General Rumour is .......

[STRIDER_old]

Young Auckland Lions - Junior KIWI - NZ A - Centre Miguel Start is very close to being picked up into the Warriors 2007 squad.

Ive seen him play a few times and seriously rate the kid. Steps off both feet, good speed, good strength, Skills and fend and a mean Swirve on him. Reminds me of the Bulldogs Willie Tonga. Hot prospect

If they pick him up Mannering would probably head to the pack and be groomed in Awens role.

 

[MiXmasterreece_old]

Excellent news, i think going into 2007 we are lacking some depth at centre.

 

[haami_old]

Sounds like a good prospect there..

Mannering into the pack......I'll have to think about that.

Koopu has been warming the bench for a while now.

Is he the next one to be given the shunt?

 

[-Dr.J-_old]

Hell no, they won't be punting Koopu, you high?

More likely your mate "Haami" will be shown the door than Wairangi.

Miguel Start's a damn fine player. Exciting news if it's true, I think it's a 99% certainty as well because we're needing centres bad.

 

[warriors4life_old]

He's a good prospect for the Warriors, look forward to seeing him play if the rumour is true.

 

[tezzah_old]

I wouldnt actually put him in the mould of Willie Tonga! -No way! Miguel is raw as a green banana and hopefully the NZ Warriors do refine him. He has potential and will need good coaching to iron out the errors he makes. A very talent player who needs time to grow.

 

[STRIDER_old]

I was not referring to him currently being at Willie Tongas playing level. I was referring to his attacking ability to break a game much like Willie Tonga in the grades he has played. Of course he is not perfect or NRL standard yet.

 

[danco_old]

we need new local fresh talent.

 

[fiamacho_old]

Miguel Start is an exciting talent and a hell of a nice kid. I know his family, he is in the same mould as Willie Tonga but with better defence.

 

[Kiwi League_old]

Mannering has to start next year; the kid is coming on in leaps and bounds - big, tall, good reach so able to fend & off-load, good instincts + a surprising turn of pace.

 

[warriors4life_old]

Mannering has to start next year; the kid is coming on in leaps and bounds - big, tall, good reach so able to fend & off-load, good instincts + a surprising turn of pace.

Yeah, attributes of a good second-rower. That is his primary position and if Martin and Start were in the centres maybe being a second-rower would suit Mannering's abilities.

 

[Wiki_old]

Miguel is already in the Development which means it makes sense for him to make this step up. He was in the NZ Residents as well when they crushed NSW Country.

Although I would love to Miguel signed and in the team next year as I have heard huge things of him I don't know about moving Simon just yet.

I can see him going down the same track as Ruben Wiki - centre, 2nd row, prop as his body develops. Maybe I am just scared as he has done well where he is now and I don't want to curse him by moving him out :] Haha.

I am loving his play at centre and if this is the case with Mannering moving to the second row, why did we just resign Hame?

 

[Lego_Man_old]

I'm more a fan of specialist players. Chopping and changing players' positions does no good - just take a look at Jerome's performances over the past year. If you're telling a guy to be up for playing centre and back rower then youre setting him up to be average at both. If you want Mannering in the backrow, fine. Tell him to bulk up and work on his carries. If you want him in the centres, tell him to work on his pace and step. Just dont tell him to do both.

 

[Wiki_old]

I'm more a fan of specialist players. Chopping and changing players' positions does no good - just take a look at Jerome's performances over the past year. If you're telling a guy to be up for playing centre and back rower then youre setting him up to be average at both. If you want Mannering in the backrow, fine. Tell him to bulk up and work on his carries. If you want him in the centres, tell him to work on his pace and step. Just dont tell him to do both.

Yeah, I'm with you on that one.

 

[Lego_Man_old]

Yeah, i mean look at Vinnie Anderson for an example of what is wrong with that approach.

 

[Northern_Union]

Why on earth would you want to play Mannering in the back row?
He's a center, and developing into a damn fine one.

 

[JonB_old]

he could eventually move in to the scond row when he hits 26-27-28...... At the moment though I see him as a high quality rather than high quantity type of player...... though I am sure he is capable of plugging away I don't think there are other players in our squad that produce the big plays that Mannering has been over recent weeks.

 

[casso_old]

Mannering

he could eventually move in to the scond row when he hits 26-27-28...... At the moment though I see him as a high quality rather than high quantity type of player...... though I am sure he is capable of plugging away I don't think there are other players in our squad that produce the big plays that Mannering has been over recent weeks.

I got to agree with this ,Mannering has been outstanding in recent weeks and whilst he continues to impress do not move him.

 

[2big2strong_old]

just thinking.....does Mannering have the best Fend in the club or what?? in his debut last year he swatted justin hodges like a fly and i see him do it time and time again, against the panthers he made two huge fends, not to mention putting polglase on his ass the other week against the bunnies. I see him being a better second rower than he is centre and that's saying something. This Miguel start sounds like the goods too!

 

[Swanley_old]

People on here must be past Warrior coaches.......always wanting to change a persons prefered position.

Don't fix what's not broken.

Mannering is a centre or a loose forward at best.

Havn't seen him pass much, but he know's how to score a try, just like a good centre should.

From what I have seen he is very strong and reminds me a bit like Gasnier (strength wise).

I don't hear people saying Gasnier should move to the second row.

The problem we have had in the past is playing people out of position. I am sick of hearing, "let's move Webb to stand off etc", what is wrong with a very good specialist full back, Sione is playing good football in his prefered position of loose forward/second row, not stand off.

Grant is a halfback, not a stand off which is proven by our results, Martin is a solid centre, not a winger.

If you look at our wins, players have been playing in their preferred positions.

Chopping and changing is not the answer.