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    We sponsor a player.. each time the player scores our business logo comes up.. Got RTS.. They named 2 players in each position. Nothing is set in stone of course and shit changes/ happens.. but 5 was RTS and Ed Kosi so Id happily bet the house that RTS is at this stage at the forefront of coaches thoughts at 5. Other snippets.. Metcalfe (with CHT) is likely at 6, Boyd and TMM named as 7, CNK and TTP at 1. Most you have a good guess at whats going on. It was a trainig run but very loose and not specific.
     
    He’ll either be winger, or fullback. It’s not rocket science. Don’t overthink it. I’m leaning towards winger though, as the alternatives are pretty dire, unless they move Leiataua there, but this is another player out of position. Montoya was released, knowing rts would be on the wing imo. Rts is a dally m winger, and we have depth at centre now with 3 nrl ready centres in Ali, Berry and Pompey. Cnk is an international fb and got mom against the Aussie drubbing.

    Roger wing, cnk fb, Ali and Berry centres. Case closed.
     
    I think its from here:
    View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5v7ZlqPOJc4JEuFMOhwr4S at about 6 mins in.
    Here is the chunk i think the guy was meaning:

    Host - Another guy everyone knows, RTS, where can we expect to see him playing? What position can we expect to see him in this season?
    Slide Griffin - Yeah... Gotta keep my cards close to my chest on that one. I know everyone is excited, wanna keep the hype going...
    Host 2 - Lock Forward!
    Slide Griffin - Rogers..
    *laughs*
    Slide Griffin - Roger know's where he's playing. He's done an awesome job. Obivously coming back from rugby. We know what he brings in attack. Birllent player. Just getting used to the speed of the game. Getting used to league again took him last year. Yeah just really excited to see him after a pre season here.
    Host 1 - Will that be unvailed next week?
    Slide Griffin - Possibly, possibly. Yeah, yeah.


    So i'm pretty sure old mate is just making shit up in the group chat :LOL:.
     
    Bunty's main man above raises an excellent point about how Brown is one of the incumbent Kiwi halves.

    If we are realistic with our expectations, who are we willing to throw $$1 million + to that would come to NZ and be happy to be the marquee man and face of our team for the next 8-10 years who already is in the Origin or International arena?

    There's f**k all players - let alone halves or spine players - that fit the bill. And it's only going to get more challenging over the next few years with more teams added to the comp.

    If 200k a year is the difference between Brown being the poster boy for our team for the next 8 years or so, I really hope we pull the trigger. We've paid overs for the vast majority of our big stars over the years - what's another 200k?
     
    Gidday fam. It's been a long time between posts, but I've just been reading the Dylan Brown and general halves chats on here and thought I'd lend my view on it.

    First off, Brown is looking for his big Kayln Ponga payday. He's the incumbent Kiwis 6, and in the next contract will be the prime of his career. With Brad Arthur sacked (who I heard he was quite close to), I think that's his motivation. And with clubs like the Dolphins sitting on a stack of cash and the Roosters basically ready to plug him into a spine of Robson, Walker and Teddy – that's an auction you don't want to raise your paddle in, if you ask me.

    So while I think the price is wrong for us, I don't necessarily believe that he's the wrong type of player. It's my belief that the club wants to turn Metcalf into a long-term 7 for us. He came through the grades as one, and it's only because he's fast and played second fiddle to dominant halves so far that people say he can't do it. Mitch Moses made the transition in a similar stage in his career and complimented Brown perfectly. Having said that, we don't know how successful this transition will be for Luke, so going in on Brown is a long shot.

    For us to have long term success, we need to give our development system time to bring through a core group of talented players (particularly spine players) that want to stay together in NZ to win a comp – and that could mean taking less money. People forget we had no development sides during covid, and our junior grades have only just entered the Aus comps. In reality we could be waiting a few seasons to see the shoots. This means we probably aren't going to win any comps for a few years. To do that you need a really confident, settled and experienced spine that knows how to get the close ones nailed. And unless you're the roosters, you need to grow that.

    Personally I think Metcalf is in for a breakout season, and have no question that he can transition into a very good halfback if he stays fit. Te Maire would be a great foil for him at 6 with much-needed experience and a good short kicking game.

    But that's me. Keep an eye out for my sign at the Sharks trial. I'll be on the bank!
     
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    Wahs Up TV said:
    The GM from panthers did a good interview with James graham sharing their wage structure per position and how they never tend to break it. In saying that they have produced talent that on paper they wouldn’t be able to afford within the salary cap if they bought what they produced hence why they’ve let that talent go. Let’s be honest we haven’t produced any talent right now worth more than 400k current value but I know the goal is to eventually produce that talent ourselves. Until we get our development to a level where we lose 750-1mil talent and replace it with talent that will be of that value we will always need a Dylan brown or jahrome Hughes to compete. This will be my gripe if in 5 years we still aren’t producing high quality talent and are still trying to buy million dollar halves and spine players from aus. That will tell me the club has failed at being a successful development club ala Penrith.
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    This is 100% the approach and one I think we’re trying to copy.

    The Panthers and storm have strict policies around their salary cap. With Melbourne, they prioritise the spine & they fill in the rest of the squad with hard working players and/or talented discards that will excel when surrounded by talented spines. Katoa had a career season playing outside Hughes. Not discrediting that he didn’t work hard, but playing outside Hughes is a cheat code.

    Panthers are slightly different. They’ve simply had to underpay their players right through their success, due to signing them on longer term deals at discounted rates, or because the players wanted to continue playing together & win together. They’ve played junior grades together & their chemistry won them premierships.

    Along the way, they refused to overpay for their players resulting in burton, luai, kikau, Capewell, korisau, Leniu and Crichton all leaving for higher salaries. They only did this, because tago, alamoti, kenny, sorenson, McLean could replace them, on cheaper salaries. All were brought through their own system, or were talented discards looking for an opportunity to play in elite sides.

    The warriors have been continuously bouncing in and out of the 8 for years. There’s been no sustained success. New Zealand simply has been unable to produce elite NRL players that commit to NZ, with most of the elite players being developed in aus pathways, with a few exceptions. When you look at the current starting 17 at the warriors, off the top of my head, only vaimauga, ale, Leiataua have come through the pathways. this is unacceptable. Compare this to the panthers, Edwards, McLean, tago, Cleary, smith, Kenny, sorenson, Martin, yeo (to name a few), have all come through their pathways.

    This has seen the warriors invest hugely in their pathways system as it’s the only way to see sustained success. In their first year, the u17s took out the title, with the 19s and 21s performing admirably considering that the talented athletes were pushed to cup for experience. I would assume the 19s and 21s would’ve done better had all eligible players played in their age groups, but for long term dev they’re better off learning the trades against men.

    I’m not sure how long it will take to see long term success, but at least for the first time in warriors history there’s a plan in place that has evidence it works. Whilst we will continue to lose talented youngsters along this path, this to me shows we’re going in the right direction, and hopefully (as we’re seeing now), players from aus will want to play for our Dev teams (kiwis and oz players). We’re seeing the very first crop of athletes starting to make their mark on 1st grade come through now; laben, vaimauga, Leiataua, halasima, maiu’u etc. this is just the first wave. Some will make it, some won’t, but I’m assuming the warriors have signed these guys on relatively cheap deals allowing them to release players like jazz, knowing these young middles are pushing for a spot.

    Anyway, long post but wanted to get all my thoughts out there. We’re on the right path finally, we just need to stay patient, as hard as that is. We need to continually blood young players, give them work ons in cup, and hope they make a return to 1st grade.

    I also think NZ has one major trump card over all other nrl clubs, we’re in NZ. For all the talented kiwi players in AUS, there’s a chunk that I know struggle to live overseas and away from their extended families and have ambition of coming home. Just like we worry about losing talented aus players once they show their worth, that is the warriors strength from a recruitment perspective. However until we’re showing continual success across all grades, these players know they’re better to stay in aus and develop under better systems.

    It’s a long term play, but one that has proven success. We have our coach locked in for years, we have investment across the club, we have growing player base, and fans are flocking to the games. I have a direct link to rugby union in Auckland, and I know for a fact that the younger athletes are looking over at the rival code and liking what they see. The blues are worried & NZRU are too.
     
    Tohu’s_Knees said:
    I completely agree development is the key to our long term success. The fact is we have to recruit.
    IMO, we’re at least 3 years away from winning the NRL. Probably 5 years more realistically.

    That’s why the JFH signing is so important. Not for 2025…… But for 2027 onwards.
    Don’t get me wrong, if we can make the finals every year. Excellent.
    But I genuinely don’t care if we don’t. I’ve been here since 2002, I’m not going anywhere. If we have a “trust the process” style rebuild in 2025, maybe even 2026.
    As long as we’re building REAL foundations…..
    I realise Andrew Webster has pressure for results NOW.

    6. Metcalf 7. Boyd is just unnecessarily risk with pretty low upside. IMO
    Both coincidentally coming off contract at the same time.

    I’m sick of scraping into the finals and considering it “successful”.
    Hey, if Webby can sort it all out by 2026. Great…….. I’ll happily accept.
    Realistic? Probably not……….
    Click to expand...
    Bro how can you be sick of scrapping into the Finals, we only made the 8 twice since 2012.
    We need to consistently make the 8 first before thinking of the title.
    But I agree fully with development being the key to our long term success.
     
    The GM from panthers did a good interview with James graham sharing their wage structure per position and how they never tend to break it. In saying that they have produced talent that on paper they wouldn’t be able to afford within the salary cap if they bought what they produced hence why they’ve let that talent go. Let’s be honest we haven’t produced any talent right now worth more than 400k current value but I know the goal is to eventually produce that talent ourselves. Until we get our development to a level where we lose 750-1mil talent and replace it with talent that will be of that value we will always need a Dylan brown or jahrome Hughes to compete. This will be my gripe if in 5 years we still aren’t producing high quality talent and are still trying to buy million dollar halves and spine players from aus. That will tell me the club has failed at being a successful development club ala Penrith.
     
    Playdaball said:
    Interesting This Warriors Life podcast where @Fonzie mentioned that vrumours around that te Warriors were going to sign a prop - not Molo. He and Will Evans kind of suggested that could be a Manly player ... Sipley returns???
    Click to expand...

    That would be pretty epic imo.
    Has just turned 30 so hopefully it would be for this coming season?

    He's a bigger body at 120kg, something we don't have currently after losing AFB. In the last 2 years when playing more than 30 minutes he averages 125m per game which is fantastic.

    Would love to see that homecoming
     
    Wrighty said:
    You have blowing Demetric's horn in multiple posts the last three weeks. Serious question - now that Shaun has retired and we are picking new men to follow is Demetric your guy? Or are you trying him of for size based on how he goes the first few games?
    Click to expand...
    Just think back to when Vaimauga was 17 and playing for redcliffe in the covid days to this pre season!

    I was waiting for him patiently last season and of course knew he was coming back from an ACL injury. I thought to myself (unless i have posted)🤔

    If he comes back from an ACL and plays nrl this year (2024) this kid is going to be somthing special!

    Now you could say injury's paved the way for him, but we had a fully fit Bunty Afoa and this guy was picked! That is fucken impressive for the coaching staff to see this guy coming back from an ACL was hungry to get out there and bang heads.

    He looked to me like a kid playing with his favorite toys out there! When he scored that try in that dolphins game at suncorp, I think he flicked a switch.

    He's my fucken guy! Him And Ali Leiataua all the way!!!!

    I really hope Zyon kicks on also, not sure what's keeping him back at this stage, but I hope he can get going this season and take it another level.
     
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