Finals Week 2 vs Warriors - 4:05pm Sunday 20th of September - Eden Park
- Thread starter jamesgould
- Start date
If your biggest criticism is they're taking extra time to make sure they get the right call, then you don't have much to complain about.
I don't think it's cynical to play to the rules...he's moving to the ball with eyes only on the ball...he doesn't have to get out of the way....IDK that there's a better way for the game to officiate the bomb to make it a fair contest for players on either side.
Totally agree. I’m not much to talk about refs but I thought they did alright, out of the 3 ‘dubious’’ against Wahs, sure they could’ve got at least one (I thought the Friz one was the least dubious, he acted it perfectly - you cannot penalise perfection against the system
). We had a couple 50:50 go against us too (sin bin on Ponga). Though, bottles thrown = disappointing.
Not saying he wasn't a huge part of our win, but I thought the Knights covered the Ponga HIA better than the Warriors covered the Tuaupiki HIA.
I also thought that Capewell was huge for them in the 2nd half, preventing a number of the Knights' breakaways that threatened points with desperate efforts, and Leka, even injured, is a special player. Glad our coach didn't build a game plan around Adam Pompey having a shocker last week.
I also thought that Capewell was huge for them in the 2nd half, preventing a number of the Knights' breakaways that threatened points with desperate efforts, and Leka, even injured, is a special player. Glad our coach didn't build a game plan around Adam Pompey having a shocker last week.
The Artist Formerly Known as Aku'd
Jarrod Mullen
Yeah Capewell was an animal for them
mullenmagic
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I said as such re: doing it by the rules but Frizell has probably never contested a bomb like that in his career, and wasn't going to be much good at it this time either standing a metre or two away. He was looking at it the whole time, he knew he wasn't near catching it. He did a great job making himself an obstacle legally.
bremsstrahlung
Andrew Hodge
this was my take on it too.
These calls had a massive impact on the winner of this game - they had to do everything to get them right and imo, they did. I’m okay with them taking a little longer in these big moments with minutes to go with scores very close. The whole point is to get the correct calls.
The ones in the final moments…my 2c worth.
The “strip” - the fingers do make a movement to knock the ball, its soft, but on field call was strip, they need evidence to say no strip, and there was evidence he did make a play at the ball.
The Best knock on - I thought it deviated on first replay, the one from the side - it looked like it went up a little as it passed. I wasn’t as convinced on the one from behind - it’s obscured. I think they were potentially trying to find a really conclusive angle or frame to prove it. Maybe biased - but I thought it clearly deviated.
Frizz - I could have lived with if they called it. It was a little cynical - I don’t know that he thought he was going to get it, but you could also make an argument that forwards aren’t the best under high balls and he legit could’ve been trying his best haha. We see them called 50/50. Nobody knows what a disruptor is anymore. Sometimes called, sometimes not. The contention was it was not a game stoppage - they were stopped for a possible HIA because he ran in and dropped to the ground to draw attention to it. Frizz sold it as best he could - on first view I didn’t think he moved across the line in a cynical way, eyes always up, hands ready to catch.
Even Fisher Harris milking the crusher after he fumbles the ball. It was a crusher. It’s just frustrating the way that it was reviewed. But the right call was made I guess.
I think they got those calls right.
The only one I’m a little skeptical on is if they deserved a bin for the hit on Ponga first half. I haven’t seen too many views of it with a fresh mind. But penalty, and report implies there was something Klein didn’t like about it - there was definitely force from the shoulder. Idk. I don’t think there’s too many arguments if he goes to the bin for that. For the same reason they looked at those others 100 times, maybe they weren’t 100% sure, and in such a big game, gave a bit of benefit of the doubt. IF Ponga went for a HIA after that one, I’d be calling for the sin bin.
Sometimes you need a few calls to go your way.
I think the refs did a pretty good job tbh. The players challenged things well. For a high stakes game - I think we got to the correct decision most of the time.
bremsstrahlung
Andrew Hodge
it wasn’t the refs that won us that game though, it was those bloody (shoutout Gags) legends in red n blue (and white).
So proud of them this season. I’m genuinely a little sad that a few of them will find themselves in Cup most weeks if we are full strength - they all deserve their spot in this team.
Seems an odd thing to say, but I thought our defence was good yesterday. A heap of missed tackles, but I think we covered them really well and Warriors are such a strong running team. It impressed me how elusive Tuaupiki was - 16 tackle break, 200+ metres. Capewell was absolutely everywhere for them as well. I even thought CHT played out the gameplay to shut down Ponga really well. I hope Penrith didn’t watch that too closely. But they gave Ponga absolutely no time, and were happy to hit him. I thought it took him a while to get into the groove.
Crossland. Honestly. I don’t think anybody personifies what we dream of a player more than him. He is absolutely 110% heart. He’s not the craftiest 9 - but he doesn’t need to be. We have so many playmakers - he just gets them the ball. And his defence is sorely missed when he’s out. His effort plays in the last 15 minutes are folklore worthy. Just threw himself at everything. I’d go as far to say his desperation secured the win for us in the end. Brilliant. Doesn’t get the highlights reels of Ponga or Sharpe but I’d love to see a montage of his effort plays yesterday.
Hopwood and Crouch, impressive. Everyone tipped Hopwood to be a star. I think most thought, maybe next year, but 2028 would be his time to shine. Absolutely brilliant the last few weeks. He has built his game up throughout the season. Could tell he was a little fresh early on. But his improvement has been rapid. He could push for a starting spot next year. He’s been asked to do an awful lot of work this season so I’m sure he’s looking forward to a rest in 2 weeks time. But watching him run flat out in to Fisher Harris and Barnet , phwoar.
Sharpe was more involved and I think it’s underrated how much his runs tire the other team. He’s just so hard to get, he engages so many defenders and takes a little gas out of them each time.
We were unlucky not to execute a few more tries. Sharpe tripping over himself and the forward pass bombing the Overlap.
Execution needs to be on point against the Panthers next week.
One thing that struck me was Gags post game. “2 more games”. That’s the mindset of this team at the moment and I’m all for it. They aren’t taking it week by week. It sounds like their focus is more “let’s go, 2 more games, then we can rest, let’s give it our all”.
Ponga getting a bit emotional after that one was great to see what it means to them. Holbrook too, just so overjoyed, proud and happy. Can see why the players are buying into it.
This group deserves so much credit for turning things around. They’ve given us something to smile and dream about again after some very rough years.
2 to go!
So proud of them this season. I’m genuinely a little sad that a few of them will find themselves in Cup most weeks if we are full strength - they all deserve their spot in this team.
Seems an odd thing to say, but I thought our defence was good yesterday. A heap of missed tackles, but I think we covered them really well and Warriors are such a strong running team. It impressed me how elusive Tuaupiki was - 16 tackle break, 200+ metres. Capewell was absolutely everywhere for them as well. I even thought CHT played out the gameplay to shut down Ponga really well. I hope Penrith didn’t watch that too closely. But they gave Ponga absolutely no time, and were happy to hit him. I thought it took him a while to get into the groove.
Crossland. Honestly. I don’t think anybody personifies what we dream of a player more than him. He is absolutely 110% heart. He’s not the craftiest 9 - but he doesn’t need to be. We have so many playmakers - he just gets them the ball. And his defence is sorely missed when he’s out. His effort plays in the last 15 minutes are folklore worthy. Just threw himself at everything. I’d go as far to say his desperation secured the win for us in the end. Brilliant. Doesn’t get the highlights reels of Ponga or Sharpe but I’d love to see a montage of his effort plays yesterday.
Hopwood and Crouch, impressive. Everyone tipped Hopwood to be a star. I think most thought, maybe next year, but 2028 would be his time to shine. Absolutely brilliant the last few weeks. He has built his game up throughout the season. Could tell he was a little fresh early on. But his improvement has been rapid. He could push for a starting spot next year. He’s been asked to do an awful lot of work this season so I’m sure he’s looking forward to a rest in 2 weeks time. But watching him run flat out in to Fisher Harris and Barnet , phwoar.
Sharpe was more involved and I think it’s underrated how much his runs tire the other team. He’s just so hard to get, he engages so many defenders and takes a little gas out of them each time.
We were unlucky not to execute a few more tries. Sharpe tripping over himself and the forward pass bombing the Overlap.
Execution needs to be on point against the Panthers next week.
One thing that struck me was Gags post game. “2 more games”. That’s the mindset of this team at the moment and I’m all for it. They aren’t taking it week by week. It sounds like their focus is more “let’s go, 2 more games, then we can rest, let’s give it our all”.
Ponga getting a bit emotional after that one was great to see what it means to them. Holbrook too, just so overjoyed, proud and happy. Can see why the players are buying into it.
This group deserves so much credit for turning things around. They’ve given us something to smile and dream about again after some very rough years.
2 to go!
Ponga's ankle tackle on him when he was on the rampage 10 metres from the try-line was an underrated huge moment. Have seen him just throw his body at an attacker in that situation and get bounced off plenty of times before. But went low and pulled off a classic grasscutter to chop him down. A try there would have won it for the Warriors.
Let's also not forget the try saver Dom pulled off on Barnett out wide....some great desperate defence right across the board.
The thing is they were fine all year when the refs have been carrying them, they top the league for penalties received.
As soon as a call doesn't go their way they carry on like this.
I saw a video where SJ said he thought Klein did a great job and it was a great game and he said what the crowd did was embarrassing.
slotmachine
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
For all the carry on about him I hope we get Klein in the next two games, much better than the alternative.
Warriors had no issue with their blockers not being penalised last week either lol
HarVeeGee13
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
It's a small thing but that moment where the Wahs batted the ball back into Ponga over the dead ball line, with Kalyn already out of play - exactly the same thing happened on Saturday in the Roosters/Sharks game but it was a Roosters line drop out instead of 20m tap because apparently Gee hasn't read the rule book. That's not a judgement call, it's a black and white thing you can only get wrong if you don't understand the rule.