Let’s start with the big one.
It’s been a contentious issue from the moment he resigned with the Warriors. Coach Webster acknowledges and takes responsibility for the Roger Tuivasa-Scheck experiment at centre not being as successful as they hoped. But I just don’t see what he’s doing about it. Nothing has changed. So I’m not so sure we can genuinely say “In Webby We Trust” without any… distrust. It’s all very well and good for Webster to take responsibility for it. But that’s easy to do when there’s no accountability- it’s not as if he’ll get sacked over it or anything.
The reality is… Roger Tuivasa-Scheck is a better fullback than Charnze Nicol-Klokstad, and Charnze is a better centre, than Roger.
Plain and simple.
So those two players need to take this out of Webster’s hands because the coach has somewhat backed himself into a corner in his support of Charnze at fullback. And any change to this rhetoric would somewhat undermine his credibility. Charnze and Roger need to have a quiet chat and acknowledge they need to do what’s best for the team and club, rather than themselves. It’s not too late. Even Taine Tuaupiki at fullback with CNK at centre and RTS on the wing is a stronger side than what they are currently playing.
Shaun Johnson needs to do the same, and tell Webster he’ll take a crack at five-eight, if he hasn’t realised it by now that the team is generally running better this season with Te Marie Martin at halfback. But they still need Johnson’s experience as seen by Harris-Tevita’s ineptitude at icing a game. And the switch to five-eighth could reinvigorate Johnson who has become predictable this season. His experience and calm head is needed on the park, but letting Te Marie take the wheel could be the best thing for the team.
Jazz Tevega bleeds Warriors colours and is arguably one of the most courageous players in the NRL. One of the most hot-headed, and passionate as well, which he admits hasn’t always worked in his favour. But none of that equates to quality of play. And while he’s had patches of excellence in defense, consistency has been an issue. It’s been reported that the Warriors have offered him a contract at a lower rate, though he’d been hoping for an upgrade. But his performance doesn’t warrant it. Jazz needs to realise it may be best for the club he loves so much if he moves on. It’s time for the likes of Kalani Going and Leka Halasima to show their wares. Halasima has more potential at being a superstar than Tevega could dream of. If you disagree with that assessment, then I encourage you to commit yourself to a mental institution at the nearest possible opportunity. Put it this way, without Tuaupiki and Halasiima, the Warriors NSW side got pumped by the Bulldogs (who were just below them on the ladder) 46-16. So you do the maths.
Chanel Harris-Tevita had a game to forget against the Bulldogs, but he’s still a useful player. I’d argue though, best as a utility off the bench and in the long run, serving in a similar role to Dylan Walker. He seems to have the ability to rise to the smaller challenges within games rather than the overall challenge of winning a game. He’s the perfect gap-filler when things go wrong. But he’s not the player you want as a specialist because he’s simply not good enough yet, and the Warriors don’t have the time left this season to develop him and they have too many better players in his position – in the long-term.
Marcelo Montoya has been a stalwart for the Warriors over the past few years and has worked hard to secure his spot on the wing. He’s a tough nut that I would never want to go toe-to-toe with. But Montoya lacks the speed of many other wingers in the competition and hasn’t been reliable under the high ball of late. He puts the team under pressure with timely errors and is prone to having off games. The emergence of Moala Graham-Taufa should have Montoya on edge. He hasn’t looked out of place in his few games in first grade. It’s time to give him a shot.
However…
With Berry sidelined for who knows how long, it’s time to bring back Ali Leiatua into the first-grade side. The Warriors have won both games he’s played and, in both games, he contributed effectively and they were big, big scalps (Raiders for Crokers 300th and Panthers in Magic Round). He’s a star who, unlike Harris-Tevita, is a big game player who can rise to the challenge. I appreciate Pompey has been solid, and there’s nothing wrong with solid, but he lacks X-factor. Should Webster choose to stick with CNK at fullback, then pushing RTS to the wing in place of Montoya to allow Leiatua to take the right centre position, would still create a more dynamic team and keep Pompey for try conversion duties, for which he had become very reliable.
I’m sure Webster has his reasons and no doubt there’s behind the scenes issues we’re not privy to, for why he may not make some of these changes. Alternatively injuries may force some. But I’m trusting him less and less by the week. I also recognise these suggestions will no doubt rub some people up the wrong way. You don’t have to listen to them, because who the hell am I to suggest anything. But can you make an argument against them, other than “let’s stick with how we’re going?”
P.S. the bunker not doing anything about the Jaeman Salmon tackle on Te Marie Martin is up there with the most unbelievable howlers of the season, and if it wasn’t for the ongoing inconsistency, bias and incompetence of the referees in the NRL, it would overtake rugby comfortably over the next few years as the dominant sport. I fucking hate the refs in the NRL. I can’t point to a person who has anything positive to say about the officiating other than – they try their best, as though a participation certificate is all that is required. Something desperately needs to be done about the dreadful double standards and ineptitude blighting our beautiful game. Otherwise more punters will reach for the remote.
