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Wannabe Geek
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#3395845 21-Jul-2025 14:13

So glad we signed Leka long term. Some rough moments for Boyd but he was still stepping up to take the drop goals. He had some nice kicks to DWZ that should have resulted in at least 1 try.

MikeFly

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#3395927 21-Jul-2025 16:42

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_Knights

First paragraph

TeaLeaf

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#3395938 21-Jul-2025 17:28

maoriboy:

I like the look of the team with Tan-wah Boyd directing the play and I feel like it's something we have missed this season. His kicking in general is definitely a step up as well. Definitely a win that was needed against an unpredictably dangerous Tigers team.

Yep, I think some ppl on NRL forums are missing the point with Boyd, simply because he missed two drop goals under intense pressure, the first one was half a cm off the foot wrong going just wide, the second was a monster 2 point drop goal attempt.

He kicked 4/5 conversions/penalties, some of which were not that easy but never looked like missing. The only one he missed and commentary pointed out was the one in front from 35m, which he would not practise, ironically prob the only one Metcalf would have kicked. Minimum imo 4-6 points he added over Metcalf. Last week he was brilliant.

I love his running game, he is not shy of getting hit, he runs AT the line diagonally, drawing in 2-3 players, at the last second he shoots a lazer no look pass which so far has not looked close to missing, its adding a lot of shape/depth to our backline offensive running game, something we have also been missing.

And he does have a nice general play and offensive chip/bomb kicks as well. Ideally you would have Metcalf at 5/8th, but he doesnt take the line on enough for me, its his pace that is useful, I just wonder if putting him on the wing and playing RTS/Berry in Centre. Either way next year is going to be tough to retain places with the guys stepping up from NSW cup taking their opportunities. CHT has been the form running half this year putting people over the line or into line breaks, handy with his defense too. Too many options for Webbie next year.

Boyd has brought the form from NSW Cup back to 1st grade after Titans let him go, but to be honest I think he was a scape goat for the last placed Qld team.

Its a shame we couldn't keep Moala imo, he has also been good in NSW cup. But we have 4 first grade centres, so its a shame but Im glad he got a new deal.

I hope Lieataua rejoins first grade soon, he is a tough one to handle like Leka but a Centre, has a strong fend, strong in the hips, decent pace, knows when to pass or when to step and run.

We sure missed a Centre with Newc running down DWZs right side with Best splitting poor old chap Capewell who doesnt have the pace anymore to turn and chase. DWZ comes in for the intercept 9/10 haha. I thought it strange not to play TMM in centre given his FB and 5/8th experience not being a stretch too far to play Centre. Capewell has been playing 2nd row for a long time so its a bit tough to blame the defense on him when DWZ does not stick to the opposite man. Glamour wingers :-)

Unlikely to chase down Raiders now, who to be fair have been brilliant this year. They would need to lose 4/6 remaining games with us winning 7/7 remaining. But 2nd is insight depending on how well Bulldogs and Storm play, but we do play the Bulldogs which could be a clincher on that. We have Titans twice in the final 7 games. So nice to only need 1/7 to make 8 than 7/7 at this time of year.

TeaLeaf

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#3396019 21-Jul-2025 20:31

Listening to Luke in the "Disaster" video by NRL on YT, is heartbreaking seeing the injuries in context over the time period. Hes played less than a third of somebody else debuting same time. He wants this, he has heart and it seems he wants to be with the Warriors. So Im hoping this is his last serious injury ever and whoever he goes on to play for over the coming years, he lives up to his ability. He seems a class human based on the interviews Ive watched.

On another note, the Ford League Lounge with S Johnson Ep6, about 6:50 in, SJ breaks down exactly what Im talking about Boyd running at the line, drawing players then firing those perfect passes for the overlaps, doesnt get all the try assist credit it deserves, should be a stat made for creating holes for tries to be scored through. :-)

JPNZ

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#3396389 23-Jul-2025 09:13

maoriboy:

What a game, and what a finish! Really shouldn't have been that close with the Warriors dominating the first 20 minutes or so with only a six pointer to show for it. If it weren't for the Knights wayward goal kicking, the Wahs would've lost that one. Leka though....what a talent!

I can understand the wahs fans being happy to sneak a win, but they played pretty awful for a lot of the game and deserved to lose. 7 games remaining and they need to be beating those bottom 5 teams by 20-30 points.

Get a good chance this weekend vs the Titans to run up a score.

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TeaLeaf

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#3397108 25-Jul-2025 16:07

JPNZ:

but they played pretty awful for a lot of the game and deserved to lose.

yes overall it wasn't great. they started flappn fantastic and should have been up 12+, but something happened about 15 in and turned the game, it was a penalty or something, I forget. They should have had better defense knowing DWZ is the weakest link in the team (is odd when your halves are two of your better defenders lol) and Capewell was just not trusting DWZ not knowing if hes gonna come in or stick to his man. After that the warriors were just not in their usual game of "forceback".

Warriors should have 3 quality players returning this weekend, two centres and a FB, I hope.

Boyd will add 50-80 points a season over Metcalf in kicking, if he can retain the 7. It would suck to drop CHT at 5/8th to accommodate Metcalf as CHT has been our form Half prior to Boyd arriving. This is where I think Luke on the Wing and bringing RTS into centre, to make use of Lukes speed and RTS's defense and immense muscle memory of the sport, makes sense. Either way it leaves Webbie with a massive headache and thats before he gets to the forwards with the two young guns now being impossible to drop.

If they play the Titans like the game a fortnight ago, they should be able to put 40 on and hold them to 10. Thats my expectation, but given how much offensive power the Warriors possess its been a long time since weve put 50+ on the board. I think Tannah can unlock that for us without making that an expectation.

Now with that all said and done, at this time of year, teams not making the 8, will try to play like Newc and just throw caution to the wind, especially to avoid the spoon. But a team with two good halves and a plethora of red zone players to choose from, should be able to just keep the offensive pedal to the metal, so no excuses.

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TeaLeaf

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#3397290 26-Jul-2025 13:52

Well well well, the Eels have done the Warriors a massive favour by beating the BRONCOS in a close one 20-22.

Which gives the Warriors a 4 point gap with this afternoons Titans game to play. If the Warriors win this afternoon and cement their spot in the 8, and the Tigres get up to beat the Panthers, I would say its fair to think the Top4 is also relatively cemented outside the Warriors going 2/7 which I just dont see happening with out relatively cushy last quarter of the season.

What I dont get is sticking with Capewell at centre inside DWZ AGAIN !

If the Titans are won thing, its blazingly quick across the park. If you get them doing a Newc on DWZ, Capewell is in for a hard day at the office. I would rather have a quick defender like Tauapiki from FB with CNK back at FB, OR using experienced TMM who still has some pace at centre, over Capewell who has the physique of a 2nd rower now. Tuapiki showed last week, he ran down 3 runaway trains, where he had to turn and push NOS from a standing start with a 5-10m headstart to the opposition, and he chopped them down easily with 10m to go. He is not a player you leave out of the side, you find a place for him, although Id say that of Lieataua as well, whenever he rejoins first grade. Capewell makes such a good 80min second rower now, dont mess with it and put the hard word on DWZ not to come in or go for the steal, its really not that much to rememeber.

TeaLeaf

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#3397297 26-Jul-2025 15:14

Ugggh sorry, forgot to add to last post before edit time was up.

But Tannah Boyd at 7, I hope he shows old man Foran up. All the hype about Foran retiring, it was he imo who made Boyd look rubbish not the other way around. However he does have a long history in the game and been with many a club, including the Warriors, who I think are going to do something special pre game to honour Foz.

Warriors have to turn up with intent, putting that kick down in the 5m corner and pinning Titans time after time until their fitness just caves. Because if we try playing coast to coast with these guys, they do have a lot of fast guys who will burn us. Dominate and control the game, high completions and then when you see the enemy strolling back in a bunch to get back onside for a hit up, then you know its time to push the button via Boyd and CHT.

TeaLeaf

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#3397315 26-Jul-2025 17:52

Ugggh Titans taking advantage of our crap edges. Firstly need to not compress SO much. Secondly need to tackle man on man, I said the Titans have pace, especially the edges. Very surprised we are not playing a NSW Cup centre to get the team back to how it should look. Rocco Berry cant get well fast enough.

Edge defense IS THE WIN.

Boyd has been brilliant, saved some tries and involved in the first two, surprised he missed a conversion on his favoured side. I guess thats why hes not a 100% goal kicker haha, wouldnt that be good. But his running at the line and firing out the pass is working.

Egan, I am also surprised Sam Healey isnt playing as a Small forward interchange and obvious replacement for the hooker. Teams it feels targets Egans head, how many HIAs has he had.

Edit: TWO MUCH ONE OUT ! Im mad, as soon as they let Boyd rip into the line and throw those laser like back line passes, they look dynamic.

Something is missing in our back line, Capewell is a dissapointment but not as much as DWZ who just keeps coming in, like he has no self control, then taking that player out was a shocker.

Start throwing the ball around.

JPNZ

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#3397493 28-Jul-2025 08:06

JPNZ:

7 games remaining and they need to be beating those bottom 5 teams by 20-30 points.

Get a good chance this weekend vs the Titans to run up a score.

Well... That was a disaster. I'm calling it now I think the warriors miss the top 4. Penrith are looking & playing brilliant. Warriors have the phins up next and I can't believe the warriors are favourites even at home. Dolphins will be extremely hard to beat (the 2nd best attacking team in the comp).

As for my Raiders, 9 in a row. Just keep smashing those 2nd halves and running up scores. Should have been 50+ if not for that last disallowed try. Dragons up next won't be so easy.

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TeaLeaf

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#3400388 6-Aug-2025 15:45

JPNZ:

Well... That was a disaster. I'm calling it now I think the warriors miss the top 4.

Yes quite possible with Penrith getting their act together finally.

Warriors to take a leaf out of the Raiders play and start keeping the ball alive, which leads to broken field play. They have players with strong hands/ball skills, now is the time to be putting the foot down. Boyd is creating space out wide, put Leka out there with the centre and have him come back in, from the 5m thats a certain try.

I thought the Warriors tried to "professionalise" a win out of a 2 point lead last week, when had they taken the gift two points it goes to Golden point at worst given their rubbish kicker, at best Warriors get the ball back and then try to win it through defense.

A strong forward pack this week with some injury returns along with CHT. Webbie naming Fatialofa and Healey likely to play 9 while Lussick is also named.

Lussick has been instrumental in the Warriors domination in NSW Cup this year, I cant see anybody catching them now for Minor Prems, hopefully we will have minimum one team playing Grand Final day.

Anyway, Im sure they are much more aware of what is going wrong than any of us. Battle of the ex Penrith assistant coaches this week with Warriors vs Bulldogs.

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JPNZ

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#3400500 7-Aug-2025 08:07

Huge games this round.

Tonight Storm v Broncos, Raiders v Sea Eagles (bogey team), Dolphins v Roosters, Doggies vs Warriors all should be good games.

I was disappointed in the Raiders loss to the Dragons in cyclone conditions, just didnt play well enough (missed touch on penalties twice, kicked out on the full twice, made too many errors =17) Was very funny seeing all the doggies fans thanking the dragons so they could go top on Saturday only to fall to the Tigers on Sunday and drop down to 3rd hahaha.

Warriors will need a huge game to stop the slide and 3 losses in a row. Games still to come vs the rejuvenated Eels and Sea Eagles who could still be in the run for the 8. Pressures on

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TeaLeaf

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#3401046 8-Aug-2025 14:25

JPNZ:

Huge games this round.

I was disappointed in the Raiders loss, just didnt play well enough (missed touch on penalties twice, kicked out on the full twice, made too many errors =17) Was very funny seeing all the doggies fans thanking the dragons so they could go top on Saturday only to fall to the Tigers on Sunday and drop down to 3rd hahaha.

Warriors will need a huge game to stop the slide and 3 losses in a row.

Yes indeed, that win by the Storm for me, has shown their wiinning ways again. I cant see them not winning Minor Prems now, with a points differential of 248, thats near 100 more than 2nd in the Raiders and the For is 605, very close to near 200 points more than the Warriors. Although they have had a goal kicker, Warriors could have been up by 60-80 points just off Boyds boot alone not even taking into account what a classy game he has put into the Warriors 7 jersey. Don't get me wrong, I still like Metcalf, but imo he is not a 7 and, with his pace he should be used out wide. RTS comes in to centre, with his experience, he knows when the Wing is on for an overlap.

I think that's just how it goes with the style of footy the Raiders are playing, they had a long period of playing entertaining footy with a reasonably decent completion %, but some games the errors are going to occur with that brand of footy. Although kicking out on the full twice is pretty rare for any team.

Manly might be a tough game for Canberra with Tommy Turbo starting to hit his strides again and a mostly decent pack. Its easy to say just shut down DCE and Tommy, but both are the kind of elite level where that is much easier said than done. It could be a close one. But Im sticking with the Raiders, mostly because I think this is the kind of game before finals they need to use as a practise Finals type game.

Warriors only have themselves to blame, I said they could still catch Canberra for MP 3 weeks ago (now that looks likely Melb). In saying that, another year they are cursed with injuries. Its not so much the number of players, its the quality of players and the key positions 7-8 key players with lengthy injuries.

Does anyone know whats happening with Ali Leiataua? He is one of our future super stars at Centre and was only meant to be out 5-6 weeks back in June. He played a couple of games of NSW Cup and now hes not named either on the side or in the casualty ward. Playing a Key position we have been short of it would have been a huge boost to have him back.

Kosi added to the extensive reserve list, uggh. Its hard to slot Lussick in when TMM is forced to play bench, going by how JFH was speaking yesterday our captain wont be playing, I think thats the reason for Bunty's inclusion. I think Sam Healey is our future 9 and is likely to play ahead of Lussick despite Freddy being brilliant in NSW Cup this year.

Im seeing some of the least urgency from some of our most experienced and costly players this year. I wouldn't be surprised with a big shake up next year with some more youngsters set to come through on top of the current crop.

But Warriors need to make a statement piece out of the Bulldogs game, execute in the red zone which they have no trouble getting too and put players on the ground rather than waiting for them to find a line break throwing the footy around. And compete for those cross field bombs, stop just trying to win the game by making the opposition start from the 5m, thats fine to do from further out, but inside the 20, if they not going to score, Webbie should be letting Boyd put through a grubber for a fresh set of 6. Warriros have too many guys who can score for them to not be focussed on Offense this time of year, especially given we have the lowest points "For" in the top 9 so far this season. I get Webbie wanting us to control the game, but there is no point doing that if you don't start looking to score points every time we are in the redzone.

TeaLeaf

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#3401174 8-Aug-2025 22:35

That is the Warriors out of the 4 with Penrith slaughtering Newc. To get back in, Warriors need to give everything to putting points on the board to beat the Bulldogs, if they try to just control the game, Doggies will find a way to score. Control the game once you are up 20, they simply have to score big or they are waiting to be beaten like the last match. Its a very much patch work team, I never thought id see the day when both RTS and CNK are in a team and neither is the full back. Without JFH the captain, we are going to have to rely upon Boyd to do the talking and push the team around. Contest those bombs or get beaten.

TeaLeaf

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#3401300 9-Aug-2025 16:40

It looks like FSH will play, fun n games. I hope he plays, Warriors need him to lead the aggresive path. Erin Clark has been our best forward this year imo, hes just a post contact metre monster.

I think on paper, when you look man on man, Warriors have clear advantage in experience. I just hope for all hopes Webbie doesnt tell them to start by running it to the corner 5 metres from the try line, rather than trying to get repeat sets via Boyds deft touch or simply practising plays on the last. also no more waiting for players to land inside the redzone, we need to be kicking for players, DWZ, Leka, Ford has caughty a few, CNK. Im tired of dying with the ball n on the last to make our stats look pretty.

(frustrated).

Well its going to be impossible to get inside the top 2 now, had we won the last 3 we would be now. Not enough games left. But we need to finish top 4. But firstly take it game by game, have to make the 8 by winning 1/5. Make that tonight, away from home, in a not so friendly crowd, I hope that puts some adrenaline into them. Vamauga needs to offload, he is am expert at knowing when and when not too.

The Dolphins could end the Roosters run at the 8 tonight.

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