SJ.

[SpaceMonkey]

One surprising thing is Ah Van was all over Inu in the air, he got over Inu to bat the ball back for Todd Byrne twice, Byrne stuffed it up once and scored once.

superficially surprising but not surprising when you consider it in the context of Inu’s career- he was towards the end of his Eels stint so he was in bored low effort Inu mode, then he came to us, did superstar Inu for a year or two and got bored again…

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

superficially surprising but not surprising when you consider it in the context of Inu’s career- he was towards the end of his Eels stint so he was in bored low effort Inu mode, then he came to us, did superstar Inu for a year or two and got bored again…

That was Inu's rookie season

 

[Matua]

I recall seeing footage of him at the Dogs 20 year premiership reunion earlier this year in full Muslim attire looking like an absolute try-hard goof. The sad thing is he went down that path cos Mundine told him to. He's a follower who pretends he's a leader.

Who cares, most of the PIs in pro sport are religious and they all follow imported religions.

This thread has taken a few interesting diversions.

Can't remember when I joined, but I posted infrequently at first. Maybe around 2010? I think I started posting more when Cam George was getting overhyped - usually it takes being annoyed for me to be involved in things.

Dislike Tonga as well, I think I dislike hype trains in general (hence my dislike of all the Wahs b/s from the fairweather fans), dislike Taumalolo for it, but also Kidwell for being the root cause, but he's a Cantab so easy to hate.

I like SJ as a player, did well for himself with his missus too, fun player to watch, but he's not even close to he being the Warriors greatest, he's not even close to being the best 7.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

That was Inu's rookie season

f**k, that is actually kinda surprising then. Should’ve been full of beans

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I like SJ as a player, did well for himself with his missus too, fun player to watch, but he's not even close to he being the Warriors greatest, he's not even close to being the best 7.

Disagree there, he’s our equal best 7 with Jones, can’t really split their records.

 

[Matua]

Disagree there, he’s our equal best 7 with Jones, can’t really split their records.

Disagree with your disagree so we'll have to agree to disagree I guess.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

I was best man at Kurt’s wedding, we still see each other all the time.

Sounds like the bro has come a looooong way since the good ol days. Good on him.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I have Jones slightly ahead of Johnson but "on paper" there isn't much between them as Warriors. 12 seasons vs 11, 200+ games each, each made the finals 3 times and 1 grand final. In fact, each had essentially an identical finals record - out in the first week once, out in the grand final qualifier once, lost the GF once. Jones won 44% of his total Warriors games, Johnson won 45%.

Obviously there's a lot more to an individual player than team records, although marquee halfbacks tend to be judged heavily on team success. In terms of getting their teams across the line, SJ and SJ were about equal. Was Jones an outstanding player hamstrung by his team significantly more than Johnson was? Honestly that's not really how I saw it, or remember it.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Sounds like the bro has come a looooong way since the good ol days. Good on him.

Honestly.....not really

 

[Big Marn]

I have Jones slightly ahead of Johnson but "on paper" there isn't much between them as Warriors. 12 seasons vs 11, 200+ games each, each made the finals 3 times and 1 grand final. In fact, each had essentially an identical finals record - out in the first week once, out in the grand final qualifier once, lost the GF once. Jones won 44% of his total Warriors games, Johnson won 45%.

Obviously there's a lot more to an individual player than team records, although marquee halfbacks tend to be judged heavily on team success. In terms of getting their teams across the line, SJ and SJ were about equal. Was Jones an outstanding player hamstrung by his team significantly more than Johnson was? Honestly that's not really how I saw it, or remember it.

Jones shoulda got that conversion..

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Jones shoulda got that conversion..

That sitter in the draw with the dogs in Wellington?

 

[Big Marn]

That sitter in the draw with the dogs in Wellington?

Yeah lol

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Disagree there, he’s our equal best 7 with Jones, can’t really split their records.

I think you can split them on consistency alone, the difference between Stacey’s best and worst was a lot smaller than Shaun’s. The 2001/2/3 was a consistently strong period for the Warriors, been more of 1 hit then a few misses during Shaun’s time

 

[Big Marn]

tie breaker. What did SJ ever do in a GF?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Honestly, I don't think you can split Shaun and Stacey. Such similar careers. I was leaning towards Shaun, but then I remember the down years, the attitude, the coasting, the ego. He definitely should have had the better career, but for a bunch of reasons didn't. But then he absolutely bossed quite a few Tests, more so probably than Stacey.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Steve Price swore about Swann post match as well lol

Ha! I remember this now. I went to that press conference, too - I remember I'd never seen Pricey so angry in my life. Wish that footage was available.

I was at that 2007 Eels game, sitting on the grass to the right of the posts (so in line with the left edge of the attacking team running towards the hill)....can anyone confirm that Swann's f**k up happened right in front of me?

Funny thing is, I don't have particularly strong memories of it. I wonder if ironically it might've stuck with me more if I was watching on TV (complete with outraged commentary etc). My main memory of that game is it was pretty underwhelming and I went there with a bad feeling about it because Vatuvei and Ropati were out and without them we really lacked attacking threat.

If you look at that 2007 team it really wasn't a great looking team on paper. I sort of wish I'd enjoyed the Cleary era more while it was happening, cos for a lot of it I just whinged about our boring style of footy and team full of Aussie battlers.

Yep, it was down the left channel heading towards the grass bank in the 'west stand'. Man, I have such vivid memories. Although I didn't remember it was 4-0 when Swann scored, I thought it was later to go ahead. Weird what the mind does over time.

Mate, I enjoyed the Cleary era massively. I really appreciated that this was a team that wasn't a bunch of superstars but knew how to play for each other and win. I was there every week for work, it was like being in one of these modern Netflix docos but you were there. Plugging away in winter with two reporters in the Mt Smart press box, which was sub zero, then when the finals rolled around, there were 100 people with microphones, including all the Johnny come lately radio stations asking squawking questions and fawning over Pricey.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Just imagine what the Cleary era could’ve turned into. We got the missing peice of the puzzle in SJ and made the GF…. I think we could’ve gone one better

 

[JJ]

Just imagine what the Cleary era could’ve turned into. We got the missing peice of the puzzle in SJ and made the GF…. I think we could’ve gone one better

I think it's safe to say we'd have been regular top 4 for a bit - getting rid of Ivan is probably the dumbest thing the Warriors ever did (I admit there is competition)

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I think it's safe to say we'd have been regular top 4 for a bit - getting rid of Ivan is probably the dumbest thing the Warriors ever did (I admit there is competition)

You’re right, there’s competition but that f**k up is the clear winner

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I think it's safe to say we'd have been regular top 4 for a bit - getting rid of Ivan is probably the dumbest thing the Warriors ever did (I admit there is competition)

Easily the dumbest. The statement about being the southern hemisphere's biggest club was up there, too, but the impact of Cleary leaving lasted for over a decade. Although if you believe Bellamy was sewn up for 2014 but Scurrah wouldn't allow him to finish his contract out, that trumps it. That would've been a two-fold benefit - we have the best coach in the game, and Melbourne hopefully fold into a bum club. Funny how both those two decisions were made by one f**kwit- Wayne Scurrah.

That would be a good top 10 - dumbest decisions in Warriors history. The decision to bring an extra man off the bench against Wests in 95 would be up there.