Team v Tigers

[Thatwasnthighref]

well my bold take is its Websters first misstep of the season. How TT cant make the 19 beggars belief.
Webster is just too loyal to players. CNK is solid but hes slow. Theres no x factor.
Also, why the rush to bring Metcalf back?

Yea man, agree on all points. CHT didnt put a foot wrong in two big games v Roosters and Raiders, likewise TT in his last two games, but both now riding the bench and may not get any minutes at all. Big calls… hopefully it pays off.

 

[nswarrior]

Game SOLD OUT - Go Warriors!!!

 

[Grizzman]

Yea man, agree on all points. CHT didnt put a foot wrong in two big games v Roosters and Raiders, likewise TT in his last two games, but both now riding the bench and may not get any minutes at all. Big calls… hopefully it pays off.

That was also my first thought. Tough on both those guys. Maybe gameday will be different?

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

That was also my first thought. Tough on both those guys. Maybe gameday will be different?

True, still early. Good spot to be in when you’re debating the exclusion of in-form players though isn’t it.

 

[Meth]

This is definitely a banana skin game

 

[JJ]

I don’t get CNK, he tries hard but yeah… third best 1 in the squad imo

harsh on CHT tbh…

don’t see the banana skin here, if we’re legit this is 15+

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I don’t get CNK, he tries hard but yeah… third best 1 in the squad imo

harsh on CHT tbh…

don’t see the banana skin here, if we’re legit this is 15+

Definitely see a good hiding coming up if we stick to our system. Hopefully Metcalf doesn't affect the rhythm of the team.

 

[nswarrior]

I don’t get CNK, he tries hard but yeah… third best 1 in the squad imo

harsh on CHT tbh…

don’t see the banana skin here, if we’re legit this is 15+

If we are legit we should win this but likely to be some rustiness on the halves with a new pairing and Luke only playing after being out for so long. I would be happy with a 12 point plus win

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Metcalf still to be confirmed at training/hit out.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

So this means Taine is no chance at all to play??

Not no chance, but it gets chopped down to 19 on game day, right?

The thing for me with tight-knit teams is that you can't necessarily go chopping and changing your side - it's not that simple. Change erodes confidence and loyalty within the team. It's not like us swapping out our fantasy team week in, week out. Any change Webby makes has to be balanced with what is best for the overall environment. He doesn't want a reputation of the coach who arrows any senior player as they reach their twilight years, but also he doesn't want the reputation of holding onto them too long.

I think on balance yeah, TT is now the best option because his defense has come on in leaps and bounds. But don't ignore the fact Charnze was great in round 1, and he obviously adds a lot to that side behind the ball. It is disappointing we lose TT's attacking ability, and he made some great defensive moves last week.

I'd pick TT, if it was my team. But I might not if I was actually in Webby's shoes from Sunday to Saturday.

Webby does need to think about whether that loyalty helps or hinders him winning a premiership.

 

[sup42]

Metcalf still to be confirmed at training/hit out.

Yeah that is right, it is standard for all players on every return in the NRL.

Metcalf is not being rushed back.

Every time a Warriors star is ready for return, fans get anxious and stress about their readiness.

We probably have the best medical unit in the NRL.

The reason I say that is the medical side relates to my working life, and so sports medicine has always held a geeky interest for me.

Pre Websters era I was very mistrustful of the Warriors medicos (especially pre HIA era) because I would see lots of very poor practices almost weekly from our medics during games. Things like letting blokes with suspected broken legs or major joint injury limp off the field un assisted, or worse - sprayed with Holy water and allowed to play on, when to my trained eye they should be off. The worst I saw was Sam Tomkins being picked up and slammed with maximum force and his head bouncing off hard Australian turf. He lay there with neck pain and stunned. Ruben Wiki goes over with a water bottle and is very obviously telling him to get up and get on with it. Then Wiki does the Warriors version of a medical check (can you imagine what that sounded like? "Bro what's my name? What? Ruby? close enough"

If you look at the Warriors era of success it is grounded in elite injury management, especially chronic injury in the case of Metcalf and Mitch Barnett.

Those two, and several others have beaten the recovery estimates on multiple occasions, that is no fluke

There is no set of legs this medical team know better than Luke Metcalf's, they have repaired them time and again and not once has that shown any signs that he was brought back too early.

They also repaired Barnett's Chronic neck injuries to the point he makes SOO on career best physical performance.

I won't bore people with the hard science that goes into Metcalf's return to play, but there is one metric which is the gold standard for early return to play - and that is increased performance above pre injury baseline.

How can you leave a bloke out because of your anxiety when they are hitting medical targets further than their previous performance?

Yes it is true that some clubs when the finals or the coaches job is on the line -unscrupulously push players back in - the Warriors are not in that position and have a clear track record in this era of medical success of being spotless in that regard.

 

[ozenzud]

I was going to post that the Team V whoever, every week, was the most boring thread ever. Because we could all pick what Webby was going to do. There was only ever one controversial call every now and then. This week, 'boom' its all on!

He has to make calls. Thats his job. Absolutely huge call with TT I think. I've loved what TT has been doing of late, but I'm also a big fan of CNK as he plays with all heart and commitment.

Like a few above, I am very worried about too many cooks with Boyd and Metcalf. Hopefully Metcalf leaves Boyd running the show.

Whats going to happen when Capewell back? TSS was close to best forward on ground in trials and so on. He is missing out. Its an embarrashment of riches ATM.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Not no chance, but it gets chopped down to 19 on game day, right?

The thing for me with tight-knit teams is that you can't necessarily go chopping and changing your side - it's not that simple. Change erodes confidence and loyalty within the team. It's not like us swapping out our fantasy team week in, week out. Any change Webby makes has to be balanced with what is best for the overall environment. He doesn't want a reputation of the coach who arrows any senior player as they reach their twilight years, but also he doesn't want the reputation of holding onto them too long.

I think on balance yeah, TT is now the best option because his defense has come on in leaps and bounds. But don't ignore the fact Charnze was great in round 1, and he obviously adds a lot to that side behind the ball. It is disappointing we lose TT's attacking ability, and he made some great defensive moves last week.

I'd pick TT, if it was my team. But I might not if I was actually in Webby's shoes from Sunday to Saturday.

Webby does need to think about whether that loyalty helps or hinders him winning a premiership.

Yea maintaining culture is a key one at times like this isnt it. Leaving out in-form players is a nice problem to have results wise, but it does come with a risk of alienating those players. Webster's man management skills may be tested.

Good news for TT is he's contracted to '28 which hopefully gives him comfort in his long term future with the club, even if he feels like he's missing out in the short term. Dunno what they're planning for CHT though. Big improver last couple years but yet to be extended... someone will be sniffing.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Game SOLD OUT - Go Warriors!!!

Let's hope the weather does its part.

 

[Big Marn]

someone will be sniffing.

im sure theres a ton of agents sniffing around at the moment. At least with our homegrowns, the player cant play the compassionate grounds card.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

im sure theres a ton of agents sniffing around at the moment. At least with our homegrowns, the player cant play the compassionate grounds card.

Ha yea thats true... although it wouldnt apply to Chanel anyway given he's a free agent.

Even back when Tohu was playing, I thought Chanel could one day be a 13 if he put on some extra size. Strong defender, good hands, could become a very good link man through the middle. But that's now unlikely with Clark since joining.

 

[Big Marn]

Ha yea thats true... although it wouldnt apply to Chanel anyway given he's a free agent.

Even back when Tohu was playing, I thought Chanel could one day be a 13 if he put on some extra size. Strong defender, good hands, could become a very good link man through the middle. But that's now unlikely with Clark since joining.

If he packed on 6kgs he would have the same measurables as Cameron Murray. Both are 6feet tall but Murray weighs 96kgs

 

[Matua]

Ha yea thats true... although it wouldnt apply to Chanel anyway given he's a free agent.

Even back when Tohu was playing, I thought Chanel could one day be a 13 if he put on some extra size. Strong defender, good hands, could become a very good link man through the middle. But that's now unlikely with Clark since joining.

Me too, I'm always seeing the next Jim Dymock in halves who I think could play lock. Although, I also think CNK would go ok there too as a workrate player to get him out of the 1 position.

But as you note, Clark has got a lock (pun very much intended) on the spot.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Dont get me wrong, I love Charnze.
But
When Chanel got knocked out Taine changed the game v the Raiders and he was exceptional against the Knights. Him and Chanrze are very much the same and they both take the crucial tackle 4 hitups when we are in our own half.
If i was Webster this week I would go with Taine at 1, Charnze at 3 and Ali on the extended bench

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yea maintaining culture is a key one at times like this isnt it. Leaving out in-form players is a nice problem to have results wise, but it does come with a risk of alienating those players. Webster's man management skills may be tested.

Good news for TT is he's contracted to '28 which hopefully gives him comfort in his long term future with the club, even if he feels like he's missing out in the short term. Dunno what they're planning for CHT though. Big improver last couple years but yet to be extended... someone will be sniffing.

Yeah maintaining culture is massive. This is their job - they can't pick and drop like those of us without skin in the game would.

I back Webby's decision on fullback for now, but 2027 has to be TT's time, if not sooner.