General Warriors Preseason 2026

[mrblonde]

Was just thinking that, total meme worthy, maybe should be our new logo

#AndrewWahbster

Would it be better if that's his I'ma Kill Ya If Ya Screw Up face or his Hey Chur Bro You Can Screw Up Anytime We Cool face...

I'm hoping it's the second.

Just hoping no babies rupture their Daddy's ACL during the Christmas period by tripping them up. Forget which Kiwi got whacked that way by The Injury Stick...

 

[Defence]

Would it be better if that's his I'ma Kill Ya If Ya Screw Up face or his Hey Chur Bro You Can Screw Up Anytime We Cool face...

I'm hoping it's the second.

Just hoping no babies rupture their Daddy's ACL during the Christmas period by tripping them up. Forget which Kiwi got whacked that way by The Injury Stick...

Kidwell.
The key is in the knee.

 

[Defence]

This seems the best way to settle the fullback debate…

 

[Five&Last]

Bishop is years away. Talent is one thing, but attitude is another. See how he goes against men who are of similar size first. He’ll play 1st grade, no doubt but it won’t be in the next 18 months

If Heamasi Makasini got a run this year at 18 for the Tigers, I would not at all be surprised if Bishop lines up as 18th man in the last few rounds of next season.

I don't think they'll rush him but they will fast track him.

With ball in hand, he would have no problem playing first grade tomorrow in limited minutes if he had to. Defensively he's going to need some help inside and out while he gets used to the faster pace of top level footy.

 

[roguei]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86f3iR0u28

This made me like AKP a bit more. Heard bad things about his character before he joined but that doesn't look to be the case here (at least for the moment). Also had no idea he had 3 kids already. Makes it an interesting move. And i'm glad he is talking about improving on his involvment during a game.

Also to note, last season they were all about getting the ball in hand during training. So at bethells you saw people doing the dunes while carrying the footy. None of that seemed to exist this year with a bigger focus on fittness. Which is interesting as i don't think that was somthing we lacked last year.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

If Heamasi Makasini got a run this year at 18 for the Tigers, I would not at all be surprised if Bishop lines up as 18th man in the last few rounds of next season.

I don't think they'll rush him but they will fast track him.

With ball in hand, he would have no problem playing first grade tomorrow in limited minutes if he had to. Defensively he's going to need some help inside and out while he gets used to the faster pace of top level footy.

I disagree but that’s cool. He hasn’t even played sg ball, let alone flegg or cup yet. A successful year for him would be making his cup debut, even regular mins for flegg. Hes only 17, and has a lot of development to go. Freak athlete is one thing but can he do it consistently, and deal with those who are his same size, I don’t think so. Physically he’s there, but is he fit enough? Does he have the mental strength to deal with the pressure? Again, I doubt it. There’s also no need to rush him. He’s signed on for years to come, and we’re not exactly short of back rowers. He’s still 18months to 2 years away imo. Leka had a full season of cup before he debuted.

 

[Five&Last]

I disagree but that’s cool. He hasn’t even played sg ball, let alone flegg or cup yet. A successful year for him would be making his cup debut, even regular mins for flegg. Hes only 17, and has a lot of development to go. Freak athlete is one thing but can he do it consistently, and deal with those who are his same size, I don’t think so. Physically he’s there, but is he fit enough? Does he have the mental strength to deal with the pressure? Again, I doubt it. There’s also no need to rush him. He’s signed on for years to come, and we’re not exactly short of back rowers. He’s still 18months to 2 years away imo. Leka had a full season of cup before he debuted.

No one is saying he can do it consistently yet. Giving him a one game taste at the end of the year for 15 minutes is a different story. Or even letting him ride the bench as 18th man.

It’s pretty well documented and proven that exposing them to these arenas early (in short stints) boosts development. This is what develops the mental strength to deal with pressure that you’re talking about

Leka didn’t debut in 2023 because he didn’t turn 18 until after the season had finished. Think he turned 18 the week we played the Broncos in the semi. You can’t play first grade until you’re 18.

So he was 6 months younger than Bishop will be end of next season.

Leka was only allowed to debut from round 1 of 2024 and he was injured a lot in the early rounds of 2024 so was out for a period.

Also he was a supplementary contract and I believe the rule about not being able to play before 30 June may have still been around then?

So in reality, Leka debuted as early as possible.

Again, there has been plenty of 18 year olds making their debut in the last few years.

I think we will be too good of a team in August/September to afford giving Bishop debut next year. But he would definitely not be out of place for a fast tracked 1 game taster.

 

[Teets]

is that Mets up the front??

The video of it on Instagram shows it's TMM and Ford at the front.

TMM barely looks likes he's breathing heavy afterwards, probably conditioned to it from all his hunting missions.

 

[Zahnos06]

is that Mets up the front??

Its TMM and jacko ford. Followed by Kai kara france

 

[ndp26]

You can play senior league in NZ in the calendar year that you are turning 18.
I think the same applies to the NRL.
It makes no difference whether you turn 18 on January 1 or December 31 of the same year.

Yeah, I wasn't sure on NRL eligibility - with only a quick look, I couldn't find anything more recent than this article (which says NRL contracts can only be registered once you're 18): https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/j...but-before-18th-birthday-20210315-p5irjl.html

It looka like the NSWRL takes the same approach as NZRL, given Makasini (and Halasima) debuted in Cup at 17: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...ool-heamasi-makasini-benji-marshall/105736578. That'd be consistent with eligibility for Matts, Ball and Flegg (as I understand it) - where you are eligible up to (and including) the year you turn 17 / 19 / 21.

It may be that the NRL just has a hard-line approach of not being able to play NRL until you're 18?

 

[Wrighty]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86f3iR0u28

Barnett is charismatic. I havn't seen that sort of leadership before. Incredible.

 

[sup42]

Barnett's view on Gannon and Gannon's self assessment is way off what the experts say.

They both seem to think he is a genuine first grade candidate.

Barnett is talking eighty minutes in the middle third and having pace and skill, while Gannon is going on about liking tackling (calm the farm lads, using words like tackling and eighty minutes, interchangeability, Webster will suffer priapism).

Fortunately our experts have the good oil, Dave Tangata toa is where you are headed for three years sonny.

 

[snake77]

This made me like AKP a bit more. Heard bad things about his character before he joined but that doesn't look to be the case here (at least for the moment). Also had no idea he had 3 kids already. Makes it an interesting move. And i'm glad he is talking about improving on his involvment during a game.

Also to note, last season they were all about getting the ball in hand during training. So at bethells you saw people doing the dunes while carrying the footy. None of that seemed to exist this year with a bigger focus on fittness. Which is interesting as i don't think that was somthing we lacked last year.

Agree AKP came off quite well in that clip. Not just his own words but what the others were saying about him.

There were a lot of comments going into last season that the boys all looked in good shape. Hopefully a step up in 2026 along with placings overall.

I like summer as I can enjoy the sun, go cycling. But damn videos like that, you want the football season to come around.

 

[CWC]

The video of it on Instagram shows it's TMM and Ford at the front.

TMM barely looks likes he's breathing heavy afterwards, probably conditioned to it from all his hunting missions.

Too bad it’s no use for TMM to be super fit lol, he can make the bench really really warm

 

[Noitall]

Too bad it’s no use for TMM to be super fit lol, he can make the bench really really warm

He got the game against the bulldogs at 7 but Tanah Boyd at 7 didn’t get a lot of results either when he took Metcalf’s place. Plenty for TMM to train hard for, they could use him at 7 until Metcalf is healthy?

 

[watcher]

Having the squad fully fit, conditioned and prepared is ths baseline, it is non negofiable. It also provides the coaching staff opportunity to assess players under pressure and fatigue. As Colin Meads said. Any rugby is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration

 

[Noitall]

Having the squad fully fit, conditioned and prepared is ths baseline, it is non negofiable. It also provides the coaching staff opportunity to assess players under pressure and fatigue. As Colin Meads said. Any rugby is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration

Really impressed at the state of the squad looking at all the footage coming through and you’d hope all will be disciplined to a degree with their eating habits and personal training while away. I’m sure plenty enjoy the time to get away from the grind for a break too. Agree with what you say and think we’re also benefiting from a strong reserve grade in the nsw cup team. Training must be to a high standard and the opposed scrimmages would have a decent intensity I reckon. Preseason must be hugely competitive with players jostling for positions

 

[Brightman]

Barnett's view on Gannon and Gannon's self assessment is way off what the experts say.

They both seem to think he is a genuine first grade candidate.

Barnett is talking eighty minutes in the middle third and having pace and skill, while Gannon is going on about liking tackling (calm the farm lads, using words like tackling and eighty minutes, interchangeability, Webster will suffer priapism).

Fortunately our experts have the good oil, Dave Tangata toa is where you are headed for three years sonny.

You could see in the wrestling sessions that Gannon will need to spend time in the NSW cup team to adapt to the NRL style of footy and the Warriors plays, but he'll be the one to watch and when given an opportunity in the top side will come on strong and impress many..

 

[Tookey 2.0]

You could see in the wrestling sessions that Gannon will need to spend time in the NSW cup team to adapt to the NRL style of footy and the Warriors plays, but he'll be the one to watch and when given an opportunity in the top side will come on strong and impress many..

I haven't seen the footage, but what did you notice re Gannon and the wrestling...does he look a bit behind the 8 ball?

 

[Noitall]

I haven't seen the footage, but what did you notice re Gannon and the wrestling...does he look a bit behind the 8 ball?

The only one I really saw was TSS getting the better of him in a wrestle but thought he looked good and TSS looking strong physically. Niukore is another in great physical condition, looking big and strong