General Greatest Warriors XVII

[Boats n Hoes]

Should form only relate to player’s performances on Warriors jerseys , examples include Mathew Ridges best football was played at Manly, Tate at Broncos, Wiki at Canberra, Hoppe at Canberra , Vagana at the Bulldogs etc

I think it should.

If your choosing a "best of" to me it makes sense its based on their performances for that particular team.....however depends on the individual i guess. To some a players career performance is of more importance. Where that falls down for me is that i would be loathe naming Dennis Betts in a Warriors all time 13, yet career wise he's one of the most celebrated international 2nd rowers to ever be on our books and is probably justified to be named in the best ever Warriors side if we're using that criteria.......never mind the fact he was pretty kaka during his time here.

(incidently i thought Sean Hoppe's first 2 seasons here were strong enough to have him in contention at least for 1 of the wing spots.......however Manu and Meli are my picks)

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Should form only relate to player’s performances on Warriors jerseys , examples include Mathew Ridges best football was played at Manly, Tate at Broncos, Wiki at Canberra, Hoppe at Canberra , Vagana at the Bulldogs etc

That's a good thread in itself. A whole lot of our past signings were on overs and were on their take the money and run contracts.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I think it should.

If you’re choosing a "best of" to me it makes sense its based on their performances for that particular team.....however depends on the individual i guess. To some a players career performance is of more importance. Where that falls down for me is that i would be loathe namingi agree it has to be for the Warriors jersey to be Dennis Betts in a Warriors all time 13, yet career wise he's one of the most celebrated international 2nd rowers to ever be on our books and is probably justified to be named in the best ever Warriors side if we're using that criteria.......never mind the fact he was pretty kaka during his time here.

(incidently i thought Sean Hoppe's first 2 seasons here were strong enough to have him in contention at least for 1 of the wing spots.......however Manu and Meli are my picks)

I agree it has to be in the Warriors jersey to be in the best Warriors 13,

I struggle more with peak play (best season) vs a player that wasn’t as great but operated at a high level for a long time.

Wade McKinnon comes to mind as possibly the best season from a fullback in the Warriors jersey - arguably his all round game and attacking threat in my personal opinion eclipsed RTS Daly M year.

Luck and Mannering are contenders are contenders as workhorses over many years but lacked an all round game that some over second rowers offered.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

I agree it has to be in the Warriors jersey to be in the best Warriors 13,

I struggle more with peak play (best season) vs a player that wasn’t as great but operated at a high level for a long time.

Wade McKinnon comes to mind as possibly the best season from a fullback in the Warriors jersey - arguably his all round game and attacking threat in my personal opinion eclipsed RTS Daly M year.

Luck and Mannering are contenders are contenders as workhorses over many years but lacked an all round game that some over second rowers offered.

Yeah 100% that McKinnon 2007 season still the best from a Warriors fullback I've seen, but as u say RTS and argueably Brent Webb were more solid over a longer period of time......for mine those players that back up make the cut over 1 hit wonders.....

And I suspect by the time he's done Nicol Klockstad may even knock Roger of his perch.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Funny thing but some of our worst performances and seasons have some of our best named players. How drastic is it to be called princess for years then we all do the haka when he's robbed of the Dally M?

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Some of my favourite players I didn't include are
Sean Hoppe
John Simon
Jason Death
Ivan Cleary
Mark Tookey

Probably more and I know I'm off topic. Sorry

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

1. RTS
2. Sean Hoppe
3. Toopi
4. J. Ropati
5. The Beast
6. SJ
7. Stacey
8. Price
9. Egan
10. AFB
11. Ali
12. Mannering
13. Tohu
14. Campion
15. Wiki
16. Kearney
17. The Huntly Hurricane

 

[JustVisiting82]

I suspect by the time he's done Nicol Klockstad may even knock Roger of his perch.

I reckon CNK is neck and neck with RTS for defence, carries out of our own end and general work ethic and think that's about how it will stay. CNK has probably surpassed RTS on his ability to chime into a backline move and may yet improve further there, but I doubt he will ever be able to match peak RTS for freakish ability to create something out of nothing on attack thanks to Roger's amazing footwork.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

I reckon CNK is neck and neck with RTS for defence, carries out of our own end and general work ethic and think that's about how it will stay. CNK has probably surpassed RTS on his ability to chime into a backline move and may yet improve further there, but I doubt he will ever be able to match peak RTS for freakish ability to create something out of nothing on attack thanks to Roger's amazing footwork.

What separates them for me is Roger's captaincy and leadership grew. CNK is a leader by courage, commitment and example. Both are awesome but I don't have CNK in my all time Warriors..............







Yet

 

[JustVisiting82]

My 2 cents on the teamlists is that it's fair game to play someone slightly out of position if the player would command selection there - e.g. I wouldn't play Tohu at 6 as a way to fit him in my team but I would play Johnson there to get him and Jones in the team as I think that combination would legitimately work great. Basically I am trying to make the best team possible naming Warriors greats.

1. RTS
2. DWZ (toss up with Meli)
3. Toopi
4. Ropati
5. Vatuvei
6. Johnson
7. Jones
8. Price
9. Egan
10. AFB
11. Lauititi (sorry, probably spelt wrong)
12. Mannering
13. Harris

Edit: I will name a bench after all - Wiki, Campion, Hohaia, Kearney.

 

[Tonbridge(aka Swanley)]

Tate was very ordinary for us, remember being excited by his signing based on his broncos form but felt he didn’t deliver anywhere near what he did before coming to us. Pretty much did it to keep his wife happy then bailed as soon as his contract was up

never passed the fricken balll

 

[Tonbridge(aka Swanley)]

1: Webb
2: Meli
3: Toopi
4: Ropati
5: Manu
6: Johnson
7: Jones
8: Wiki
9: PJ Marsh
10: AFB
11: Ali
12: Mannering
13: Campion

14: Lance H
15: Iafeta P
16: Price
17: Kearney

Thinking about this we've not had any really classy 6's. But our two 7s are the best.

I picked my bench based on having the most impact off the bench.

Unlucky to miss out
RTS
Bell
Luck
Egan
McKinnon
Cleary

 

[sballer7]

1)RTS
2)Meli
3)J Ropati
4)Toopi
5)Vatuvei
6)Maloney
7)Jones
8)AFB
9)Marsh
10)Price
11)Lauatiti
12)Mannering
13)Harris

14)Hohaia
15)Campion
16)Wiki
17)Luck

Second 13

1)Webb
2)Hoppe
3)Tate
4)Bell
5)Fa'afili
6)Ngamu
7)Johnson
8)Vagana
9)Egan
10)Matulino
11)Guttenbeil
12)Kearney
13)Luck

14)Luke
15)Lillyman
16)Rapira
17)Seuseu

I tried to pick players in their primary position, otherwise id have both SJ and Jones in the halves. I still have Jones ahead of SJ but another brilliant season and I think he will overtake him in Warriors folklore. We have been really thin at 5/8 over the years and Ngamu gets a spot in the 2nd team due to the lack of depth, tossed him up with Leuluai, Fien, Witt etc. I think Egan is probably on the cusp of overtaking Marsh,but that 2002 team was my favourite side ever to watch.

 

[Shogun]

Trying to go by form at Wahs not overall

RTS
HOPPE
BLACKMORE
TOOPI
VATUVEI
JOHNSON
JONES
VAGANA
ERU
SEUSEU
MANNERING
KEARNEY
WIKI

MEARS
LAUITIITI
FONUA-BLAKE
RAPIRA/OKESENE

I forgot Ali updated now.

 

[Defence]

Always feel like wiki gets overrepresented in these things- ones of nzs greatest forwards but he was a raider really- id have half a dozen props ahead of him based purely on warrior form.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Fullback definitely the toughest position to pick, on peak Warriors season performance I’d go McKinnon followed by Locke, CNK, RTS, Webb, and I think you could pick any of those players for best all time fullback, perhaps with the exception of Locke. Always thought RTS’s 2019 season was easily ahead of his Dally M year.

1. McKinnon (but flip a coin)
2. Meli
3. Vagana
4. Toopi
5. Vatuvei
6. Johnson
7. Jones
8. AFB
9. Egan
10. Price
11. Lauiti’iti
12. Mannering
13. Harris
14. Hohaia
15. Matulino
16. Villasanti
17. Kearney

Ball boy - Nathan Cleary

I’d love to fit big Joe Vagana on the bench, however I’ve never seen a Warrior hit harder than Villasanti so have given him the nod. Wiki shouldn’t come close to the team, well past his best by the time he finally wore our jersey.

 

[JustVisiting82]

Looking through these lists I think Toopi and Vatuvei are the only players named in every single starting 13 so far. I didn't look as carefully at players named on the bench but I think Price made everyone's 17, not sure if any others.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

I don't mind who you all choose. Not here to argue just to enjoy people's choices.

 

[Horriors2013]

Fullback definitely the toughest position to pick, on peak Warriors season performance I’d go McKinnon followed by Locke, CNK, RTS, Webb, and I think you could pick any of those players for best all time fullback, perhaps with the exception of Locke. Always thought RTS’s 2019 season was easily ahead of his Dally M year.

1. McKinnon (but flip a coin)
2. Meli
3. Vagana
4. Toopi
5. Vatuvei
6. Johnson
7. Jones
8. AFB
9. Egan
10. Price
11. Lauiti’iti
12. Mannering
13. Harris
14. Hohaia
15. Matulino
16. Villasanti
17. Kearney

Ball boy - Nathan Cleary

I’d love to fit big Joe Vagana on the bench, however I’ve never seen a Warrior hit harder than Villasanti so have given him the nod. Wiki shouldn’t come close to the team, well past his best by the time he finally wore our jersey.

Interesting post. That bench is pretty tip top. I agree with almost everything except Wiki. Even then, you still made a good choice that makes sense. AFB has been in his prime with us. That said, Wiki put possibly one of the hardest hits we've seen on Soliola. He and Price were muscle we needed.

The FB debate could go on and on but McKinnon's first year with us was pretty spectacular. Any one of about 5 of his solo tries could have made top 10 that year. I think he ended up with 3 from memory. RTS without doubt is the better overall footballer of them all. Class personified. Webby was part of an ensemble that worked well together: in the same way Cobbo, Oates, Walsh, Mam, Farnsworth, Stagg work. Webb, Meli, Toopi, Carlaw, Faafili, Jones, Hohaia were on the same page. Add Logan Swann, Lauitiiti, Guttenbeil and Faumuina and it was a running game of kings.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

RTS could complicate compiling this list over the next 3 years.

Can you have the same player as a fullback and also centre if he’s the best at both?

We’ve never had this problem before with our best players who tend to stick to a position.

I hope he smashes it and creates a headache for us