New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Matiunz]

You're right in that the Wellington stadium is as good as an oval stadium can be for footy - the oval is pretty small, after all.

When I've been there for lower-pulling games, they try and mitigate that by putting the crowd on one side of the stadium only (usually the side the TV cameras point at, logically enough).. and that kinda works to build an atmosphere.

Thing is that for the foreseeable future, we have to make do with it, given it's a reasonably recent build

I find that most that complain about it have never actually been to a game there.
I went to games regularly when I lived there and never thought the view was shit. It’s in a great location to grab a meal and or a drink before / after and traffic flow it’s one of the easiest stadiums to get to your seat and out again with a short walk to the trains to get home.
The only negative experiences I had was when it was wet you’d get pretty soaked in the lower seating

 

[Matua]

I think you are underselling them … it’s interesting that they went from the cellar to the Top 4 in one year after they joined in 2023

I can very much tell you that Barnett was your definition of a journeyman before he went over there … never a chance of a rep jersey …more like an anonymous plodder working away for years off the bench in obscurity in Canberra and Newcastle …now he was your best player in 2024..

Metcalf had a great year in 2023 and SJ looked lost without him after he got injured in 2024

Ford is a solid worker that you have lacked most of the Warriors existence… missed a few games this year through injury .. but certainly not out of place in the team.

Egan was crap most of last season …don’t know what happened there after a great 2023 … maybe thought he had to do too much after SJ was struggling

Barnett is not my definition of a journeyman, even before his latest rep selection he was a solid first grader and had played minor rep matches. Not all Aussies who come to the Warriors are journeymen.

Metcalf is essentially the equivalent of CNK at 6. He looked good in 23 when SJ was on fire because he could feed off him. He's not a playmaker, he may develop into one, but it's not like he's the young guy about to break out, he's going to be 26 early next year and has played 27 first grade matches.

You have no idea about the Warriors if you think Ford is a solid worker and we have lacked them. From NZers alone we've had Mannering, Guttenbiel, and Swann, who were all solid workers and didn't have the error rate of Ford (well Swann maybe). They're all much better players than Ford.

The form turnaround last year was SJ having a standout year combined with a little man bench game that wasn't expected, this year that little man bench game was worked out, SJ was awful, and the team flopped.

 

[Matua]

It's such a dumb position. You needed a front rower, hopefully the best available within your budget.. who's available and within your budget? Well only 30% of the comp are kiwis, so chances are there's not even a prop suitable available that's a kiwi.. so you get Mitch Barnett, one of the best props in the game.
O he's a " journey man.." no thanks lol
News flash... the whole comp is " journey men" !
What percentage of players are from the area they're playing for? It's actually very rare.
Maybe all the Aussie teams only buy Aussies? Do you know how little an pathetic that would make our great comp?

What you’re suggesting is akin to Super League where players are fixed mostly to their national heritage..how's that working out?
Besides the fact that it's actually racist in a sense.
Idiot.

This post is comedy gold, this entire thread you've been claiming we need another NZ team to promote league in NZ then you call me racist for wanting a NZ team to select NZers.

A NZ league team of mostly NZers is going to be closer to your dream of ending rugby in NZ than a Warriors failing continuously with lots of journeyman Aussies.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

This post is comedy gold, this entire thread you've been claiming we need another NZ team to promote league in NZ then you call me racist for wanting a NZ team to select NZers.

A NZ league team of mostly NZers is going to be closer to your dream of ending rugby in NZ than a Warriors failing continuously with lots of journeyman Aussies.

Randomly interjecting here. Hard to argue with you. The last Warriors team to make a GF only had 4 out of 17 non NZ born players.

In saying that, Gobsmacked isn’t incorrect. You do need a good sprinkle of talent regardless of where that talent is from.

Makes for a good debate.

 

[Matua]

Randomly interjecting here. Hard to argue with you. The last Warriors team to make a GF only had 4 out of 17 non NZ born players.

In saying that, Gobsmacked isn’t incorrect. You do need a good sprinkle of talent regardless of where that talent is from.

Makes for a good debate.

I agree with the bold, I actually didn't claim otherwise. Journeyman and talent are two different things. Steve Price - talent, Ford - journeyman who's hands are so terrible he couldn't catch Covid in an old peoples home in Italy in the early days of the pandemic.

 

[Wb1234]

I find that most that complain about it have never actually been to a game there.
I went to games regularly when I lived there and never thought the view was shit. It’s in a great location to grab a meal and or a drink before / after and traffic flow it’s one of the easiest stadiums to get to your seat and out again with a short walk to the trains to get home.
The only negative experiences I had was when it was wet you’d get pretty soaked in the lower seating

If it’s a choice between playing games at Dunedin or Wellington (say 2 games) which should it be

Chch should get 10 home games that’s the whole point of a team there

Do we want another nrl team which doesn’t know what area it represents geographically

 

[flippikat]

I find that most that complain about it have never actually been to a game there.
I went to games regularly when I lived there and never thought the view was shit. It’s in a great location to grab a meal and or a drink before / after and traffic flow it’s one of the easiest stadiums to get to your seat and out again with a short walk to the trains to get home.
The only negative experiences I had was when it was wet you’d get pretty soaked in the lower seating

Yeah, setting aside the oval vs rectangular debate it's a shame that Wellignton didn't get a covered stadium, but alas it was just too soon.

Funny thing is that at the same time Wellington was pondering it's stadium future in the late 1990s, Hamilton was too - and they decided to NOT replace their existing separate rugby & cricket grounds with a multi-use ground.. instead upgrading both.

I wish we'd gone down a similar route.

 

[Perth Red]

If it’s a choice between playing games at Dunedin or Wellington (say 2 games) which should it be

Chch should get 10 home games that’s the whole point of a team there

Do we want another nrl team which doesn’t know what area it represents geographically

one at each?

 

[Gobsmacked]

I agree with the bold, I actually didn't claim otherwise. Journeyman and talent are two different things. Steve Price - talent, Ford - journeyman who's hands are so terrible he couldn't catch Covid in an old peoples home in Italy in the early days of the pandemic.

Fastest backflip in history

 

[Matua]

Fastest backflip in history

No backflip whatsoever, I can't help it if you don't understand what a jourrneyman is.

 

[Gobsmacked]

No backflip whatsoever, I can't help it if you don't understand what a jourrneyman is.

Players you don't like lol
If they work out, great, salary cap, balanced roster.. if they don't.. panic, get rid of all the Aussies and have Kiwis only lol

 

[BuffaloRules]

Barnett is not my definition of a journeyman, even before his latest rep selection he was a solid first grader and had played minor rep matches. Not all Aussies who come to the Warriors are journeymen.

Metcalf is essentially the equivalent of CNK at 6. He looked good in 23 when SJ was on fire because he could feed off him. He's not a playmaker, he may develop into one, but it's not like he's the young guy about to break out, he's going to be 26 early next ye

What ”minor rep games” did Barnett play before this year ? Please don’t tell me you are referring to NSW Residents on his Wiki page which is for NSW Cup players ( reserve grade )? Maybe he played Jersey Flegg as well?Haha

In respect of Metcalf … no one is saying he is a playmaker… you don't have to be when you are playing with Shaun Johnson ( 2023 version) …. doesn’t mean he still can’t be a good contributor in the team…

 

[Wb1234]

And bunty afoa to super league

Webby cleaning up his roster

Boyd shows glimpses of being a very good half back

 

[MugaB]

And bunty afoa to super league

Webby cleaning up his roster

Boyd shows glimpses of being a very good half back

Tanah...He is a tool... but bunty is a wrecking ball, I wish the Panthers got him as a cheap replacement for fish

 

[Matiunz]

And bunty afoa to super league

Webby cleaning up his roster

Boyd shows glimpses of being a very good half back

Solves the problem of not having a half with a kicking game but fans have been very luke warm on his signing.
Good move for Bunty he tried hard but was never quite able to get to that next level above ‘average’

 

[Wb1234]

Solves the problem of not having a half with a kicking game but fans have been very luke warm on his signing.
Good move for Bunty he tried hard but was never quite able to get to that next level above ‘average’

From the titans games I watched he showed glimpses of real talent just his confidence was shot

He would’ve come cheap too since nobody else seems interested

 

[Wb1234]

TikTok - Make Your Day

How good is that. I would try and watch the nz anthem and haka before switching off

League now with the sipi tau is good

It’s what makes int rugby league so interesting

There’s English fans saying they should ban these celebrations after micky lewis and a player butted heads last week

The kiwi haka last week felt really rushed and brief

 

[Vee]

Boyd shows glimpses of being a very good half back

ROFLMAO. Mechanical, nothing to offer.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Boyd is a depth signing, nothing more. He's probably 3rd choice half. Exactly what I was explaining earlier. They needed the best they could get for their budget to strengthen their depth in the halves after Johnson retirement. He'll be a handy replacement if injuries strike and wouldn't have broken the bank.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Bunty was full of potential but lacking in commitment to get to his full fitness and realise his full potential. He'll do very well Super League.