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    sydneywarrior92 said:
    Really don't understand why people are upset over this team listing. It's pretty much as expected. Rocco needs to come back in to fix the edge defense. If the last month have proven anything, it's that utility back cover is more important than ever so it really is a given that TMM has to come in at the expense of Healey. It is what it is.

    This is close to the best team we can put out there at the moment bar Mets and Barney.
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    For real. Its the heart vs head reactions for me. I've been a supporter of Taine all year. But, Charnze needs to go back to 1 for his yardage & superior defense. And I've been preaching the TMM over Healy on the bench because of his utility value. Ima huge fan of Healy, We just need to do what's best for the team right now. Even if its not a popular choice with the fans. It is what it is.

    And as for Rocco, It's a no brainer if he is fit. TMM's role of a utility becomes even more important as we know how fragile Rocco's body is. Egan's history of head knocks. CNK carrying an injury. And Boyd's lack of impact on games.
     
    Last edited:
    Really don't understand why people are upset over this team listing. It's pretty much as expected. Rocco needs to come back in to fix the edge defense. If the last month have proven anything, it's that utility back cover is more important than ever so it really is a given that TMM has to come in at the expense of Healey. It is what it is.

    This is close to the best team we can put out there at the moment bar Mets and Barney.
     
    Tookey 2.0 said:
    Vaimauga is an interesting one. Selling him short a wee bit by saying he's a workhorse, as I've seen him put a few players on their arse while trying to tackle him. He's also got a touch of finesse and good ball playing, and seems to have good footy IQ too. Give him another few years to hit his peak physical form and I think Vaimauga will be having those bollocking runs a few times a game
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    Bunty’s strong runs although looking impressive, don’t actually have a huge effect on his opponents but when Vaimauga does them he sends bodies flying. I’m seeing everything in this guy, footwork, ball playing, offloads and iq as you mentioned. He’s going to be a great of the club I believe
     
    Theking267 said:
    We really have only one in first grade which is Halasima but he’s on the edge, and Crosby would be the other. Bunty has been miscast as this type of player when he’s really a workhouse. Lots of hitups, tackles per minute, same with Vaiamauga another workhorse.
    Click to expand...

    Vaimauga is an interesting one. Selling him short a wee bit by saying he's a workhorse, as I've seen him put a few players on their arse while trying to tackle him. He's also got a touch of finesse and good ball playing, and seems to have good footy IQ too. Give him another few years to hit his peak physical form and I think Vaimauga will be having those bollocking runs a few times a game
     
    Mentality Shift - This is the biggest lever. The Warriors can’t limp into the finals hoping to “find it when it matters.” They need to flip the narrative now:

    From “holding on” to “taking games to opponents.”
    From “under pressure” to “dangerous outsiders.”
    From “being written off” to “spoilers with momentum.”

    Yes, the Warriors have been ravaged by injuries. Yes, the last couple of months have been riddled with below-par performances. But the bigger issue is mindset. Sticking to the “safety-first” game plan is sucking confidence out of the group and doing nothing to silence the critics. If anything, it’s adding fuel to the fire.

    The debate now is simple: should they bunker down, play conservative football, and hope for stability? Or should they back themselves, open up the playbook, and start throwing punches before the finals arrive?

    For mine, the answer is clear. Playing it safe is killing this team.

    This is not the time to shrink into a shell. The next three weeks should be treated as a rehearsal for finals football — and that means playing with freedom, aggression, and intent.

    That doesn’t mean chaos. The forwards still need to lay a platform, the kicking game has to be sharp, and discipline remains non-negotiable. But within that structure, the Warriors need to rediscover their DNA: second-phase play, offloads, and attacking footy that brings the whole squad into the game. That’s where confidence is rebuilt. That’s where the fear factor returns.

    Flying under the radar might sound clever, but it’s not fooling anyone when the on-field product looks flat. The Warriors don’t need to hide their cards — they need to show opponents why they’re dangerous. Finals teams aren’t worried about a side scraping completions and grinding through sets. They’re worried about a side that can break you open with one offload and swing a game in ten minutes.

    Right now, the Warriors are being written off. That’s fine. Use it. But don’t prove the doubters right by serving up more of the same.

    This is the moment for a mentality shift: from survival mode to attack mode. From holding on to taking games away. From being passive to becoming a team no one wants to face in September.

    Could we see this against the Gold Coast Titans and the remaining teams that we play?
     

    ​

    Warriors star Leka Halasima reveals touching promise to mum amid NRL rise​

    Warriors sensation Leka Halasima has gone from taping up his torn footy boots to closing in on fulfilling the childhood promise he made to himself - read his inspirational story here.

    David RiccioDavid Riccio
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    @DaveRic1

    7 min read
    August 17, 2025 - 8:39AM
    https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...ory/69e7eb5ee2fa22a330e33b849df1cf61#comments




    Leka Halasima's incredible highlights package


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    Not so long ago, the NRL’s next big thing would wake early on Saturday mornings, climb out of bed, and reach for a roll of electrical tape.
    Born in the town of Tofoa in Tonga, before moving into state housing with his mother and father and four older sisters and brother in Mangere East, South Auckland, as a baby boy, Selumiela Halasima grew up with not that much.

    “I had footy boots, but if they were ripped I would just tape them up,’’ Halasima, 19, said.

    “Growing up was a struggle, to be honest.

    “Our family didn’t have that much. We’d buy our shorts from Warehouse (a department store chain in New Zealand) and we’d buy shirts by fundraising at the footy club.’’

    That was just over 10 years ago, around the same time his father Selu, began calling his youngest boy, Leka.

    “Growing up my dad called me that, because Leka means junior in Tonga,’’ Halasima said.

    “If you’re named after someone, like I was my dad, then you’re Leka. Everyone started calling me that when I was about five or six and it’s been that way ever since.’’

    Leka Halasima wants to buy his mother a house. Picture: NRL Images

    Leka Halasima wants to buy his mother a house. Picture: NRL Images
    What has also been with Halasima ever since is a promise.


    A personal goal so close to his heart, he held it tight at training, in matches, and as he laid down to sleep each night.

    What his sports teachers at his Mangere East suburban school of Southern Cross Campus wouldn’t have known as they watched the tearaway beat teams on his own.

    Nor his coaches from Mangere East Hawks, who watched him run laps of their home ground Centre Park, as an eight-year-old before he played in matches.

    The shy and softly-spoken Halasima was running towards fulfilling a promise to his family.

    With immense speed, power and presence on the wing, at centre or in the back row, Halasima was chosen to play in SCC’s most senior school team while he was still in Year 9.

    It didn’t take long for Halasima to become too good for school footy.

    He would leave SCC in Year 12 after accepting a development contract with the Warriors, while also rejecting the overtures of Super Rugby franchise, the Auckland Blues, in the process.
    https://www.codesports.com.au/stats/nrl/players/leka-halasima-120201
    “I was always headed for rugby league,’’Halasima said.

    “I just played rugby union for fun with all my mates at school, but league was always for me.’’

    When he signed that first NRL deal at 17, Halasima turned to his greatest supporter, his mother, Fetongi and revealed his vow.

    “I promised my mum when I first entered the Warriors development team,’’ Halasima told this masthead in his first major newspaper interview.

    “I promised her that I would buy her a house and I’m going to keep that promise.

    “That’s my goal to buy her a house.

    “I’m very confident I’ll be able to give her that.’’

    Outside of the black book of the game’s best judges and talent scouts, few knew of the name Halasima just over 12 months ago.

    It speaks to his devastating impact on the NRL, that after just 24 games - four-games in 2024 and 20 this season - he is now one of the leading favourites to claim the prestigious Dally M Rookie of the Year award.


    Prior to tackling the Dragons on Friday night, Halasima had scored the most tries of any other Warriors player with 10, ahead of NRL seasoned tryscorers including Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (nine), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (five) and Charnze Nicol-Klokstaad (one).

    Halasima sits in the top two for most tackle busts (52) by a forward at the club, just seven behind Erin Clark, while his six line breaks ranks number one.

    At just 19, Halasima has attracted a lucrative sponsorship deal with Asics.

    He has 36,000 followers on Instagram.

    Not a week goes by that the Warriors media department doesn’t politely decline requests from journalists wanting to interview Halasima.

    “I have social media, but I don’t read articles or newspapers (about me) or really look into it,’’ he says.

    Of course, there’s also that try.


    Halasima’s on-the-final siren matchwinner against the Knights last month has clocked 200,000 views on YouTube - and even more on TikTok.

    Halasima, who turns 20 next month, sparked a torrent of memes and social posts with his runaway try in Newcastle.

    ‘Halasima? More like Hala-saviour,’’ one fan posted.

    “Leka for Prime Minister,’’ another fan wrote with an attached video of his living room celebration that has attracted 21,000 views.

    Asked for his own reaction to the fan adulation for the matchwinning try that went viral, Halasima gave a stunning insight into his mindset and ambition to be known for something more than an Instagram reel.

    “It was good, but my defence is what I want and need to work on. I need to keep moving, knowing the ball is never dead,’’ Halasima said.

    Yet it must be said, Halasima isn’t all business.

    Leka Halasima has been a revelation for the Warriors this season. Credit: NRL Images.

    Leka Halasima has been a revelation for the Warriors this season. Credit: NRL Images.
    You only have to look as far as his cheeky grin and sweet photos together with his girlfriend to know that beneath the jersey, is a teenage boy living his dream.

    Not that he is overawed by his stunning arrival.

    “I’ve been enjoying it a lot, playing first grade, I’m definitely enjoying it,’’ he said.

    Asked about how he manages the grind and brutality of managing his still-developing body through the NRL, Halasima answered ever so casually.

    “To be honest, I don’t really mind it,’’ he said.

    “It is hard doing it week in, week out with your sore body and trying to find the balance of it all. But my body, so far, hasn’t been that sore other than little niggles.

    “My recovery on my days off have helped a lot.

    “I just love everything about it. I love the game. I love playing with my mates.’’


    In fact, his teammates cheekily claim Halasima is so relaxed about his meteoric rise that his favourite pastime is sleeping.

    “Who told you that,’’ he says through fits of laughter.

    “No, they’re lying. That’s not true.’’

    However, Halasima was given an early and stark insight into life as a professional athlete at a young age.

    After turning up late for SG Ball training with the Warriors a couple of seasons ago, Halasima was sent home to his parents.

    “That’s true,’’ Halasima said.

    “When I was at SG Ball I didn’t know it would be that strict. Turning up on time for training, the meetings, so I got a strong warning from them.

    “The schedules now are fine with me.’’

    Warriors coach Andrew Webster chimes in to offer further insight.



    image.jpg






    'Get up': Cronk calls out Halasima
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    “He was just so relaxed that he didn’t understand the difference from local footy to professional environment. He wasn’t being rude or anything like that,’’ Webster said.

    “Once it clicked, he has never been late again. It was just learning the professional environment.

    “He’s on time all the time now.’’

    Halasima isn’t naive to understand what is happening around him.

    He’s heard commentators comparing him to cross-code legend Sonny Bill Williams and former Warriors cult figure Ali Lautititi and he sees the growing number of “Holy Heka” signs that are spawning around Mt Smart Stadium each home game.

    Halasima is also being reminded by the prospect of his greatest fear by his unrelenting teammates.

    “I’ve heard about the Dally M (rookie of the year) talk, but I haven’t looked any further into it than that,’’ he said.

    “The boys have spoken to me about it and I’ve just gone ‘nah...’

    “I would be shaking if I had to give a speech.’’

    “I haven’t looked too far ahead. Winning a comp with the Warriors is my number one.’’

    Halasima has a passion to represent his beloved Tonga and is still coming to terms with the fact that he shares a dressing room with his heroes in Tuivasa-Sheck and James Fisher-Harris.

    “They’re been so important to me,’’ Halasima said.


    “Learning from them. Fish (Fisher-Harris) hardly speaks, but he leads with his actions.

    “I’m kind of similar to him. I don't talk that much, but I try to lead with my actions.’’

    Be it jokes about his sleeping habits from his teammates or his humble response to questions from journalists, you get the sense that, as at home as Halasima appears on the football field, he’s at his happiest around friends and family.

    Give him the chance and you’ll find Halasima back where it all began, cheering on the Hawks, alongside his best mates.

    “Footy was a dream of mine and it was for my friends as well,’’ Halasima said.

    “Seeing them with real jobs working but having the talent to play NRL, I wish they got their dream as well.

    “I really enjoy going back and watching junior reps footy, especially the young ones coming through at the Hawks.

    “I can see they’re happy to see me when I go to watch and they come up to me and say how inspired they are by me.

    “The thing I like to do is go back and see what I can do for them to reach their goals.

    “It’s important they have their goals.’’

    Just like Halasima, who is on a personal mission to achieve his own.
     
    Damo said:
    Ale hasn't even been named in the squad on Tuesdays, it's been Bunty, so I would be very surprised if that's the case.

    I think it will just be Capewell back with Niukore to the middle rotation.
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    I bloody hope so. Niukore is a liability in an edge. Everyone blaming Boyd, dwz, but the issues start with niukores inability to move laterally, causing a chain reaction. Niukore is a middle.
     
    Aside from the prop situation, Ford and Barnett were the two players that mopped up everything. Whether or not people think Ford overplays his hand, there is an enormous amount of slack that needs to be taken up now.

    I must have been offscreen during the crusher. Was it worse than recidivist offender Kaufusi breaking Laban's leg?

    I'm guessing Afoa gets a swansong.
     
    God there's an insane amount of negativity here. Did any of you genuinely think this was our year? Especially after losing so many players? Coming into this year our roster was not even near top 8 on paper, then we lost half of it including our captain and halfback.

    This season is an actual miracle for us to be in the top 4. Yeah we look janky as fuck cause it's basically the b team at this point, of a squad that wasn't stacked to begin with, while half the comp is coming in hot and mostly fit.

    Likely to be 2 out of 3 finals years for Webby, possibly 2 out of 3 top 4 finishes. Absolutely insane turn around for the club. We're not a true top 4 side until the youth comes through, but we're primed for it with these over performances.

    Future is bright and the culture is good. Getting shit done ugly is still getting shit done.
     
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