I’ve seen a fair bit. He’s talented. Very young, but would be one of the best if not the best fullback in Nz schoolboys rugby.
General 2021 Warriors Preseason
- Thread starter mt.wellington
- Start date
Pec rupture which is generally up to 4 months. Same injury Leeson had last year I believe.
Expected back mid season.
Forward planner: Brown piecing together new-look Warriors pack
Chris Kennedy
NRL.com Reporter
Thu 21 Jan 2021, 05:01 PM
New Warriors coach Nathan Brown has a radically different forward pack to work with than what was available to Todd Payten last year with effectively six new faces plus the development of some younger players.
While Adam Blair retired and Lachlan Burr, Isaiah Papali'i and Agnatius Paasi moved on, Leeson Ah Mau and Bunty Afoa return from long-term injuries to join recruits Addin Fonua-Blake, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Kane Evans and Bayley Sironen.
Brown revealed Tongan wrecking ball Murdoch-Masila had been training almost exclusively on an edge – his preferred position over his past five years at Salford and Warrington.
The 29-year-old's recent pec strain was so minor he barely missed a session and was back in full training, the coach added.
Afoa is in full training after missing all of 2020 with an ACL injury while Ah Mau is also unrestricted having not played since round two last season due to a ruptured pec.
"We've had a lot of players come into the club, whether that's external recruiting or whether it's been younger players coming up that have been in the Warriors program the last few years so we've had a big turnover of people and some new staff so we're building combinations and looking at the way we want to do things on the field," Brown said.
Brown undecided on Warriors forwards make-upBrown undecided on Warriors forwards make-up
Brown undecided on Warriors forwards make-up
"We've had a fairly significant turnover. Young Siro's come into the equation as well. Some blokes last year, Eli Katoa developed, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown was developing.
"Obviously a couple of other forwards, Jack Murchie played a reasonable amount of footy last year, Josh Curran played a couple of games.
"There's also blokes developing within that have just started their journey so who plays where and gets what spot, we won't know how some blokes are going until probably round six or seven.
"Only having one trial which is the case for every club, there's a lot of blokes we won't get to see a lot of until we actually start playing.
"The young guys from last year, like all clubs there's a lot of younger kids who only played a couple of games of footy last year.
"It's probably going to take a little bit of time but we have some positions nailed in and more importantly our key positions we know who's going to start there which is good for combinations."
Fonua-Blake is the highest-profile recruit for the Warriors this season and Brown was hopeful that the Tonga international was coming into the best part of his career.
"He's a good experienced player, coming into a good age, he's 25 now so he's probably coming into what should be his best years," Brown said.
"He's a father now with four children so when they get that maturity off the field that helps on the field so we're hopeful of Addin having a really good impact for not only on the field but off the field.
"He's been good for some of our younger players in particular which is great."
Brown said managing the COVID bubble requirements would be a lot smoother this year after many lessons learned last year and with families able to join the players, but still lamented a slightly interrupted preparation.
"The experience the club got out of it can help this year be a little bit more positive," he said.
"The initial period last year there was a lot of uncertainty and no families whereas this year there's more certainty and the families are able to come and join their loved ones. Last year's experience can certainly help make this year's transition a little easier."
That includes the certainty of knowing the club's first four rounds will be based in Australia before a likely return to hosting home games in New Zealand, though having part of the pre-season split into two groups – one on either side of the Tasman – was a setback to building combinations.
"Knowing where we are for the first sort of four to six weeks has certainly taken a lot of uncertainty away but the biggest challenge has been we've got a lot of new players come into the club," he added.
"From a combinations point of view [having split groups] wasn't ideal but you get a choice, all organisations in business or sport have different types of challenges.
"Sure the combinations might not be quite where they would be if we'd trained before Christmas. We got to put a lot of time into some other areas and I suppose with having the staff we had and smaller groups that allowed players to probably get a little bit more individual time into them."
www.nrl.com
Chris Kennedy
NRL.com Reporter
Thu 21 Jan 2021, 05:01 PM
New Warriors coach Nathan Brown has a radically different forward pack to work with than what was available to Todd Payten last year with effectively six new faces plus the development of some younger players.
While Adam Blair retired and Lachlan Burr, Isaiah Papali'i and Agnatius Paasi moved on, Leeson Ah Mau and Bunty Afoa return from long-term injuries to join recruits Addin Fonua-Blake, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Kane Evans and Bayley Sironen.
Brown revealed Tongan wrecking ball Murdoch-Masila had been training almost exclusively on an edge – his preferred position over his past five years at Salford and Warrington.
The 29-year-old's recent pec strain was so minor he barely missed a session and was back in full training, the coach added.
Afoa is in full training after missing all of 2020 with an ACL injury while Ah Mau is also unrestricted having not played since round two last season due to a ruptured pec.
"We've had a lot of players come into the club, whether that's external recruiting or whether it's been younger players coming up that have been in the Warriors program the last few years so we've had a big turnover of people and some new staff so we're building combinations and looking at the way we want to do things on the field," Brown said.
Brown undecided on Warriors forwards make-upBrown undecided on Warriors forwards make-up
Brown undecided on Warriors forwards make-up
"We've had a fairly significant turnover. Young Siro's come into the equation as well. Some blokes last year, Eli Katoa developed, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown was developing.
"Obviously a couple of other forwards, Jack Murchie played a reasonable amount of footy last year, Josh Curran played a couple of games.
"There's also blokes developing within that have just started their journey so who plays where and gets what spot, we won't know how some blokes are going until probably round six or seven.
"Only having one trial which is the case for every club, there's a lot of blokes we won't get to see a lot of until we actually start playing.
"The young guys from last year, like all clubs there's a lot of younger kids who only played a couple of games of footy last year.
"It's probably going to take a little bit of time but we have some positions nailed in and more importantly our key positions we know who's going to start there which is good for combinations."
Fonua-Blake is the highest-profile recruit for the Warriors this season and Brown was hopeful that the Tonga international was coming into the best part of his career.
"He's a good experienced player, coming into a good age, he's 25 now so he's probably coming into what should be his best years," Brown said.
"He's a father now with four children so when they get that maturity off the field that helps on the field so we're hopeful of Addin having a really good impact for not only on the field but off the field.
"He's been good for some of our younger players in particular which is great."
Brown said managing the COVID bubble requirements would be a lot smoother this year after many lessons learned last year and with families able to join the players, but still lamented a slightly interrupted preparation.
"The experience the club got out of it can help this year be a little bit more positive," he said.
"The initial period last year there was a lot of uncertainty and no families whereas this year there's more certainty and the families are able to come and join their loved ones. Last year's experience can certainly help make this year's transition a little easier."
That includes the certainty of knowing the club's first four rounds will be based in Australia before a likely return to hosting home games in New Zealand, though having part of the pre-season split into two groups – one on either side of the Tasman – was a setback to building combinations.
"Knowing where we are for the first sort of four to six weeks has certainly taken a lot of uncertainty away but the biggest challenge has been we've got a lot of new players come into the club," he added.
"From a combinations point of view [having split groups] wasn't ideal but you get a choice, all organisations in business or sport have different types of challenges.
"Sure the combinations might not be quite where they would be if we'd trained before Christmas. We got to put a lot of time into some other areas and I suppose with having the staff we had and smaller groups that allowed players to probably get a little bit more individual time into them."
Forward planner: Brown piecing together new-look Warriors pack
New Warriors coach Nathan Brown has a radically different forward pack to work with than what was available to Todd Payten last year with effectively six new faces plus the development of some younger players.
www.nrl.com
Safe to say looking at the pic of those players in dolphins kit that Taniela Otukolo would of picked up the last development contract. No surprises really considering the depth at Hooker
In the article before your post that rizzah put up, is that Taniela Otukolo in the picture at the bottom in front of Leeson Ah Mau?
I was of the impression Paul Turner is the back up full back? I mean guys we must find a spot for Paul turner! Imagine our forwards cranking this year and this little nugget is running rampant of the back of it, he looked so dangerous on debut.
Thanks. Has he got a development contract too.
Tell you what (should it happen) the success this year will need to go to upper management. The clean out and perceived 'brutal' sacking of SK which I was happy with speaks volumes. To me they have cut the this is our year crap and said enough is enough. We won't wait till a contract ends, or persist with players we know can deliver but are in shit form. It feels like a genuine connection to the fans without pushing false hope. I am so pumped for this season
He definitely needs to see more game time. I wonder if they’re grooming him for Rogers spot if they feel he’s not living up to his price tag. At a minimum should at least get a run from the bench as soon as we lose a utility spot from injury or whatever. I was very impressed at his turn of speed and ability to break a tackle, something Tedesco has made a career from.
Big time prospect and huge coup for POS. Long term centre and/or contingency plan at the back for life after RTS. Seen a good amount of him at first XV level, he’s the real deal. People should be very excited about his future.
They say success has many fathers and failure is an orphan (/SK's child)
If we have success this year it will result from a combination of:
1. The breakout performances/ development of guys like CHT, Egan, Katoa, Perham, Pompey etc who were identified or recruited under the previous regime
2. AFB's spat with Manly having him fall into our lap and plugging our biggest hole
3. Management's clean out and the culture reset
4. Luck with injury, suspension, refs (which we've had none of in recent years)
On the road with Vodafone Warriors 2021 on Facebook Watch
Out about with a few players to the local radio stations this morning! 2TM AM & 92.9 FM
fb.watch
On the road with Vodafone Warriors 2021 on Facebook Watch
It was great for the Vodafone Warriors to host the Group 4 club coaches and staff today at training. Fantastic experience for guys from the region
fb.watch
Anyone else got more respect for Cameron George now?
He is the a bit of a pest with the Go Pro but seems to be well respected and have a lot of good relationships throughout the game
He is the a bit of a pest with the Go Pro but seems to be well respected and have a lot of good relationships throughout the game
He kind of reminds me of my boss at work, harmless as guy and seems nice. But what an annoying as fulla.
Bayley Sironen is very well spoken, he comes across very professional in this relatively short interview, what a great assetOn the road with Vodafone Warriors 2021 on Facebook Watch
Out about with a few players to the local radio stations this morning! 2TM AM & 92.9 FM
Was just thinking the same thing. Not to get too carried away yet but wonder how much influence the owners have had over what's happening now and how the season is unfolding?
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