General Your 2025 team

[Te Mana-wah]

1. RTS
2. DWZ
3. Pompey
4. Leiataua
5. CNK
6. Metcalf
7. TMM
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Niukore
11. Halisima
12. Capewell
13. Barnett

14. Clark
15. Walker
16. Laban
17. Sifakula

18. TT

 

[ROCCO]

01. Taine Tuaupiki
02. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
03. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
04. Ali Leiataua
05. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
06. Luke Metcalf
07. Te Maire Martin

08. James Fisher Harris
09. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Marata Niukore
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Tohu Harris (c)

14. Erin Clarke
15. Dylan Walker
16. Jackson Ford
17. Demetric Sifakula

 

[Wrighty]

01. Taine Tuaupiki
02. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
03. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
04. Ali Leiataua
05. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
06. Luke Metcalf
07. Te Maire Martin

08. James Fisher Harris
09. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Marata Niukore
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Tohu Harris (c)

14. Erin Clarke
15. Dylan Walker
16. Jackson Ford
17. Demetric Sifakula

Your user name is Rocco yet you didn't pick him?

 

[Dannevegas]

Taine Tauapiki
Roger Tuivasa-scheck
Ali Leiataua
Rocco Berry
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Luke Metcalf
Shaun Johnson
James Fisher-Harris
Wade Egan
Mitch Barnett
Kurt Capewell
Leka Halasima
Tom Ale

Channel Harris-tavita
Demetric Sifakula
Tohu Harris
Marata Niukore

Cup team,

C. Nicoll-klokstad
S. Alaimalo
S. Kali
K. Capper
M. Pasikala
J. Cleary
T. Martin
Z. Zyon Maiu’u
S. Healy
J. Ford
E. Eiremia-toeava
J. Laban
E. Clark

J. Auloa
H. Durbin
T. Crosby
T. Stowers-Smith

 

[Zaggo]

Kini getting run over for a couple of tries last night demonstrates the need for a fullback who can actually act as a last line of defence - which I'm extremely skeptical about Taupiki being.

It's still CNK or RTS for me.

 

[Wrighty]

Kini getting run over for a couple of tries last night demonstrates the need for a fullback who can actually act as a last line of defence - which I'm extremely skeptical about Taupiki being.

It's still CNK or RTS for me.

Do we think we can win the competition next year? Maybe having Tuapiki as a development prospect in the fullback jumper sets us up for 2026 and 2027 as although Roger is signed for 2026 he will turn 33 in June 2026.

I personally don't think Tuapiki is an iron man and even if we name him as our top ranked full back that Roger can get plenty of games in at full back as the back up fullback.

I also more importantly think we need Tuapiki for goal kicking. Let's start winning games by 2 points rather than losing by two points.

I am also leaning towards carrying CNK on the bench as my back line utility as CNK covers more spots than CHT.

Last year when we listed out all the spots CHT could cover we said Halves, Hooker, Fullback, Centre
But when shit went down they never put him at centre or fullback. He only really offered cover at hooker or Half and only really half as they preferred Lussick as back up half.

CNK on the other hand can be trusted by the team to cover 6, 1, Centre, Wing.
There are stats that show that most team that lose a back in the first half go on to lose the game. I reckon carrying CNK on the bench would be a very helpful option for in game injury cover. Plus he is too senior to play cup.

1 Tuapiki
2 Dallin
3 Pompey
4 Ali
5 Roger
6 TMM
7 Metcalf
8 JFH
9 Lussick
10 Barnett
11 Halasima
12 Capewell
13 Walker

14 Egan - Hooker
15 Niukore - Middle and second row cover
16 Sifakula - he turns 21 in March 2025 play him now.
17 CNK - Back Utility

NRL Ready Depth
18 Tohu Harris - He doesn't make Wrighty's top 17. I am sure he will be picked but this is just a hypothetical team.
19 Clark not Clarke
20 Bunty
21 Tom Ale
22 Rocco Berry
23 Healy
24 Zyon Maiu’u
25 Laban
26 Ford
27 CHT

Not NRL Ready
28 Pasifikala
29 Kosi

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Do we think we can win the competition next year? Maybe having Tuapiki as a development prospect in the fullback jumper sets us up for 2026 and 2027 as although Roger is signed for 2026 he will turn 33 in June 2026.

I personally don't think Tuapiki is an iron man and even if we name him as our top ranked full back that Roger can get plenty of games in at full back as the back up fullback.

I also more importantly think we need Tuapiki for goal kicking. Let's start winning games by 2 points rather than losing by two points.

I am also leaning towards carrying CNK on the bench as my back line utility as CNK covers more spots than CHT.

Last year when we listed out all the spots CHT could cover we said Halves, Hooker, Fullback, Centre
But when shit went down they never put him at centre or fullback. He only really offered cover at hooker or Half and only really half as they preferred Lussick as back up half.

CNK on the other hand can be trusted by the team to cover 6, 1, Centre, Wing.
There are stats that show that most team that lose a back in the first half go on to lose the game. I reckon carrying CNK on the bench would be a very helpful option for in game injury cover. Plus he is too senior to play cup.

1 Tuapiki
2 Dallin
3 Pompey
4 Ali
5 Roger
6 TMM
7 Metcalf
8 JFH
9 Lussick
10 Barnett
11 Halasima
12 Capewell
13 Walker

14 Egan - Hooker
15 Niukore - Middle and second row cover
16 Sifakula - he turns 21 in March 2025 play him now.
17 CNK - Back Utility

Very close to what im thinking. Feels like Webby is pulling a Panthers and getting a younger team ready to play together for 4-5 years.

 

[Noitall]

Kini getting run over for a couple of tries last night demonstrates the need for a fullback who can actually act as a last line of defence - which I'm extremely skeptical about Taupiki being.

It's still CNK or RTS for me.

I’m conflicted on this too but I think attack wise that the smaller faster fullback is the future. Walsh has been catalyst to a degree and although Kini is small, I appreciated the effort in most defensive misses yesterday whereas I was always left disappointed by Walsh’s attempts when he was with us. Kini had a bad miss on a steamrolling Collins yesterday, but I’m not sure why he was defending in the front line either? I appreciated in the Lomax try that he almost got him into touch in cover defence too. I find Tuaupiki very similar and thought the final game against the sharks showed more threat from fullback than all year, they just play faster than the CNK, RTS hit up fullback prototype. Edwards and Tedesco probably among the most balanced attacking and defensively. Still think Metcalf would be a handy fullback

 

[Wrighty]

Very close to what im thinking. Feels like Webby is pulling a Panthers and getting a younger team ready to play together for 4-5 years.

Have you posted your 1-17 yet f0r 2025 yet? Would be very interested to see your take...

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Have you posted your 1-17 yet f0r 2025 yet? Would be very interested to see your take...

Would be very similar to yours. Half hope / half Webby's picks

1 Tuapiki
2 Dallin
3 CNK
4 Ali
5 Roger
6 TMM
7 Metcalf
8 JFH
9 Egan
10 Ford
11 Halasima
12 Capewell
13 Clark

14 Walker
15 Barnett
16 Sifakula
17 Niukore

 

[Inruin]

Would be very similar to yours. Half hope / half Webby's picks

1 Tuapiki
2 Dallin
3 CNK
4 Ali
5 Roger
6 TMM
7 Metcalf
8 JFH
9 Egan
10 Ford
11 Halasima
12 Capewell
13 Clark

14 Walker
15 Barnett
16 Sifakula
17 Niukore

Good side but your halves are around the wrong way IMO

 

[Wrighty]

Good side but your halves are around the wrong way IMO

There was an interesting post this morning in the recruitment thread I believe

Luke in recent interviews wants the 7 jersey. TMM by all reports is happy either with 6 or 7

In the pre-season Luke was 7 and TMM 6

 

[Inruin]

There was an interesting post this morning in the recruitment thread I believe

Luke in recent interviews wants the 7 jersey. TMM by all reports is happy either with 6 or 7

In the pre-season Luke was 7 and TMM 6

Yeah, time will tell whether it's LM or TMM or someone else. I just think that with what we saw from TMM at 7 last year in first grade he should rightfully IMO have first crack at it. Also looked good in cup for that brief time we had TMM at 7 and LM at 6. I think if we can get a full preseason in with them, no SJ influence, and AW letting them play to their strengths, and not the robotic play we have seen at times, add in TT at fullback, then we will go ok - potential injuries aside.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Watching Cnk & Rts in the tests, They're turtles!! Slow as fuck. If we have to squeeze them in the backline somewhere and Pompey is there too. We're def the slowest backline in the comp lol.

Roger & Charnze have been there based off of their defensive capabilities as of late. Rts once upon a time had those twinkle toe feet , deadly step and sufficient enough speed.
Now he just steps into traffic and gets blitzed on the outside on dee.

Charnze defends better from the back than Rts. Puts himself in the right positions at the right times. His spacial awareness is good. He also barks orders and organisers his troops better. But, He still gets blitzed one on one if his front line defenders don't do their jobs. Speed is his enemy.

Rts isn't a big talker. But like Charnze, Is all heart & effort! That can only take us so far. If we're to slow to catch people like Fidow , Addo-Carr and co lol.

Where to fit them in? Is it time to blood & start someone like Tuaupiki? Speed! So where does Cnk & Rts fit it? Cnk in the centres over Ali, Rocco , Pompey? It's no for me.
Rts on the wing? Dwz has one sewn up. Pasikala & Kali waiting in the wings. It's a hmmm for me lol. Not sure if I like that idea. We need a import with legit wheels. Or it will be a very long year.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Good side but your halves are around the wrong way IMO

The problem is they are both really 6’s which is why no one knows their position…

 

[Inruin]

The problem is they are both really 6’s which is why no one knows their position…

I think we saw enough this season to know that TMM can play 7 well. Most seem fixated on his limited long kicking game though

 

[John Nick]

I think we saw enough this season to know that TMM can play 7 well. Most seem fixated on his limited long kicking game though

Certainly ain't a 6.
Did nothing when SJ was 7 and TMM was 6

 

[Dannevegas]

Certainly ain't a 6.
Did nothing when SJ was 7 and TMM was 6

I think it’s hard for the other half to get involved with SJ because he’s so dominant on both sides of the ball, and because our attacking shape was so right side heavy, also our fullback never links on the left so there was never much going on on that left side.
Metcalf was a good foil because he wasn’t afraid to overcall SJ

 

[John Nick]

I think it’s hard for the other half to get involved with SJ because he’s so dominant on both sides of the ball, and because our attacking shape was so right side heavy, also our fullback never links on the left so there was never much going on on that left side.
Metcalf was a good foil because he wasn’t afraid to overcall SJ

Agreed. TMM was very negative and lagging behind the play not offering a left side option. Improved when he went to 7.

 

[Boston Boy]

Do we think we can win the competition next year? Maybe having Tuapiki as a development prospect in the fullback jumper sets us up for 2026 and 2027 as although Roger is signed for 2026 he will turn 33 in June 2026.

I personally don't think Tuapiki is an iron man and even if we name him as our top ranked full back that Roger can get plenty of games in at full back as the back up fullback.

I also more importantly think we need Tuapiki for goal kicking. Let's start winning games by 2 points rather than losing by two points.

I am also leaning towards carrying CNK on the bench as my back line utility as CNK covers more spots than CHT.

Last year when we listed out all the spots CHT could cover we said Halves, Hooker, Fullback, Centre
But when shit went down they never put him at centre or fullback. He only really offered cover at hooker or Half and only really half as they preferred Lussick as back up half.

CNK on the other hand can be trusted by the team to cover 6, 1, Centre, Wing.
There are stats that show that most team that lose a back in the first half go on to lose the game. I reckon carrying CNK on the bench would be a very helpful option for in game injury cover. Plus he is too senior to play cup.

1 Tuapiki
2 Dallin
3 Pompey
4 Ali
5 Roger
6 TMM
7 Metcalf
8 JFH
9 Lussick
10 Barnett
11 Halasima
12 Capewell
13 Walker

14 Egan - Hooker
15 Niukore - Middle and second row cover
16 Sifakula - he turns 21 in March 2025 play him now.
17 CNK - Back Utility

NRL Ready Depth
18 Tohu Harris - He doesn't make Wrighty's top 17. I am sure he will be picked but this is just a hypothetical team.
19 Clark not Clarke
20 Bunty
21 Tom Ale
22 Rocco Berry
23 Healy
24 Zyon Maiu’u
25 Laban
26 Ford
27 CHT

Not NRL Ready
28 Pasifikala
29 Kosi

I like your 17. I would probably swap CNK for Pompey however. CNK has more energy, hit ups, speed and a fraction more attack in him. Just wondering whether Pompey could hold a bench spot as he lacks versatility and if he could cover second row he could really add value to his game.

I think Sifakula has the size to cause damage and by the middle of the year will be a handful for defences as he’s got good footwork and a bit of pace for a big boy. Halasima in the pack is vital as I feel we need a little variation to the workhorse pack we tried to roll out this year.