Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[stephen]

Forward packs I think we are better than?

Remembering that I'm disclosing that we lack that intimidation factor, based on ability, I'd probably have our pack ahead of Souths, Parra, Knights, Dragons, Roosters & Sea Eagles.

That's on skills & talent.

But there are players from each club that I would add to our pack. Just as I'm sure they would take a handful of ours.

Can they take a handful today?

 

[Harvey]

The 3 biggest issues we have are our long kicking game, our speed and intensity in attack and defence and our forward impact.

In games where we play with some speed and are getting metres, we look a threat to score. Anyone that has played the game before knows it's a lot harder to break the line when the defence is set and in position.

To sum it up, it's pressure on both sides of the ball and pressure is built by cutting their time to make decisions in attack and defence.

Add our long kicks go straight to the fullback 20m out and they get the first tackle on the 20 or 30 most sets, we lose the field position.

Penrith put on a clinic in how to soak up the first 3 tackles within our 20 by pinning us in the corners on every set and backed it up with line speed in defence. They didn't give us anything all game. As Benji said, they strangled us.

So the same issues we have had since 2016?

 

[Tiger Stripes]

I can’t disagree with that and I think most of our supporters unanimously agree.
Maybe a bit harsh on a young up and comer such as Sukkar who does have scope for plenty of improvement, but he certainly doesn’t look like he’s ready to make a genuine impact at NRL level just yet.

I don't think Sukkar is quick/mobile enough, so will never improve very much as a 2RF. Hard to get faster?
Maybe if he beefs-up could replace Twal as a prop?

 

[TheEnz]

I don't think Sukkar is quick/mobile enough, so will never improve very much as a 2RF. Hard to get faster?
Maybe if he beefs-up could replace Twal as a prop?

He has been very underwhelming since his first couple of games. I can't help but think the source of our backline and edge issues is flowing from our misfiring middles though.

 

[upthetigers]

Fair enough and I believe you are a very good analyst so I’ll take your word for it.
So if we were to retain only one of Twal, Seyfarth or Bird, would you keep Seyfarth ahead of the other 2 ?
I only ask as I think it’s nearing the stage where we might need to make this type of decision and I think I would prioritise Seyfarth ahead of the other 2.
I don’t think we would have much trouble offloading Twal at his full 400k value if that’s a decision we were looking to make.

Yes Seyfarth is the keeper from those 3. He can do a job off the bench.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I’m starting to wonder about Toa … they’ll need to make a call soon about retaining him… it looks like he is playing busted which is not doing either the team or him any good … this is like what I was saying earlier … they would rather play him busted because they don’t have any faith that the likes of Naden can fill in adequately for him

Thinking the same Tom, he sucks you in with stints of good form and then comes down with an injury, it seems to be a recurring loop season to season.
Starting to think his body is not up for the week to week toughness needed for 1st grade, when has he ever made it through a whole season in good shape.

 

[weststigerman]

I’m starting to wonder about Toa … they’ll need to make a call soon about retaining him… it looks like he is playing busted which is not doing either the team or him any good … this is like what I was saying earlier … they would rather play him busted because they don’t have any faith that the likes of Naden can fill in adequately for him

For the right price we should be keeping him. He was quality before he got injured and isn’t helped by the halves reshuffling.

He is definitely playing busted, but it means his price tag stays reasonable.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Is that you Mrs Madden? lol

Is that you, Latu's mum?

 

[Tiger Stripes]

NRL in 2025 is a game based on speed flair and power. Look at the Phins and Raiders, they back themselves from anywhere on the field but they also build a platform through fast and energetic forwards. We simply can’t play this style of football because we don’t have a roster capable of. So Benji has them playing a very basic game plan with the hope they will stay in the contest and than fluke a bomb or get a repeat set. Sadly unless we get close to 70% of possession it’s doomed to failure.

That's why we need some top notch forwards for 2026---with big motors.

 

[Chunk]

That’s the thing, 2 of our forwards that get heavily scrutinised in Twal and Seyfarth are 2 of our better players in regards to competing in the ruck, wrestle, slowing down the play the ball and getting back to marker.
We all know the are very underwhelming from an attacking point of view which is the problem, but we don’t appear to have many forwards, possibly only May who excels in attack and defence, but even he has been below par in his ball carries recently which I think most of us agree is largely due to him playing too many minutes each game.

We need some more forwards who can 'poke their nose' through, get some more PCMs, which will help with ruck speed, wrestle and so on. I think Pole, May, Hunt and Finaua's do this sometimes and our wingers can do it.

Funny thing thing is, it seems obvious and you would imagine the coaching would be all over it (Well we hope), so no doubt it's harder then it looks.

 

[Dennisspicer1]

I would bring back Royce if he has that same level of fitness as earlier in the year ..

Don't understand why Benji won't use him, even for 10min each half, after all he is an impact player, and really the only one we have.
Better 20 minutes with a player that can hurt the opposition or break through their defence.

 

[cktiger]

The distance was not the problem, it was actually good for a change. You simply can't have kicks being caught on the full at the 20-30m line. That's absolute suicide.
The problem was the kicks aren't high enough for our chasers to get through. Why do our kickers have the lowest kicking game in the comp? Get pat Richards to show them how to put some height into it. Our kickoffs and general field kicks are atrocious, worst in the comp by a long long way.

Maybe get AD to put up those kicks. He has no problem with getting the height.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Is that you, Latu's mum?

Yes my boy gets injured so often your boy will get plenty of reps.

 

[Go_You_Good_Things]

Maybe get AD to put up those kicks. He has no problem with getting the height.

True, but how long since we've seen one of those high spiralling floaters ?
To me, it looks like he's taken them out of his bag of tricks.

 

[Dennisspicer1]

Thinking the same Tom, he sucks you in with stints of good form and then comes down with an injury, it seems to be a recurring loop season to season.
Starting to think his body is not up for the week to week toughness needed for 1st grade, when has he ever made it through a whole season in good shape.

Most times he gets tackled he gets up very slowly and looks at referee intimating he has been injured in the tackle,
But then continues play the ball as I said very slowly.

But also members have been crediting him with great speed.
Well against Penrith that belief was blown away, when he was in the clear and caught pretty quickly by Penrith players.

MYTH DEBUNKED.

 

[The Chad]

Had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1

Not that explaining it will make it any better for some, but...

Afoa adds that big body that runs off the back fence. What Hunt is supposed to be. What Pole might become. It strengthens our depth in the rotation, adds a style we don't have fulfilled & doesn't block a path for younger players coming through. The Warriors KOE has been a step ahead of most teams, their 1st grade pack is established & hard to crack- so these KOE guys are probably 1st graders for most clubs.

Raymond Faitala Mariner is a leader, big body, hard runner. All the things Sukkar & Seyfarth & Bird are not. He's not 26 year old Faitala Mariner- and that isn't what you pay for. But he covers every forward position outside of #9 while adding leadership. Short term contract with little downside if it doesn't pay off.

Hassett is the young, faster, agile Liam Martin type. Another type we just don't have. It's not about replicating what we already have, it's about adding to it, offering different options.

Freddie Lussick plays every position- EVERY position- in the Warriors KOE forward pack. Offers extreme versatility at the very least. Gives us a forward rotation that does not carry a #9 on the bench, who only gets a role if/when Api gets tired. Covers Doueihi at #13. Plays 1st receiver as a prop in KOE.

As I prefaced, there are players I prefer. But this covers many needs, creates depth & offers playing styles we don't currently have.

I liked the Tof Sipley suggestion, whoever made it. Again, different playing type.

 

[Fish88]

Most times he gets tackled he gets up very slowly and looks at referee intimating he has been injured in the tackle,
But then continues play the ball as I said very slowly.

But also members have been crediting him with great speed.
Well against Penrith that belief was blown away, when he was in the clear and caught pretty quickly by Penrith players.

MYTH DEBUNKED.

I feel he is just another player that has talent and potential but not the mental fortitude to be consistent at a high level. Always looks unfit as well.

 

[cktiger]

I feel he is just another player that has talent and potential but not the mental fortitude to be consistent at a high level. Always looks unfit as well.

Must admit at the start of the year I was one of those bemoaning the fact we were persevering with To'a.
Along came a few good games and I was thinking I must be wrong.
Should have remembered the last time I thought I was wrong I was mistaken.

 

[Terry T.Nuts]

Thinking the same Tom, he sucks you in with stints of good form and then comes down with an injury, it seems to be a recurring loop season to season.
Starting to think his body is not up for the week to week toughness needed for 1st grade, when has he ever made it through a whole season in good shape.

He is weak and too hit and miss, I would piss him off and keep the spot open for Matakisini.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

He is weak and too hit and miss, I would piss him off and keep the spot open for Matakisini.

Just don't extend him keep him for depth next season, we don't know if Makasini is ready for week to week 1st grade yet the reports on his progress are good but not a given that his body will see out a full season.