NRL 2017

Crazy Horse

@booboo I guess they think he deliberately raised his knee into contact and I can see why they would think that. NRL have been tough on that in the past. A few moons ago Craig? Smith, the Kiwi prop, was practically forced out of the NRL because he had a bad habit doing it.

Sneakdefreak

Another great season by the Warriors. Also, very kind of them to wrap it up before I go on a winter holiday.

Some thoughts:

A game that defined the season as a whole: Good defensive work undone by utter shit offence. Warriors have started to gel as a team when defending but still play as individuals when they have the pill.
Feel sorry for Simon Mannering. The bloke is putting in 110% every game yet his teammates don't have the same urgency. About 90 seconds to go in the first half, Warriors have a scrum and Mannering is ready to pack down (to stop the clock) but 12 other guys aren't.
Warriors are freeing up cap to take advantage of teams currently in cap hell (i.e Bulldogs and Roosters). Need guys who will not arse about when time is of the essence.
But first thing is to fire Tony Iro as recruitment/head scout and bring back John Ackland. Need to find guys who can play a certain role, not just over-priced Kiwi NRL veterans. Ackland can do that.
Speaking of over-priced Kiwi NRL veterans, the Isaac Luke signing has been a bust. Time to look at possible trade options for him (most likely SuperLeague).
Kata can also be traded. Too one-dimensional and unwilling to change. Plus Klokstad-Nicoll is a more versatile player.
But that was a great intercept try by Kata. Yet what would happen if that trainer (who was slowing down) got in the way and stopped Kata from scoring? Penalty try?
This is why trainers shouldn't be allowed on the field during play. Yes if a guy is injured but don't fucking swan about like you're in the starting 13.
Scary moment with Sharks halfback Nu Brown getting knocked out by an accidental Sam Lisone knee to the temple. Crowd was a bit shocked when he started convulsing (I don't know if that made it onto Sky Sports) but I know his family/friends were at the game.
However, Brown's tackle technique was so awkward that Lisone can't be held responsible for it.
Bodene Thompson was injured a few seconds prior to that - he did his shoulder in on a try-saving tackle attempt. Most likely won't be re-signed by the club.

taniwharugby

Warriors should sign this 7 year old....

https://www.facebook.com/nrlzerofuksgiven/videos/1554692507924442/

Sneakdefreak

@taniwharugby That's not a 7 year old, that's Raz.

Godder

That's the Warriors issue in a nutshell - stood out physically in age grades, and now don't know how to grind it out against similar physical specimens.

kiwiinmelb

Not just a warriors issue , but I think they and a lot of clubs tend to be always looking for the quick fix rather than the long term succession plan . And it leads to a chasing your tail effect .
The storm based in Melbourne have pinched a lot from observing how the AFL clubs operate and it's been a big part of their success, they very seldom enter the race for big name players , put all their efforts into finding the best kids instead and developing them , so there is a continual 5 year plan in place , the replacements for the likes of Cronk , slater and smith are already at the club .

Dice

The Warriors build their team from guys who are from the NZ system, it's basically like building a Union team from the Australian system now. The school and club comps here are just not that good and don't prepare players for long term success. The Kiwis in Australia come out a lot better.

Dice

It really wasn't that long ago when there were just 4 teams in the 1st 13 school comp here in Auckland. Basically every team was guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.

I'd say that only MAGS and St Pauls were the only serious teams back then. Kelston were in it, but I don't think they were serious and just scrapped together some of their 2nd XV players to be their league team.

kiwiinmelb

The storm have done really well developing kiwi talent recently ,

Got a couple of good ones on the way as well, smiths replacement, young Maori hooker , Brandon smith is a real smart footballer, and a young Maori fullback jahrome Hughes looks the goods as well.

Nepia

The years I played league during my school days it was always a secondary thing and everyone of my teammates were rugby players (and one hockey player) and I guess most of our opposition were rugby players too.

It's a bit different I guess to the school comps in Oz. But, you tend to think a guy coming out of the Auckland 1A or Super 8s would be pretty professional - although I guess some consider 1A to still be a comp based on size.

Sneakdefreak

@kiwiinmelb said in NRL 2017:

Not just a warriors issue , but I think they and a lot of clubs tend to be always looking for the quick fix rather than the long term succession plan . And it leads to a chasing your tail effect .

True but there's big pressure to make the playoffs now and with the salary cap forcing teams to cut top talent (usually in pre-season) it means teams can get a good year here and there like Gold Coast and Canberra did last year or St George and Manly this year.
I suspect the Warriors are going to follow this formula - keep a lot of cap space going into the offseason and wait for the Bulldogs, Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters to cut players.

canefan

@Sneakdefreak NZH is reporting that we may be in for James Graham who the bulldogs will be forced to let go to meet the cap. Should be a great signing if it happens

mariner4life

jesus i hope he ends up being Steve Price, and not Ryan Hoffman

canefan

@mariner4life said in NRL 2017:

jesus i hope he ends up being Steve Price, and not Ryan Hoffman

We don't have a good record with English players, right from the first team. Graham is NRL tested with a big motor though. If it happens we should pair him with another strong player as we did with Wiki and Price

Nepia

I don't want Graham on our team after he carried on like a goose last year (or year before) contributing to the refs getting abused when as captain his job should have been to rein things in.

Although, he does come across as a decent bloke on whichever of the million NRL shows they have on Fox these days.

kiwiinmelb

@mariner4life said in NRL 2017:

jesus i hope he ends up being Steve Price, and not Ryan Hoffman

I think there lies the problem , they arrive with the attitude of helping to turn the football around and not just the money,

And I reckon Hoffman would have wanted that , but subconsciously he would also be thinking it's his super payout at the end of his career , and that was the real motivation for the change in clubs

mariner4life

Ethan Lowe looks like dodgiest meth dealer in the world, not a starting NRL player.

If he sold you drugs, you would be suss on them as fuck.

Sketchy.

Gunner

Warriors suck ball bags.

Just flicked over from the young fellas cartoons, so the last 3 minutes of the first half is the first time I've bothered watching them in maybe 6 or 8 weeks.

Getting beat 16-4 at halftime by the shittiest cellar dwelling NRL team of all time. Well that I can remember anyway.

Tempted to go back to Disney channel but will leave it for now to see what happens in the second half.

I'll probably regret that decision.

mariner4life

Seriously, the Warriors are a poor imitation of a competent football team. Right now the bottom side are touching them up.

No power or physicality up front. No creation or zip in the ruck or the halves. No penetration out wide, and not organised enough to get the ball to dangerous areas. And penalty after penalty after penalty. There is no hope in this team, no sparks to give the fans something to hang on.

And there is no urgency, they are on holiday already.

Fuck them, dock their pay.

Gunner

They looked half decent in their first 2 sets of the 2nd half, back to back I might add.

That'll probably be their lot though...

The Silver Fern

NRL 2017