Player Leka Halasima

[Wah's Up]

It's heartening to hear this crop of Juniors coming through together and wanting to make a difference together for the club.
Leka, Demetric and Ali (I guess Zyon Maiu’u was a part of that).

I agree our track record has been really bad but our junior system and intentions around recruit have never been this well set up.

I know a lot on this forum had big wraps on Zyon Maiu’u but ask yourself truthfully, how has that panned out for him at his new club?
I trust Webby and his team not to push the young guys too hard as some just burn out. I believe they are identifying the types that can push on, have the right attitude and respect authority.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

I know a lot on this forum had big wraps on Zyon Maiu’u but ask yourself truthfully, how has that panned out for him at his new club?
I trust Webby and his team not to push the young guys too hard as some just burn out. I believe they are identifying the types that can push on, have the right attitude and respect authority.

I watched Zyon Maiu’u last season in cup vs roosters and he got folded even running at his venomous strength.

 

[Wah's Up]

Im not worried about Leka himself. He's a humble kid who has to work very hard to get here. He knows whats at stake. He's come from actual poverty by our privileged standards and has an opportunity to lift his family to a life of luxury.

What I worry about is the clubs inability to develop players and retain our genuine talent. We have had an appalling record in recent history of allowing young players to leave or stagnate under our watch. Not since Ivan Cleary have we nurtured talent through from our huge talent base and turned them into seasoned Internationals. We honestly suck balls at it and its probably the most pressing issue we have and have had as an organisation for many years now.

Going by our recent history the future is looking dim for Leka and his development and retainment. Anyone who thinks differently is a half full dreamer or has the blinders firmly on...

Hey Welly, as one of the greats on this forum I have always respected your posts, but go over to the recruitment thread and see how many are calling for us to recruit a fullback when we have a great talent like tuapiki being blooded into first grade. How can we win when the supporters don't even back local talent?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Hey Welly, as one of the greats on this forum I have always respected your posts, but go over to the recruitment thread and see how many are calling for us to recruit a fullback when we have a great talent like tuapiki being blooded into first grade. How can we win when the supporters don't even back local talent?

I'm with you on that. I'd rather give Taine the FB spot.
I'd rather not recruit young English backrowers like what is being reported, And keep developing the likes of Laban, Ieremia-Toeava, Halasima , Bishop Neal , Vaimauga.

I was one of a few on here that was guttered when Katoa left. Club has no patience!

 

[sup42]

I know a lot on this forum had big wraps on Zyon Maiu’u but ask yourself truthfully, how has that panned out for him at his new club?
I trust Webby and his team not to push the young guys too hard as some just burn out. I believe they are identifying the types that can push on, have the right attitude and respect authority.

Yeah our whole NSW cup balance is very different now.

You have a Captain of the team like Going for example who is not an athlete, just a pure blooded footballer. Never gonna be the next big thing in NRL for the Warriors, but management have obviously understood that you need these hearty types from heartland NZ families to balance out the usual big or fast or agile players.

A completely different model to the John Akland sides which were all size and attack.

I said in that Zyon Maiu’u was overrated and got shouted down for it by the experts.

But hey what do I know. All my years of following league I have come up with my solve for the Warriors recruitment and vision of how to get the right players and it seems my ideas are too radical for the masses.

But here are my crazy ideas for how to pick the right players to create the right NRL club.

1. Brains. I am not talking about Academics here, I am talking about people that are teachable. People who therefore are capable of developing footy smarts.

2. Heart. Players that have toughness inbuilt.

3. Work ethic, relates to heart, but is its own thing. For example, you can be someone who is not a natural hero, but work hard to make yourself able to flourish even though you are not a naturally brave person.

I believe the Warriors are forming undergrads who are smarter, tougher, and harder working than their predecessors.

 

[Makasene]

I know a lot on this forum had big wraps on Zyon Maiu’u but ask yourself truthfully, how has that panned out for him at his new club?
I trust Webby and his team not to push the young guys too hard as some just burn out. I believe they are identifying the types that can push on, have the right attitude and respect authority.

The same can be said for most of the juniors we let go.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho & Eli Katoa are two high profile ones we got wrong. Some might say Isaiah Papali'i is a third one.

Hingano, Hurrell, Fus, Vete, Lisone, Lolohea, Tuimavave, Maumalo, RFM, Otokolo, Lousi's, Sipley, Paul Turner, Hayze Perham, Gubb. I'm sure there is others but this is the sort of list Mt Welly would be referring to. And none have left and gone on to bigger and better things.

I'm sure there's more. The narrative that the club get's it wrong doesn't really add up with the facts.

Just don't see a scenario where Leka leaves unless there has been a true catastrophe.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Hingano, Hurrell, Fus, Vete, Lisone, Lolohea, Tuimavave, Maumalo, RFM, Otokolo, Lousi's, Sipley, Paul Turner, Hayze Perham, Gubb. I'm sure there is others but this is the sort of list Mt Welly would be referring to. And none have left and gone on to bigger and better things.

Not disagreeing overall but there’s 2 Dally M winners in your dud list

 

[Boston Boy]

I agree, I don't trust the clubs ability to not let him stagnate.

The only counter to that is we have never had a player as talented as Leka at the same age at this club. Ever. Going all the way back to 95. At some point the cream does rise to top. So hopefully he can break through those barriers that this club has in developing talent.

Retention I'm not worried about. Its a byproduct of development. We don't retain them because we fail in developing them.

I think Stacey was very very talented and I think debuted at 17.
I kind of thinking development is a combination of factors, structures, peer influence, professional expectations/standards, simplicity of playing roles, good coaching and a winning culture. You would have to say
Webby and the current crop tick the majority of those boxes. It can breed confidence and its amazing what happens when players are winning and confident.

Then you get special players, players who are borderline arrogant and it almost doesn't matter what's before them, they just go out and perform. I would say Leka and Demitric have a little bit of that confident arrogance in them. I remember seeing it in JWH when he burst onto the scene.

 

[Blain]

Mt Wellington is fair in being pessimistic on our forwards development, it's clear we have been terrible since the Cleary era.

I would say though, that Webster has generally improved players in his short reign to date, and Cappy is clearly focused on development, as that is the way to have a balanced and bang for buck roster. I like the way Leka, Demetric, Laban and Ali have been given sniffs of first grade in the past couple years, with a slow build into first grade. That's the traditional way to introduce someone, and something we have not done properly in the past 10 years. The Kata's, Hurrells, Katoa's of the past were put in first grade 100% without having a slow uptick in usage and understanding of the game and requirements. Do well for a year or 2, then fall away through heaps of reasons I wouldn't be aware of - Although bad coaching was one of them.

I'm cautiously optimistic to be honest, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava are on the slow introduction to NRL road, with NSW Cup for a couple years already along with trials and being around the squad full time.

 

[Riz]

Historically, I believe alot of our failings in junior development has been due to poor talent ID long before any of these kids actually make first grade. Picking the wrong kids thinking they're going to be stars for all the wrong reasons, ignoring areas of the country because of personal links to certain clubs or regions. We've been guilty of going after the big kids (Lousi's, Kepu's etc) because they are dominant at age group level but clearly don't have attributes that will make them successful at NRL level.

I'm fairly confident that those days are over, you see it with the likes of Bishop Neal, highlights galore but there's glaring deficiencies (mainly effort areas) which will stop him becoming the player he should be if it's not drummed into him that just having ability isn't enough to be successful.

I don't have the same concern for Leka as others do, he's clearly ready for first grade and has a great group of leaders around him to get his head where it needs to be to be successful long term.

 

[Boston Boy]

Mt Wellington is fair in being pessimistic on our forwards development, it's clear we have been terrible since the Cleary era.

I would say though, that Webster has generally improved players in his short reign to date, and Cappy is clearly focused on development, as that is the way to have a balanced and bang for buck roster. I like the way Leka, Demetric, Laban and Ali have been given sniffs of first grade in the past couple years, with a slow build into first grade. That's the traditional way to introduce someone, and something we have not done properly in the past 10 years. The Kata's, Hurrells, Katoa's of the past were put in first grade 100% without having a slow uptick in usage and understanding of the game and requirements. Do well for a year or 2, then fall away through heaps of reasons I wouldn't be aware of - Although bad coaching was one of them.

I'm cautiously optimistic to be honest, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava are on the slow introduction to NRL road, with NSW Cup for a couple years already along with trials and being around the squad full time.

We seem to have a lot of forwards on the smaller with skill. I think EIT is a good size, however I could see Zyon Maiu’u was going to struggle. He is just not big enough and his forceful game style was going to get blunted by the constant battering style he has. Our big boys are often a bit soft mentally and our smaller forwards have huge courage but lack the physical tools needed to succeed. I get this is a generalisation, but it seems like the Ozzie teams will look at physical size, aggression and look to develop from there.

 

[Blain]

Historically, I believe alot of our failings in junior development has been due to poor talent ID long before any of these kids actually make first grade. Picking the wrong kids thinking they're going to be stars for all the wrong reasons, ignoring areas of the country because of personal links to certain clubs or regions. We've been guilty of going after the big kids (Lousi's, Kepu's etc) because they are dominant at age group level but clearly don't have attributes that will make them successful at NRL level.

I'm fairly confident that those days are over, you see it with the likes of Bishop Neal, highlights galore but there's glaring deficiencies (mainly effort areas) which will stop him becoming the player he should be if it's not drummed into him that just having ability isn't enough to be successful.

I don't have the same concern for Leka as others do, he's clearly ready for first grade and has a great group of leaders around him to get his head where it needs to be to be successful long term.

100%. With having 3 age groups side for a Bishop Neal is new for us - He will have time to learn and develop the fundamentals required to match these Aussie boys. He won't be making NSW Cup if it doesn't improve, whereas in the past guys were put up early because there was little other options.

 

[Theking267]

Leka was an easy bet to be successful because he was dominating against men as a teenager, playing NSW Cup as a 17 year old and being good against older competition. Zyon Maiu’u’s issues was he couldn’t break through at a young age even at Redcliffe he wasn’t playing QCup as a teenager.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Bishop Neal is new for us - He will have time to learn and develop the fundamentals required to match these Aussie boys.

Second time watching him in the weekend. I couldn't believe my eyes at how huge he is! Lol. And fast! I have been excited by the prospect of this kid by highlights video's and comments by posters on here about him.

But i can see how others are cautious about praising him as he has a lot to learn. One, Being lazy on his defensive duties. Kids as big as he is at his age have the mindset of I'm the biggest and the best in the team. You tackle, I'll make the plays to add to my highlights reel lol.
Hope ge sorts his attitude out fast. He is definitely a huge talent.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Second time watching him in the weekend. I couldn't believe my eyes at how huge he is! Lol. And fast! I have been excited by the prospect of this kid by highlighting video's and comments by posters on here about him.

But i can see how others are cautious about praising him as he has a lot to learn. One, Being lazy on his defensive duties. Kids as big as he is at his age have the mindset of I'm the biggest and the best in the team. You tackle, I'll make the plays to add to my highlights reel lol.
Hope ge sorts his attitude out fast. He is definitely a huge talent.

It's basically trying to predict their ceiling while they are still kids.

Effort eventually outlasts talent. We have oozed talent but not effort.

 

[Five&Last]

I think Stacey was very very talented and I think debuted at 17.
I kind of thinking development is a combination of factors, structures, peer influence, professional expectations/standards, simplicity of playing roles, good coaching and a winning culture. You would have to say
Webby and the current crop tick the majority of those boxes. It can breed confidence and its amazing what happens when players are winning and confident.

Then you get special players, players who are borderline arrogant and it almost doesn't matter what's before them, they just go out and perform. I would say Leka and Demitric have a little bit of that confident arrogance in them. I remember seeing it in JWH when he burst onto the scene.

Yeah maybe, I also think Stacey played when the league was less talented overall. Not sure if he showed that transcendent ability early on where you think he could be the best player in the league, but yes Stacey would be number 2 for me.

Tbh Leka could’ve debuted when he was 17. He was putting in great NSW cup performances at that age. They’ve done well to hold him back a touch.

But it’s also not about age but more ability at that age. Cooper Vuna was close to 16 when he debuted but I never really thought for one second he would be a star for us. Patrick Ah Van was freshly 18 and had the same thoughts with him.

 

[sup42]

Yeah maybe, I also think Stacey played when the league was less talented overall. Not sure if he showed that transcendent ability early on where you think he could be the best player in the league, but yes Stacey would be number 2 for me.

Tbh Leka could’ve debuted when he was 17. He was putting in great NSW cup performances at that age. They’ve done well to hold him back a touch.

But it’s also not about age but more ability at that age. Cooper Vuna was close to 16 when he debuted but I never really thought for one second he would be a star for us. Patrick Ah Van was freshly 18 and had the same thoughts with him.

Sorry but Stacey was so good he could turn a game we were getting a hiding in and pull off a miracle win against absolute legends in RL including a turn around win against Andrew the GOAT Johns Knights.

You are talking through a millennial hole in your arse if you are gonna talk down past legends like Stacey Jones for a bullocking forward like Leka.

Sorry but they aren't even in the same conversation.

If anyone in this forum claims what Leka has done so far puts him ahead of Jones, Ali, or Kearney, or RTS, or SJ, or Toopi or Vatuvei, so many names, so sorry but I call absolute fanboi mysticism bullshit.

 

[sup42]

Im not worried about Leka himself. He's a humble kid who has to work very hard to get here. He knows whats at stake. He's come from actual poverty by our privileged standards and has an opportunity to lift his family to a life of luxury.

What I worry about is the clubs inability to develop players and retain our genuine talent. We have had an appalling record in recent history of allowing young players to leave or stagnate under our watch. Not since Ivan Cleary have we nurtured talent through from our huge talent base and turned them into seasoned Internationals. We honestly suck balls at it and its probably the most pressing issue we have and have had as an organisation for many years now.

Going by our recent history the future is looking dim for Leka and his development and retainment. Anyone who thinks differently is a half full dreamer or has the blinders firmly on...

Ýou have this spiel every single coach the Warriors have hired.

Been reading you for years.

At what point do you wake up and start asking why the same problem occurs across a million coaches.

At what point does the maths kick in for you and you understand the sum is not the coaches, the coaches are not all the same person with all the same faults.

The fault lies with the player raw material in NZ.

News flash, some of our super talented junior stars are fat flogs that prefer pies to NRL careers and were addicted to the camera and Try celebrations.

Sometimes, in fact many times, our players are the problem which is why no serious NRL club tries to snap up our (according to you talented failures that our coaches ruined).

If your blame of the coaches held any weight the NRL would be lining up to snap up all our failed talents and ready to turn them into the super stars that they should be.

No one wants the failures from here mate coz they cannot cut it in easy street at Mt Smart which means they sure as hell ain't gonna cut it in the pro clubs....coz they are frankly duds.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Create your own team formation

Ýou have this spiel every single coach the Warriors have hired.

Been reading you for years.

At what point do you wake up and start asking why the same problem occurs across a million coaches.

At what point does the maths kick in for you and you understand the sum is not the coaches, the coaches are not all the same person with all the same faults.

The fault lies with the player raw material in NZ.

I know people fap over your posts but about time someone no bs like me called it straight.

You have this holy status for being close to the players, a fan legend at an insular south Auckland club. Yeah ok that's great but let me give an external voice to your hugely biased mixing with players and their families .
.

News flash, some of our super talented junior stars are fat flogs that prefer pies to NRL careers and were addicted to the camera and Try celebrations.

Sometimes, in fact many times, our players are the problem which is why no serious NRL club tries to snap up our (according to you talented failures that our coaches ruined).

If your blame of the coaches held any weight the NRL would be lining up to snap up all our failed talents and ready to turn them into the super stars that they should be.

No one wants the failures from here mate coz they cannot cut it in easy street at Mt Smart which means they sure as hell ain't gonna cut it in the pro clubs....coz they are frankly duds.

Did you wake up and choose violence this morning ?