Fun fact: the only player Andrew Webster brought to the Warriors squad was Te Maire Martin. The rest were all signed before he came, meaning he created a map for success with the squad he had in front of him, figuring out how to combine the best of what each can do to win games.
According to Australian news site Code, the salaries of the Warriors spine are as follows:
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad $500,000
6. Luke Metcalf $250,000
7. Shaun Johnson $600,000
9. Wayde Egan $500,000
Total: $1.85 million
If true, is it the best value spine in the comp?
I'm one of the biggest NSW apologists you'll see but I dont think you can say the Sua'ali'i hit didn't deserve to be a send off. It's super dangerous and the direct force to the head was significant. Sucks that it ruined the game but you can't soften rules like that one.
Brisbane have been incredible tonight. They really have. So I won't make excuses. I just wanted this so badly and allowed myself to dream, which is why it hurts. Next season we take a huge amount of belief and a stronger squad. Up the fucken Wahs.
Roger won a Dally M in a team of battlers. He captained us in those dark early days of covid and shone in beaten sides. Imagine him in the team we have now. With this coach and this belief.
This is a massive coup for our club and for the NRL.
Welcome home Roger. You f'n beauty
Today I looked at a new rental house with my family. The owner showed us around and seemed really familiar so I asked, do I know you? He said no. So I asked what his name was. When he told me I pissed myself. Folks, in a few weeks time, this might be my landlord! A great NZer!
@Peter_Fitz
People who refuse to make sacrifices for the betterment of Australia vs. people who made the ultimate sacrifice for Australia.
I wonder who the patriots are.
As I sit in the Qantas lounge about to leave Australia (possibly for good), watching my two year old eat his third hash brown and my preggers wife sip her tea, I suddenly feel so grateful for everything Australia has given me. A truly wonderful country that is now home too.
For the longest time as warriors fans, we have resigned ourselves to the fact that we couldn't possibly replace AFB with someone as good as him.
Now, in Fish, it seems we've secured someone even better. The premiership window won't be closed in 2024 baby!
"Little Brother" was born at 7.41 in the water and delivered by me. Mama was beyond incredible, and is doing amazing. We are buzzing from one of the most amazing experiences ever, and can't take our eyes off our boy. Thanks for all your messages. They were greatly appreciated x
Thank you, Shaun.
Maker of some of my best Warriors memories. The player who made me believe were still a chance to win when the game's in the balance. The fall guy in many underperforming sides.
Forever a club icon and Kiwi league legend. What an amazing career.
❤️💚💙
Raiders (H)
Bye
Titans (A)
Tigers (A)
Manly (H)
Dragons (H)
Dolphins (A)
That's the Warriors' run home. If we play like we did yesterday, there's a chance we don't lose any of them.
My last action in Brisbane was to give a homeless bloke $20. He had no shoes and was asking for food. I couldn't help the warriors win but at least I could help a bloke get a feed who otherwise wouldn't have had one. That's a win for me. Thanks Brisbane, that was fun.
Unpopular opinion, but I don't like the name 'Wahs' in relation to the Warriors. I get that other people do, and that's cool, but you'll never hear me say it. And I'll always advocate
#letsgonewarriors
over
#upthewahs
My brother saw Luke Metcalf get taken from the stadium last night, his partner was in tears. With so much competition for that 6 jersey he needed to stay fit. It's not a given that he will waltz back in. I'm gutted for him.
Barnett stands there bleeding from the face, refusing to play the ball and just staring at the ref. The ref just stands there and goes, yeah?
Eventually just passed the ball to the hooker and turns his back on the game, forcing the bunker to get involved.
Well done Barny.
Cast your mind back a couple of years.
Team separated from families, and living overseas. Roger, our captain and spiritual leader, walked out on the club. Our coach was sacked. Clubs were loaning us players to field a team.
To be where we are in 2023 actually makes me emotional.
Tomorrow Peter Sterling will call his last live Rugby League game on Channel 9. What a knock it's been. Besides Rabs, he's as ingrained in league commentary as anyone in my era. Can't wait for tomorrow.
In round 13, the warriors will play in NZ against a Broncos side missing:
Haas, Carrigan, Walsh, Flegler and Cobbo.
By contrast, we will be fresh off a bye and welcoming back:
Metcalf, Barnett and Wiliame.
#letsgonewarriors
Tyrone May:
"“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it."
NRL:
"May must complete further education programs as directed by the NRL. May has also been issued with a proposed $7,500 fine."
I've been quiet on it so far but I think the warriors are guilty of riding their brand and believing the hype machine thats been built around them.
It's created an inflated sense of where we are at and I've seen evidence of it since the preseason.
Supercoach weekly rituals.
Monday:
Wait for lockout to end so you can rage trade. It opens. you mess with your team.
Tuesday:
Team lists land. Mess with team.
Wednesday:
Listen to heaps of podcasts. Mess with team.
Thursday:
Trade and hope.
Fri-Sun:
Regret trades.
Repeat.
The amount of players choosing to represent their heritage over Australia at the world cup should not surprise anyone. They've invested nothing in the green and gold jersey in recent years. No fixtures. No promotion. If you say origin is the pinnacle of RL, this is the price.
When Buzz names his top 50 players in the NRL, he does it knowing:
1. Everyone will click on it
2. Nobody will agree with it
3. People will argue about it
4. People will say he's got no idea
Every time you mention it, you give it value. And he's taking those clicks to the bank.
My thoughts on Magic Round in Brisbane, having been to it twice, is that it should stay there. Sports need mainstay events. Carnivals. Sydney has the GF. Brisbane should keep this.
NZ should get an annual international tournament I reckon - especially with such a big PI base.
If SJ has a decent hammy injury, and the team plays well without him, we may not see him play NRL ever again. That only just occurred to me.
And if that happens, his last game would be the biggest loss in our history.
Doesn't seem right or fair.
I don't know why people feel so strongly about Sua'ali'i changing codes. He doesn't owe anybody anything, and it's not like we won't get more exciting young players come through. You didn't hear union bitch and moan when we landed Crichton and Murray.
Good luck to the kid.
Dally M Zelezniak's numbers from last night are as follows:
17 runs
227 metres
34 post contact metres
4 tries
1 try assist
2 tackle breaks
2 offloads
5 line breaks
#freak
Jackson Hastings you clutch MFer!!!! Incredible scenes, awesome game. And Michael Maguire looks like he just shelved half a dozen pingers. 😂 So happy for the tigers and their fans. Long live rugby league!!
MASSIVE BRONCOS NEWS
Ben Hunt eyeing a four-month cameo to finish this season chasing a premiership at the Broncos.
Broncos to contact Dragons tomorrow to discuss a transfer deal.
Hunt will broker a release as early as Monday.
Full details 👇
Shout out to Tohu Harris who hurt his MCL 2 weeks ago and busted out a casual 80mins in one of the toughest middle battles we've had. The guy is tough as fuck.
Dear
@BluesRugbyTeam
,
I know it's a very Auckland thing to do to buy expensive wine and just sit on it. But to people who enjoy drinking it weekly, it is annoying.
Please distribute this vintage to
@NZWarriors
at your earliest convenience.
Regards,
The entire
@NRL
competition.
I've had three different people talk to me about the all blacks this morning. Didn't think it was wise of me to say I was watching Newcastle vs Manly and didnt care in the slightest about the result.
Such a nervous finish. In the past we 100% would have lost games like that. But this side under Webster knows how to hang tough. And I still rate our bench as amongst the best in the comp. Tevaga and Walker immense. Also...SJ had a cracking game. Enjoy it boys!
Warriors vs Tigers in Hamilton is sold out. So good people in the Waikato get to see live RL. Will be a pretty special event for Tigers players too. I expect them to be welcomed properly given it's their home game, and they didn't have to take it to NZ.
Phil Gould: "I can't, in good conscience, continue my role with the Warriors as COVID has made it impossible for me to be there and get involved with the club in the way I need to."
Also Phil Gould:
Notes ✍️
* Montoya looks a weapon on the wing.
* Breakout seasons loom for Vailea, Ale and Metcalf.
* Williame is a genuine centre, and should start at expense of Kosi.
* Ball movement from big men very promising.
* TMM will totally change our attack this year.
* D looked solid.
So proud of the boys there. I think if we had our full compliment we do that dogs side easy. The courage was unbelievable.
Thank fuck we have a bye next week!
It looks like the NRL is set to take stern action over the “lack of action” on the Stephen Crichton tackle.
@BuzzRothfield
reports that Liam Kennedy will be benched from the bunker for the last two rounds of the season.
Meanwhile, referee Wyatt Raymond is in line to be dropped.
I know people won't agree, but Queensland played bloody well in this game until NSW scored a try. After that they had to take risks. A massive improvement defensively from game 2, and it made for a classic contest. This is what I want origin to be. Not blowouts.
Conditions are perfect. Clear skies. No wind. And they have put up an entire extra grandstand, plus an extra tier of stands at the far end. Auckland is fizzing on the Warriors right now!