General Warriors Harold Matthews 2025

[Viking]

Researching the tournament team, all but one of the players are locked into the warriors pathways programme, including the MVP, afoa who just re signed til end of 2027. Some are unsigned, and the other prop is with the bulldogs. That’s pretty incredible scouting for our pathways.

7 of the 19 aren’t signed anywhere that I know of. AJ Balchin is the St Paul’s 13 from the Bulldogs that’s moved to the Warriors. Afoa is a weapon that’s played some Flegg games already. Personally I thought St Paul’s overused him but they played into crazy wind in the 2nd half and were chasing points. He plays NRL in the next few years IMO.

 

[Cces]

I read Christano Elia was our heir apparent #7 for 2026 but I see he was playing Second Row for St Thomas'. Has he had a big growth spurt or something?

 

[Viking]

I read Christano Elia was our heir apparent #7 for 2026 but I see he was playing Second Row for St Thomas'. Has he had a big growth spurt or something?

He’s big for a halfback and I see some similarities with Ioka in that they’re big framed halves that are strong defenders and have great kicking games. I watched St Thomas in their first game and didn’t really notice him but they may have older boys in the halves. I see him as a 6 or 13.

 

[Five&Last]

Researching the tournament team, all but one of the players are locked into the warriors pathways programme, including the MVP, afoa who just re signed til end of 2027. Some are unsigned, and the other prop is with the bulldogs. That’s pretty incredible scouting for our pathways.

Yep everyone in the tournament team is either signed with Warriors or unsigned except the prop Vunivalu Niupalau who is with bulldogs

I imagine the unsigned ones will be attracting a lot of interest

Hopefully we stick to our scouting process and don’t just sign players because they made a tournament team. There are some interesting guys there though Finn McDrury looked good in first XV at fullback for MAGS

 

[Five&Last]

I read Christano Elia was our heir apparent #7 for 2026 but I see he was playing Second Row for St Thomas'. Has he had a big growth spurt or something?

I think he’ll still play 6 or 7 for Matts next year.

He is very tall and always has been. Looked like 6’2 even last year as a 15 year old. But is a lean build.

I think the second row combination for Matts next year will be Satali Fretton, Tusi Fanolua and Hanita Takulua. Basically our bench in the Matt Grand Final this year.

 

[Five&Last]

The 5 Kelston boys that played in the Matt’s final all made the NZ schoolboys side. All a year or two younger too. Hinkley Ioka was the best half there IMO and got finals MVP. Bishop and Tyson were unlucky to miss out probably. St Thomas and Rotorua were a touch off the standard of the top 3 teams.

Kelston were the youngest and probably one of the smallest teams there but had 10 Warriors and 2 Bulldogs boys from Matt’s squads. St Paul’s had 4 SG Ball and 3 Matt’s boys. Games are on the NZRL YouTube account.

Does Hinckley Ioka start in the halves next year for SG ball in your opinion?

 

[Viking]

Does Hinckley Ioka start in the halves next year for SG ball in your opinion?

Based on his talent and X factor yes. But with older boys in the mix, it might depend on how he goes in the Nationals in 3 weeks time. It’s just guess work really but to me, the difference is that last years 2024 Matt’s boys were competing for Ball spots against a team that hadn’t won anything and took a fair number of them. In the next campaign though, the 2025 winning Matt’s boys will be competing for spots with the 2024 winning Matt’s boys. It’s a nice problem to have I guess.

 

[Viking]

Interesting that none of last years NZ schools u16s team made this years NZ schools u18s team. And 5 or 6 spots were taken by u16s boys including 3 starting spots. Some of that was due to injuries and from what I saw, some boys that are really good on paper, didn’t have an exceptional tournament thanks partly to the shit weather or the teams they were in. I’ve heard that there’s no clubs vs schools this year for either age group which is why they didn’t pick a u16s side like they normally do.

 

[Viking]

Yep everyone in the tournament team is either signed with Warriors or unsigned except the prop Vunivalu Niupalau who is with bulldogs

I imagine the unsigned ones will be attracting a lot of interest

Hopefully we stick to our scouting process and don’t just sign players because they made a tournament team. There are some interesting guys there though Finn McDrury looked good in first XV at fullback for MAGS

Finns a good player, I didn’t get to see him play but he wouldn’t let anyone down. I thought Ronan would’ve taken a bench spot ahead of him though. No film on MAGs games as the school adhering to the 1A no filming thing. Steven Luatua from Dilworth is a gun, I think the Warriors will bring him in. I’ll have to watch their Championship final game against Tauranga to see if Solomon and Rhayn should’ve been picked.

 

[Five&Last]

Based on his talent and X factor yes. But with older boys in the mix, it might depend on how he goes in the Nationals in 3 weeks time. It’s just guess work really but to me, the difference is that last years 2024 Matt’s boys were competing for Ball spots against a team that hadn’t won anything and took a fair number of them. In the next campaign though, the 2025 winning Matt’s boys will be competing for spots with the 2024 winning Matt’s boys. It’s a nice problem to have I guess.

I guess they will run it back with Thompson/Hansen halves to try grab the trophy

But I’d be inclined to rest Thompson from it if he gonna focus on Flegg with a couple NSW cup appearance

Do you think Ioka has more long term potential in the halves than Tusa Soagia?