Team v Dolphins

[JJ]

during his time at Parra he was as threatening as Nikora at running an outside-in line within the 10

Not how I recall it, Nikora is a different level

 

[Meth]

That was me.

Jackson Ford is a better player than Marata, right now. He offers so much more. OK, they're not in the same position or similar players, I get that. But Jackson can put up 160m and 45 tackles, and cop a lot of blame while Marata catches a cold on the right edge and mostly avoids dissection

you’d expect me to disagree, but I’ll just say again that Ford gets afforded the opportunity to do that and I don’t think Niukore gets afforded the opportunity to put all of his ability in the shop front window.

 

[hitro]

 

[Izz]

JFH out for at least two weeks with a calf injury, CHT also out with a calf issue. I can't see both TT and Lussick on the bench (imagine both Lussick and Ford on as middles at the same time lol), personally, my gut is that EIT will debut this week. Another week of Capewell in the centres.

We've suddenly got massive injury worries...

Dolphins have to be red hot favourites, but I'm sure we'll have a good dig

EDIT: Maybe Afoa comes in for Lussick? Also, Ale can't even make an extended bench (I'm assuming he's not injured) - man has he fallen so far out of favour

 

[Leber]

Afoa will have to come in for Tuaupiki.

Man what a dogs breakfast of a team.

 

[hitro]

Team list on thursday will be interesting, surely they need Afoa, maybe instead of Lussick?

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Business end of the season and our entire front row and halves all out injured. Great.

A win here would have to be considered a clear upset. The Dolphins have injury woes too but in the forwards, so it’s basically two pretty mediocre packs and then a plodding backline vs an elite backline.

Feel like the discussion about Niukore is timely because we need our pack to really play above itself, Niukore running 100m+ would be a start.

 

[JJ]

Not ideal at all… am interested to see how Healey goes, but JFH and Egan are huge losses

 

[JJ]

Tuaupiki makes no sense unless there’s another injury in the backs? Or he’s going to play halves or hooker…

 

[TheDMC]

It has all rapidly gone to custard! Ah, the Warriors. Rays of sunshine followed by giant turds all over the place.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Bloody hell.

Well on the bright side, we get to see what Demetric, Healy and TMM can do as starters. Lots of people have been pushing for that and now they get a crack.

And now there’s bugger all expectations so we’ll probably win too.

 

[Big Marn]

cnk to cover 6
rts to cover centre and fb
taine to cover fb and wing
lussick to cover hooker

losing CHT and Egan for the same game caused a huge headache.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

These games where I expect us to get wiped are generally the ones we do better in, then when I expect us to win (Panthers, Titans, almost Knights) we don't.

But I do genuinely expect we'll get 40 on us this week

 

[Philip_Smith007]

It's not looking pretty.
FMD.
2 losses by us and 2 wins by Panthers and they take 4th spot.

 

[ozenzud]

Yep....the season was great while it lasted. Hanging onto the 8 from here will be an achievement....but look Warriors can sometimes go well when unexpected.

 

[Grizzman]

I've been saying for some time .. not here though ... that 4th was likely to be our peak this year and that we were already overachieving with the squad we had. I didn't foresee quite the injury toll to key players like we've had so I hope we can hang in there. It's become a fantastic year for actually seeing and developing new talent at FG level with Halasima, Laban, Vaimauga, SSS and Healey. The whole reserve grade team is knocking on the door as well!

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, it's definitely not over yet and it's not doom and gloom.

Barnett was such a huge, HUGE loss. He might be nigh-on the best prop in the game in an all-round sense of professionalism, mana, ability, work rate etc.

And without Metcalf, we just don't have any pace and ability to hurt teams with flair.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

This same fixture last year we won with probably the most injury-ravaged team we put out all season FWIW

 

[Scott]

Apparently TT training at fullback yesterday with CNK at right centre.

No doubt we are up against it on Friday. More than capable though..

 

[Meth]

Apparently TT training at fullback yesterday with CNK at right centre.

No doubt we are up against it on Friday. More than capable though..

that would be so much better. Capewell to second row and Niukore to the middle