General Warriors Preseason 2026

[CWC]

How about
Sifakula
EIT
Gannon
TMM

EIT can play centre too and has great hands, maybe Clark should come off the bench or transition to prop, he and Whyte were beasts in the PC final

 

[Brightman]

I’ve always thought that.
Add smart to your list.

and effort, he's making more and more effort plays..

 

[WAH MAN]

I said it last year and got vociferous objections and will say it again - we are short on depth at lock.
If Erin Clark gets injured it will cause one of our props to go to lock such as Barnett.

Demetric would be able to fill in.

Leka could get chucked in the middle as a desperation lock and would likely go somewhere between half decent and game breaking.

Super desperate. Te Maire Martin and or Samuel Healey or if we seriously hate Chanel at 6 we could get him to eat taro and corned beef and KFC to beef up and he would go well.

Thats all I can think of at present.

 

[WAH MAN]

Demetric would be able to fill in.

Leka could get chucked in the middle as a desperation lock and would likely go somewhere between half decent and game breaking.

Super desperate. Te Maire Martin and or Samuel Healey or if we seriously hate Chanel at 6 we could get him to eat taro and corned beef and KFC to beef up and he would go well.

Thats all I can think of at present.

Sorry just read everybody else's better lists.

 

[Neo]

I see Laban turning into an elite front rower in 2026.
Mobile enough to play on the edge.
I don’t see any difference between him and Xavier Williston.
Surely he is in Webby’s best 17 for round one.

I actually thought he looked a bit uncomfortable in the middle. Very good defensively but would run a bit upright and get driven back. When he was on an edge he looked much more comfortable dropping under or attacking an outside shoulder

 

[WHB]

I actually thought he looked a bit uncomfortable in the middle. Very good defensively but would run a bit upright and get driven back. When he was on an edge he looked much more comfortable dropping under or attacking an outside shoulder

His injury game i thought he came of age in the middle
He took the pitch and played with some mongrel.
Played the middle as if he had no choice.
He is an awesome edge runner
Since U15 māori's I've kept tabs on him.
I think he knows what he needs to do to cement himself in the 17

 

[Wrighty]

How about
Sifakula
EIT
Gannon
TMM

I know you are a terrific supporter of the wahs but don't forget to call him Vaimauga. There is obviously a family issue happening that has caused him to take his mothers last name and we fans need to support him. His reasons will not be minor.

A quick review of his stats shows he has played 10 games at lock for NSW cup and is our most qualified lock next to Clark. EIT and Gannon have only played once there.

They need to cross train someone this pre-season. One year that cross trained Dylan Walker to play second row. They need to do something.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I know you are a terrific supporter of the wahs but don't forget to call him Vaimauga. There is obviously a family issue happening that has caused him to take his mothers last name and we fans need to support him. His reasons will not be minor.

A quick review of his stats shows he has played 10 games at lock for NSW cup and is our most qualified lock next to Clark. EIT and Gannon have only played once there.

They need to cross train someone this pre-season. One year that cross trained Dylan Walker to play second row. They need to do something.

Demi would be fine at lock. They do cross train the players as you never know who will be injured in a game. As for the uso changing his name here is a good interview that explains it.

Warriors forward Demitric Vaimauga has had to grow up fast - ABC Pacific

Life is moving fast for the NZ born, Samoan-Niuean-Tongan NRL player who is impressing plenty and hoping to head to Las Vegas with the Warriors. Signed to the club at age 15, Vaimauga left his family and girlfriend in NZ to live in Brisbane in the Warriors COVID bubble at 17 and just recently...

www.abc.net.au

Stats at around the 30 minute mark so you can miss all the union rubbish. Around 48 minutes in is the reasoning.

 

[Five&Last]

Demi would be fine at lock. They do cross train the players as you never know who will be injured in a game. As for the uso changing his name here is a good interview that explains it.

Warriors forward Demitric Vaimauga has had to grow up fast - ABC Pacific

Life is moving fast for the NZ born, Samoan-Niuean-Tongan NRL player who is impressing plenty and hoping to head to Las Vegas with the Warriors. Signed to the club at age 15, Vaimauga left his family and girlfriend in NZ to live in Brisbane in the Warriors COVID bubble at 17 and just recently...

www.abc.net.au

Stats at around the 30 minute mark so you can miss all the union rubbish. Around 48 minutes in is the reasoning.

I think he will grow into a lock the more his engine and passing-game develops. Can see him eventually becoming a 60-70 minute player.

Just on Laban to prop, it is an interesting one with his running style. He's very upright when he runs as has been pointed out. Probably less concerning when he's punching holes out wide. But could be an open target to get T-boned in the bread basket when running at a set line.

 

[Noitall]

Coaches and players fronting community blitz

Players, coaches out and about in Warriors Community Foundation blitz tomorrow and Friday.

www.warriors.kiwi

Thought it interesting that all these coaches and players community blitz events, that Marata Niukore doesn’t factor in any? Doesn’t mean much but seems like a lot of players attend

 

[Five&Last]

Coaches and players fronting community blitz

Players, coaches out and about in Warriors Community Foundation blitz tomorrow and Friday.

www.warriors.kiwi

Thought it interesting that all these coaches and players community blitz events, that Marata Niukore doesn’t factor in any? Doesn’t mean much but seems like a lot of players attend

Good indicator of young players the club rate.

Have seen Jeremiah Lemana in some of the preseason footage too.

Sikuvea listed there but haven't seen any photos/footage of him yet