NRL 2018
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About. Fucken. Time.
The Curse of Cleary is finally put to rest after several years in the wilderness that is the bottom eight of the NRL ladder.
We can officially declare this season to be a complete success regardless of whatever happens in the playoffs. We're now playing with house money.
The Warriors finally have something for their young players to build off for 2019 and onwards i.e that this club is no longer scared or lazy when it comes to a playoff run (the only players from the 2011 playoff run who remain are Shaun Johnson and Simon Mannering).
While the conspiracy side of me, which has been watching one too many Joe Rogan podcast videos on Youtube, would suggest that maybe the Panthers were encouraged by their supreme overlord Gus Gould to not try too hard so to ensure that a certain rival misses the Big Dance in 2018, the reality is the Warriors turned out at Mt Smart Stadium last night and played a fast running game set around the ruck area that the big Penrith forwards couldn't keep up with and had to resort to tugging at jerseys to slow the Warriors down.
I had my doubts for this game because it's the Warriors and they have created a niche skill at fucking it up in the home straight in the 2010s, but also because there was no Blake Green playing the straight man to Shaun Johnson's roaming style of play. Mason Lino more than stepped up again with his dummyhalf running and excellent kicking game. It's safe to assume that Lino will get an opportunity to start somewhere else in 2019 (probably at the Bulldogs) and I wouldn't hold it against him. But if the Warriors cannot resign Isaac Luke for 2019 then Lino would be a decent, and cheaper, replacement.
The key addition to the side was the return of Tohu Harris. He's a halfback in a secondrower's body and his chemistry with Peta Hiku and David Fusitua has made them the most dangerous attacking edge in the NRL. Fusitua's second try came when Harris changed his running route, dragging in all four defenders, before passing to Hiku who got it to Fusitua. If that had been Papalii or Blair they would have gone to ground or passed too early like a normal backrower:
So that means Peta Hiku has to continue playing right centre which means Gerard Beale, our best centre, is currently out of the line up. For next week's final regular season game it would be great to see Beale get a chance to team up with Ken Maumalo on the left edge to see if that works. Although Kearney needs to be credited with sticking with young players he will need to go to his veterans for the playoffs and Solomone Kata's inability to set up his winger is the type of mistake which costs you in the playoffs.
Anyways, we're in with a game to spare and get to enjoy Simon Mannering's 300th without the stress of watching over our back for Ivan Cleary.
Thank fuck.
@sneakdefreak You can thank Harris' midfield days at Hastings Boys for his offloading skills.
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Shows you how weak the NRL is when it comes to a certain Sydney team. Dylan Napa is making another dangerous and reckless tackle but the excuses will be made that it was a legal tackle (it isn't):
Sin bin isn't enough. He needs to go for a couple of weeks.
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Shows you how weak the NRL is when it comes to a certain Sydney team. Dylan Napa is making another dangerous and reckless tackle but the excuses will be made that it was a legal tackle (it isn't):
Sin bin isn't enough. He needs to go for a couple of weeks.
@sneakdefreak It's not team based, it's just league ....
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About. Fucken. Time.
The Curse of Cleary is finally put to rest after several years in the wilderness that is the bottom eight of the NRL ladder.
We can officially declare this season to be a complete success regardless of whatever happens in the playoffs. We're now playing with house money.
The Warriors finally have something for their young players to build off for 2019 and onwards i.e that this club is no longer scared or lazy when it comes to a playoff run (the only players from the 2011 playoff run who remain are Shaun Johnson and Simon Mannering).
While the conspiracy side of me, which has been watching one too many Joe Rogan podcast videos on Youtube, would suggest that maybe the Panthers were encouraged by their supreme overlord Gus Gould to not try too hard so to ensure that a certain rival misses the Big Dance in 2018, the reality is the Warriors turned out at Mt Smart Stadium last night and played a fast running game set around the ruck area that the big Penrith forwards couldn't keep up with and had to resort to tugging at jerseys to slow the Warriors down.
I had my doubts for this game because it's the Warriors and they have created a niche skill at fucking it up in the home straight in the 2010s, but also because there was no Blake Green playing the straight man to Shaun Johnson's roaming style of play. Mason Lino more than stepped up again with his dummyhalf running and excellent kicking game. It's safe to assume that Lino will get an opportunity to start somewhere else in 2019 (probably at the Bulldogs) and I wouldn't hold it against him. But if the Warriors cannot resign Isaac Luke for 2019 then Lino would be a decent, and cheaper, replacement.
The key addition to the side was the return of Tohu Harris. He's a halfback in a secondrower's body and his chemistry with Peta Hiku and David Fusitua has made them the most dangerous attacking edge in the NRL. Fusitua's second try came when Harris changed his running route, dragging in all four defenders, before passing to Hiku who got it to Fusitua. If that had been Papalii or Blair they would have gone to ground or passed too early like a normal backrower:
So that means Peta Hiku has to continue playing right centre which means Gerard Beale, our best centre, is currently out of the line up. For next week's final regular season game it would be great to see Beale get a chance to team up with Ken Maumalo on the left edge to see if that works. Although Kearney needs to be credited with sticking with young players he will need to go to his veterans for the playoffs and Solomone Kata's inability to set up his winger is the type of mistake which costs you in the playoffs.
Anyways, we're in with a game to spare and get to enjoy Simon Mannering's 300th without the stress of watching over our back for Ivan Cleary.
Thank fuck.
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@sneakdefreak They need to keep Lino. He's the future
@sneakdefreak They need to keep Lino. He's the future
Shaun Johnson and Blake Green are the halves for 2019 and probably 2020. It's going to be tough to hang onto Lino (unless he moves to hooker).
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@sneakdefreak They need to keep Lino. He's the future
Shaun Johnson and Blake Green are the halves for 2019 and probably 2020. It's going to be tough to hang onto Lino (unless he moves to hooker).
@sneakdefreak said in NRL 2018:
@sneakdefreak They need to keep Lino. He's the future
Shaun Johnson and Blake Green are the halves for 2019 and probably 2020. It's going to be tough to hang onto Lino (unless he moves to hooker).
He could do it. I guess we will have to wait and see what Bully decides
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Big last round coming up
We are 8th but teams 4 to 8 are all on 30 points
We host the raiders (10th) ,a good win to help boost our points differential is vital
Some results going our way will help too..Storm 1 v Panthers 6
Knights 11 v Dragons 4
Bulldogs 13 v Sharks 5
Broncos 7 v Sea Eagles 15 -
Well the Dragons are in trouble....just got smashed 36-0 by their rivals the Bulldogs.
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Well the Dragons are in trouble....just got smashed 36-0 by their rivals the Bulldogs.
@sneakdefreak that was a pummeling. Doggies played really well but the Dragons were shite, zero energy or care factor.
This last round it gonna be mental. Hoping we can get a W and improve our differential, that's looking the more likely way for us to score a home game for the finals. -
The Dragons and Panthers are in free fall. We could easily jump two places this weekend.
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The Dragons and Panthers are in free fall. We could easily jump two places this weekend.
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@mariner4life said in NRL 2018:
The Dragons and Panthers are in free fall. We could easily jump two places this weekend.
Are you new to supporting the Warriors? They'll go down by 50 this weekend now.
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@nepia not with the 300 on Friday!
@taniwharugby said in NRL 2018:
@nepia not with the 300 on Friday!
Choochoooooooooooo
I'm aboard and as @mariner4life would say, in the seat right next to the exit.
Beautiful timing this 300th game as the stadium should be full to push them home. Hopefully it is a bit of a towelling too.
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@taniwharugby said in NRL 2018:
@nepia not with the 300 on Friday!
Choochoooooooooooo
I'm aboard and as @mariner4life would say, in the seat right next to the exit.
Beautiful timing this 300th game as the stadium should be full to push them home. Hopefully it is a bit of a towelling too.
@hooroo apparently at the moment fans can buy tickets to the gameonline and choose how much they want to pay, anywhere form $5 - $50 for any of the available tickets.
I'm the first to admit I'm not a big leaguie, but what I do follow and know about league is that Mannering is the Ultimate Warrior!
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Hope we see a massive crowd for Mannering's 300th match. Fuck me that is a lot of loige!! Amazing contributor to the team and surely one of the most consistent players we've ever had. Especially during the darker times when his effort and dedication never faltered.
Good on the Warriors for doing their best to ensure a big crowd to cheer the lads and Mannering on.
Lets go Warriors!!!!
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Mannering is the
The team better fire the fuck up!!
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penalties have to be for the current season and upcoming season imo. They talked a bit about it on radio sport this morning and I agree that taking past wins/points etc is meh. Players will know they still won that game, comp, whatever - and have generally benefited from it already.
Hit the fuckers in the now, and the future, and it takes on a whole new meaning. Plus this gaming around 'just uncovered payments from prior management' and putting their hands up for assistance from the NRL team is tripe. Nothing more than trying to weasel out of it and seek a lighter sentence.
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@act-crusader said in NRL 2018:
Gutted we lost but I still thought we were decent.
Blake’s 5th tackle kick that the Bulldogs took on the full in the ingoal was a coach killer.
Don't want to watch the replay (even though it was a good game) but can't remember that one. The real coach killer was Kata's poor defence at the end of the second half which led to a Bulldogs try. I'm struggling to see what Kearney thinks Kata can become, especially when Hiku and Beale are probably our best centre combo.
@sneakdefreak said in NRL 2018:
@act-crusader said in NRL 2018:
Gutted we lost but I still thought we were decent.
Blake’s 5th tackle kick that the Bulldogs took on the full in the ingoal was a coach killer.
Don't want to watch the replay (even though it was a good game) but can't remember that one. The real coach killer was Kata's poor defence at the end of the second half which led to a Bulldogs try. I'm struggling to see what Kearney thinks Kata can become, especially when Hiku and Beale are probably our best centre combo.
I think you are forgetting about Hiku's amazing defence against I think the storm. The game where Jearney kept him on the whole match and he just let them roll in. Was surprised he even got another go in first grade after that.
