General Warriors Preseason 2026

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Just a general comment, but isn't it great to see the action on this forum pick up again after what seems a real long off season and no real Wah's headline news (bad or good) or 'big' signings to pull to pieces.
At this point the club seems to be well in control of their responsibilities. Only 2 weeks to go until the first trial. Superb!

Its a perfect way to start the season, no fuss and just going about thier business.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I thought the same thing, that was strange. I have been invited to previous members events so not sure what happened there and looked like a poor turnout.

Maybe names from a hat? I don’t know. I feel like they should do more for members.

 

[CLQV3R]

As a member the last 4 years who has renewed every year, I am pretty disappointed to not receive an invite to the exclusive training this weekend.

That sucks that people didn't get the invite. I got an email on Jan 23 from the membership team. Friends I go to games with got the same message then too. It was a small turn out, but I think it was have chaotic if it was bigger as there were very limited spots to actually view the training. It was on Field 3 which has no seating and two sides are factories. I took my elderly dad and we ended up literally sitting in a bush and pushed up again a chain link fence so people standing behind us could see.

The team were doing tackling drills onto mats when I arrived, then a game of two hand touch, then full contact league. There was a ref calling the game. The two teams were a jumble of players for two top squads.

AKP got a break but threw an inside ball that was called forward. Saw him get stepped by young outside I couldn't name. He was busy but he chucked an arm out to tack there which didn't look like great technique. Can see he is not going to be a meter eater either. Think it was Mellars that got a break and tried the kick back inside, but that went out on the first bounce. Thought Gannon looked busy at the beginning and looking to offload, but saw him throw a crazy hospital pass that was lost. Noticed Te Maire played dummy half a fair bit before moving to the halves. Rocco was on a training bike whole hour I was there. Taine was running laps, but may have been playing fullback at the start.

Game got pretty tense near the end. They were hitting each other in the tackles, throwing the ball away after turn overs to stop other team getting it. No-one was pulling their punches. Can see guys are fighting for spots.

Quite a bit of dropped ball throughout the game overall. Some clumsy passes and handling. Bit worried about the lack of creativity in the red zone too, as most of the tries seemed to be forwards falling over the line. Set plays just seem to keep going sideways. I realise it was a mix of players, but can see lots to work on.

I didn't stick around for the meet and greet.

 

[John Nick]

That sucks that people didn't get the invite. I got an email on Jan 23 from the membership team. Friends I go to games with got the same message then too. It was a small turn out, but I think it was have chaotic if it was bigger as there were very limited spots to actually view the training. It was on Field 3 which has no seating and two sides are factories. I took my elderly dad and we ended up literally sitting in a bush and pushed up again a chain link fence so people standing behind us could see.

The team were doing tackling drills onto mats when I arrived, then a game of two hand touch, then full contact league. There was a ref calling the game. The two teams were a jumble of players for two top squads.

AKP got a break but threw an inside ball that was called forward. Saw him get stepped by young outside I couldn't name. He was busy but he chucked an arm out to tack there which didn't look like great technique. Can see he is not going to be a meter eater either. Think it was Mellars that got a break and tried the kick back inside, but that went out on the first bounce. Thought Gannon looked busy at the beginning and looking to offload, but saw him throw a crazy hospital pass that was lost. Noticed Te Maire played dummy half a fair bit before moving to the halves. Rocco was on a training bike whole hour I was there. Taine was running laps, but may have been playing fullback at the start.

Game got pretty tense near the end. They were hitting each other in the tackles, throwing the ball away after turn overs to stop other team getting it. No-one was pulling their punches. Can see guys are fighting for spots.

Quite a bit of dropped ball throughout the game overall. Some clumsy passes and handling. Bit worried about the lack of creativity in the red zone too, as most of the tries seemed to be forwards falling over the line. Set plays just seem to keep going sideways. I realise it was a mix of players, but can see lots to work on.

I didn't stick around for the meet and greet.

Thanks mate. Love this sort of stuff. Great insight.Much appreciated

 

[Teets]

DWZ has scored off a Berry pass only twice in their last 20 games together. The last being Rd 7 2024 so 10 games together without Berry throwing the last pass. SJ made everyone look good in '23

Yeah and we ran that double lead shape alot which isn't conducive to Berry last pass to DWZ tries.

I don’t think Laban has shown enough in first grade to displace an origin player. CCES has previously provided some stats around his lack of attacking output in first grade

I agree on the first part, but to be fair to Laban in the few games he started 2nd Row and played 40 mins + his stat output was basically on par with Capes and Niukore given the same parameters last year.

In Capes 15 games at 2nd row 40+ mins. His per game averages were 78 minutes, 0.2 try involvements, 0.4 line break involvements, 74 run metres, 31 tackles, 5 misses.

In Labans 3 games at 2nd row 40+ mins. His per game averages were 58 minutes, 0.3 try involvements, 0.3 line break involvements, 81 run metres, 34 tackles, 3.7 missed.

Small sample size but encouraging given he's on the way up.

 

[Five&Last]

AKP couldn't even make the Titans side last year which indicates he was even worse than Dallin though?

Maybe they've both been given clean slates and now there's decent competition, who ever gets the job has looked the best in preseason.

You can't just given Dallin first crack because of seniority, but you also can't NOT give him the job because of a poor year last year.

AKP was poor no doubt about it. It's more about the principle. Sends the message that if you underperform, we will give someone else the opportunity. We didn't have that luxury last year when he was letting in 2 tries a game from schoolboy errors.

You can't just rinse and repeat something that clearly wasn't working last year.

Who knows maybe he bombs it and DWZ gets his shot at redemption.

 

[tajhay]

Sorry guys, some posts in this thread from this morning ~530am today till about 10 mins ago were deleted due to a server issue encountered. If it was important you can repost it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[snake77]

Long off-season. We get this weekend off. Then the trials the week after. Warriors on the 14th.

Also, two games this weekend (Saturday) for the Vegas bound teams. The games are listed on the Sky Guide.

2026 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge: Everything you need to know

The Witzer Pre-Season Challenge kicks off on February 7 and will feature 16 matches across three weeks including four double-header matchdays.

www.nrl.com

 

[Zaggo]

As a member the last 4 years who has renewed every year, I am pretty disappointed to not receive an invite to the exclusive training this weekend.

I've been a member since 2016 and didn't get diddly from them - only found out the event even happened via this forum. Same with my other mates who have been long-time members.

I've always found the membership team incredibly onto it when it comes to requesting payment, and remarkably quiet when it comes to me asking for anything!

 

[Zaggo]

Long off-season. We get this weekend off. Then the trials the week after. Warriors on the 14th.

Also, two games this weekend (Saturday) for the Vegas bound teams. The games are listed on the Sky Guide.

2026 Witzer Pre-Season Challenge: Everything you need to know

The Witzer Pre-Season Challenge kicks off on February 7 and will feature 16 matches across three weeks including four double-header matchdays.

www.nrl.com

Anyone know if Sky has ponied up for the Super League game in Vegas this year? Doubt it after they tried to not even show the Ashes, but stranger things have happened.

 

[snake77]

Anyone know if Sky has ponied up for the Super League game in Vegas this year? Doubt it after they tried to not even show the Ashes, but stranger things have happened.

Not sure on the SL game. Likely need to wait until next week to check the guide.

A shame as it would have been good seeing all of the games last year. Or at least having the choice of which ones interest you.

 

[El Chuckie]

I thought the same thing, that was strange. I have been invited to previous members events so not sure what happened there and looked like a poor turnout.

Sorry if it's been asked/answered elsewhere, but did you fellas renew before Aug 31? That was their cutoff for this event. They mentioned it last season during a couple of home games. If you did renew before that date and didn't get an invite, then that does truly suck.

 

[Matiunz]

I think it was the absence of SJ more than anything else, and he ain’t coming back

Otherwise known as ‘Fusitua syndrome’ ?

 

[El Chuckie]

That sucks that people didn't get the invite. I got an email on Jan 23 from the membership team. Friends I go to games with got the same message then too. It was a small turn out, but I think it was have chaotic if it was bigger as there were very limited spots to actually view the training. It was on Field 3 which has no seating and two sides are factories. I took my elderly dad and we ended up literally sitting in a bush and pushed up again a chain link fence so people standing behind us could see.

The team were doing tackling drills onto mats when I arrived, then a game of two hand touch, then full contact league. There was a ref calling the game. The two teams were a jumble of players for two top squads.

AKP got a break but threw an inside ball that was called forward. Saw him get stepped by young outside I couldn't name. He was busy but he chucked an arm out to tack there which didn't look like great technique. Can see he is not going to be a meter eater either. Think it was Mellars that got a break and tried the kick back inside, but that went out on the first bounce. Thought Gannon looked busy at the beginning and looking to offload, but saw him throw a crazy hospital pass that was lost. Noticed Te Maire played dummy half a fair bit before moving to the halves. Rocco was on a training bike whole hour I was there. Taine was running laps, but may have been playing fullback at the start.

Game got pretty tense near the end. They were hitting each other in the tackles, throwing the ball away after turn overs to stop other team getting it. No-one was pulling their punches. Can see guys are fighting for spots.

Quite a bit of dropped ball throughout the game overall. Some clumsy passes and handling. Bit worried about the lack of creativity in the red zone too, as most of the tries seemed to be forwards falling over the line. Set plays just seem to keep going sideways. I realise it was a mix of players, but can see lots to work on.

I didn't stick around for the meet and greet.

I hung around for it, and it was pretty cool because the line wasn't too long and all the players were involved (except Rocco). My lad got his hat and book signed by the whole squad. He was buzzing. The players were really friendly. I know it's not a big ask of them, but they were coming off a pretty intense contact hitout.

 

[Noitall]

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Demitric looks like he’s gone baldy. Not sure if there’s a party at the back not?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

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Demitric looks like he’s gone baldy. Not sure if there’s a party at the back not?

Get some Tanner tape on that noggin!

 

[Noitall]

Get some Tanner tape on that noggin!

Reckon our young guys will go to another level this year

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Reckon our young guys will go to another level this year

I hope so noitall! They need to keep the old guys battling hard to keep thier spots.

It will be interesting to see how leka, Vaimauga, Laban and Leiataua present.

 

[Noitall]

I hope so noitall! They need to keep the old guys battling hard to keep thier spots.

It will be interesting to see how leka, Vaimauga, Laban and Leiataua present.

EIT has had a taste now too and will be hungry for more and Fatialofa will be keen to get a taste. They’ve obviously got plans for him to get him to backflip on his deal with panthers. We could get a quick production line soon with players like Salalilo, RTV and others looking in good condition too. The squad actually looks really impressive I reckon physically

 

[Five&Last]

AKP got a break but threw an inside ball that was called forward. Saw him get stepped by young outside I couldn't name.

Putoko, Pasikala and Lemana I think the only young outsides still there.

What an experience for Lemana still there this late into preseason at 17.