We will never win an NRL title until

[Iron Lion]

Top 4 teams Like manly, Roosters, bulldogs and the Storm have for years been all about the % plays time and time again, not giving away penalties late in sets, knowing what lines to run, desperation to race back into line, not over rushing plays either etc. I have seem marked improvements in our structures with McFadden but I have seen certain individuals not suited to their positions and letting us down. Laumape is wasted on the wing, he can make a fist of it but it is not his go.

McFadden does not have the depth of troops on board to win it this year and I am certain the warriors are in serious trouble with our centre depth. They should get Dean bell on the first plane to the UK and find us a centre immediately or raid the Union ITM cup ranks where they are littered with outstanding talent.

There is no solution there for next season. The warriors surely must be praying Matai gets a release. Kata is so not ready maturity wise and who else is left ? Allwood ? He is not remotely rated by the raiders fans either. There is nobody in the jnrs who will step up in the next 2 years that I see.

Id throw money at Super Rugby centres like Robbie Fruean, Peter Ahki or Francis Sali - These guys are not going to be in the world cup picture so they coud enjoy a good pay day at the Warriors. I work in NZ Rugby Circles and I know Peter Ahki is highly rated by more than a few judges but he wont push pass Fekitoa, Nonu, Smith and Bill Williams next year. So make a play at him! . Fruean just signed for Hawkes Bay so he is looking at fresh opportunities.

Most unpopular call here but I would bring Jarrod Tua into the team next week and put Manu on the Bench. Tua looks every part a systematic winger who does eveything right including reading a game, and I think is quite underrated.

I would spell Bukuya or Rapira to the NSW Cup. Neither really offering a lot of impact or difference, only Bukuya gives us longer spells. I think Rapiras stock keep getting lower and lower. Another name precious to Warriors supporters but he would be one of the first players id drop from the squad. Id assume he gets a decent salary and for my mind he offers very little on field value. I would upgrade Vete and Papalli and tell them there is a full time spot there for next season to be earnt.

Lolohea looks so much like Robbie Paul, he needs to be our no6 next year and get more game time this year. Move the Chad to number 9, he will suit the running and passing game we need to get a role on, friend is a great servant but we need better at the passing line. Halvili is looking pretty average in NSW, not sure he will kick on either - another Masada Iosefa I reckon.

 

[Rich102]

Huge fan of Manu, but I hope his days on the wing are numbered. Too many crucial mistakes. (I think he cost us the game yesterday too).


Love to see him in Mateos spot...

Absolutely. I don't see anyone saying that Mateo not playing cost us the game.

 

[JJ]

Absolutely. I don't see anyone saying that Mateo not playing cost us the game.

Just for you - I think Mateo being out was the reason we lost!


Seriously, the reason we lost, is MANLY ARE BETTER THAN US AT THE MOMENT. They were ordinary by their standards, but soaked up what we threw at them early, and then just had enough to stay one step ahead... and 9 times out of 10, even with Johnson and Mateo, I reckon that would be the case

 

[Iron Lion]

id throw Rapira's and Gubb's money at Martin Kennedy to get him over here.

Also why did Matagi lose his effectiveness as soon as he signed his new deal ? lol

 

[reykaine]

Top 4 teams Like manly, Roosters, bulldogs and the Storm have for years been all about the % plays time and time again, not giving away penalties late in sets, knowing what lines to run, desperation to race back into line, not over rushing plays either etc. I have seem marked improvements in our structures with McFadden but I have seen certain individuals not suited to their positions and letting us down. Laumape is wasted on the wing, he can make a fist of it but it is not his go.

McFadden does not have the depth of troops on board to win it this year and I am certain the warriors are in serious trouble with our centre depth. They should get Dean bell on the first plane to the UK and find us a centre immediately or raid the Union ITM cup ranks where they are littered with outstanding talent.

There is no solution there for next season. The warriors surely must be praying Matai gets a release. Kata is so not ready maturity wise and who else is left ? Allwood ? He is not remotely rated by the raiders fans either. There is nobody in the jnrs who will step up in the next 2 years that I see.

Id throw money at Super Rugby centres like Robbie Fruean, Peter Ahki or Francis Sali - These guys are not going to be in the world cup picture so they coud enjoy a good pay day at the Warriors. I work in NZ Rugby Circles and I know Peter Ahki is highly rated by more than a few judges but he wont push pass Fekitoa, Nonu, Smith and Bill Williams next year. So make a play at him! . Fruean just signed for Hawkes Bay so he is looking at fresh opportunities.

Most unpopular call here but I would bring Jarrod Tua into the team next week and put Manu on the Bench. Tua looks every part a systematic winger who does eveything right including reading a game, and I think is quite underrated.

I would spell Bukuya or Rapira to the NSW Cup. Neither really offering a lot of impact or difference, only Bukuya gives us longer spells. I think Rapiras stock keep getting lower and lower. Another name precious to Warriors supporters but he would be one of the first players id drop from the squad. Id assume he gets a decent salary and for my mind he offers very little on field value. I would upgrade Vete and Papalli and tell them there is a full time spot there for next season to be earnt.

Lolohea looks so much like Robbie Paul, he needs to be our no6 next year and get more game time this year. Move the Chad to number 9, he will suit the running and passing game we need to get a role on, friend is a great servant but we need better at the passing line. Halvili is looking pretty average in NSW, not sure he will kick on either - another Masada Iosefa I reckon.

a) the super league is not where we are going to find talent for the nrl. Look at Tompkins. He was supposedly the best player from there and he has barely raised a ripple over here. I would say if you want to get somebody from the Super League, get a prop. NRL clubs have had a lot of success with UK Props. eg Kevin Ward (1987 premiership winner), Adrian Morley (another premiership winner), Sam Burgess, James Graham. And there are names going back further than that that I cant remember.

b) We have thrown money at Union centres before and they generally cant adapt to the game. Craig Innes is a notable exception. Schuster didn't do much, nor did Mark Ellis. Wing is the best place to introduce a Union player to the game and he better be a great goal kicker. Eg Darryl Halligan
Notice how they don't play SBW at centre in the NRL but he does in union.

c) I think you are being really harsh on Rapira and Bukuya as they were both doing ok prior to their enforced breaks. I thought Rapira was bending the line back pretty good in particular. I have actually been a critic of Rapira this year but I can see we don't have the stocks to replace him anytime soon. Look at the disaster Paasi was the other night. And yes Matagi is not a starting prop. Matulino to second row was a good idea from Cappy but we don't have the depth at Prop to live with these top 4 teams.

 

[vvvrulz]

I would spell Bukuya or Rapira to the NSW Cup. Neither really offering a lot of impact or difference, only Bukuya gives us longer spells. I think Rapiras stock keep getting lower and lower. .

Now I'm convinced you don't actually watch any games.

 

[ozbash]

Seriously, the reason we lost, is MANLY ARE BETTER THAN US AT THE MOMENT. They were ordinary by their standards, but soaked up what we threw at them early, and then just had enough to stay one step ahead... and 9 times out of 10, even with Johnson and Mateo, I reckon that would be the case

the ladder agrees with you.

that game was there for us to win though,,, as soon as Manu knocked on in the playtheball, the heads dropped and Many ended up 2 points better off than when they started.

Manly are a very good team, so are we.

 

[ozbash]

Lolohea looks so much like Robbie Paul, he needs to be our no6 next year and get more game time this year. Move the Chad to number 9, he will suit the running and passing game we need to get a role on, friend is a great servant but we need better at the passing line. Halvili is looking pretty average in NSW, not sure he will kick on either - another Masada Iosefa I reckon.

yes

 

[JJ]

id throw Rapira's and Gubb's money at Martin Kennedy to get him over here.

you having a laugh?

 

[Iron Lion]

Now I'm convinced you don't actually watch any games.

You my friend stand for average/mediocrity

 

[Iron Lion]

you having a laugh?

Angry big bodied man struggling under Griffin, stood out above our boys 2 weekends back. So much potential and would probably come at a good price.

No laugh at all - A value buy

 

[jaseg]

Angry big bodied man struggling under Griffin, stood out above our boys 2 weekends back. So much potential and would probably come at a good price.

No laugh at all - A value buy

Kennedy is struggling under Griffin. Bennett is the coach there next year, and he loves a good no-nonsense prop. I don't see him leaving the Broncos. What's more, he's on contract for what I understand to be quite a large sum of money right now.. so while the Broncos may cover a part of that, he will not come cheap. Definitely NOT a value option. And who's to say he even regains top form here? All this is of course before even acknowledging that he would likely prefer to stay in Australia and wouldn't be short of potential destinations in the NRL. (oh, and he really didn't stand up above any of our props two weekends ago - but their other front rowers did)

Hannant is IMO a better player, and I believe off contract - but all the rest of the above still apply to him, and his history suggests (more so than Kennedy) that he would not move to New Zealand.

We should have really gone in hard for Moa and/or J.Brom early in the year. Aside from that, making the most of our current propping stocks while Lisone is readied for what promises to be a very good NRL career is about the best we might be able to do.

 

[Drzoidberg]

Manu wins us more than anybody Dickhead!

Haha emotional much. Oh how boring life would be if we all had the same opinion, we wouldnt be called choice names like dickhead for one. Sorry for saying anything bad about dear ol Manu.

Seriously I love manu but after how many years and he still makes poor errors that put us under pressure game after game. There simple mistakes too, not catching the ball off his feet or dropping a miracle pass. Its in the tackle, a simple catch from a pass or fumbling the play the ball. Momentum is a huge part of the game.

What i cant understand is how he can catch the almost uncatchable ball but fumbles the simple ones.

 

[Drzoidberg]

that game was there for us to win though,,, as soon as Manu knocked on in the playtheball, the heads dropped and Many ended up 2 points better off than when they started.

Manly are a very good team, so are we.

Too right ozzy, would shouldve had them.

 

[Iron Lion]

Kennedy is struggling under Griffin. Bennett is the coach there next year, and he loves a good no-nonsense prop. I don't see him leaving the Broncos. What's more, he's on contract for what I understand to be quite a large sum of money right now.. so while the Broncos may cover a part of that, he will not come cheap. Definitely NOT a value option. And who's to say he even regains top form here? All this is of course before even acknowledging that he would likely prefer to stay in Australia and wouldn't be short of potential destinations in the NRL. (oh, and he really didn't stand up above any of our props two weekends ago - but their other front rowers did)

Hannant is IMO a better player, and I believe off contract - but all the rest of the above still apply to him, and his history suggests (more so than Kennedy) that he would not move to New Zealand.

We should have really gone in hard for Moa and/or J.Brom early in the year. Aside from that, making the most of our current propping stocks while Lisone is readied for what promises to be a very good NRL career is about the best we might be able to do.

Seeing Lisone run around and knowing he is signed to the Warriors puts a smile on my face. In many ways a more balanced longer minute playing Iafeta Paleaaesina. Hope they take very good care of him

 

[Warrior@Heart]

I'd just like to say I don't hate Manu, I actually love Manu, in his prime he was probably the best winger the clubs ever had, best finisher the club has ever had and probably the biggest character the club has ever had. But I also think that people underestimate the impact he will have off the bench. I honestly think he can be the most damaging impact foward we have ever had. He certainly would be one of the most mobile and he'd be fit enough to defend in the middle too. I don't want him off the wing because I feel he's costing us too many games, I want him in the fowards because I feel he will serve the team better. I can also live with his errors in the middle half of games. He could still be a target for the mid-field bomb too, imagine Manu charging down the middle of the field, ready to terrorise opposing fullbacks. His defensive positioning has been quite solid this year but I think it was his lateral quickness that is his biggest weakness on the wing. I'd prefer Manu as an excellent impact foward as opposed to an average winger. But that's just me, obviously other have different opinions.

 

[Iron Lion]

I'd just like to say I don't hate Manu, I actually love Manu, in his prime he was probably the best winger the clubs ever had, best finisher the club has ever had and probably the biggest character the club has ever had. But I also think that people underestimate the impact he will have off the bench. I honestly think he can be the most damaging impact foward we have ever had. He certainly would be one of the most mobile and he'd be fit enough to defend in the middle too. I don't want him off the wing because I feel he's costing us too many games, I want him in the fowards because I feel he will serve the team better. I can also live with his errors in the middle half of games. He could still be a target for the mid-field bomb too, imagine Manu charging down the middle of the field, ready to terrorise opposing fullbacks. His defensive positioning has been quite solid this year but I think it was his lateral quickness that is his biggest weakness on the wing. I'd prefer Manu as an excellent impact foward as opposed to an average winger. But that's just me, obviously other have different opinions.

I feel the same as you, Vatuvei and Meli are our best wingers ever. But I believe he can be a premiership Prop and no way is it to late for him to make the move. From what I hear he actually wants it to happen also.

Manu is and always will be a favorite son, he will go to another level in the pack a level he cant get to now on the wing.

 

[sup42]

Hurrell played in the forwards V the Cows and off the bench he was one of our best forwards.

Manu can tackle people coming straight at him. His lateral movement to tackle is not far off Martels. Give him time in the middle I'm sure he will be fine.

Manu is the best hit up player in the entire team.

He would not let in as many tries through the middle as he does out wide.

Hoffman is a early hit up specialist.

Fusitua got dropped last week, Vatupies will not be dropped till he retires.

Brett Morris /Nightingale type wings > Manu , Radradra

 

[Auckland4ever]

Vatuvei averages 12.6 runs and just over 1.5 errors per game, so about 1 error within every 8.4 carries. Close to the worst in the NRL, difference is players with similar error rates aren't on substantial contracts. According to a LeagueWeek article published earlier in the year the only who posted worse was Luke Burgess who had averaged an error once every 8 carries. Unsure whether some other players have blown out recently but Manu would be the most high profile error riddled player.

What is the breakdown of those errors? Are they only errors per carry, or do they include things like contesting bombs? The stats I've seen for this season have Manu at 20 errors over 17 games, 220 runs,including 111 hitups. If we're going down the stats route, for just under a quarter of those 17 games he made no errors at all. For 11 out of those 17 games, he made one error or less (looking at NRL.com - no idea if totally accurate). Manly are doing OK with Hiku, who has 4 more errors and 15 more missed tackles against his name. And 84 fewer hitups.