Round 1 v Knights

[Shaun Hewitt]

You might have struggled to beat the titans if Konrad, jarryd, paasi, and proctor played.

We were also missing players.

If we're adding in all the players who didn't play, then it'd be a completely different game...

I'm just glad we won something in pre-season
Hopefully confidence is now building, and we can roll into Round 1 with a wee bit of self-belief.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'm very happy with both trials. We were well in control against the Storm until SK pulled all the big guns off the park- the end result of the Storm rolling over our second stringers in the heat in the final quarter is neither here nor there. And when we played a fairly strong team for the full 80 against a similar strength Titans side we won well and looked structured and organised in defence. I think they'll be raring to go in round one and hopefully put in a strong showing. If they do that and go into round two against the Storm with some form we've got a real shot of winning that too and really getting an early season roll on.

 

[ozbash]

won well and looked structured and organised in defence. I

Best part for me..

 

[ozenzud]

Based on yesterdays form

1.RTS c
2 Maumalo
3 Fusitua
4 Kata
5 Manu
6 Ata
7 SJ
8 Vete
9 Luke
10Gubb
11Afoa
12 Hoff
13 Mannering

Lillyman
Lisone
Clark
Ayshford

Tui, Bodene and Papilli would be the ones who might get a lookin.

 

[Benek]

Is Manu in frame for selection round 1? Given he hasn't had a single appearance, I'm guessing Tui and Maumalo get the wings. When Manu is fit, I see Maumalo drop out as they are too similar. SK seems to have made that other wing Tui's position to lose and I'm willing to give him some time to prove himself in a steady position.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Is Manu in frame for selection round 1? Given he hasn't had a single appearance, I'm guessing Tui and Maumalo get the wings. When Manu is fit, I see Maumalo drop out as they are too similar. SK seems to have made that other wing Tui's position to lose and I'm willing to give him some time to prove himself in a steady position.

Think he's on bereavement leave.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Tui and Maumalo strikes me as a pretty nightmare-ish defensive pair of flanks, both in the air, along the ground and with ball in hand. To be fair, both are entitled to have gone away and improved (as Kata did in 2016) so I'll reserve judgement.

 

[Leber]

Assuming manu, Thompson, Foran and matulino are out and kearneys love affair with LoLo on the wing begins...

It won't be, but I'd go...

1 RTS
2 LoLo
3 ayshford
4 kata
5 fus
6 hingano
7 Johnson
8 lillyman
9 Luke
10 vete
11 afoa
12 Hoffman
13 mannering

14 tevaga/roache
15 papali
16 lisione
17 gubb

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Do we have an official status on Manu and Bodene yet? I'm still not hearing anything definite. We know Foran and Matulino aren't available.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Bodene struggling for round 1
Manu very likely

 

[Leber]

If Manu is back, I'd put Fus at right centre and drop Ayshford. Will be hard for Manu though... No trials so his match fitness may be suspect.

 

[ozbash]

Will be hard for Manu though... No trials so his match fitness may be suspect.

Oh lordy lordy...

 

[warrior poet]

1.tuivasa-sheck
2.lolohea
3.ayshford
4.kata
5.fusitua (based on last years effort Manu should have to earn his place)
6.hingano
7.johnson
8.lillyman
9.luke
10.lisone
11.hoffman
12.afoa
13.mannering

14.tevaga
15.vete
16.t.sipley
17.gavet (if injured then Sao or papalii)

I don't rate Gubb or Maumalo so wouldn't consider them. What I have noticed is that if you pick our best team and remove a couple of players (Manu, matulino, Foran and Thompson in this case) our team doesn't look that strong... I really hope we don't have many injuries!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

1.tuivasa-sheck
2.lolohea
3.ayshford
4.kata
5.fusitua (based on last years effort Manu should have to earn his place)
6.hingano
7.johnson
8.lillyman
9.luke
10.lisone
11.hoffman
12.afoa
13.mannering

14.tevaga
15.vete
16.t.sipley
17.gavet (if injured then Sao or papalii)

Fair point about Manu but I think it applies even moreso to Tui so (assuming Ayshford and Kata were centres) I'd be going

2: Fusitua
5: Vatuvei

Tui as bench utility, Gavet drops off, we can't carry 3 bench props.

But personally I'd go for

2: Lolohea
3:Fusitua
4: Kata
5: Vatuvei

17: Ayshford (covers backline and second row when Afoa needs a spell)

Rest of the side as per your lineup.

 

[jamaman]

You might have struggled to beat the titans if Konrad, jarryd, paasi, and proctor played.

they may have struggled to last 40 minutes

 

[ozenzud]

Hot off the press: No Manu. Gubb and Vete are the starters.

Erin Clark looks like he might have the inside running as well as Papalil'i?

VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
4pm, Sunday, March 05

1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
2 Tuimoala Lolohea
3 David Fusitu’a
4 Solomone Kata
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Mafoa’aeata Hingano
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Albert Vete
9 Issac Luke
10 Charlie Gubb
11 Bunty Afoa
12 Ryan Hoffman
13 Simon Mannering

Interchange
14 Erin Clark
15 Jacob Lillyman
16 Sam Lisone
17 Isaiah Papali’i
18 Bodene Thompson
20 Mason Lino
21 James Gavet
22 Blake Ayshford

 

[JJ]

Hmmmm Gubb and Maumalo - shouldn't matter against the Knights, but I am not feeling it

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Hot off the press: No Manu. Gubb and Vete are the starters.

Erin Clark looks like he might have the inside running as well as Papalil'i?

VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
4pm, Sunday, March 05

1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
2 Tuimoala Lolohea
3 David Fusitu’a
4 Solomone Kata
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Mafoa’aeata Hingano
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Albert Vete
9 Issac Luke
10 Charlie Gubb
11 Bunty Afoa
12 Ryan Hoffman
13 Simon Mannering

Interchange
14 Erin Clark
15 Jacob Lillyman
16 Sam Lisone
17 Isaiah Papali’i
18 Bodene Thompson
20 Mason Lino
21 James Gavet
22 Blake Ayshford

That's a rather large bench named!
4 to drop off!

 

[Meth]

Manu starting in the ISP, with a view to get a bit of game time before playing first grade.

 

[Meth]

ok, Lillyman and Lisone are pretty much confirmed. Kearney more or less confirmed it. Thompson will play if fit.