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    AKP has impressed me in his early days so far, but one thing that has surprised me was his confidence and swagger. I didn’t really know that about the guy before he arrived, and although when he is speaking he shows some humbleness, there is definitely that underlying confidence that I actually rate as a real attribute. All the best to the guy, has certainly got my support
     
    Dead Man Switch said:
    I think he needs another 12 - 18 months to round out his game but you know most NRL clubs will be targeting him already. If the Warriors want to keep him long term their hand may be forced soon too. His next level of growth requires NRL exposure. Another thing to account for - though he does have an 2027 NRL contract with the Warriors.

    Another note on Kayliss Fatialofa - He ran for 190m on the weekend and executed 49 tackles. Pretty awesome production!!
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    It was EIT with 49 tackles and 110m.
    Kayliss had 190m and 24 tackles.

    Both showing good output
     
    wizard of Tauranga said:
    Is he even the best player at the Warriors right now? Massive stats sure but doing a role rather than impacting results.
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    I think you underestimate the impact that an 80 minute prop has on the game.

    You effectively get an extra player and interchange.

    That's discounting the most impactful stat in existence (post contact metres), of which Ford has 50 more than the next best player in the NRL.
     
    Dead Man Switch said:
    From watching his career, in no shape of form is Eddie Ieremia-Toeava an NRL prop - Though he could do a fix-it job playing there in a pinch. I wouldn't even try to manufacture him into one either.

    I know he played a couple of NSW cup games there but so did Freddy Lussick!!

    He is a lean, athletic, hard working machine in the 2nd row. He simply has to play so good they have no option but to select him. Just like Kayliss is doing. EIT is super dependable and the type of guy who will never let you down. A genuine Mr. fix-it in the forward pack.

    Your props typically punch holes through the middle of the field and get the team surging forward.

    The next two young guys off the block to do that look will be Jason Salalio and Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea. Two genuine, impactful ball runners. I know Salalio can double as a lock but the guy is a concrete block, extremely robust and hits the wall very, very hard.
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    EIT is 6'3, he's easily going to be able to add another 6 -7 kg over the next few years. Just look back at how Naufahu Whyte transformed his body to transition from lean back rower to first grade prop in the space of 2-3 years.

    EIT has already played first grade coming on at prop and, in my opinion, he looked better in those stints than he has in NSW cup which is a lower level.

    His work rate is wasted in the second row. He needs to be closer to the action to leverage his motor (either 13 or prop).

    They don't call him David Goggins for no reason.

    JFH and Ford are elite props that aren't exactly trampling over the top of people. Its a different game now with the 6 again speed. You need a prop that can play high minutes (even full games), with huge motors and no pace drop-off, so that we have more interchanges available for our middles that bend the line like Vaimauga, Salalilo, Laban (?), RTV, Laumalili and Afoa. The reality is these guys are going to play less minutes the faster the game becomes.

    Leka and Bishop are our cornerstone second row pairing that we should be building around.
     
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    Five&Last said:
    He's a prop imo.

    With how fast the game is moving, I see him as a Jackson Ford type of player that could play 80 min in the middle in his peak.

    I think that's a very obvious positional change that needs to happen which solves one piece to the puzzle. The club needs to start thinking about how they can get all these talented second rowers on the field at the same time with Bishop Neal showing he's the future of the club.
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    Just a pack consisting of all our own young guys.
    This would probably be a top 8 pack, all homegrown and under 23. Holy


    Stowers-smith
    Tafua
    Eiremia-toeava
    Halasima
    Neal
    Vaimauga

    Auloa
    Salalilo
    Tuipuloto-vea
    Fatialofa
     
    rugged said:
    222 points scored in 7 games, wonder if that is our best attacking start to any seasons?

    If Egan was playing in Australia the state of origin drums would be beating. He had always been great but has gone to another level now that he gets a decent spell each game
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    Here's the position, wins/losses/draws and points from Round 7.... 1998 - 2026

    1776578940649.webp

    Best attacking start to a season.
    Best points diff start to a seaon.
    Second equal points - best was 12 points in 2018
    Second equal wins to start to a season.
    Ninth best defensive start to a season.
     
    I'd like to think that our 2-7 are locked in until injuries or form dictates otherwise.

    We have stumbled upon a combination that gives us threat on both edges and has rectified our speed issues, somewhat.

    With this current team we now have multiple attacking threats, an exceptional pack and a strong spine (FB up for debate)

    Same team IMO.
     
    We were slaughtering them in the first half and that was probably the best half I have seen from us all year. The wind was a major factor and contributed heavily the the tactical advantage the Titans had in the second half.

    I thought the Titans played well and they only score their final three tries in the last 10 mins when they off-loaded and threw the ball around with abandon. The luck went their way and the closed the gap but they never looked like overcoming us.

    We are enjoying having all of our key players (apart from Metcalf) available again and Barney and Capewah will be better for the run.

    The TIgers lost at home in a tight one against an undermanned Broncos and we in contrast banked the two points and will be clear in second by the end of the round.

    A few thoughts on players.

    Jackson Ford. Could conceivably get all 6 Dally M points again. Immense credit to him for the work he has put in to become the player he has and to Webster for seeing the potential and instilling the belief.

    Leka. That was one of the best games I have seen from him. I know he didn't score or have his superstar X Factor moments but he was a constant danger and his overall involvement was high. In other games he will score three meat pies playing like that.

    Charnze. I love his warhorse like efforts, but that dropped ball turned the game. We were grinding set-for-set in the second half and that was a key turning point. Everyone can make mistakes and he shouldn't be crucifed for this alone, but I am not convinced that we are worse off with TT at the back.

    I could go on but I will summarise with:

    Forward Pack. Overall excellent and will only get better with Capewah and Barney having a run and the young fullahs getting game time. Big Marata couldn't even get a game which is testament to how well they are going. Marata was pretty good last week in a dominant win over the once Mighty (God! I love saying that!!) Storm so for him to not be able to make the team is testament to our depth.

    Backline. The configuration of Boyd, CHT, Roger and Ali at centre and AKP and DWZ on the wings looks balanced, dangerous and speedy. I don't think Pompey should displace Roger or Ali and I am similarly not sure on CNK and Metcalf.

    Big ups the the awesome crowd and I thought the Ref wasn't too bad.
     
    Metcalf is on a 4 game losing streak in first grade where we looked very average in all the games. Last season we jagged wins that masked his limitations. Where is this magical ceiling coming from? Our team looked clunky and for the large part unorganized with him at 7. Essentially people seem to be relying on Metcalf being able to develop his base set of skils in the time he isn't on the sideline injured. The last two games at 7 he played for us last season are a much clearer indication of what to expect from him. X Factor and clutch? I'll take our team looking sharp, connected and playing great football thanks. I fear we have signed an expensive back up utility player that is prone to injury that we are trying to force in to a team that is clicking, and isn't better individually or for the team than the players there currently.
     
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    Ive been really impressed with Roger these last 2 games. 1 try and 2 try assist, and 150m each game has been great, but also freeing up a spot for AKP has meant that weve had a different skill set on that wing. That first try he scored Roger wouldn't have got near. Also AKP looked dangerous at times and looked like we nearly got away with a trick play down the edge at one point.

    Looks much more dangerous than the Pompey/RTS combo weve been using...i dont think we can bring Pompa back in tbh
     
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