General Your 2025 team

[Christchurch_Warrior]

He’s got speed, aerial skills, superb defender and is the same height as Zac Lomax (who did pretty well shifting out).

Superb defenders are usually your Centres. I would have him at Centre. Would hope to see Ali on the other but if RTS plays wing he is not that strong defensively. Great attacking weapon but this year was his best defensive effort statistically and he wasn't flash. Hopefully the coaches have confidence in Ali defensively as it would be a great attacking edge with the two of them.

 

[Milking!]

Who would you put at fullback for round one and where are you playing RTS if it's not him there? Seems like the backline is the biggest points of contention for most and the bench make up. Who you got for your 1-7?

Don’t get me wrong, RTS is very likely still our best FB. But I also reckon if he’d gotten a bit better service inside him, he’d have shown that he was our best centre last year as well. By Montoya leaving, think that leaves wing as where he probably ends up (unless Kosi bumps him out )

1. CNK - just a safer bet than TT with all the unknowns of Vegas
2. DWZ
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. RTS
6. Metcalfe
7. CHT

The halves are such a ‘who knows’ - I just really like CHTs all-round game, and Metcalfes probs the best run threat.

 

[Milking!]

Superb defenders are usually your Centres. I would have him at Centre. Would hope to see Ali on the other but if RTS plays wing he is not that strong defensively. Great attacking weapon but this year was his best defensive effort statistically and he wasn't flash. Hopefully the coaches have confidence in Ali defensively as it would be a great attacking edge with the two of them.

Great point. I love Rocco’s kick chase on long balls as well - so many great grass cutting tackles. He’d probably not be able to do that if he’s also doing a zilllion hit ups.
Don’t think it’ll happen, but would be interesting to see what the wing depth chart is like at Wahs HQ

 

[Defence]

would anyone if they were webster put RTS at fullback?

I don’t think I’d play him there because of the balance of the squad (we need a winger) but tbh I still think he’s probably the best fullback at the club.

 

[Defence]

I’ve gotta Rocco locked in for a center spot if fit.

 

[Playdaball]

Our outside back depth is terrible when Ed Kosi is in the running for a 1st grade spot .

 

[Canonball]

They are going to have to use one of the 2024 middles as a second rower in 2025.

Specialist 2nd rowers in 2025
Capewell
Halasema
Laban
That's it

Guys who have plenty of experience there but finished last year as a middle
Barnett
Niukore
Ford
Tohu

To your point Neo one of those guys from that second list needs to go back to Second Row, Especially since Laban has not been convincing yet. Your bet of Niukore sounds smart. He did not move the needle as a middle this year.
According to rugby league project he largely did line up at second row this year anyway
10 games second row
1 Game front row
4 games bench (and played middle?)


Just for fun our complete list of Middles excluding Niukore is long

In Wrighty's priority order
1 JFH
2 Barnett
3 Walker
4 The artist formerly known as Demitric Vaimauga
5 Clark not Clarke
6 Tohu Harris
7 Ford
8 Ale
9 Zyon Maiu’u
10 Bunty

Pack and Bench by the forum aligning on ideas shaping up to be

8 JFH
9 Egan
10 Barnett
11 Niukore - per Neo and traded notes
12 Capewell
13 The forum has not decided either Tohu or Clark - you would think Tohu gets the nod

14 Walker
15 Halasema
16 Sifakula
17 Lussick (Lock in Freddy of course we are playing a bench hooker as Egan gets concussed every 5th game he plays)

18 Clark - he will be in the side at the first injury.

I'm picking a Tohu renaissance, in the middle somewhere between front row and lock - he was so broken last season and you could tell the leadership weighed hard, until Mitch stood up that is... If the rehab has been done right he'll come back in fresh and have Mitch, Capewell and JFFuckingH alongside him and will have the chance to contribute for shorter bursts - my hope of course ... I feel the same way about Niukore too, and am hoping he is staying a middle .... Interesting seeing the promo shots for the Pasifika jersey (which I really like btw, contrary to most takes): Zyon Maiu’u looks like he's slimmed down and Laban is a little bulkier, taking for granted Laban is in the 2nd row but possibly Zyon Maiu’u in there too? - Ale's in those shots as well, and he's getting towards the geniunely massive end of the spectruum - as a useful point of reference the scary-old-huge-units of Hitro and Seuseu are standing along side them in some of those shots

 

[Ferdie]

So I worked out who my starting 13 + reserves and 18th man would be for 2025.
But then decided to keep going and work out who would be starting for NSW cup, and I can't help but feel that between the top 30 squad players that don't make the 18 on game day, those on train and trial deals, the rising stars coming up through the grades and seasoned NSW cup campaigners - this team is actually harder to select than the top team - to the point where we could actually run out two separate teams in NSW cup if everyone was healthy.
I get there will be injuries/suspensions to deal with through out the grades and some of the youth players will drop back down to u21s, but if our depth continues to get stronger, is it potentially viable that we enter a second NSW cup team or Qld Cup team in the future?
For the record my teams currently look like this:
NRL/ NSW Cup/ Third team of players
1 CNK/ 1 Tuaupiki/ 1 Sio Kali
2 RTS/ 2 Kosi/ 2 Daeon Amituanai
3 Leiataua/ 3 Pompey/ 3 Patrick Moimoi
4 Berry/ 4 Graham Taufa/ 4 Nganatafu Vake or Kahu Capper
5 DWZ/ 5 Pasikala/ 5 Brandon Norris
6 Boyd/ 6 TMM/ 6 Geronimo Doyle
7 Metcalf/ 7 Cleary/ 7 Luke Hanson
8 JFH/ 8 Bunty/ 8 Rodney Tuipolutu Vea
9 Egan/ 9 Lussick/ 9 Aulua or Tafua
10 Barnett/ 10 Zyon Maiu’u/ 10 Crosby
11 Capewell/ 11 Laban/ 11 Kayliss Fatialofa
12 Halasima/ 12 Ieramia-Toeava/ 12 Augustino Filipo
13 Tohu/ 13 Erin Clark/ 13 Kalani Going

14 Sam Healey 14 Roache 14 Etuane Fukofuka
15 Demitric Vaimauga 15 Ale 15 Jason Salalilo
16 Walker 16 Stowers Smith 16 Harry Durbin
17 Niukore 17 Ford 17 Toni Tupouniua

18 CHT

Key thoughts for selecting my top team:
- We need to develop youth, but still surround them with experience. So one young player on the left side of the field (Leiataua), one on the right (Halasima) and one in the middle off the bench (Demitric Vaimauga). There will be opportunities for the likes of Laban and Zyon Maiu’u when those 3 youth players are given a rest from top grade.
- Metcalf at 7, because I want us to have a real crack at signing Dylan Brown for 2026, but at the same time developing Jett Cleary as a 7 in case Metcalf continues to be made of glass.
- I'd prefer to have Clark at 14 if he's been training at hooker in the pre-season, but my gut feel is that he isn't, and therefore will need a specialist hooker on the bench, which is a bit of a waste if we're wanting Metcalf to play 65 + mins per game.

 

[BigUCE]

So I worked out who my starting 13 + reserves and 18th man would be for 2025.
But then decided to keep going and work out who would be starting for NSW cup, and I can't help but feel that between the top 30 squad players that don't make the 18 on game day, those on train and trial deals, the rising stars coming up through the grades and seasoned NSW cup campaigners - this team is actually harder to select than the top team - to the point where we could actually run out two separate teams in NSW cup if everyone was healthy.
I get there will be injuries/suspensions to deal with through out the grades and some of the youth players will drop back down to u21s, but if our depth continues to get stronger, is it potentially viable that we enter a second NSW cup team or Qld Cup team in the future?
For the record my teams currently look like this:
NRL/ NSW Cup/ Third team of players
1 CNK/ 1 Tuaupiki/ 1 Sio Kali
2 RTS/ 2 Kosi/ 2 Daeon Amituanai
3 Leiataua/ 3 Pompey/ 3 Patrick Moimoi
4 Berry/ 4 Graham Taufa/ 4 Nganatafu Vake or Kahu Capper
5 DWZ/ 5 Pasikala/ 5 Brandon Norris
6 Boyd/ 6 TMM/ 6 Geronimo Doyle
7 Metcalf/ 7 Cleary/ 7 Luke Hanson
8 JFH/ 8 Bunty/ 8 Rodney Tuipolutu Vea
9 Egan/ 9 Lussick/ 9 Aulua or Tafua
10 Barnett/ 10 Zyon Maiu’u/ 10 Crosby
11 Capewell/ 11 Laban/ 11 Kayliss Fatialofa
12 Halasima/ 12 Ieramia-Toeava/ 12 Augustino Filipo
13 Tohu/ 13 Erin Clark/ 13 Kalani Going

14 Sam Healey 14 Roache 14 Etuane Fukofuka
15 Demitric Vaimauga 15 Ale 15 Jason Salalilo
16 Walker 16 Stowers Smith 16 Harry Durbin
17 Niukore 17 Ford 17 Toni Tupouniua

18 CHT

Key thoughts for selecting my top team:
- We need to develop youth, but still surround them with experience. So one young player on the left side of the field (Leiataua), one on the right (Halasima) and one in the middle off the bench (Demitric Vaimauga). There will be opportunities for the likes of Laban and Zyon Maiu’u when those 3 youth players are given a rest from top grade.
- Metcalf at 7, because I want us to have a real crack at signing Dylan Brown for 2026, but at the same time developing Jett Cleary as a 7 in case Metcalf continues to be made of glass.
- I'd prefer to have Clark at 14 if he's been training at hooker in the pre-season, but my gut feel is that he isn't, and therefore will need a specialist hooker on the bench, which is a bit of a waste if we're wanting Metcalf to play 65 + mins per game.

Hopefully Dylan stays healthy next season. I read somewhere that it’s something like a 45% chance a partial acl tear turns into a full tear, similar to what happened to Sam Walker. That could be a big factor in offering him a contract.

 

[Ferdie]

Hopefully Dylan stays healthy next season. I read somewhere that it’s something like a 45% chance a partial acl tear turns into a full tear, similar to what happened to Sam Walker. That could be a big factor in offering him a contract.

True, I guess there's no hurry from either party to jump into a contract immediately. Brown has good long term security with his current contract setup, and we can't afford to take a risk signing a guy who is likely to be one of the highest paid on the team when he may not be able to perform at the same level/at all. So best to wait until we see how and when he bounces back.

 

[BabylonPink]

1.Taine
2.RTS
3.CNK
4.Berry
5.DWZ

6.TMM
7.LM/TB

8.Fish
9.Egan
10.Tohu
11.Ford
12.Capewell
13.Walker

14.Erin
15.Barnett
16.Niukore
17.Chanel

You know after thinking on it fir a month, and after watching just how cocky and confident Demitric Vaimauga is I'd say he takes fords spot easy. But is he more a prop?

 

[Warriorshopeful]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zsy0eh008c

Interesting interview by Devlin with Webster on analysis of '24 season, current pre-season and training. Says yes and no on having the halves locked in for next year with wanting to give all the halves a chance to show they should be the one to lead the team. Pretty happy with the squad, not actively looking for recruits currently with 29 spots filled.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zsy0eh008c

Interesting interview by Devlin with Webster on analysis of '24 season, current pre-season and training. Says yes and no on having the halves locked in for next year with wanting to give all the halves a chance to show they should be the one to lead the team. Pretty happy with the squad, not actively looking for recruits currently with 29 spots filled.

Thanks for that. Sounds like they leaving no stone unturned. Initially said no to the halves question then yes and no, so I’m thinking not settled on a combination yet? Thought some of what he said was interesting regarding the recruitment side of things. Always looking which is usually the answer and always things moving behind the scenes but happy with the team. Cited the Montoya release to go home and said may not be the same team round 1. It’s a given but could be more released? Coy on the RTS question but his unwillingness to commit to him staying centre makes me think he won’t be staying at centre

 

[Wrighty]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXApXt_73EA

 

[Wrighty]

Note JFH not in Warriors kit in that pic above. The Drums are beating first pic of JFH in Warriors gear wins a prize.

 

[Iridescent]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXApXt_73EA

Pretty impressive team when you watch that, only question mark is on Boyd over TMM.

 

[Iridescent]

Don’t get me wrong, RTS is very likely still our best FB. But I also reckon if he’d gotten a bit better service inside him, he’d have shown that he was our best centre last year as well. By Montoya leaving, think that leaves wing as where he probably ends up (unless Kosi bumps him out )

1. CNK - just a safer bet than TT with all the unknowns of Vegas
2. DWZ
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. RTS
6. Metcalfe
7. CHT

The halves are such a ‘who knows’ - I just really like CHTs all-round game, and Metcalfes probs the best run threat.

What is actually CHT's all round game?

Worse than average passer, worse than average kicker, no running game, makes stupid errors, crumbles in the clutch.

He shouldn't be anywhere near the halves unless we have 2 or 3 injuries

 

[Milking!]

What is actually CHT's all round game?

Worse than average passer, worse than average kicker, no running game, makes stupid errors, crumbles in the clutch.

He shouldn't be anywhere near the halves unless we have 2 or 3 injuries

Interesting take. Not sure about the ‘clutch’ thing - he wasn’t any better or worse than most of the spine IMO. Basically our dominant halfback was playing hurt and in and out of the lineup, which meant lots of roles had to change on the fly to adapt -very hard to shine in that situation.
Of the four options, I’d peg CHT as the best defender, second best long kicking game, but probs the least creative playmaker - in a perfect world, he’d be a great second option behind a dominant halfback, but you could say that about LM and TMM as well.

 

[Playdaball]

Pretty impressive team when you watch that, only question mark is on Boyd over TMM.

Back up hooker - Clark or Walker?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

With the emergence of our young bucks, I feel like we have a few too many players for next year who should be playing first grade.

Players like Pompey, Ford, Bunty, CHT, Lussick and Ale who aren't in most people's first choice team. I guess the NRL has a long season and they'll feature at points in the year.

For me I'd go:

CNK
DWZ
Berry
Ali
RTS
Metcalf
TMM
Fish
Egan
Barnett
Ford
Capewell
Tohu

Healy
Clark
Marata - front row rotation
Sifakula

Halasima and Ale first cabs off the rank, then Laban imo (although I'd love Halasima to be playing from Rd 1).

CHT, Lussick, Taine, Pompey and Bunty all straight replacements instead of trying to fit then in somewhere, they'll all get some decent time next year