Round 1 v Knights

[Rich102]

Yeah mate. Seen it all before.
They really need a hard man.
Still I may get exited when we are 5 wins after 6 games.

But then the realist in me says our game plan appears non-existent and our forwards appear soft, plus we can't catch the ball and pass poorly. Plus we are still picking players who can't tackle to save themselves. You don't change all that in one off-season.
Still I will look forward to seeing what a difference Foran will make.
Maybe I do need a hug.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

This is far from the most optimistic I've been going into a season, so maybe that's a good thing. Interestingly, given our past, the position I'm most comfortable with is centre. Then there's just so many questions across the board - RTS after nigh on a year off, our wingers and their outrageous error count/defence, questions over halves, lack of impetus in the propping stocks/bench. Plus our mental approach and the abilities of the coach. Honestly don't think I've felt this 'we'll struggle to make the 8' feeling since the start of Ivan's tenure.

 

[Meth]

Same quandary as last year...Where to put Lolohea if anywhere...

Utility cover I still reckon. No doubt he will get a chance of an extended run somewhere when an injury strikes.

I agree with Fufu:

1. RTS (say no more)
2. Fusitua (kick return metres, finishing, safe under high ball)
3. Ayshford (solid in D, can set up his winger)
4. Kata (Bulldozer in attack, solid in D, good metres)
5. Vatuvei (out of trouble metres)

Damnit, I'm starting to get hopeful and excited about the season ahead.

Yeah, for sure...I get that. Ayshford played well last year and Fusitua goes great guns on the wing (and his defensive frailties seem to be less exposed there). I guess I just haven't given up on Lolohea yet, but I still have no idea where he belongs and what his future is.

 

[Meth]

http://www.warriors.kiwi/team/profiles/tuimoala-lolohea.html

Lolohea is listed as a five eighth on his profile. And a centre. And a wing. And a fullback. And a halfback.

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

I guess the thing that I'm a bit worried about if Ayshford is there is the lack of creativeness in the back line. He is solid and can draw and pass to put his winger away IF someone has already made the overlap/play to get them away.
Manu and Kata have limited creativity in that they only seem to be able to barge over the top of people. Good meters out of our danger zone tho...
I guess I like what Tui COULD bring(awesome speed, great footwork and x factor), but unfortunately he hasn't shown the basics enough to justify selection. From memory he did start last year at centre or wing and went alright until RTS went down in Rd 7 though.
I dunno, so many if's for me. Maybe with Johnson, Foran and RTS we won't need that extra spark from outside, but a reliable centre in Ayshford?
Or maybe with those guys going well, that gives Tui the confidence to chime in when he sees fit and his game goes through the roof?

 

[ozbash]

For our big dollar signings to do their thing, we have to tighten up our defence otherwise it's going to be deja vu 2017.

How many games has Manu cost us ?

He is part of the majority of opposition teams game plan... kick the ball to him.

 

[Meth]

For our big dollar signings to do their thing, we have to tighten up our defence otherwise it's going to be deja vu 2017.

How many games has Manu cost us ?

He is part of the majority of opposition teams game plan... kick the ball to him.

ummm.... not all that many

 

[ozbash]

ummm.... not all that many

Hmmmmmmmm. . So you're fairly new to the game then ?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

For every game Manu has "cost us" we've won two because he's scored tries that almost no other winger could, or constantly got us on the front foot with big carries into heavy traffic off our own line. He's not like a Jonno Wright who hs to maintain a zero error rate to justify his spot because he brings nothing exceptional in the way of positive attributes to the table.
Remember he's our all tune greatest try scorer bybtyevlenthvofvtge strait, and right up there in all time NRL terms, despite playing most of his career on the end of backlines who rely ever set him up with space or overlaps.

 

[JJ]

Manu costing us games is a bit of a myth imo

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Manu costing us games is a bit of a myth imo

There's been one or two when he's had a shocker and made multiple errors but in general it's a myth that comes out every time he makes an error that costs us a try. It usually ignores whatever positive contribution he's made to that game as well as the fact that if one error by one player as the deciding factor then the rest of the team probably weren't really pulling their weight either.

 

[ozbash]

Lol..well there have been quite a few myths the last couple of seasons then..
The big fella couldn't catch a cold.. comes in off his wing and is too slow turning...

We could call him "Mythical Manu" .

 

[Leber]

Is Thompson injured?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Manu's defense/kick catching doesn't bother me as much as his hands.

He still does a lot of the tough stuff and i don't doubt his commitment, but he's a definite momentum killer. Whether it's when we're attacking the opposition line or coming out from our own end he too often comes up with mistakes that put us under pressure that the team as a whole aren't equipped to deal with.

He's not solely responsible for losses though. It's just frustrating when the basics let him down so often.

 

[JJ]

Can be a momentum killer, but often our only source of momentum

Has his poor days for sure, but Mannering and perhaps Hoffman aside who doesn't in this bunch?

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Is Thompson injured?

yes

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Back to the round 1 team

Be interesting to see if Kearney adopts Cappys policy of picking a 3rd prop to start in the 13 jumper like Vete and Charlie Mudd did.
Also if picking a back up hooker on the bench. If Lukes in the best shape like all reports suggest there is no need for a back up hooker

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Can be a momentum killer, but often our only source of momentum

Has his poor days for sure, but Mannering and perhaps Hoffman aside who doesn't in this bunch?

I'd actually say if you combined dropped. balls and penalties conceded into a single stat, manu, Hoffman and Mannering would likely come out looking similar. But they all put in 110%.

 

[Meth]

Look at our attack with him bringing the ball out of the 20 early in the set versus without him...sure, a dropped ball is a momentum killer and he's good for a dropped ball. But he creates much more momentum than he kills.

 

[Meth]

Also, for sure, last season wasn't good for Manu. We get that. But who are we backing to take his jumper? Maumalo? Allwood? Pauga?