Opinion Are the Warriors close to their first premiership?

[Captain Apollo]

Think a lot of people are putting too many eggs in the Jett Cleary basket. Based on family name alone some seem to think we have Nathan just sitting in NSW cup waiting to be unleashed. Sure he might develop but at this point he’s not demanding selection like say a young SJ was at this point.
Hope he gets there because we develop quality halves at an alarmingly low rate but the hype around him is unwarranted at this point.

Indeed. As an example of siblings, who remembers either Craig Kimmorley or Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck as being outstanding NRL caliber players? Both had brothers who were outstanding but those two, not so much.

 

[Bazal]

Indeed. As an example of siblings, who remembers either Craig Kimmorley or Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck as being outstanding NRL caliber players? Both had brothers who were outstanding but those two, not so much.

John Folau. Esi Tonga. Liam Foran.

You could build a top 30 of plod siblings to very good players. Tbh I'd say statistically it's probably better to steer clear of the siblings of very good NRL players, not sign them lol

 

[Matua]

Think a lot of people are putting too many eggs in the Jett Cleary basket. Based on family name alone some seem to think we have Nathan just sitting in NSW cup waiting to be unleashed. Sure he might develop but at this point he’s not demanding selection like say a young SJ was at this point.
Hope he gets there because we develop quality halves at an alarmingly low rate but the hype around him is unwarranted at this point.

We don't develop squat, 90% of our halves at all levels are Australians. We import high school age halves. It pisses me off, especially when George makes his pronouncements about wanting to be a mostly Kiwi club.

I'm still not convinced Metcalf is worth the hype. He had a purple patch last year but he's had a pretty average career. I think he would have been worked out by other teams as the season went on.

 

[Matua]

John Folau. Esi Tonga. Liam Foran.

You could build a top 30 of plod siblings to very good players. Tbh I'd say statistically it's probably better to steer clear of the siblings of very good NRL players, not sign them lol

To balance that out a bit you could get a Tony Iro, a Burgess brother, or Jesse Bromwich!!!

 

[Matiunz]

We don't develop squat, 90% of our halves at all levels are Australians. We import high school age halves. It pisses me off, especially when George makes his pronouncements about wanting to be a mostly Kiwi club.

I'm still not convinced Metcalf is worth the hype. He had a purple patch last year but he's had a pretty average career. I think he would have been worked out by other teams as the season went on.

It’s what Jones, SJ (arguably), I guess maybe Ngamu, sorta Hohaia and should have been the Paul’s in 30 odd years? Pretty low strike rate hey?

 

[Matiunz]

Completely agree
As i said, maybe he is the next star half and if he is, that'll go a long way to solving the issues i have with the Wahs spine, but that's certainly not a guarantee, and until we see it, its hard for me to think Tuaupiki/CHT/Metcalf/Egan will be good enough to win the comp together. Even if Metcalf is awesome
They need more firepower in that group imo.

Egan is better than most give him credit for, then there’s Healey for a bit of spark off the bench.
Don’t think we will see much of Taine at fullback unless maybe we get thin in the centres and CNK moves in there, I’m not as much with the Taine hype as others, he’s got a bit of spark at times but a bit of fragility with his size, people seem to think we have a Kini which we don’t. CHT too vanilla for mine

 

[Diesel]

The Wahs current squad is to ensure the team is competitive and gets a good attitude and culture but it’s the development of the clubs juniors over the past 3 years that’ll deliver them a premiership

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

The Wahs current squad is to ensure the team is competitive and gets a good attitude and culture but it’s the development of the clubs juniors over the past 3 years that’ll deliver them a premiership

Yes. A majority will be from New Zealand and that's something to be very proud of. We need to develop more halves as we got forwards galore.

 

[Matua]

It’s what Jones, SJ (arguably), I guess maybe Ngamu, sorta Hohaia and should have been the Paul’s in 30 odd years? Pretty low strike rate hey?

TBF, I was more focussing on our current recruiting in an era where George is claiming (and Wheeled Warrior pointed out) we're a NZ focussed team yet the majority of our halves from the teens up are imports from Oz. We've had some ok halves come through who were worth investing in who didn't pan out completely like Lino and CHT who is going ok despite his limitations.

Also, I'm the complete opposite on Egan than you. I think he's worse than Warriors fans give him credit for, he had one good season but the seasons either side have been average.

 

[Bazal]

TBF, I was more focussing on our current recruiting in an era where George is claiming (and Wheeled Warrior pointed out) we're a NZ focussed team yet the majority of our halves from the teens up are imports from Oz. We've had some ok halves come through who were worth investing in who didn't pan out completely like Lino and CHT who is going ok despite his limitations.

Also, I'm the complete opposite on Egan than you. I think he's worse than Warriors fans give him credit for, he had one good season but the seasons either side have been average.

Egan is basically Mitch Kenny is a side without the ability to carry that kind of hooker, IMO.

Super defender generally, his service is ok, but he has all the flair of an Amish farmer

 

[Gobsmacked]

TBF, I was more focussing on our current recruiting in an era where George is claiming (and Wheeled Warrior pointed out) we're a NZ focussed team yet the majority of our halves from the teens up are imports from Oz. We've had some ok halves come through who were worth investing in who didn't pan out completely like Lino and CHT who is going ok despite his limitations.

Also, I'm the complete opposite on Egan than you. I think he's worse than Warriors fans give him credit for, he had one good season but the seasons either side have been average.

Out of 8 games each week, Egan has the ability to be the best hooker of the lot. Yep, not always, not consistently but that ability to be a premier hooker is something you shouldn't take for granted.
Metcalf is in the same boat, CNK..
In a competition this tight, it's better than most and if Webby can get it all to click at the right time, the ability does exist and you could win the whole dam thing.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I know they lost Metcalffe and Barnett and losing your 7/best forward will derail any teams season, but the drop off was somthing else. They went from top 4 shoe in to being a bottom 2/3 form team in the last 8 weeks. I like Andrew Webster but a lot of that needs to come down to coaching. Theyre both tough as nails and give 100% but CNK and CTH have the creativity of Alex Twal. I cant fathom how a team can have RTS in their squad and say he's their 3rd choice fullback.

Metcalfe had a stellar start to the year but is a 27 year old half who relies on speed coming off an ACL (isnt this his 2nd?). He wont be back til round 7 and will take a while to get going. I think they sneak into the 8 at best, but likley finish just above the bottom 4

 

[Gobsmacked]

I know they lost Metcalffe and Barnett and losing your 7/best forward will derail any teams season, but the drop off was somthing else. They went from top 4 shoe in to being a bottom 2/3 form team in the last 8 weeks. I like Andrew Webster but a lot of that needs to come down to coaching. Theyre both tough as nails and give 100% but CNK and CTH have the creativity of Alex Twal. I cant fathom how a team can have RTS in their squad and say he's their 3rd choice fullback.

Metcalfe had a stellar start to the year but is a 27 year old half who relies on speed coming off an ACL (isnt this his 2nd?). He wont be back til round 7 and will take a while to get going. I think they sneak into the 8 at best, but likley finish just above the bottom 4

He relies a lot less on his speed these days. He's evolved into something a lot more important than someone who can burn their opposition with speed.

 

[Matua]

Out of 8 games each week, Egan has the ability to be the best hooker of the lot.

A few years ago maybe, not now, he had a very small peak and he hasn't been close since.

Metcalfe had a stellar start to the year but is a 27 year old half who relies on speed coming off an ACL (isnt this his 2nd?). He wont be back til round 7 and will take a while to get going. I think they sneak into the 8 at best, but likley finish just above the bottom 4

This! I don't know why people make out he's some kind of dominant half, he's had one good half season in the entirety of his 1st grade career. I think people see him as another James Maloney, a talented guy who didn't really get given a chance until the Warriors gave him a decent run, but he's not.

Two outstanding plays by a young second rower first kept us in the hunt last year, then ensured we'd make the finals - we're likely to stuff that up this year by playing him at centre.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Coach Andrew Webster mentioned during the trials every single Warriors player came back fit after the christmas period, and they all mean business. It's really showing this year. We seem to have be running the opposition down with our relentless defense tiring them down. Excellent in your face front contact and great scramble. If we keep this up without Barnett and Metcalf in the squad makes it interesting

 

[Matiunz]

Coach Andrew Webster mentioned during the trials every single Warriors player came back fit after the christmas period, and they all mean business. It's really showing this year. We seem to have be running the opposition down with our relentless defense tiring them down. Excellent in your face front contact and great scramble. If we keep this up without Barnett and Metcalf in the squad makes it interesting

The rise in the likes of Ford and Boyd have highlighted this, also pleasing is some of our youngsters such as Leka, Vaimaunga, Laban and TSS seem to have gone up a notch too.
Still think we are a bit of spark short and the likes of Tannah (goal kicking mainly) Alis questionable defence and DWZ if he has one of ‘those’ games might bite us at times at the pointy end

 

[The Predictor]

No… nobody beating panfers

 

[6 more kfc buckets]

No… nobody beating panfers

I predict many will

 

[i0Nic]

Wahs vs Riff grand final

 

[Stinkfinger]

Just need to get hot like the Broncos did at the end of season. I think the biggest challenge is finishing top 4 which is critical to getting to the grand final.

It is what stopped us last year. Playing a team who'd had an extra week off, and running out of juice at the back end.