General Your 2025 team

[WA Warrior]

Lots of talk about a small bench with Walker on it.

Walkers listed as 98kgs and a powerful physical player. I don’t regard him as small.

Him being small and a small bench is a forum equivalent of Blockers ‘big warriors forwards’ while our small forwards are being steam rolled

That’s a fair point.
Probably a bit of his utility legacy that some of us hold onto.
He’s a ball playing lock these days.
But he hasn’t got the presence of a genuine middle imo.
So when teamed up with a utility or a hooker on the bench that only leaves 2 spots for bono fide Middles.
Where as if the hooker drops off the bench you could carry an edge forward like a Laban or Halasima.
If that makes sense lol.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Lots of talk about a small bench with Walker on it.

Walkers listed as 98kgs and a powerful physical player. I don’t regard him as small.

Him being small and a small bench is a forum equivalent of Blockers ‘big warriors forwards’ while our small forwards are being steam rolled

Wiz I will politely disagree with you, respectfully of course!

Last year we had quite a few bench's with Lussick, Walker, Jazz and Ford present.

That was when we had Addin and Tohu on our books who are quite large.

Maybe it's not specifically a small bench, but a forward pack with Ford, Walker, Clark, either Healy/Lussick and no big boppers in Tohu or Addin is remarkably light imo. Surely there's no denying that?

Most teams have atleast one big prop, or sizable edges/locks to help balance it out, where we don't. There will be positives of a smaller bench that I hope Webby's able to utalise, but when NAS, Utoikamanu, AFB, Paulo, Paseka, Hazleton, Haas and co come on, were going to struggle with containing them imo

 

[Inruin]

That’s a fair point.
Probably a bit of his utility legacy that some of us hold onto.
He’s a ball playing lock these days.
But he hasn’t got the presence of a genuine middle imo.
So when teamed up with a utility or a hooker on the bench that only leaves 2 spots for bono fide Middles.
Where as if the hooker drops off the bench you could carry an edge forward like a Laban or Halasima.
If that makes sense lol.

But when Walker comes on it will be for Clark who becomes a middle rotation. So effectively we revert to a 3 forward, one hooker bench after 20 odd minutes of games

so a bench of:

Clark
Demetric
Nuikore
Healey

doesnt look too bad?

 

[Boston Boy]

But when Walker comes on it will be for Clark who becomes a middle rotation. So effectively we revert to a 3 forward, one hooker bench after 20 odd minutes of games

so a bench of:

Clark
Demetric
Nuikore
Healey

doesnt look too bad?

I like Niukore provides impact from the bench but he is the only defensively intimidating forward we have so maybe we start him? I hear what you are saying about Clark, but he's more robust and solidly built for the early combat and let Walker come on as fatigue is starting to hit players so he can use his fast feet and ball playing through the middle.

That's what I would lean toward, I wouldn't cry either way as they all deserve to be in the 17.

 

[Inruin]

I like Niukore provides impact from the bench but he is the only defensively intimidating forward we have so maybe we start him? I hear what you are saying about Clark, but he's more robust and solidly built for the early combat and let Walker come on as fatigue is starting to hit players so he can use his fast feet and ball playing through the middle.

Yes, that is what I'm meaning with Walker. He comes on from the bench after 20 minutes or so and plays the rest of the game at 13. So that then makes Clark effectively another bench forward from then on

 

[Inruin]

1

Te Maire Martin

2

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

3

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

4

Ali Leiataua

5

Taine Tuapiki

6

Chanel Harris-Tavita

7

Luke Metcalf

8

James Fisher-Harris

9

Wade Egan

10

Mitchell Barnett

11

Kurt Capewell

12

Jacob Laban

13

Erin Clark

14

Dylan Walker

15

Demitric Vaimauga

16

Marata Niukore

17

Sam Healey

Create your own team formation

 

[Canonball]

But when Walker comes on it will be for Clark who becomes a middle rotation. So effectively we revert to a 3 forward, one hooker bench after 20 odd minutes of games

so a bench of:

Clark
Demetric
Nuikore
Healey

doesnt look too bad?

I do worry about Healey a bit though - he has very obvious upside with his running and physicality on attack, there's no question there even with a 'small sample size', but his general service is really not that crisp, and those tipping type tackles he did multiple times in the last trial gave me the shits -- if for the bench spot it's a straight choice between him and Halasima I'd go with Leka - i know you can't make a decision like that though, cos you need hooker cover etc.... it all comes back to the game plan, and it can be argued either way, Leka gives you cover in the centres too

 

[Inruin]

I do worry about Healey a bit though - he has very obvious upside with his running and physicality on attack, there's no question there even with a 'small sample size', but his general service is really not that crisp, and those tipping type tackles he did multiple times in the last trial gave me the shits -- if for the bench spot it's a straight choice between him and Halasima I'd go with Leka - i know you can't make a decision like that though, cos you need hooker cover etc.... it all comes back to the game plan, and it can be argued either way, Leka gives you cover in the centres too

I guess its whether you want Egan playing 80 minutes every week (which I think he looks gassed for the last 20 or so when he does that as well as risking injury from the fatigue) or you have a hooker rotation, whether that's Healey or Lussick.

Agree regarding his attacking ability and his work ons.

 

[Boston Boy]

I do worry about Healey a bit though - he has very obvious upside with his running and physicality on attack, there's no question there even with a 'small sample size', but his general service is really not that crisp, and those tipping type tackles he did multiple times in the last trial gave me the shits -- if for the bench spot it's a straight choice between him and Halasima I'd go with Leka - i know you can't make a decision like that though, cos you need hooker cover etc.... it all comes back to the game plan, and it can be argued either way, Leka gives you cover in the centres too

So tempting to bulk the bench with heavy forwards and have Clark be hooker cover but I think it will mess with your head having to do that, let him focus on the heavy stuff, he's actually a good metre eater. Egan will need a break so we will need cover, even though Leka is appealing.

 

[Inruin]

1

CNK

2

RTS

3

Leiataua

4

Pompey

5

Tuaupiki

6

CHT

7

Metcalf

8

JFH

9

Egan

10

Barnett

11

Niukore

12

Capewell

13

Clark

14

Walker

15

Ale

16

Vaimauga

17

Healey

Create your own team formation

be cool if they were little Warriors Jerseys

 

[WA Warrior]

But when Walker comes on it will be for Clark who becomes a middle rotation. So effectively we revert to a 3 forward, one hooker bench after 20 odd minutes of games

so a bench of:

Clark
Demetric
Nuikore
Healey

doesnt look too bad?

Yeah I agree, the reason I’m looking at the other option without Healey is I believe Webby is going to go with Nikoure and Capewell in the 2nd row.
You would need Vaimauga and either Ale or Bunty to come in the middle so there will be no room for Leka or Laban.
I hope I’m wrong though and I would be more than happy with that bench minus Ale for Bunty for R1.

 

[tajhay]

be cool if they were little Warriors Jerseys

if someone can create me an image in similar style to this but with the back and full jersey back shown (so i can transpose the number) i can try it.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Wiz I will politely disagree with you, respectfully of course!

Last year we had quite a few bench's with Lussick, Walker, Jazz and Ford present.

That was when we had Addin and Tohu on our books who are quite large.

Maybe it's not specifically a small bench, but a forward pack with Ford, Walker, Clark, either Healy/Lussick and no big boppers in Tohu or Addin is remarkably light imo. Surely there's no denying that?

Most teams have atleast one big prop, or sizable edges/locks to help balance it out, where we don't. There will be positives of a smaller bench that I hope Webby's able to utalise, but when NAS, Utoikamanu, AFB, Paulo, Paseka, Hazleton, Haas and co come on, were going to struggle with containing them imo

I think the comments sometimes are we have a small bench with Lussick and Walker both on it.

Yea, sometimes we have a small bench if the last 2 spots are small but a hooker, Walker, a prop and a back rower as cover should be the standard and not small.

My ideal bench is something like Walker, 2 of Vaimauga/ Leka/ Niukore/ Laban/ Bunty and Healey/ Lussick.

 

[snake77]

Lots of talk about a small bench with Walker on it.

Walkers listed as 98kgs and a powerful physical player. I don’t regard him as small.

Him being small and a small bench is a forum equivalent of Blockers ‘big warriors forwards’ while our small forwards are being steam rolled

Walker is the first one picked on the bench for mine. The rest of the bench is built around him.

Ideally he comes on at around the 20-25 minute mark and plays in the middle. Helps us get some leg speed in the middle, and adjust our attack. Johnson said he was important for getting us to specific positions on the field.

I'd like to see Walker and at least one front rower. Then Clark can potentially come back on as a front rower.

Walker is versatile. It would be good if in most instance we can cover injuries elsewhere and keep him as the middle forward.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Walker is the first one picked on the bench for mine. The rest of the bench is built around him.

Ideally he comes on at around the 20-25 minute mark and plays in the middle. Helps us get some leg speed in the middle, and adjust our attack. Johnson said he was important for getting us to specific positions on the field.

I'd like to see Walker and at least one front rower. Then Clark can potentially come back on as a front rower.

Walker is versatile. It would be good if in most instance we can cover injuries elsewhere and keep him as the middle forward.

100% this! Impact and injury cover.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

So tempting to bulk the bench with heavy forwards and have Clark be hooker cover but I think it will mess with your head having to do that, let him focus on the heavy stuff, he's actually a good metre eater. Egan will need a break so we will need cover, even though Leka is appealing.

If Egan goes off.

Try

TMM from 1 to 6
CHT from 6 to 9
CNK from 3 to 1
Leka from bench to 3.

 

[kos]

If Egan goes off.

Try

TMM from 1 to 6
CHT from 6 to 9
CNK from 3 to 1
Leka from bench to 3.

If Egan goes off.

Try

TMM from 1 to 6
CHT from 6 to 9
CNK from 3 to 1
Leka from bench to 3.

That’s some innovative thinking there
I like it
Make sure Webster sees it.
Might have to show and explain it twice

 

[Inruin]

If Egan goes off.

Try

TMM from 1 to 6
CHT from 6 to 9
CNK from 3 to 1
Leka from bench to 3.

That covers injury if we have no cover on the bench but doesn't help manage him through the games and season. I honestly don't think Egan playing 80 is anywhere near optimal for the team so we need a hooker sub in the bench

 

[tajhay]

be cool if they were little Warriors Jerseys

how about now?

General Post in thread 'Your 2025 team'

Thursday at 3:54 PM

1

CNK

2

RTS

3

Leiataua

4

Pompey

5

Tuaupiki

6

CHT

7

Metcalf

8

JFH

9

Egan

10

Barnett

11

Niukore

12

Capewell

13

Clark

14

Walker

15

Ale

16

Vaimauga

17

Healey

Create your own team formation

• tajhay

• 
• 
• 

 

[Riz]

1

cnk

2

Tuaupiki

3

Ali

4

Pompey

5

rts

6

CHT

7

Metcalf

8

Fisher-Harris

9

Egan

10

Barnett

11

Halasima

12

Capewell

13

Ale

14

Walker

15

Demetric

16

Marata

17

Clark

Create your own team formation