Team v Dolphins

[hitro]

 

[hitro]

I don't get it why SJ is picked over TMM. The last game sucked and his previous game was the disaster against Titans. The good games this season have been with TMM at halfback. Coach keeps going back to an A team he had in mind at the start of the year, loyalty is endearing I guess, but far out do we want to win? Also the SJ years are officially over let's go with what got to work with now and also what's the future. Give SJ a farewell at home against Bulldogs if we're already done (likely)

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I don't get it why SJ is picked over TMM. The last game sucked and his previous game was the disaster against Titans. The good games this season have been with TMM at halfback. Coach keeps going back to an A team he had in mind at the start of the year, loyalty is endearing I guess, but far out do we want to win? Also the SJ years are officially over let's go with what got to work with now and also what's the future. Give SJ a farewell at home against Bulldogs if we're already done (likely)

MV's stat in the other thread sums it up. It's actually the best, most revealing stat I've seen in a long time regarding SJ and non-SJ games.

 

[JJ]

Seems Webster made up his mind that CNK is #1 and SJ is #7, and nothing will shift that...

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Yep, not shifting, his mind is set.
Will be interesting to see what happens next year, what reviews will be in place post season.
But nothing exciting about the team named.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Not sure whether to call this team Webster:

- burying his head in the sand
- placing sentiment over sense
- giving up

Some combination of the above I guess

 

[Leber]

I get that Montoya is Injured and MTG was average last week, but surely theres another way to keep Kosi out of the team?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Seems Webster made up his mind that CNK is #1 and SJ is #7, and nothing will shift that...

Slightly concerning, really. I thought he'd showed a willingness to adapt mid-season, and now I don't think that.

Roger over the last five weeks: Centre, wing, fullback, wing, centre.

 

[Meth]

It would be weird for Webster to drop Johnson now, as he has shown not a hint of acceptance of the fact that the team is better off without him in the side in 2024. Why would he start this week of all weeks?

Would rather persevere with Graham-Taufa at this stage than bring in Kosi, but oh well

 

[JJ]

Slightly concerning, really. I thought he'd showed a willingness to adapt mid-season, and now I don't think that.

Roger over the last five weeks: Centre, wing, fullback, wing, centre.

Yeah, I don't think this level of intransigence is a good quality in a coach...

SJ is not the SJ of last year, but I guess there's always hope.

RTS just is a fullback, and imo regardless of the lost pace the best one we have, and will be better next year. CNK is a terrific fullback too, but surely he could be open to him playing centre?

Is what it is, clearly he's viewing RTS as some sort of fill in wherever there's a hole... and he's been underwhelming at centre, although not awful, but just looks better at fullback, and there.

Anyway, frustrating season in so many ways... (Deja vu all over again as Yogi Berra so eloquently put it)

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

tbh I don't mind the backline reshuffle (although agree you could swap CNK and RTS) because at least it shows a level of reactiveness and desperation. Having 2 inexperienced centres really got shown up last week and MGT for me hasn't been good over the last 2 weeks. Kosi isn't the man for the future but may be the lesser of 2 evils for a must win game right now.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Is what it is, clearly he's viewing RTS as some sort of fill in wherever there's a hole... and he's been underwhelming at centre, although not awful, but just looks better at fullback, and there.

Not doing RTS any favours by constantly shifting him either.

I mentioned in another post that he's literally played every outside back position on both sides of the field throughout this season. I cant think of anyone else in the comp that's been asked to do that, let alone done it without complaint.

I have a lot of admiration for Webby but between playing SJ injured, faffing about with RTS, and bizarre bench selections early in the season like carrying Pompey... I'm almost thinking the best recruitment decision the club can make next next year is installing an experienced assistant coach i.e. someone with head coach experience himself like Taylor at the Dogs.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Kosi FFS

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

re Johnsons selection.
Just my opinion but i think alpha male Robinson would be over ruling Webster on this.
They are close and he would want his mate to have a farewell tour in the teams last games in Brissy, Sydney and Auckland

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

I stopped reading at Kosi....

 

[Penrose Warrior]

re Johnsons selection.
Just my opinion but i think alpha male Robinson would be over ruling Webster on this.
They are close and he would want his mate to have a farewell tour in the teams last games in Brissy, Sydney and Auckland

Yeah, I can see this as an issue. I raised this a fair while ago, the issues that lie in the owner being close to certain players, Robinson's son in law is the social media guy, SJ is great mates with the social media guy (Logan Dodds) and Robinson's daughter, so it could get messy. I don't know if it is, I just know it could be.

Even if Robinson isn't expressly overruling it, I imagine there is a pressure hanging in the breeze.

 

[JJ]

Hard for a coach to function if the owner is indeed overreaching...

 

[hitro]

This is the most deflated I have felt about the Warriors ever, there's usually been a chance for a comeback whatever the situation but this is different. The team clearly plays better and wins this year with TMM at halfback, yet we're going into an Emporer's New Clothes phase where SJ is not only selected, the whole rest of the season is a victory lap for him even though we probably lose every game. I can't help feeling Shaun and that Dodds guy have already made the soc/med stuff that's going to ramp up every week from goat to GOAT!!!! irrespective of probably terrible results

 

[hitro]

On a positive note I am excited that Stacey Waaka is playing for Broncos Wahine this sunday 345 (nz) at centre

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

This is the most deflated I have felt about the Warriors ever, there's usually been a chance for a comeback whatever the situation but this is different. The team clearly plays better and wins this year with TMM at halfback, yet we're going into an Emporer's New Clothes phase where SJ is not only selected, the whole rest of the season is a victory lap for him even though we probably lose every game. I can't help feeling Shaun and that Dodds guy have already made the soc/med stuff that's going to ramp up every week from goat to GOAT!!!! irrespective of probably terrible results

If the decision to let SJ play the rest of the season is based on sentimentality, it's a mistake. If we truly want to honor him, our focus should be on making the finals. With only four games remaining—three away and one at home—the best way to show our respect would have been to save him for the Bulldogs home game. In the meantime, we should persevere with TMM/Metcalf or TMM/CHT to start building combinations for next season