Silly Season 2025/26

[Blair]

I know I'm an outlier on this forum but that's all good, the difference in opinions give us stuff to discuss in threads...

That's true, Matua. Never change.

Btw, I haven't been back to HB for 25 years. That hurts. Next year must change that. Keeping on topic a bit, even visiting an empty Mclean Park in Napier will be emotional. I never saw the Warriors there, of course, but I went to plenty of Magpies and Black Cap games.

 

[Big Marn]

The simple fact is Metcalf has only had one outstanding half season (he had one ok season for us, and before that he was a bit player in 1st grade),

I dont think anyone can seriously dispute this.. Metcalf is a massive injury concern.

Thats the reason i am hoping some of our younger players like Hansen, Cleary and Thompson continue to grow next year. The fact they arent Kiwis is bye the bye. Im dubious about Inch as he doesnt come from a league background and a key position successful convert is rare.

SJ came from a touch footy background but prior to that we had barely any success wuth kiwi halves after Stacey.
Was Ngamu a success? I guess he was a passable player. Lolohea? Tuimavave?
Not really.
Benji is our best kiwi half and he was in an Australian system. Foran also.
Nature vs Nurture?
Ive akways considered the Aussie halves in the NRL comp to have had a bit nore nous (cunning even) over the years, which has ended up being one of the main reasons at the end of games we came up short a lot of the time.

TLDR.
I am not anti Australian when it comes to recruitment, but i am not pro Metcalf, due to him historically being an unreliable player.

 

[Matua]

That's true, Matua. Never change.

Btw, I haven't been back to HB for 25 years. That hurts. Next year must change that. Keeping on topic a bit, even visiting an empty Maclean Park in Napier will be emotional. I never saw the Warriors there, of course, but I went to plenty of Magpies and Black Cap games.

Sweet, another Bay boy. I generally go back a couple of times a year (with a bit of a pause for Covid ... had one trip cancelled the day before we were due to fly, if we'd booked a day earlier would have been able to do the 10 day trip fine), but I had work stuff on so couldn't go back for the Warriors. I once saw Manly play a HB invitation team in a trial match at Nelson Park in Hastings (which is big box stores now) with a teenage Gene Ngamu starring for Manly.

I dont think anyone can seriously dispute this.. Metcalf is a massive injury concern.

Thats the reason i am hoping some of our younger players like Hansen, Cleary and Thompson continue to grow next year. The fact they arent Kiwis is bye the bye. Im dubious about Inch as he doesnt come from a league background and a key position successful convert is rare.

SJ came from a touch footy background but prior to that we had barely any success wuth kiwi halves after Stacey.
Was Ngamu a success? I guess he was a passable player. Lolohea? Tuimavave?
Not really.
Benji is our best kiwi half and he was in an Australian system. Foran also.
Nature vs Nurture?
Ive akways considered the Aussie halves in the NRL comp to have had a bit nore nous (cunning even) over the years, which has ended up being one of the main reasons at the end of games we came up short a lot of the time.

TLDR.
I am not anti Australian when it comes to recruitment, but i am not pro Metcalf, due to him historically being an unreliable player.

Of the NZ halves I thought Lino might come through.

Agree on Inch, he seems to be crazy hyped by the media, who are making him out to be the best young player rugby in the country when he's not even close. I think the other Tasman guy who went to Souths will come through quicker, I saw him play schoolboy rugby and he just looks like a league forward in style.

I'm not anti a little bit of Aussie recruitment, I think we overdo the hunt for the next Michael Luck though and play inferior versions often seemingly just because they are Aussies. But I do think it's a development failure when three of the key spine positions are basically all Aussies.

But, I will admit I care more about the Warriors being a Kiwi team than most. I'm the same with rugby, the NPC is my favourite comp because the Magpies are my team, Super rugby is just entertainment to me because I don't have any affection for the Canes and support the Chiefs (I was at Uni in Hamilton when they started so went to a lot of their early games) but not to the same level of the Magpies or Warriors.

On Metcalf, I genuinely didn't think he would ever be as good as he was this year, nothing in his previous year with us (and other clubs) suggested he would be. So I was completely wrong there. But I'm still not sure he can do it again. I was the same with Egan his first year with us, surprised by how good his second year was, and then surprised again when his form dropped off again. I hope Metcalf can continue that form as he's the favoured son in the club.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I dont think anyone can seriously dispute this.. Metcalf is a massive injury concern.

Thats the reason i am hoping some of our younger players like Hansen, Cleary and Thompson continue to grow next year. The fact they arent Kiwis is bye the bye. Im dubious about Inch as he doesnt come from a league background and a key position successful convert is rare.

SJ came from a touch footy background but prior to that we had barely any success wuth kiwi halves after Stacey.
Was Ngamu a success? I guess he was a passable player. Lolohea? Tuimavave?
Not really.
Benji is our best kiwi half and he was in an Australian system. Foran also.
Nature vs Nurture?
Ive akways considered the Aussie halves in the NRL comp to have had a bit nore nous (cunning even) over the years, which has ended up being one of the main reasons at the end of games we came up short a lot of the time.

TLDR.
I am not anti Australian when it comes to recruitment, but i am not pro Metcalf, due to him historically being an unreliable player.

No I agree with all this, I have genuine concerns with Metcalf as well and have raised the stats before about his inability to play anything resembling a season.

And Matua is right, our inability to grow halves and hookers is concerning. That’s a major coaching and development issue. Our national coach and Warriors long time assistant is a HOF halve. It’s not good enough. Penrith’s system is spitting out halves like anything. We need that to happen in our spine so we dint have to take punts on Aussie fringe talent that might bugger off home when their value goes up

 

[Blair]

Sweet, another Bay boy. I generally go back a couple of times a year (with a bit of a pause for Covid ... had one trip cancelled the day before we were due to fly, if we'd booked a day earlier would have been able to do the 10 day trip fine), but I had work stuff on so couldn't go back for the Warriors. I once saw Manly play a HB invitation team in a trial match at Nelson Park in Hastings (which is big box stores now) with a teenage Gene Ngamu starring for Manly.

That game! Yes, I remember it. I was home on uni holidays and my parents went. They were big Manly fans, like plenty of Kiwis back then (circa 1990), but I was Canberra, so didn't go.

In the lead up to the game the Herald-Tribune ran a story on a big local player, from Waipukurau or close by there. Mum said 'they (Manly) didn't like him and really went after him'. He had a torrid game against those hardened pros but he did OK. I wish I'd kept the article.

Nelson Park is gone now, true. My grandfather would tell me about those great Magpie Shield days in the '20s and '60s, and that ground was as big as Mclean Park. I remember it being up by the Warehouse and Railway Station. From memory it had a running track around it?

 

[Matua]

That game! Yes, I remember it. I was home on uni holidays and my parents went. They were big Manly fans, like plenty of Kiwis back then (circa 1990), but I was Canberra, so didn't go.

In the lead up to the game the Herald-Tribune ran a story on a big local player, from Waipukurau or close by there. Mum said 'they (Manly) didn't like him and really went after him'. He had a torrid game against those hardened pros but he did OK. I wish I'd kept the article.

Nelson Park is gone now, true. My grandfather would tell me about those great Magpie Shield days in the '20s and '60s, and that ground was as big as Maclean Park. I remember it being up by the Warehouse and Railway Station. From memory it had a running track around it?

Wow you didn't go because it wasn't Canberra, that's harsh.

It is the actual Warehouse now - it's basically where the field was.

Yep, had the running track. We used to do our high school sports day there.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Titans reportedly willing to pay $500k of Fifita's contract to facilitate his move to the Rabbits, which could also trigger an immediate release for Moale to Manly.

So Souths get to trial Fifita at a discounted rate, while Manly get a much needed middle a year early... everyone wins except the Titans. What a mess they created for themselves.

Fallen superstar Fifita completes blockbuster NRL club switch... with $500k sting for Titans

Fallen superstar Fifita completes blockbuster NRL club switch... with $500k sting for Titans

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Tyrone Munro stood down by the nrl after being issued with assault and stalking charges

 

[Big Marn]

Titans reportedly willing to pay $500k of Fifita's contract to facilitate his move to the Rabbits, which could also trigger an immediate release for Moale to Manly.

So Souths get to trial Fifita at a discounted rate, while Manly get a much needed middle a year early... everyone wins except the Titans. What a mess they created for themselves.

Fallen superstar Fifita completes blockbuster NRL club switch... with $500k sting for Titans

Fallen superstar Fifita completes blockbuster NRL club switch... with $500k sting for Titans

www.foxsports.com.au

If this was the NFL, the Titans are either the Browns or the Jets. Both are basketcases.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

The Titans shouldn't sign anyone in the future who likes fun.

17 teetotals, farmers, Mormans, whatever. Only way that franchise is going to work

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Matt Timoko may hit the open market.

Ex-Grammar boy with strong Auckland roots, be surprised if Canberra let him go, but I hope we're at least having a nosy.

Good player, still young, ave 25 games per season the last 4 years and as they say, the best ability is avail-ability... which is more than we can say for a couple of our lads recently.

Sea Eagles’ blow as rebel rugby circle for gun flyer; Panthers’ No.1 depth hit — Transfer Whispers

Sea Eagles’ blow as rebel rugby circle for gun flyer; Panthers’ No.1 depth hit — Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Timoko is a lazy defender, but geez he has an upside and we need centres who can stay on the park.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

So happy with this.

Staying right here: Metcalf recommits until end of 2028 season

Luke Metcalf inks two-year contract extension to lock in future with One New Zealand Warriors.

www.warriors.kiwi

Never in doubt.

Just stay on the bloody park now please!

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Feels like an odd thing to say when Canberra had such a good season, but I feel like Timoko has either regressed or maybe just become high-profile enough for his shortcomings to be more apparent. But yeah....pretty bad defender.

Would still be stoked to have him at the right price.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Confirmation of DCE’s Roosters move imminent - which apparently includes the option of a second year as a player, and now reportedly led to Savala going to market.

Him and his boot will make a very good 6 for someone out there.

NRL’s worst kept secret set to be confirmed... as fresh DCE detail revealed in Roosters switch

NRL’s worst kept secret to be confirmed... as fresh DCE twist revealed in Roosters switch

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Beavers Headgear]

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Papenhuysen released from the Storm

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Manly home and away strips for next season, 30 years since the 96 premiership and 50 since the 76

 

[Blair]

Manly home and away strips for next season, 30 years since the 96 premiership and 50 since the 76
View attachment 107469View attachment 107470

Is that a VCR over the bottom right's right shoulder? If so they've got the '76- vibe wrong. VCR's didn't really pop up until the '80s, and it'd be sitting on top of the TV.

Anyway, the designs are nice homages to two hard-fought premierships.

 

[Blair]

Papenhuysen released from the Storm.

I mean they never are after GF defeats but the Storm dressing room wouldn't have been a particularly pleasant place to be that night. Pap might've known he was gone within a half hour or so, even sooner.