General YOUR Team for 2026

[Tookey 2.0]

Who put Gannon at centre? that might be interesting...

This is what I would do, assuming fitness and availability (though acknowledging Taine has a broken leg) :

1. CNK
2. RTS
3. Ali
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. Linnane
7. Metcalf
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Leka
12. Capewell
13. Demetric

14. CHT
15. Laban
16. Ford
17. Clark

Big call letting the Daly M lock of the year start from the bench...

I like the look of the team overall though. Where abouts do you see Healey in our team? Does he only get a run if (when) Egans injured?

 

[Canonball]

Big call letting the Daly M lock of the year start from the bench...

I like the look of the team overall though. Where abouts do you see Healey in our team? Does he only get a run if (when) Egans injured?

yeah, IDK is my honest answer ... his passing worries me ... Clark on the bench to continue beast mode in middle third of the match

 

[CWC]

Webby might start Clark and bring on Demi and Gannon like he did with Jazz and Walker, although imagine Gannon starting and Clark+Demi come on together after 25min, if it’s a Clark+Demi+NAS together it’d be The Wah Squad

 

[Wrighty]

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JWWxBK6pjPU

 

[Inruin]

1

RTS

2

AKP

3

Pompey

4

CNK

5

DWZ

6

CHT

7

TMM

8

Fish

9

Egan

10

Ford

11

Marata

12

Capewell

13

Clark

14

Healey

15

Leka

16

Demi

17

Laban

Create your own team formation

My Round 1 team - Assuming LM and Barney aren't available.

 

[Bushman]

1

RTS

2

AKP

3

Pompey

4

CNK

5

DWZ

6

CHT

7

TMM

8

Fish

9

Egan

10

Ford

11

Marata

12

Capewell

13

Clark

14

Healey

15

Leka

16

Demi

17

Laban

Create your own team formation

Round 1 team - Assuming LM and Barney aren't available.

Outside AKP and maybe Pompey, anyone under 25 makes the 13?
Are we going into round 1 with one of the oldest starting 13?
Maybe the yooth on the bench is enough?

 

[Dannevegas]

Red 1 team

1. Roger Tuivasa-scheck
2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Rocco Berry
5. Sio Kali
6. Channel Harris-Tavita
7. Te-Maire Martin
8. Erin Clark
9. Wade Egan
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Leka Halasima
12. Jacob Laban
13. Demetric Vaimauga

14. Sam Healey
15. Marata Niukore
16. Mitch Barnett
17. Eddie Eiremia-Toeava

 

[Inruin]

Outside AKP and maybe Pompey, anyone under 25 makes the 13?
Are we going into round 1 with one of the oldest starting 13?
Maybe the yooth on the bench is enough?

There is that factor, but also have to have experience and durability. Id love Ali to be in the team but he needs to show he can get through a run of games first. Same goes for Rocco. TT is a bit unlucky to miss out.

Other than that I think it's a solid first round team that has versatility and enough attacking spark that we can build into the season.

 

[Cces]

I'm 100% convinced that Halasima needs to start at left edge & Capewell needs to go to the right-side.
We need some stike on the left. CNK rarely is seen over there & neither Capewell or CHT are much of a individual threat when they run. I don't see the point in starting Niukore on the right side to expend lots of energy on kick chase when he's not a particularly good defender even when he isn't fatigued. Capewell, who it must be said has performed better on the left for the club, can do the workhorse role better than anyone at present (but will be phased out for an EIT or Laban).
There's risks to it but the other thing I hope is that Healey is the #14, at least up until Metcalf is back. There's no need for Egan to accumulate lots of minutes in the first 2 months of the season & Healey provides some spark that none of the other likely spine player possess

 

[Naynay]

I'm 100% convinced that Halasima needs to start at left edge & Capewell needs to go to the right-side.
We need some stike on the left. CNK rarely is seen over there & neither Capewell or CHT are much of a individual threat when they run. I don't see the point in starting Niukore on the right side to expend lots of energy on kick chase when he's not a particularly good defender even when he isn't fatigued. Capewell, who it must be said has performed better on the left for the club, can do the workhorse role better than anyone at present (but will be phased out for an EIT or Laban).
There's risks to it but the other thing I hope is that Healey is the #14, at least up until Metcalf is back. There's no need for Egan to accumulate lots of minutes in the first 2 months of the season & Healey provides some spark that none of the other likely spine player possess

My only concern is that the team is pretty right side dominant so putting Leka out left could totally negate involvement, but also could incentivise going that way to get him the ball

 

[Cces]

My only concern is that the team is pretty right side dominant so putting Leka out left could totally negate involvement, but also could incentivise going that way to get him the ball

I'll see if I can find my post on his right vs left output in his 2025. If I remember correctly, it favored the left when he was a starter, which makes sense considering he carries the ball in his left arm

 

[Cces]

https://nzwarriors.com/threads/your-team-for-2026.1599/post-219116

 

[Naynay]

I'll see if I can find my post on his right vs left output in his 2025. If I remember correctly, it favored the left when he was a starter, which makes sense considering he carries the ball in his left arm

Sorry not in reference to Lekas preferred side but the teams. I would have to have a look at some stats but gut reaction is mostly the right.

I have no doubt he would be able to play either side really and he had some top moments on the left.

 

[Theking267]

My only concern is that the team is pretty right side dominant so putting Leka out left could totally negate involvement, but also could incentivise going that way to get him the ball

I think both Pompey & RTS had there best trying scoring seasons at the club & CHT scored 8 tries to go along with his 18 try assists. So I don’t think it was as big discrepancy as it has been in the past.

 

[Noitall]

I've heard whispers that the plan is to turn EIT into a middle this year. Ford-type motor but with much more upside.

Have also heard whispers that Clark might transition to a prop role if Gannon progresses well - think Leniu-type bench impact









Came across this on the Warriors LU forum

 

[Naynay]

I think both Pompey & RTS had there best trying scoring seasons at the club & CHT scored 8 tries to go along with his 18 try assists. So I don’t think it was as big discrepancy as it has been in the past.

Yeah i thought about it and i think we were stronger on the left.

I also watched a couple of the games (cowboys, roosters and first sea eagles) and the attack was really dynamic on that side, in those games specifically metcalf was swinging both sides that added more then Johnson sitting on the one side.

 

[Username: Required]

All hyphonated backline anyone?
1. RTS
2. AKP
3. EIT
4. CNK
5. DWZ
6. CHT
7. TMM

 

[Canonball]

All hyphonated backline anyone?
1. RTS
2. AKP
3. EIT
4. CNK
5. DWZ
6. CHT
7. TMM

Strictly speaking TMM isn't hyphenated... but yeah lol

 

[Inruin]

All hyphonated backline anyone?
1. RTS
2. AKP
3. EIT
4. CNK
5. DWZ
6. CHT
7. TMM

That's actually pretty close to my round 1 backline except for EIT. I would go for APP (Adam Pom Pey) instead of him