General Warriors SG Ball 2025

[Viking]

He's a fullback

He’ll be a centre at the next level and I’m sure that’s where he’s been training at. He’d only go to fullback if Ratcliffe was out and I’m not even sure about that.

Matt’s isn’t always a good indicator of fullback potential as they have to cover a lot more ground in the senior grades and he’s already heavier than most of the reserve grade fullbacks from this year and all of the smaller 1st grade fullbacks.

He’s powerful off the mark but there’s a number of boys faster than him in both the Matt’s and Ball squads. He’s not remotely close to Kini or Taupiki in top end speed. I reckon he’d be plagued with hamstring problems if he played fullback long term and didn’t get his weight down. Same goes for Roger.

His real strength is his determination, he’s what I imagine Matai would’ve been like at the same age. I think he plays 1st grade in 27 and will be the best centre in the club in 28.

 

[Noitall]

He’s powerful off the mark but there’s a number of boys faster than him in both the Matt’s and Ball squads. He’s not remotely close to Kini or Taupiki in top end speed. I reckon he’d be plagued with hamstring problems if he played fullback long term and didn’t don’t get his weight down. Same goes for Roger.

His real strength is his determination, he’s what I imagine Matai would’ve been like at the same age. I think he plays 1st grade in 27 and will be the best centre in the club in 28.

Not sure if it’s the case but I watched something the other day that the warriorholic was saying he reckons Sio Kali is about the fastest at the club, faster than Metcalf he reckons. So often you see these real fast guys with injury issues

 

[Viking]

Not sure if it’s the case but I watched something the other day that the warriorholic was saying he reckons Sio Kali is about the fastest at the club, faster than Metcalf he reckons. So often you see these real fast guys with injury issues

In the top 30 maybe. I think Ralphy Sio from Flegg was naturally faster than Kali last year. Kali’s a better player.

Untrained speedsters have a bad habit of trying to accelerate mid sprint and blowing their hammys. Even trained sprinters can do it.

 

[Noitall]

In the top 30 maybe. I think Ralphy Sio from Flegg was naturally faster than Kali last year. Kali’s a better player.

Untrained speedsters have a bad habit of trying to accelerate mid sprint and blowing their hammys. Even trained sprinters can do it.

Farnworth last season against us

 

[Viking]

Farnworth last season against us

Turbo and Latrell are examples of tall speedsters that are forever nursing hamstrings from the ground they have to cover. Hammer is the most relaxed player at top speed in the game, it’s a joy to watch.

 

[Noitall]

Turbo and Latrell are examples of tall speedsters that are forever nursing hamstrings from the ground they have to cover. Hammer is the most relaxed player at top speed in the game, it’s a joy to watch.

That’s how I’d describe Metcalf’s style that he came back from America with would be more relaxed. Was nothing to do with his speed his latest, just unfortunate how his leg dug into the turf when he was hit. Saab right up there for fastest but also injury prone. We’ve picked up our own in AKP with extreme pace, agree on HTF

 

[Five&Last]

He’ll be a centre at the next level and I’m sure that’s where he’s been training at. He’d only go to fullback if Ratcliffe was out and I’m not even sure about that.

Matt’s isn’t always a good indicator of fullback potential as they have to cover a lot more ground in the senior grades and he’s already heavier than most of the reserve grade fullbacks from this year and all of the smaller 1st grade fullbacks.

He’s powerful off the mark but there’s a number of boys faster than him in both the Matt’s and Ball squads. He’s not remotely close to Kini or Taupiki in top end speed. I reckon he’d be plagued with hamstring problems if he played fullback long term and didn’t get his weight down. Same goes for Roger.

His real strength is his determination, he’s what I imagine Matai would’ve been like at the same age. I think he plays 1st grade in 27 and will be the best centre in the club in 28.

Hmm i don't know if I agree with that. Off the first 15m - 20m I would say Lemana is one of the quicker ones in the Matts and SG ball teams. He created a lot linebreaks from quick twitch acceleration. Easily quickest off the mark in this year's Matts starting team in the finals. But yes Lemana's speed from that 30m+ mark does drop quite a bit.

All his first XV games have been playing fullback (and wing the year prior to that). Also because they have a stacked midfield with CJ there (also Matts this year)

They may well develop Lemana in a different position but I don't really believe in Ratcliffe at the next level. Great support runner but he doesn't have any game breaking ability. No playmaking, no tackle breaking, quite soft at times. What's your thoughts on Ratcliffe, do you genuinely think he can be an elite first grade fullback? I think he can get into the first grade mix but we're trying to develop stars at the next level (elite players is what wins premierships)

It will revert back to 2024 for next years SG Ball team with Lemana at center and Ratcliffe at fullback. But i want Lemana to get some fullback games, also so we can see Connor Bowden/Soane Maasi centre pairing.

That is a good point about carrying around the weight around at fullback. Although he's not tall I can see Lemana putting on a lot of muscle as he gets older, extremely broad shoulders.

 

[Five&Last]

In the top 30 maybe. I think Ralphy Sio from Flegg was naturally faster than Kali last year. Kali’s a better player.

Untrained speedsters have a bad habit of trying to accelerate mid sprint and blowing their hammys. Even trained sprinters can do it.

I would say 16 year old Kaian Olsen is the fastest on the clubs books. Played Harold Matts last season. Might be the fastest player I've ever seen come through.

Ralph Sio is probably second for me. But no first grade future unless some crazy development happens. Has no step on him. He's a straight-line sprinter. Plus his footy IQ is pretty terrible.

Honourable mentions: Brandon Norris and Ezekiel Davidson-Faaiuaso

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Does anyone have the Harold matts squad?

 

[Viking]

Does anyone have the Harold matts squad?

Named in early Jan if this year is anything to go by.

 

[Viking]

I would say 16 year old Kaian Olsen is the fastest on the clubs books. Played Harold Matts last season. Might be the fastest player I've ever seen come through.

Ralph Sio is probably second for me. But no first grade future unless some crazy development happens. Has no step on him. He's a straight-line sprinter. Plus his footy IQ is pretty terrible.

Honourable mentions: Brandon Norris and Ezekiel Davidson-Faaiuaso

I’ve been saying for years that Sio should do track to build on his natural speed. Olsen is the fastest in Matt’s and Ball squads, he tore up for Kelston at Condors last weekend. Luatua is a good sprinter and I’ve heard there’s a couple of good Fijians, one played for Malborough College at Condors but didn’t get many chances.

 

[Noitall]

Does anyone have the Harold matts squad?

2026 Harold Matthews Cup Player Movements and Squads

Full list of signed players for each team.

www.zerotackle.com

Not sure how on the mark this is?

 

[Viking]

Hmm i don't know if I agree with that. Off the first 15m - 20m I would say Lemana is one of the quicker ones in the Matts and SG ball teams. He created a lot linebreaks from quick twitch acceleration. Easily quickest off the mark in this year's Matts starting team in the finals. But yes Lemana's speed from that 30m+ mark does drop quite a bit.

All his first XV games have been playing fullback (and wing the year prior to that). Also because they have a stacked midfield with CJ there (also Matts this year)

They may well develop Lemana in a different position but I don't really believe in Ratcliffe at the next level. Great support runner but he doesn't have any game breaking ability. No playmaking, no tackle breaking, quite soft at times. What's your thoughts on Ratcliffe, do you genuinely think he can be an elite first grade fullback? I think he can get into the first grade mix but we're trying to develop stars at the next level (elite players is what wins premierships)

It will revert back to 2024 for next years SG Ball team with Lemana at center and Ratcliffe at fullback. But i want Lemana to get some fullback games, also so we can see Connor Bowden/Soane Maasi centre pairing.

That is a good point about carrying around the weight around at fullback. Although he's not tall I can see Lemana putting on a lot of muscle as he gets older, extremely broad shoulders.

He was first choice at fullback for school until he put a bit of weight on naturally plus Warriors gym work. So they moved him to wing but he’d need long speed to play rugby on the wing long term. He’d be 180cm and in the high eighties in weight.

His line breaks are as much about anticipation and reaction time as they are about fast twitch fibres but those characteristics combined make him an excellent prospect for 1st grade. He was scorched a few times at fullback. All the qualities you’ve described are what the great smaller centres have displayed, especially the first 10m. Pair him with a quick winger and they’ll dominate. And hamstrings won’t be an issue. He’s a short distance sprinter, the modern fullback is going to need to be a long sprinter / short distance middle distance runner with the speed of the modern game.

 

[Five&Last]

I’ve been saying for years that Sio should do track to build on his natural speed. Olsen is the fastest in Matt’s and Ball squads, he tore up for Kelston at Condors last weekend. Luatua is a good sprinter and I’ve heard there’s a couple of good Fijians, one played for Malborough College at Condors but didn’t get many chances.

Yeah I've only seen Kaian Olsen play a few times, but he's electric in the open field.

We haven't really developed a player like that. Maybe SJ counts but he never had the gliding gazelle like speed that Olsen has.

The difference between Olsen and someone like Ralph Sio. Is Olsen can change direction without losing any speed. He can step and still boost off the mark.

Ralph Sio should work on his balance and change of direction, instead of doing track. A lot of NFL wide receivers train this as religion. The raw speed is there for him but he doesn't have natural transfer of momentum off either foot.

Haven't seen much of Luatua apart from the secondary schools tourney. Need to see more of him

 

[Viking]

Yeah I've only seen Kaian Olsen play a few times, but he's electric in the open field.

We haven't really developed a player like that. Maybe SJ counts but he never had the gliding gazelle like speed that Olsen has.

The difference between Olsen and someone like Ralph Sio. Is Olsen can change direction without losing any speed. He can step and still boost off the mark.

Ralph Sio should work on his balance and change of direction, instead of doing track. A lot of NFL wide receivers train this as religion. The raw speed is there for him but he doesn't have natural transfer of momentum off either foot.

Haven't seen much of Luatua apart from the secondary schools tourney. Need to see more of him

Good points on Sio. I only look at him as an untapped sprinting talent and I think of how he could get faster. I didn’t see much of him playing this year but met him a few times when he was younger. He dominated with his speed as a junior and probably didn’t add the skills he now needs with his opposition improving at each level. He missed some crucial years of development during Covid too. He could start with some of the swerve running that the current kelston boys do well.