General 2026/2027 - Predict the 17

[Damo]

EIT looks to have the goods for a long NRL career.

Just the fastness, mobility and speed he plays at while doing all the fundamentals well.

And extremely fit.

 

[snake77]

And extremely fit.

Need to push the young forwards during the off season and build on the fitness they had this year.

Laban a lot of people were talking about how impressive he looked early on this season. Catching him early on playing NSW Cup I he looked fit, making it back the 10 with ease.

Vaimauga this season came back with a different body shape to 2024. He came back from his knee injury a lot bigger. He should be good with another full off season and further out from his knee injury.

Halasima won't be able to surprise teams like he did early on this season.

Iremia-Toeava it will be interesting to see where they play him long term at NRL level. In NSW Cup and even in the Storm trial he was capable of playing centre. Not saying that is where he will end up but he could be a second rower or a middle.

These young guys are one of our strengths. Hopefully they have a good off season get stronger and fitter. They will also have more experience on managing their energy levels at NRL level.

 

[Horriors2013]

Need to push the young forwards during the off season and build on the fitness they had this year.

Laban a lot of people were talking about how impressive he looked early on this season. Catching him early on playing NSW Cup I he looked fit, making it back the 10 with ease.

Vaimauga this season came back with a different body shape to 2024. He came back from his knee injury a lot bigger. He should be good with another full off season and further out from his knee injury.

Halasima won't be able to surprise teams like he did early on this season.

Iremia-Toeava it will be interesting to see where they play him long term at NRL level. In NSW Cup and even in the Storm trial he was capable of playing centre. Not saying that is where he will end up but he could be a second rower or a middle.

These young guys are one of our strengths. Hopefully they have a good off season get stronger and fitter. They will also have more experience on managing their energy levels at NRL level.

We pride ourselves as a club on turning second rowers into centre's and centre's into second rowers. Pat Moimoi ended the year at second rower. Mannering 2.0.

 

[Horriors2013]

Also, good point about Leka. But I was expecting opposition to catch on to him earlier in the season. They couldn't. He has the determination on top of his ability, to get across the line in clutch situations. It's like the more desperate the scenario, the harder he plays. He's a true champion.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Also, good point about Leka. But I was expecting opposition to catch on to him earlier in the season. They couldn't. He has the determination on top of his ability, to get across the line in clutch situations. It's like the more desperate the scenario, the harder he plays. He's a true champion.

I think he has the ability to be anything. Tbh I thought we were pretty piss poor at figuring out how to get him one on one, or even two on one against defenders because he showed time and time again that in those situations he's going to beat his man more often than not.

That try he scored against the Broncos, with Riki in front of him was special. A little room to move and just exploded past Riki, who is a pretty decent defender.

Our main game plan should be to try and get Leka into situations one on one, I reckon if you give him 4 opportunities a game he probably scores or sets up 2 or 3 of them.

 

[Horriors2013]

View: https://youtu.be/4sIfa2qjXNc?si=1WmcgPXI0MTEkQ8B

It figures that the American Military would be afraid of children.

They should just skip to step five already and round them all up in Ghettos, run them through the appearance test and ship them off to the camp showers.

Mistake? Wrong thread? Unlike you to post unrelated material.

 

[sup42]

Mistake? Wrong thread? Unlike you to post unrelated material.

Yeah moved it cheers.

 

[Te Mana-wah]

2026

1. RTS
2. Mellars
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. AKP
6. TMM
7. Metcalf
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Niukore
11. Capewell
12. Halisima
13. Clark

14. Healey
15. Laban
16. Barnett
17. Vaimauga

2027

1. Metcalf
2. Norris
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. AKP
6. Inch
7. Cleary
8. JFH
9. Healey
10. Clark
11. Neal
12. Halisima
13. Gannon

14. Laban
15. Fatialofa
16. Barnett
17. Vaimauga

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

1- RTS
2- DWZ
3- CNK
4- Pompey
5- AKP

6- CHT
7- Metcalf
8- Clark
9- Egan
10- Barney
11- Capewell
12- Halasima
13- Gannon

14- Healey
15- JFH
16- Laban
17- Vaimauga/Niukore

 

[gambler03]

2026

1. RTS
2. Mellars
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. AKP
6. TMM
7. Metcalf
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Niukore
11. Capewell
12. Halisima
13. Clark

14. Healey
15. Laban
16. Barnett
17. Vaimauga

2027

1. Metcalf
2. Norris
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. AKP
6. Inch
7. Cleary
8. JFH
9. Healey
10. Clark
11. Neal
12. Halisima
13. Gannon

14. Laban
15. Fatialofa
16. Barnett
17. Vaimauga

Low-key love this. Potentially switch Vaimauga to 13 in 27, and have a utility like CHT rather than Gannon.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Man, with our recruitment our halves and wingers are stacked with potential.

Those positions could go so many ways in the future

 

[Playdaball]

I wonder if DWZ would be more effective at fullback ?? He impressed when playing at #1 for the Kiwis.

 

[Cces]

I wonder if DWZ would be more effective at fullback ?? He impressed when playing at #1 for the Kiwis.

Mixed results. 6 games - 2 wins (AUS & ENG), 1 draw (SCOT) & 3 losses (x3 ENG)

 

[ROCCO]

Young man's game

1. T Tuaupiki
2. H Mellars
3. A Leiataua
4. R Berry
5. A Khan-Pereira
6. J Linnane
7. L Metcalf

8. JFH
9. S Healy
10. D Vaimauga
11. L Halasima
12. J Laban
13. E Clark

14. J Cleary
15. T Stowers Smith
16. M Gannon
17. M Barnett

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Young man's game

1. T Tuaupiki
2. H Mellars
3. A Leiataua
4. R Berry
5. A Khan-Pereira
6. J Linnane
7. L Metcalf

8. JFH
9. S Healy
10. D Vaimauga
11. L Halasima
12. J Laban
13. E Clark

14. J Cleary
15. T Stowers Smith
16. M Gannon
17. M Barnett

JFH too old for that team.
Barney can piss off too!

 

[ROCCO]

JFH too old for that team.
Barney can piss off too!

Aw yeah. Bring in Eddie Toeava and that big back rower

 

[Horriors2013]

1 C N Klokstad
2 D W Zelezniak
3 R Berry
4 A Leiataua
5 R T Sheck
6 C H Tavita
7 T Boyd
8 J F Harris
9 W Egan
10 J Ford
11 K Capewell
12 M Niukore
13 E Clark

14 S Healey
15 J Laban
16 D Vaimauga
17 L Halasima

2027

1 C N Klokstad
2 D W Zelezniak
3 R Berry
4 K Fatialofa
5 R T Sheck
6 L Metcalf
7 T Boyd
8 J F Harris
9 W Egan
10 M Barnett
11 L Halasima
12 J Laban
13 E Clark

14 S Healey
15 J Ford
16 D Vaimauga
17 M Gannon

Wow!. I love how you don't go with the crowd. You're sticking with CNK, Dallin, RTS and Boyd. It's very conservative - some would say this is the most realistic, practical outlook. But then in 2027 you straight up drop Leiataua for Fatialofa. You're messing with a lot of fans' presumptions that Leiataua is the future. I can't argue your logic. But here's where I think Webby is diverging: He proactively hunted AKP witghout even a hint that he was going to. That signals he knows the backline needs speed. He could have picked up a bargain young fulla like Cody Ramsay (too late now ofc) or Tyrone Sloan if he wanted to work on someone for a couple more years -= instead we have Motu Pasikala, Mellars and Kali who are more fringe/up-and-coming. So buying AKP to me, he is telling AKP "I want you to force either RTS or DWZ out next year. Your future is in your hands". He'll most likely force DWZ out unless RTS has to take FB through a CNK and TT injury issue. A 3 year contract tells me that Webby is showing confidence in him.

I like how you've retained Niukore and Capewah - I think a lot of posters are dreaming when they say Niukore is useless - he's a big body with intimidation factor and bends the line. Stats don't tell the whole story at all. Niukore is going between an edge player and middle forward when needed. He runs good lines on the edge and when the team is balanced - not reshuffled - he plays an important role there. People are mad trying to put a $750k player in NSW Cup - no employer would do that - they'd make him work harder if he was shirking. I think our starting forward pack 'when fit' is definitely Barnett/Egan/JFH/Niukore/Capewell/Clarke with Vaimauga/Leka/Healey/Ford off the bench. You've taken into account injuries. I think you've really done your homework and you're picking Fatialofa to be the standout over the next 2 years. You may well be proven right with these line-ups. So far the most sensible line-up prediction I've seen yet.

 

[Horriors2013]

I think Laban should be legit regular alongside Demi and Leka next year, Healey needs to share 1/3 of the workload for Egan either off the bench or starting and leave Egan out for conditioning

I'd prefer EIT to get the Leka/Demi treatment and get a regular spot on the bench or first drop forward depth either prop or 2nd row, did you see how fast he runs from marker to the 1st receiver

Fats probably get the EIT gig having random games in the back half of the season to cover injuries, we really need to demote or move on Marata

With Barney still being injured, I'm sure Ford or Niukore will start, which will open up Niukore's possie to Leka or Laban. With Leka playing in the international season he's probably quite knackered. Laban may get the nod first just in the interest of keeping people as fresh as possible. Even Demi might rest.