Tell you what Fiery that 'complications in ACL recovery' is never, ever a good sign. And Leuluai was always an ordinary half but good dummy half. Probably need to bite the bullet and get Lolohea in there. He's a shit winger too. I think Mannering in the middle is a problem too.
Real attitudinal problems too I think based on their nonexistent kick chase. They were all over Brisbane in the first half and blokes like Matulino just let them get out of their in-goal about 4 times. Where's the hunger?
I really dislike gun edge forwards moved into the middle. Not enough natural ball play in NZs back row for mine.
Yeah I would go along with the first bit but explain your issue with Mannering? Invariably leads the tackle count with 50+. You think he's lacking as an attacking force?
That's why I would love to see Ali Lauiti'iti get a run...to see if he's still got it. Might have to wait till we have a home game against a weaker team.
Up the guts he offers very little in attack. One of the best genuine edge forwards in the game but up the middle his only move is the hit and spin and shovel a backload out the back. Thompson was ok last year, but I feel you weakened 2 positions.
Doubt it, but still gave me a chuckle. Pretty sure I saw Parker in the 2nd, but he came off fairly early.
Big injury toll in that game: Vatuvei rib cartilage injury looked pretty painful. He might be out for a while. Ayshford (although no great loss) Oates dislocated his shoulder. Kahu seemed to be playing on one leg that whole game too.
And dominating territory against Brisbane isn't a big deal, IMO. Broncos always concede lots of metres.
In some ways I think this game made me cast more doubts over the Warriors than Round 1. Round 1 was a typical Warriors example of them just not getting themselves up for the game and falling way behind in the first 25 minutes. That's an attitude thing that can be fixed. Tonight they showed up and tried hard but just seemed overall a much inferior team. I think that's more worrying because the solutions may be harder to find or indeed non-existent beyond a massive coaching overhaul.
This is somewhat true for me as well but then, I thought I saw the warning signs after round 1 and their trial against St. George anyway. This has compounded it pretty heavily.
I'm not writing them off, but I'm certainly much more sceptical than I was after Round 1 which I more or less just put down to "well, shit happens". I'd have more faith if they got flogged instead tbh.
