'15 | R2 | Sun | CAN 6-18 WAR | GIO

[KeepingTheFaith]

good win warriors but need to get a lot better if they are going to compete with the better sides. should be a lot better with hurrel & laumape back & hopefully the halves will start improving.

when are they back? especially hurrel?

Hurrell is week to week. May miss next week, but should hopefully be back after that.

Laumape is an interesting one. Haven't heard anything, but initial reports (from a fan with the good word) was that it's very much wait and see. If it settles down and comes good he'll be back, if not it'll be season ending surgery.

Fish and Fusitua are both "due back" round 5, but with Fish especially it was nerve issues so it's a wait and see with him too.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Austin is a good player, but he has an ordinary kicking game and he rarely sets up his centres,that is why the Tigers let him go,he wants to play 6,good luck to the kid he tries his guts out every week.

Has a killer running game for sure.

As I said earlier, Cornish is playing it safe at the moment, working his way into first grade. When he gets comfortable and doesn't play within himself so much I think Austin will have to do less and he'll add a lot because of it.

Especially if Hodgson continues to improve with more time in the NRL.

My only concern with Austin (and I could be wrong) is that Wighton seems more of a running fullback and hasn't shown a great deal as far as ball skills go. I think for Austin to be really effective at 6 he needs someone at fullback with a bit more ball skills.

Having said that I wouldn't move Wighton, for the most part has been very safe and is a real attacking threat.

Papalli is the one who still needs to pull that finger out. With Papalli/Vaughan/Boyd/FPN/Soliola the Raiders could run direct and through a lot of opposition. If Wighton/Austin/Hodgson are playing direct off that then their running game becomes an even larger threat and should open up more space out wide where they can negate the lack of ballplay required to break the line.

As I said though - I could be wrong. :lol:

 

[WithTheDawn]

Good to get the win in a low scoring grindy affair. Can take plenty of points for the defensive effort, but seemed a bit lost in the halves again and suffered from Johnson not being involved much. Still, improving week to week.

 

[Eddie.]

Thought that was a pretty decent game.

Played at high tempo with both teams playing with plenty of intensity.

Canberra just lost their way a few time on last tackles. Otherwise was a pretty even contest. Both sides can be happy in general with their performance.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Good to get the win in a low scoring grindy affair. Can take plenty of points for the defensive effort, but seemed a bit lost in the halves again and suffered from Johnson not being involved much. Still, improving week to week.

Low scoring yes but that was anything but a grinding affair. Look at the match stats, the Warriors ran for 1780 metres, meaning that the AVERAGE metres gained for the entire team was 105m, and we had 6 players crack the 150m mark with Hoffman and Matulino up around the 180 mark. The Raders weren't too far behind either with 1580m, it's a testament to the defensive commitment of both sides that for 75 minutes of that game only one try was scored on either side.

 

[nick87]

Thought that was a pretty decent game.

Played at high tempo with both teams playing with plenty of intensity.

Canberra just lost their way a few time on last tackles. Otherwise was a pretty even contest. Both sides can be happy in general with their performance.

agreed. And agian it's to be expected, Wighton, Austin, Cornish and Hodgson probably have under 50 NRL games of experience in the positions they are playing. Lots of positive signs, but we're a little bit off the pace right now. Hopefully it'll come

 

[Rosetta]

Was impressed by both teams, Raiders clocked out for 5 mins and that was the difference tbh.

 

[Meth]

Soliola and FPN were pretty good for the Raiders, I thought

 

[Eddie.]

agreed. And agian it's to be expected, Wighton, Austin, Cornish and Hodgson probably have under 50 NRL games of experience in the positions they are playing. Lots of positive signs, but we're a little bit off the pace right now. Hopefully it'll come

Based on what I have seen the first couple of rounds the Raiders will be closer to the 8 then the bottom 4. Playing that up tempo brand of football, with a bit more aggression in defense will get them plenty of home wins.

 

[Iafeta]

The Warriors seem to finally have a pack that is worth paying attention too. Young Lisone and Vete off the bench are killing it. Hoff is a great buy for us and doing a sensational job, Matulino is back to his best and destroying blokes in defence as well, Mannering doesn't miss in defence... I think when SJ gets into stride we could go on a run. Biggest challenge for us to get to Origin with a 50% record, we will always do well around Origin given the only bloke we will lose will be the Hoff.

I think the biggest thrill so far this year though for me is the work of the young blokes. Vete, Lisone, Lolohea, Kata, they're all class. We need to make sure they're all secured long term.

Also, after years of horrendous jerseys, I like this years black one. Looks good.

 

[Eddie.]

On the Warriors I tipped them to make the Top 4 so i had sky high expectations for them.

If they get that sort of roll on they will be close to unbeatable at home. They were making 15 yards a hit up at some points. It was just a real power play. If you have pace and power its a lethal combination.

Johnson was a bit quiet again, but they seem to have ammo all over the park. The most pleasing thing tonight was the defence and discipline. If they replicate that most weeks then they are a premiership threat.

However they were awful week 1 so lets see what they produce next week before I get to excited about them.

 

[mxlegend99]

Good game of footy and Raiders were not a 12 point worse side IMO. Warriors deserved the win without doubt, but the scoreline doesn't reflect how well Raiders played.

They actually look like a top 8 side. Very impressive early on. Wighton looks a beast at fullback. Not quiet the full package yet, but he's a handful and only going to improve. Could be an actual Origin chance next year.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Would be good to get those first five minutes of the second half back.

The loss sucks but I can see a lot of good elements out there for us, which will put us on the right track if they come together.

I think Austin made more meters tonight than Campese managed all of last season. Good to have a running 5/8 again.

Wighton had a few clangers out there but it was really good to see that he didn't go into his shell and instead played his guts out to make up for it.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

On the Warriors I tipped them to make the Top 4 so i had sky high expectations for them.

If they get that sort of roll on they will be close to unbeatable at home. They were making 15 yards a hit up at some points. It was just a real power play. If you have pace and power its a lethal combination.

Johnson was a bit quiet again, but they seem to have ammo all over the park. The most pleasing thing tonight was the defence and discipline. If they replicate that most weeks then they are a premiership threat.

However they were awful week 1 so lets see what they produce next week before I get to excited about them.

It's been a disjointed start to the season with injuries so I suppose it's hard to get a read on where we are. We seem to have players who are either very experienced or without any experience so it's a weird half and half mix.

It could prove to be a blessing in disguise though. Kata has put a lot of pressure on Laumape when/if he returns. Hurrell is safe when he returns so that leaves Lolohea/Fish/Fusitua to fight out for a wing spot when everyone is fit.

Meanwhile Vete/Lisone continue to impress so much it's going to be hard to see where Sam Rapira fits into the team when he overcomes his injury too.

Hooker continues to be the biggest issue though. Still don't have an attacking threat there and we need one.

 

[DOGSvsEELS]

Hurrell is week to week. May miss next week, but should hopefully be back after that.

Laumape is an interesting one. Haven't heard anything, but initial reports (from a fan with the good word) was that it's very much wait and see. If it settles down and comes good he'll be back, if not it'll be season ending surgery.

Fish and Fusitua are both "due back" round 5, but with Fish especially it was nerve issues so it's a wait and see with him too.

thanks for the info. shame about laumape but good news about hurrell, really need him back asap!

lolohea & kata are doing good & have a lot of potential so as long as hurrell is back they should be good.

will be good to have some back ups soon in fish & fus. i like fusitua, showed a lot of potential last year. i agree, it's a shame about fish, so much talent but needs to get his shit right mentally.

the earlier comment i made about the warriors looking lighter in the forwards wasn't the media hype, didn't you guys lose some front rowers? packer, rapira? was there another? i remember matalino was able to play backrow, cause you had so many big guys.

what happened to them? i liked rapira, he was a beast at times & one of the best props at one time. & packer was a big boy.

 

[umina panther]

Austin is class but he can't be the main man. Cornish needs to step up and run the show

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

thanks for the info. shame about laumape but good news about hurrell, really need him back asap!

lolohea & kata are doing good & have a lot of potential so as long as hurrell is back they should be good.

will be good to have some back ups soon in fish & fus. i like fusitua, showed a lot of potential last year. i agree, it's a shame about fish, so much talent but needs to get his shit right mentally.

the earlier comment i made about the warriors looking lighter in the forwards wasn't the media hype, didn't you guys lose some front rowers? packer, rapira? was there another? i remember matalino was able to play backrow, cause you had so many big guys.

what happened to them? i liked rapira, he was a beast at times & one of the best props at one time. & packer was a big boy.

We've had issues with our props for awhile. The last time we had a consistent propping rotation was 2011. Packer is really the only one who has left. The only other forward I can think of leaving is Taylor, but he's far from being big.

Packer left for a number of reasons. Feel sorry for the Knights considering the incident that happened with him being sent to jail. From what others have said it was a matter of time before he blew up in one way or another and unfortunately the Knights inherited him at the wrong time.

Rapira for the last 3 or so years has just been a constant name on the injury list.

Matulino was a second rower who Cleary converted to prop who then got half converted back because we lacked size in the pack and punch on the edge. Buying Hoffman/Thompson was the plan to fix this (as well as offloadng Mateo)

Matagi - On the outer I would say. Has a nice story turning his life around, but he's got too many holes in his game.

Lousi - Same as Matagi. Good size and tries hard, but he just doesn't have the top few inches.

Word is Rapira/Matagi could be let go as both are off contract. Fish likely to leave too.

 

[natheel]

Warriors v eels will be interesting next week. I can see us trying to get up in their face and frustrating them trying to push the passes etc but we need to be switched on or else we will get done easily. The fact it's in NZ gives them a big advantage but I think Arthur will have us ready for a huge game

 

[Spides]

I think the Eels might be a bit up against it in that one with all the injuries they are currently carrying.

 

[DOGSvsEELS]

We've had issues with our props for awhile. The last time we had a consistent propping rotation was 2011. Packer is really the only one who has left. The only other forward I can think of leaving is Taylor, but he's far from being big.

Packer left for a number of reasons. Feel sorry for the Knights considering the incident that happened with him being sent to jail. From what others have said it was a matter of time before he blew up in one way or another and unfortunately the Knights inherited him at the wrong time.

Rapira for the last 3 or so years has just been a constant name on the injury list.

Matulino was a second rower who Cleary converted to prop who then got half converted back because we lacked size in the pack and punch on the edge. Buying Hoffman/Thompson was the plan to fix this (as well as offloadng Mateo)

Matagi - On the outer I would say. Has a nice story turning his life around, but he's got too many holes in his game.

Lousi - Same as Matagi. Good size and tries hard, but he just doesn't have the top few inches.

Word is Rapira/Matagi could be let go as both are off contract. Fish likely to leave too.

that is a few big guys out. shame about rapira, i always liked him. matagi was good last year imo, love how hard he runs. i wouldn't let him go so soon.

i think getting locked up might be what some of these other guys in the footy might need, the way matagi & manu mau charge the ball up.

lousi was a big boy, hopefully he comes good elsewhere.

vete looks good though.

what did packer do? sucks for newi, they need another big prop! would have been good with snowden, along with tariq would have strengthened their pack.