If there was a vote on which 2nd rower to convert to a centre for 26, for me it would be
EIT all the way.
How so? why
EIT especially? is your reasoning to do with
EIT being better suited to center or to do with a view that
Leka staying where he is is better for the team?
We saw in our final game that given oodles of space he was unable to sum it up.
We've also seen countless times his damaging running ability outwide.
Honestly, I think as a centre there would be not much attacking difference between Koni and
Leka. Rampaging runs and a bunch of lowlights when it comes to trying to put a winger away.
Leka as an edge in that middle third is a threat everywhere, so many tries off kicks, big runs in space, slicing through contact off a block. Think he needs to stick to the edge.
While agree with this 100% for today regarding
Leka vs Konrad for lack of ball playing, I don't think this view applies to the future (hey that is my opinion and it is hypothetical).
Konrad was unteachable.
Leka can't be fairly lumped in the same category.
We know
Leka is not lazy - huge difference with the Konrad's ceiling as a player which plateaued at "loves to score Try's".
And we know
Leka pays attention off the ball, so he has better mental focus than Konrad.
But the most compelling thing about
Leka Halasima is that his tackle stats went from 84% in 2024 to 93% in 2025 - which proves he is coachable, you can't convince me that he is like Konrad and
Solomone Kata who never improved their skills or evolved as players (off the ball where it matters most and say's the most about a league player).
BTW
@Makasene I am just running some Devils advocacy here, I do not want
Leka moved as I have stated recently, for the same reason you and
@Tragic state, (Tragic talks about his development of the player, his physique, and you both underscore messing players around that are potential greats in the making in the position they currently occupy rather than gamble when perhaps they aren't really 'naturalized' centers).
When I take a global view of what you are saying, step back from your points and even my own devils advocacy counters.....when I take in the big picture..the whole reason
Leka is a potential Center candidate is from what he is learning as a back rower (the lateral defence, the stamina to go 80, the hitting the ball and doing freaky shit - you yourself point these things out - we see the same dynamics) so I cannot make an argument that clearly say's that this guy is going to be better for become a center - oh sure he may be better for the New Zealand Warriors at center, but isn't that more about the Warriors not developing someone else or buying someone in (rhetorical but if
Ali improved his tackling stats like
Leka we wouldn't even be having this conversation)
To use my own point against me, do we want to take a guy who just improved his defence by a whopping 10% from the most defensive position in the team and cut that growth off when it only just starts to embed in someone barely out of there teens?
Off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2027: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Will be off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2028 from November 1st, 2026: Mitchell Barnett, Erin Clark, Jett Cleary, Wayde Egan, Kayliss Fatialofa, Jackson Ford, Sam Healey, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Ali Leiataua, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Motu Pasikala, Adam Pompey, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
