General Steve Matai

[2big2strong_old]

With Manly Sea Eagles aqcuiring the services of Jamie Lyon for next season, it's almost certain gun Kiwi centre Steve Matai will be pushed out of the picture with Steve Bell guaranteed one centre spot and Michael Monaghan certain to be the starting five eighth, Jamie Lyon, with nearly a record signing fee, will obviously take over Matai's centre spot leaving the defensive wrecking ball playing reserve grade or out of position on the wing or bench. Media reports in Australia are already circulating that Matai is looking at the option of an early release from the Northern Beaches club.

I personally think this would be a HUGE signing for the Warriors, he is rated in the top 3 defensive centres in NRL after only a handful of games under his belt. Tony Martin has been exposed as a weak link in an otherwise 'steel' defensive line at the Warriors and Matai's attacking flair and positional play will see him take over Vagana's mantle as first choice NZ test centre within a couple seasons. Martin doesn't have to miss out however, he has one more season up his belt and could be switched out to the wing, saving the Warriors searching the open market for a Winger. Ah van, IMHO, looks like he could be a lethal fullback one day with his composure under the high ball and superior kick returns, he's still a kid and could be back up to McKinnon at the back, or any of the outside backs for that matter, then slot back into first choice winger once martin finishes his 1 year contract.

What do you guys think? I'm really excited just thinking about the idea and Matai will still be relatively cheap. He's aggressive in attack and defence and anyone that saw the broncos vs Manly game will know that's a fact.

 

[warriors4life_old]

1. Is Matai off-contract?
2. I would never move Martin to the wing, especially in place of the in-form Ah Van.

 

[blez_old]

Yeah, agree with those sentiments whole-heartedly. Matai would be an AWESOME addidtion to the squad, he's an ideal centre, and his time at Manly looks to have come to an end with the Lyon signing.

The only real worry is his $. If he is available, then teams are going to offer him serious cash (Souths etc), so unless he wants to take a little less to come back to Auckland, I can see us missing out on him.

But to see him shore up that side of the field with his high caliber defence will be a great sight. Scurrah should do all he can to try and nab him.

 

[2big2strong_old]

1. Is Matai off-contract?
2. I would never move Martin to the wing, especially in place of the in-form Ah Van.

1. read my post again and you will see the answer in it?
2. i heard Waico bay stallions are looking for a goal kicker

 

[warriors4life_old]

1. Is Matai off-contract?
2. I would never move Martin to the wing, especially in place of the in-form Ah Van.

1. read my post again and you will see the answer in it?
2. i heard Waico bay stallions are looking for a goal kicker

OK, he's looking for an early release from his contract then.

 

[Northern_Union]

Pretty hard to disagree with naything 2B2S said in his post. Only hole i can find in it is wheather the Warriors could afford him.

 

[Iafeta_old]

And that my friends, is where the problem lies. The ching ching.

What are we up to? 22 signed players? I'd expect to see Gatis retained to take that to 23, one premier league player such as Michael Lett from the Roosters, and a contract upgrade for someone like Miguel Start.

 

[JonB_old]

I like Steve Maitai he is pretty slippery, id love to see him in a Warrior jersey

 

[2big2strong_old]

yeah, i highly doubt we would be able to afford him giving the circumstances, but you never know. they say they want to buy a cheap winger and standoff. i'd rather keep ropati at standoff and put all the money towards Matai. No harm in dreaming i guess!

OH GOD I WISH I WORKED FOR THE WARRIORS! I AM OH SO CLEVER! and cool

 

[Iafeta_old]

I'm actually all for a stand off back up.

Ropo's form can be sometimes inconsistent (although I hope he's over that now), regardless though if Ropo goes down we have to either shift Fien or Hohaia into the halves and I'm not sure that's a good thing at the moment. Another back up half would be a good thing.

 

[JonB_old]

I'm actually all for a stand off back up.

Ropo's form can be sometimes inconsistent (although I hope he's over that now), regardless though if Ropo goes down we have to either shift Fien or Hohaia into the halves and I'm not sure that's a good thing at the moment. Another back up half would be a good thing.

do you have anyone in mind?

 

[patty_old]

yeah i agree matai would be valuable to our squad. him and martin to be centres and mannering to the bench, but although martin playing good football he would be awesome off the bench and play second row but if an injury concern he has the versatility to move to the backs. with gutts going i reckon hes the succesor.

my 17 for next year would be

1. mckinnon
2. vatuvie
3. martin
4. matai (IF WE GET HIM)
5. ah van
6. ropati
7. rovelli
8. price
9. fien
10. wiki
11. koopu
12. anderson
13. faumina

14. hohaia
15. mannering
16. tuimivave
17. fai/rapira

just me but i think that a great team, young and enthusiastic but still has wiki, price and martin leading them.

and back to mannering he has played back row all his life, you think he playing good football wait till he gets clser to the action! koopu started in the centres now look at him. on of the most underated players in this comp.

 

[Iafeta_old]

Not at all.

Then again, I didn't really have Grant Rovelli in mind and man, what a signing he's turned out to be.

There's Rovelli's, Matt Head's etc waiting to be picked up and nurtured somewhere.

 

[JonB_old]

if Maitai is cheap I don't see him getting released i mean who would release a good cheap player.

 

[2big2strong_old]

I'm actually all for a stand off back up.

Ropo's form can be sometimes inconsistent (although I hope he's over that now), regardless though if Ropo goes down we have to either shift Fien or Hohaia into the halves and I'm not sure that's a good thing at the moment. Another back up half would be a good thing.

what about this Hayden fullah from Bartercard? you know we don't have to sign players to contracts for them to play NRL, match payments aren't included in the Cap. David Peachy isn't on the Rabbitohs cap at the moment as he is getting X amount of $ per appearance. Same with Shane Perry and Nick Emmitt at the Broncos. if an injury does occur i would definitely put Hohaia straight in there. otherwise get an up and coming player onto match payments.

 

[2big2strong_old]

Not at all.

Then again, I didn't really have Grant Rovelli in mind and man, what a signing he's turned out to be.

There's Rovelli's, Matt Head's etc waiting to be picked up and nurtured somewhere.

matt head got signed a couple weeks ago bro by the dragons again, the got him for quite a few years now, and he would be VERY EXPENSIVE, the wraps they give him over here is unjustified imo, they say he's the next joey, i think he's too inconsistent

 

[Northern_Union]

I'd like to see a young Kiwi at stand off. Ropo is a center filling in for a stand off.
I find it hard to believe that in NZ we don't have a good young stand off somewhere.

 

[2big2strong_old]

yeah i agree matai would be valuable to our squad. him and martin to be centres and mannering to the bench, but although martin playing good football he would be awesome off the bench and play second row but if an injury concern he has the versatility to move to the backs. with gutts going i reckon hes the succesor.

my 17 for next year would be

1. mckinnon
2. vatuvie
3. martin
4. matai (IF WE GET HIM)
5. ah van
6. ropati
7. rovelli
8. price
9. fien
10. wiki
11. koopu
12. anderson
13. faumina

14. hohaia
15. mannering
16. tuimivave
17. fai/rapira

just me but i think that a great team, young and enthusiastic but still has wiki, price and martin leading them.

and back to mannering he has played back row all his life, you think he playing good football wait till he gets clser to the action! koopu started in the centres now look at him. on of the most underated players in this comp.

the only reason i suggested Matai is to get rid of Martin! lol

 

[Iafeta_old]

I'm actually all for a stand off back up.

Ropo's form can be sometimes inconsistent (although I hope he's over that now), regardless though if Ropo goes down we have to either shift Fien or Hohaia into the halves and I'm not sure that's a good thing at the moment. Another back up half would be a good thing.

what about this Hayden fullah from Bartercard? you know we don't have to sign players to contracts for them to play NRL, match payments aren't included in the Cap. David Peachy isn't on the Rabbitohs cap at the moment as he is getting X amount of $ per appearance. Same with Shane Perry and Nick Emmitt at the Broncos. if an injury does occur i would definitely put Hohaia straight in there. otherwise get an up and coming player onto match payments.

Karena seems to have a lot of wraps on him. I noticed when he was last in Bartercard, Waicoa Bay got off to a great start, then when he moved to North Queensland to be part of the Cowboys development squad Waicoa Bay turned around dramatically for the worse.

As far as Peachey, Perry, Emmitt and co., I'm not sure what the exact figure is, but basically you pay 25 players under the salary cap ($4m?), and then having something like $300K to pay players who are second tier players and you have to stay under that. The Dragons a few years ago had to hold back a player from debuting because they'd used all their second tier salary cap.

Peach has signed a contract for 2007, Perry I'm sure will get an upgrade so from then on they'll be part of their top 25.

I'd like to see a young Kiwi at stand off. Ropo is a center filling in for a stand off.
I find it hard to believe that in NZ we don't have a good young stand off somewhere.

The Warriors do have Daniel O'Regan on their books in the development squad. He was a Junior Kiwi last year, and Newcastle were chasing him big time.

I don't know how his form since then has gone though, but he's there. Scott Jones was another one who I think primarily plays lock but I think can play five eighth - he can also kick goals.

matt head got signed a couple weeks ago bro by the dragons again, the got him for quite a few years now, and he would be VERY EXPENSIVE, the wraps they give him over here is unjustified imo, they say he's the next joey, i think he's too inconsistent

I think he's a terrific player. Got an outstanding kicking game. I'd have him in the #7 jersey for New South Wales next year. He makes a big difference to the Dragons, he's more important to them than Barrett in my eyes.

Perhaps Strider and the likes can give us the low down on Karena and O'Regan.

 

[warriors4life_old]

I'm actually all for a stand off back up.

Ropo's form can be sometimes inconsistent (although I hope he's over that now), regardless though if Ropo goes down we have to either shift Fien or Hohaia into the halves and I'm not sure that's a good thing at the moment. Another back up half would be a good thing.

what about this Hayden fullah from Bartercard? you know we don't have to sign players to contracts for them to play NRL, match payments aren't included in the Cap. David Peachy isn't on the Rabbitohs cap at the moment as he is getting X amount of $ per appearance. Same with Shane Perry and Nick Emmitt at the Broncos. if an injury does occur i would definitely put Hohaia straight in there. otherwise get an up and coming player onto match payments.

Karena seems to have a lot of wraps on him. I noticed when he was last in Bartercard, Waicoa Bay got off to a great start, then when he moved to North Queensland to be part of the Cowboys development squad Waicoa Bay turned around dramatically for the worse.

As far as Peachey, Perry, Emmitt and co., I'm not sure what the exact figure is, but basically you pay 25 players under the salary cap ($4m?), and then having something like $300K to pay players who are second tier players and you have to stay under that. The Dragons a few years ago had to hold back a player from debuting because they'd used all their second tier salary cap.

Peach has signed a contract for 2007, Perry I'm sure will get an upgrade so from then on they'll be part of their top 25.

I'd like to see a young Kiwi at stand off. Ropo is a center filling in for a stand off.
I find it hard to believe that in NZ we don't have a good young stand off somewhere.

The Warriors do have Daniel O'Regan on their books in the development squad. He was a Junior Kiwi last year, and Newcastle were chasing him big time.

I don't know how his form since then has gone though, but he's there. Scott Jones was another one who I think primarily plays lock but I think can play five eighth - he can also kick goals.

matt head got signed a couple weeks ago bro by the dragons again, the got him for quite a few years now, and he would be VERY EXPENSIVE, the wraps they give him over here is unjustified imo, they say he's the next joey, i think he's too inconsistent

I think he's a terrific player. Got an outstanding kicking game. I'd have him in the #7 jersey for New South Wales next year. He makes a big difference to the Dragons, he's more important to them than Barrett in my eyes.

Perhaps Strider and the likes can give us the low down on Karena and O'Regan.

Current salary cap is $3.6 million NZ I think.