Team v Raiders

[Meth]

1- Tuaupiki
2- Watene-Zelezniak
3- Berry
4- Tuivasa-Sheck
5- Montoya
6- Metcalf
7- Johnson
8- Fonua-Blake
9- Egan/Lussick
10- Niukore/Afoa
11- Barnett
12- Capewell
13- Harris

Res- Ale, Walker, Afoa/Tevaga, Lussick/Harris-Tavita

 

[Meth]

We're due a win. They're due a loss. Hopefully, we get our season underway.

 

[Meth]

Ford was good, as far as Ford's games go, but I just remain convinced that's he just not very good and I have no doubt that he'll be back to his regular game of making errors, conceding penalties and missing tackles on the line soon enough.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Same side as last week. We stayed in the fight in both rounds we lost.

Andrew Webster will never change people out of position as he has stated this from the get go.

He has told each player in their retropective positions who they are competing with for spots.

1 - Taine Tuaupiki. (#2 Fullback)
2 - DWZ. (#1 Winger)
3 - Rocco Berry. (#1 Centre)
4 - RTS. (#1 Centre)
5 - Marcelo Montoya. (Winger #1)
6 - Luke Metcalf. (#1 Five-Eighth)
7 - Shaun Johnson. (#1 Half-Back)
8 - AFB. (#1 Prop)
9 - Freddy Lussick. (#2 Hooker)
10 - Mitchell Barnett. (#1 Prop)
11 - Jackson Ford. (#1 Second Row)
12 - Kurt Capewell. (#1 Second Row)
13 - Tohu Harris. (#1 Lock)

14 - Dylan Walker. (#1 Utility)
15 - Bunty Afoa. (#1 Prop)
16 - Tom Ale. (#1 Prop)
17 - CHT. (#2 Utility)

18 - Adam Pompey (#2 Centre)

 

[Meth]

Andrew Webster will never change people out of position as he has stated this from the get go.

He has told each player in their retropective positions who they are competing with for spots.

Ok, well, I was listing the side I would pick, not the side Webster will pick.

But anyway, what are you referring to here? And who did I pick out of position?

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

I reckon the guy whose position should be most under threat is Montoya. He's been an admirable overachiever for us but he's just not very good.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I reckon the guy whose position should be most under threat is Montoya. He's been an admirable overachiever for us but he's just not very good.

Who do we have that can supplant him though? RTS and Ali aren’t wingers, and is Kosi any better? I rate Montoya for his mongrel, he does everything at 110%.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Who do we have that can supplant him though? RTS and Ali aren’t wingers, and is Kosi any better? I rate Montoya for his mongrel, he does everything at 110%.

I'm not even a fan of Kosi really but I think he's good enough to be putting heat on Montoya's position. Both are about the same level of player imo so it's not a big deal, I just don't think Montoya is good enough to get a free ride without his position ever being questioned (bit like Pompey in recent seasons I guess).

It's a shame actually that Kosi is out of sight out of mind, because he was playing pretty well in late 2022 and early 2023 before he got injured.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

To elaborate a bit on that, Montoya's main job/attribute is probably his carries early in the set. I'd say that Kosi plays exactly the same role, and in theory if not in practice should actually be better at it. Montoya literally has the "runs" on the board though.

The big knock on Kosi was that he was a bit "accident prone" in the other aspects of his game, so maybe the "old head" Montoya is preferable... but honestly Montoya is pretty poor in terms of skill set anyway and not at all what I would call solid or reliable. Not great hands, not a great finisher, not great under the high ball...

 

[Meth]

I reckon the guy whose position should be most under threat is Montoya. He's been an admirable overachiever for us but he's just not very good.

yes, I agree with this. Overachiever prior to last year and just adequate plod last year. I actually thought he was pretty good on the weekend, as far as what he is capable of.
But he definitely has a low ceiling.

Kosi, if totally fit, would be good.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

To elaborate a bit on that, Montoya's main job/attribute is probably his carries early in the set. I'd say that Kosi plays exactly the same role, and in theory if not in practice should actually be better at it. Montoya literally has the "runs" on the board though.

The big knock on Kosi was that he was a bit "accident prone" in the other aspects of his game, so maybe the "old head" Montoya is preferable... but honestly Montoya is pretty poor in terms of skill set anyway and not at all what I would call solid or reliable. Not great hands, not a great finisher, not great under the high ball...

The big knock was he gave up in the Anzac game when we had 70 put on us. He was called out by the Coach and team mates for it as well.

Good riddence we havent seen that pea heart. Rather play with 12 than have someone who is known not to have a dig

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Ok, well, I was listing the side I would pick, not the side Webster will pick.

But anyway, what are you referring to here? And who did I pick out of position?

I didn't intend to single you out with my earlier comment. Discussing team lists can be enjoyable in general. Regarding your specific team, you listed Barnett at Second Row. Webby has shifted him to a Prop Forward position due to our strong second row depth.

You're right though it's your team, not necessarily what Webby would select, and that's perfectly fine. When we share our team choices, it's natural for people to offer their opinions, whether in agreement or disagreement, and I'm comfortable if anyone had me up on my list lol

 

[Meth]

I didn't intend to single you out with my earlier comment. Discussing team lists can be enjoyable in general. Regarding your specific team, you listed Barnett at Second Row. Webby has shifted him to a Prop Forward position due to our strong second row depth.

You're right though it's your team, not necessarily what Webby would select, and that's perfectly fine. When we share our team choices, it's natural for people to offer their opinions, whether in agreement or disagreement, and I'm comfortable if anyone had me up on my list lol

right- but where is the Webster “I won’t play people out of position / people know their positions and who they’ll competing with” line coming from. I mean, Barnett is a second rower as much as he is a middle, but I just haven’t seen that news.

We’re short a top shelf middle and that’s important. But how many of our resources can we divert there? Like, Barnett, Niukore, Harris. Now we are left with Ford and Capewell, with neither looking very good right now.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

The big knock was he gave up in the Anzac game when we had 70 put on us. He was called out by the Coach and team mates for it as well.

Good riddence we havent seen that pea heart. Rather play with 12 than have someone who is known not to have a dig

But we did see him. The best part of his career was late 2022/early 2023 after he was brought back into the team months after that ANZAC game and played 17 consecutive games (scoring 12 tries) before getting injured last year. Not sure why we’re now bringing up the ANZAC game 2 years later?

 

[JJ]

good news imo


https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/18/playmaker-luke-metcalf-extends-contract-at-warriors/

 

[Blair]

I made a comment in the game-day thread that Roger might benefit from a run or two in NSW Cup. But, as it is, he's got more to offer in attack than Pompey.

But defence? Pompey's NRL-hardened and would hit the ground running. He often shut down his opposite number (including some big names) and can kick goals to a high standard.

 

[Meth]

The big knock was he gave up in the Anzac game when we had 70 put on us. He was called out by the Coach and team mates for it as well.

Good riddence we havent seen that pea heart. Rather play with 12 than have someone who is known not to have a dig

By that logic, we'd have persisted with Cooper Vuna after Vatuvei had his clanger versus Parra.

ok ok I know that this isn't directly comparable. But I guess what I'm saying is that you can't write a bloke off after one game. From memory, he came back and played well against the Storm last year.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

By that logic, we'd have persisted with Cooper Vuna after Vatuvei had his clanger versus Parra.

ok ok I know that this isn't directly comparable. But I guess what I'm saying is that you can't write a bloke off after one game. From memory, he came back and played well against the Storm last year.

Scored a hat-trick in his next game against them (which was 2 years ago)

 

[Meth]

Yeah, I say 'from memory', but I was at that game and remember it vividly.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

right- but where is the Webster “I won’t play people out of position / people know their positions and who they’ll competing with” line coming from. I mean, Barnett is a second rower as much as he is a middle, but I just haven’t seen that news.

We’re short a top shelf middle and that’s important. But how many of our resources can we divert there? Like, Barnett, Niukore, Harris. Now we are left with Ford and Capewell, with neither looking very good right now.

Webster has given clear communication who and what positions each player are vying for. For example RTS is a centre and is competing against the likes of Pompey and co. He will not get full back if Tuaupiki and Charnze are available. The same with Barnett. He will stay as a Prop as hes been playing that the past year and a bit. It's quite clear from Webster track record that he doesn't swap people out of position much. There are exceptions such as RTS moving to FB temporarily when Taine got HIA but hes still our centre.