8 is where we will see the best of this current pair. The question people are rightly asking is what if we don't?

 

[John Nick]

Let me be clear. We have gone with a LM/CHT combo and we need to stick with it for at least 6-8 rounds. But to not consider changing it is ludicrous to me. If we continue to struggle to get our attack going and Metcalf continues to have games like this one against the Roosters you have to start questioning if he is the best option. And every position is the same, if they aren't performing consistently then are there better options. Niukore for example had a semi decent game this round but if that's one in two or three games..... I think our attack would certainly be better with TMM currently, we have seen how good it can be with him at 7 and we haven't seen anywhere near that yet. I think we have a very good pack and A decent enough group of outside backs. This isn't a rebuild year as some might say despite losing SJ and Tohu. If TMM gets the 7 at some point and our attack looks better then you would have to question why he wouldn't be extended contract wise. If as you say, he is looking to retire, which we don't know, then I'm all in the LM/CHT combo with Boyd and option if LM doesn't improve. AW has said that rounds 6-8 is where we will see the best if this current pair. The question people are rightly asking is what if we don't?

LM and CHT did a good job last night.
Not sure what we are discussing until we have injuries or a drop off in form.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Let me be clear. We have gone with a LM/CHT combo and we need to stick with it for at least 6-8 rounds. But to not consider changing it is ludicrous to me.

Never said anything about never considering changes.

If we continue to struggle to get our attack going and Metcalf continues to have games like this one against the Roosters you have to start questioning if he is the best option. And every position is the same, if they aren't performing consistently then are there better options. Niukore for example had a semi decent game this round but if that's one in two or three games.....

Disagree Marata was rubbish for the 3rd game. He has plenty of experience at his position and is probably top 5 paid in his position. Nothing like Metcalf.

I think our attack would certainly be better with TMM currently, we have seen how good it can be with him at 7 and we haven't seen anywhere near that yet. I think we have a very good pack and A decent enough group of outside backs. This isn't a rebuild year as some might say despite losing SJ and Tohu. If TMM gets the 7 at some point and our attack looks better then you would have to question why he wouldn't be extended contract wise. If as you say, he is looking to retire, which we don't know, then I'm all in the LM/CHT combo with Boyd and option if LM doesn't improve. AW has said that rounds 6-8 is where we will see the best if this current pair. The question people are rightly asking is what if we don't?

This is all assumptions and what ifs.
Its two incredibly simple questions you didnt answer.

How far do you see us getting with TMM at 7 this year?

And what happens next year if the contract status remains unchanged?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I find it amusing how youse and frank have forgotten how bad CHT was last season and pretty much every season before that
Metcalf is still work in progress
To suggest dynasty and a lock in for the 7 spot is premature and rash

Havent forgotten at all. I'll humour you too. Who is our 6 for the next 3 years then?

Its about how you build a dynasty. Do you do it chopping and changing your halves every 2 years?

 

[Beastmode]

Havent forgotten at all. I'll humour you too. Who is our 6 for the next 3 years then?

Mate I let you worry about the future while I live in the present

Btw you have a strange sense of humour

 

[Brightman]

yes, and Webby shouldnt get any credit for it

faark he can't even get credit for picking the reserves let alone kids with barely 10 games in the top grade..

 

[John Nick]

Mate I let you worry about the future while I live in the present

The present is we are winning.
You don't watch NSW CUP and want to make promotions

 

[Inruin]

How far do you see us getting with TMM at 7 this year?

Further than we would with LM at 7

And what happens next year if the contract status remains unchanged?

If TMM goes better at 7 than Metcalf you have to ask what are the Warriors doing. Assuming it's not retirement related

Never said anything about never considering changes.

Isn't this literally how this discussion started? Making changes to the 'dynasty' combo?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Further than we would with LM at 7

If TMM goes better at 7 than Metcalf you have to ask what are the Warriors doing. Assuming it's not retirement related

Isn't this literally how this discussion started? Making changes to the 'dynasty' combo?

Seems pretty obvious even by your answers. We wont win a prem with TMM this year and we are fucked next year if we put him at 7 and he still leaves next year.
If either of those things were different, I could support starting TMM at 7.

 

[Inruin]

Seems pretty obvious even by your answers. We wont win a prem with TMM and we are fucked next year if we put him at 7 and still leaves next year.

Equally fucked if LM doesn't fire or leaves. He is only signed for one more year. Pulling out the we won't win a premium argument is pointless. We couldn't win one with either of the two SJs either.

 

[John Nick]

Huh?

At no point did I say TMM comes in for CHT or Metcalf. I was initially preaching Tuapiki in the halves then someone mentioned TMM was killing it in cup and I said I love me some TMM… you bobcats all jump on it like a bad rash saying I think we should drop CHT and Metcalf….

TMM will get his chance …. I rest easy knowing this

Apologies if I got you wrong.
Tmm will probably get his chance sometime this year.
The time is not now

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Equally fucked if LM doesn't fire or leaves. He is only signed for one more year. Pulling out the we won't win a premium argument is pointless. We couldn't win one with either of the two SJs either.

LM wont leave while he's finding his feet. Big risk if he's gets hot though, you are right about that. I don't see us winning a prem this year regardless. Next year could be a chance if things start to fall into place.

 

[John Nick]

LM wont leave while he's finding his feet. Big risk if he's gets hot though, you are right about that. I don't see us winning a prem this year regardless. Next year could be a chance if things start to fall into place.

While I thought that tmm would be our 7 and LM our 6 this year I now have respect for AWs decisions especially with the results of late.
Don't understand why the confusion

 

[CWC]

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHdST_lI5F8/?igsh=MTltNDRscmRianhiZQ==

I honestly thought that was Rocco Berry running onto the field for a second

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

While I support Metcalf, I also think TMM would have been a better option but Webster doesn’t back him for whatever reason.

Webster won’t change his top team for all of 2025 except by injury. The top 17 now, is his go to all season whether in form or not. He just doesn’t change. Name an example of players playing themselves into the team during the season in 2023 or 24? Player changes are done over the off-season.

The fact TMM is second choice means he only gets in for injury cover and even if he kills it, he has no chance of keeping top job. Same as 2024 cover for SJ.

With Metcalf backed and TMM not resigned, it’s obvious he’s not in the future plans. I don’t predict him resigning unless he’s taking unders as a back up to stay in NZ.

And the whole debate about putting TMM in charge this year and not resigned for next year - we could have Hughes lined up for next year if we’re talking what MIGHT happen.