Team vs Dragons

[SpaceMonkey]

That is interesting, where'd you hear it?

Some random podcast that popped up on Facebook, can’t remember who it was exactly- if I see it again I’ll mention it. They were discussing how good Halasima is as well.

 

[Meth]

Some random podcast that popped up on Facebook, can’t remember who it was exactly- if I see it again I’ll mention it. They were discussing how good Halasima is as well.

probably Denan Kemp?

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

That is interesting, where'd you hear it?

Probably in my lounge.
The amount of times i yell at him rushing up

 

[Campion]

I think most likely RTS to centre, Webby seems pretty welded to the idea of CNK as our #1 fullback. Regardless it’s going to be a good thing that we have all three of them with our centre resources as stretched as they are. I don’t particularly want to see Capewell having to play full games in the backline.

Also saw an interesting point about Capewell’s high missed tackle count being partly down to his defensive role of coming up really fast and cutting off attacking players and herding them back towards our middle defenders.

This is interesting indeed. Something I'd never considered. Makes sense though.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

This is interesting indeed. Something I'd never considered. Makes sense though.

Does it (honest question)? In my mind, that makes our middles have to make more tackles, and isn't it better to set up a shape from the middle of the field? I'm sure I've listened to podcasts saying it's better to shut down sides on the flanks than play through the middle.

I'm not sure I'm buying that Capewell being the worst statistical defender is for a team strategy

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I'm with Meth with EIT in the mix.

01. CNK.
02. DWZ.
03. Pompey.
04. EIT.
05. RTS.
06. CHT.
07. Metcalf.
08. Ford.
09. Egan.
10. Barnett.
11. Halasima.
12. Capewell.
13. Clark.

14. Healy.
15. Vaimauga.
16. Niukore.
17. Laban.

Taine and Afoa to NSW Cup.

 

[Meth]

Does it (honest question)? In my mind, that makes our middles have to make more tackles, and isn't it better to set up a shape from the middle of the field? I'm sure I've listened to podcasts saying it's better to shut down sides on the flanks than play through the middle.

I'm not sure I'm buying that Capewell being the worst statistical defender is for a team strategy

I am no mastermind, but I suppose the name of the game is disruption of attacking structure? Rush the decision makers, stop shifts early, trust secondary defenders? To be fair, there have been times where I was extremely worried about our edges and they seemed to contain well.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I am no mastermind, but I suppose the name of the game is disruption of attacking structure? Rush the decision makers, stop shifts early, trust secondary defenders? To be fair, there have been times where I was extremely worried about our edges and they seemed to contain well.

I’d say that’s it - I think generally you’ve more lines of defence in the middle, get quick ball to the flanks and it’s very much 1 on 1.

 

[Blair]

Phil picked it first and mentioned it here again this week, but our game last year at Wollongong made it clear that there was something seriously wrong with our 2024 side (in painful contrast to 2023).

Basically, we collapsed. It was the dreadful Warriors of old. I'm confident that Webster has righted the ship.

 

[Big Marn]

Metcalfes cover defending is under rated. Hes made a couple of try saving tackles this season when the wings got stripped. Seems to know where to be in those situations a lot of the time

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Metcalfes cover defending is under rated. Hes made a couple of try saving tackles this season when the wings got stripped. Seems to know where to be in those situations a lot of the time

Plus he has serious gas, which is pretty impressive given his injury history .

 

[Blair]

Johnson's goal-kicking was always top-notch. We often forgot that when we critiqued his career. I'm mentioning it because Metcalf is coming up short in that department.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Johnson's goal-kicking was always top-notch. We often forgot that when we critiqued his career. I'm mentioning it because Metcalf is coming up short in that department.

Hmmm yeah you are right. Michael Witt was a limited player, but gee he was close to the best goal kicker I've ever seen in 30 years of following the NRL.

ChatGPT tells me it's Cleary on 84% (probably not quite current) at #1, with Witt at 6 on 80.88%.

I'll never forget 2007, when Witt kicked 62 out of 67 for 92.5%. They had a graphic on the back page of the Herald, showing exactly where his kicks were from and the few he'd missed. It was nuts. Remarkably, Michael Gordon kicked 57 out of 61 in 2009 for 93.44%. Probably why Penrith came 2nd in the regular season and made Matt Elliott look like a decent coach (he wasn't).

Metcalf, I think I heard on Levels, is 61%. Yes he kicked that clutch goal v the Broncos but he also butchered a few and was 2 from 5 that night until he came up trumps.

Pompey or TT should be our goal kicker but I presume Webby doesn't give it to them because neither of them are in our best XVII necessarily (although Pompey probably is our best left centre option).

 

[Penrose Warrior]

As a laugh, this is what I got when I asked Chat GPT what Metcalf's goal kicking percentage for 2025 is

As of the 2025 NRL season, Luke Metcalf has achieved a goal conversion rate of 100% for the New Zealand Warriors, successfully kicking 22 goals from 22 attempts across 8 appearances. Warriors

This flawless performance highlights his reliability as a goal kicker, contributing significantly to the Warriors' scoring efforts this season.

 

[hitro]

Plus he has serious gas, which is pretty impressive given his injury history .

I think he plays out towards the sideline when the team are defending so he's not running over from the centre of the park to save the day

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I think he plays out towards the sideline when the team are defending so he's not running over from the centre of the park to save the day

Yeah not so much to that point but what I'm saying is he still has some serious wheels, which is admirable given the injuries he's had to legs. SJ lost a lot of zip from that injury in 2015.

 

[Blair]

As a laugh, this is what I got when I asked Chat GPT what Metcalf's goal kicking percentage for 2025 is

As of the 2025 NRL season, Luke Metcalf has achieved a goal conversion rate of 100% for the New Zealand Warriors, successfully kicking 22 goals from 22 attempts across 8 appearances. Warriors

This flawless performance highlights his reliability as a goal kicker, contributing significantly to the Warriors' scoring efforts this season.

That sounds like propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party about one of its leaders. Or Trump on X about himself.

 

[nswarrior]

Healy out and TMM in the 17. Is Healy injured as he was great off the bench.

 

[Izz]

Healy out and TMM in the 17. Is Healy injured as he was great off the bench.

The update article on warriors.kiwi didn't mention anything about injury. Maybe Eddie Ieremia-Toeava to make his debut?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

The update article on warriors.kiwi didn't mention anything about injury. Maybe Eddie Ieremia-Toeava to make his debut?

Yeah I find that weird. It says RTS is injured, but not Healey (although doesn't say he isn't).

I think it would be a bit of a slap in the face for TMM to be named in the 17 then be omitted late two weeks in a row

Anyone got any insight as to why it might be TMM over Healey in that bench role? Healey seemed to bring something last week, albeit briefly