General Your 2025 team

[Wrighty]

I asked Chat GPT to do a web search and here is its results of the latest

Tohu Harris, the captain of the New Zealand Warriors, has announced his immediate retirement due to a persistent wrist injury.

Warriors Kiwi


In response, the Warriors are considering internal options to fill his position at lock. Dylan Walker, who covered the role in Harris's absence last season, is a strong candidate.

news


Additionally, the recent acquisition of James Fisher-Harris from the Penrith Panthers is significant. Fisher-Harris, known for his leadership as captain of the Kiwis, is expected to make a substantial impact and is a leading candidate to assume the captaincy for the Warriors.

Sporting News


While there is speculation about potential new recruits, such as Dylan Brown from the Parramatta Eels, no official announcements have been made regarding external signings to replace Harris.

Yahoo News Australia


The Warriors' management has indicated a preference for promoting from within their development ranks to fill the void left by Harris's departure.

 

[WA Warrior]

I'm not too worried about the what if he leaves scenario. There is just as much chance that if Boyd does well that he stays longer. My view is that the team needs attacking threat, particularly in the halves. 2023 it was heavily reliant on SJ. In 2024 Metcalf looks to have really developed his passing game and balanced his run first approach from previously. Without TMM stepping in to 7 last year we were a real chance of finishing in tiger territory. I think those two are our best option - TMM at 7 and LM at 6. If Boyd is 7 then he is going to have to show an amazing improvement in attacking output that we haven't seen so far in his career or we change more to a grinding Raiders style of football.

For me, our best chance is firstly an improvement in defensive attitude. Secondly it's x factor and attacking threat which is why I have gone for those two halves, TT at fullback, Ali at centre and Halasima in the second row.

Personally I would be going Boyd 7 Metcalf 6.
I watched Boyd closely over the years for fantasy and I think he has all the skills to be a very good 7.
In saying that I have no issue at all with TMM and Metcalf having first crack.
That form TMM shown last year was magic like you say and they probably deserve first crack with SJ gone.
Of course I don’t want to jinx him but Metcalf has only played 12 games in 23 and 7 games this year so who knows, Boyd and Martin might get a crack as well.
Totally agree with the defensive improvement needed.
Ali has to be the first centre selected.
I would manage Halasimas work load but he is definitely our strike weapon in the 2nd row, we look very bland there without him.

 

[Wrighty]

Less than 4 weeks to the first pre-season game vs Sharks.

 

[The Undertaker]

My take - a huge change in how we play this year given SJ AFB and Tohu departures.

Round 1 team pending no injuries..

1. CNK
2. DWZ
3. Berry
4. Leiataua
5. RTS
6. Metcalf
7. Boyd
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Ford
12. Capewell
13. Clark

14. Healy
15. Demetric V
16. Niukore
17. Walker

18. CHT/TT

Boyd and Metcalf to play dual playmarker role with Boyd getting nod for goal kicking in absence of Pompey. Healy over Lussick and CHT for dynamic skills and more attacking threat, enabling smarter use of Egan. More threat from dummy half and pace in middle

Real focus on youth and power in forward pack

 

[Playdaball]

How do the goal kickers stack up in the squad?
1, Boyd?
2, TT?
3, Pompey?
4, Metcalf?
5, CHT?

It seems that Metcalf is the only consistent selection in all of the teams - does he inherit the goal kicking duties?
Not in the class of SJ, Witt, Ridge, Cleary etc.

 

[Noitall]

I wonder with Healey joining and a couple of good dummy halves in nsw cup, whether Lussick could be seen as a lock moving forward? By all accounts the fittest in the team judging by preseasons and can handle big bodies in the middle. Would certainly speed things up, and Walker off the bench

 

[Playdaball]

I wonder with Healey joining and a couple of good dummy halves in nsw cup, whether Lussick could be seen as a lock moving forward? By all accounts the fittest in the team judging by preseasons and can handle big bodies in the middle. Would certainly speed things up, and Walker off the bench

Peter Snell was fit but not a great RL player … just sayin’

 

[Noitall]

Peter Snell was fit but not a great RL player … just sayin’

Think he’d handle it quite well myself. I’ve thought right through last season that a bench player solely as hooker is a waste just because Egan is a risk. That player needs to offer more. Healey hasn’t even debuted at nrl level, so I’m surprised to see so many putting him straight in on the bench. My view is he’s come here recognising Egan has frailties and will back himself to impress. Hooker is a middle anyway, so I could see merit in starting fast with Egan hooker and Lussick lock, then Walker comes on for Lussick and the ball playing lifts and Lussick is on the bench for the risk to Egan if he still is having issues? Most likely Clark starts at lock and covers middle, but again a wasted spot to carry an extra hooker if Egan gets through unscathed. Also between nrl and nsw cup, we’ve got plenty of hookers, so I could see someone switching positions

 

[Noitall]

Also been giving some consideration to Tuaupiki at fullback. While I do like it, one thing concerns me with him being peppered the whole game and him very short and potentially isolated at the back. Can recall the last World Cup where Turuva was the next big thing when he shone for Fiji at fullback, he then went back to panthers and played on the wing. That was likely because Dylan Edwards owns the fullback spot there, but wonder if Tuaupiki could be an option on Montoya’s old wing so he’s at least got a centre with some height close by to disrupt

 

[Inruin]

Also been giving some consideration to Tuaupiki at fullback. While I do like it, one thing concerns me with him being peppered the whole game and him very short and potentially isolated at the back. Can recall the last World Cup where Turuva was the next big thing when he shone for Fiji at fullback, he then went back to panthers and played on the wing. That was likely because Dylan Edwards owns the fullback spot there, but wonder if Tuaupiki could be an option on Montoya’s old wing so he’s at least got a centre with some height close by to disrupt

He is the same height as Reece Walsh and Keano Kini. Majority of kicks seem to be towards the wingers in the modern game as well. I think every player has strengths and weaknesses. Just need to weigh up whether what they bring to a position is better than the weaknesses there as well.

 

[Noitall]

He is the same height as Reece Walsh. Majority of kicks seem to be towards the wingers in the modern game as well. I think every player has strengths and weaknesses. Just need to weigh up whether what they bring to a position is better than the weaknesses there as well.

Walsh was such a prima donna and demanded the position before he’d earned it, hence packing a sad at broncos to come here before returning. He didn’t deserve the fullback position here in most of the time given it, and that would be major difference I see in their attitudes. Walsh’s attacking flair surpasses Tuaupiki but Tuaupiki’s obvious attitude to come here and work hard is evident. He’s really worked on his defence in the couple of seasons here and deserves whatever they see fit for him

 

[Inruin]

Walsh was such a prima donna and demanded the position before he’d earned it, hence packing a sad at broncos to come here before returning. He didn’t deserve the fullback position here in most of the time given it, and that would be major difference I see in their attitudes. Walsh’s attacking flair surpasses Tuaupiki but Tuaupiki’s obvious attitude to come here and work hard is evident. He’s really worked on his defence in the couple of seasons here and deserves whatever they see fit for him

Height wise they are the same though. Kini as well. I don't see height being a massive deciding factor in fullback play. I think it would be more so for wingers.

 

[Noitall]

Height wise they are the same though. Kini as well. I don't see height being a massive deciding factor in fullback play. I think it would be more so for wingers.

Certainly a factor for Jye Gray at the rabbits. Probably Latrell Mitchell having dibs on the fullback role doesn’t help, but being shorter again at 1.7m, the rabbits are looking at whether they keep him at all due his size not even confident he’s big enough to defend in the front line to shift him to halves. Big raps on this guy and he filled in well in Mitchell’s absence but players like Walsh and Kini are such an attacking threat that they look past the frailties

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I wonder with Healey joining and a couple of good dummy halves in nsw cup, whether Lussick could be seen as a lock moving forward? By all accounts the fittest in the team judging by preseasons and can handle big bodies in the middle. Would certainly speed things up, and Walker off the bench

Like Walker, hes too small. Need to dominate both sides of the ball at 13.

 

[Inruin]

Certainly a factor for Jye Gray at the rabbits. Probably Latrell Mitchell having dibs on the fullback role doesn’t help, but being shorter again at 1.7m, the rabbits are looking at whether they keep him at all due his size not even confident he’s big enough to defend in the front line to shift him to halves. Big raps on this guy and he filled in well in Mitchell’s absence but players like Walsh and Kini are such an attacking threat that they look past the frailties

Yup, having an NRL superstar like Latrell Mitchell playing your position is the key determining factor there. Plenty of examples of shorter successful fullbacks. As I said, and like any position it's all about the strengths they bring to the position versus any perceived weaknesses. I think we have seen enough of TT to see that his height won't be a huge issue.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Yup, having an NRL superstar like Latrell Mitchell playing your position is the key determining factor there. Plenty of examples of shorter successful fullbacks. As I said, and like any position it's all about the strengths they bring to the position versus any perceived weaknesses. I think we have seen enough of TT to see that his height won't be a huge issue.

Rather have two lanky giants who can run 10s 100m on the wing and a pocket rocket ball player at the back.

 

[Noitall]

Yup, having an NRL superstar like Latrell Mitchell playing your position is the key determining factor there. Plenty of examples of shorter successful fullbacks. As I said, and like any position it's all about the strengths they bring to the position versus any perceived weaknesses. I think we have seen enough of TT to see that his height won't be a huge issue.

With Mitchell regarded as one of the better centres from his time at the roosters, they still not willing to shift Mitchell to accommodate Gray. Whether that be Mitchell’s unwillingness to shift a possibility, but Gray’s size is certainly the issue in his situation. Walker due to retire too would be unfortunate if they didn’t give him a go at 6. They’ve let go of Taaffe and Ilias not giving them an opportunity in a settled position. More than happy to see Tuaupiki given first shot at fullback, he couldn’t claim it in 2024 by the time CNK was recovered but I wouldn’t be upset to see RTS to shift back there either. Think it comes down to how Webster wants to play with the ball playing in the middle of Tohu perhaps something we shift away from until Walker hits the field off the bench

 

[doeeyedwarrior]

I like your 17. Though I think in all likelihood the following will happen:

Swap TMM for Boyd
Capewell to start with Niukore to the bench
Maybe Clark to start with Walker to the bench

I have TMM a fair bit ahead of Boyd. I think TMM is in for a big year (if he stays fit) and we see more of what he showed at 7 last year when SJ was out

 

[BigUCE]

I have TMM a fair bit ahead of Boyd. I think TMM is in for a big year (if he stays fit) and we see more of what he showed at 7 last year when SJ was out

this video says it all about the TMM vs Boyd debate:
View: https://youtu.be/A34iwbhfT7k?feature=shared