Development/Grades Stuff

[Izz]

Decided I'd start a thread rather than post in the weekly FG team thread.

I'll mainly be posting about Cup and Flegg, as those are the two grades I follow most closely, but I look forward to seeing everyone else's thoughts on the other grades (plus Cup and Flegg)

Round 4, 2026

Cup:

Jett out on concussion protocols, meaning Jack Thompson will move to 7. Hanson back at 6. Am excited to see how Thompson will go at 7, as last week Jett was the primary playmaker.

Interesting to see that Cassius Tia remains on the bench rather than given a starting role in either halves or centre.

Both Tafua and Auloa out injured, so 19 y/o Braelen Marsh (son of PJ) will make his Cup debut. He's been carving up in Flegg so interested to see how he handles the transition. Amasio Tiatia, the SG ball dummy half, has also been called up.

Sio Kali has been recalled to Cup. He's too good for Flegg but will he be able to handle himself defensively at Cup level?

Bishop Neal remains in Cup, but named on the bench at this point, as Fatialofa is back.

I'm wondering if we might see TSS play Cup this week just to keep him game fit. If so, maybe EIT to FG bench, which could give Neal another start (he played 80 last week, fyi - not bad for a 17 y/o).

Flegg:

Inch has been named at 7 this week. He's been great at 6 so far, but can he guide a league team effectively around the park in only his 4th game of league?

Jeremiah Lemana played 40 minutes at centre last week in his comeback from injury. This week he's at fullback.

Pasikala is back in Flegg this week after playing Cup last week. He's someone else who is too good for Flegg. Wonder what the club’s plans are for him if we're bringing in Warbrick & Anderson?

Our Flegg-eligible squad is stacked. Tons of great talent coming through

 

[Izz]

Cheers for the sticky, mods!

 

[Grizzman]

Thanks Izz. Loads of great talent in the lower grades esp in the playmaker positions which is not traditionally the case.

 

[JJ]

Thanks Izz. Loads of great talent in the lower grades esp in the playmaker positions which is not traditionally the case.

Yep, really need to focus on them… like Penrith would be nice to have a whole cohort and have to let some go (well nice but also terrible)

 

[Izz]

Thanks Izz. Loads of great talent in the lower grades esp in the playmaker positions which is not traditionally the case.

Yeah, the club seems to be really focusing on building up/developing 6/7/9 depth, which is great

 

[Rich102]

It's great to see local talent have a pathway to follow and coaching to get them on the right path.
I applaud the Warriors' efforts in this area.
It will pay big dividends.

 

[Big Marn]

Did Gould instigate this or had McFadden already started the pathways programme?

 

[Rich102]

From AI.
"The One New Zealand Warriors, in partnership with Sky Sport, officially launched the restructured Sky Sport Future Warriors programme in 2020 to retain young talent in New Zealand. Key figures involved in developing the club's pathways and academy systems have included CEO Cameron George, recruitment manager Andrew McFadden, and former coach Brian Smith."

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

From AI.
"The One New Zealand Warriors, in partnership with Sky Sport, officially launched the restructured Sky Sport Future Warriors programme in 2020 to retain young talent in New Zealand. Key figures involved in developing the club's pathways and academy systems have included CEO Cameron George, recruitment manager Andrew McFadden, and former coach Brian Smith."

Think AI might be having one its moments there... Cappy was still in Canberra in '20.

But if by 'pathways' we mean Mats - SGB - Flegg - Cup - NRL, that kicked off in '24 and given Gould left in mid '21 and Cappy rejoined at the end of '22, I'm guessing Cappy was the main architect...?

Although Gus may have helped open some early doors at NSWRL.

Regardless though, IMO Robinson also deserves a lot of credit. Cant be cheap running 4 teams from here. Whether the club was able to self fund or the boss had to chip in some coin, he still would've had to ok the extra operating expense. Fortunately for us, he recognised the value... unlike previous owners.

 

[Izz]

Did Gould instigate this or had McFadden already started the pathways programme?

I think Gould identified how much we were lacking in pathways/development but he toddled off to the Bulldogs before anything could really be done to address the issue.

The Sky Sport Future Warriors Programme was initially launched as a series of trials/camps/roadshows to try to identify future talent. Initially there wasn't really anything in place to develop that talent. Then in 2023 we got an SG Ball team going, then in 2024 Harold Matts. Since then we've set up academies around the country and in Logan in Queensland.

So while Gould might've got Robinson & Cam George thinking along development lines, I think Cappy and George have really forged ahead with it in a super-organized, wide-net kind of way.

I don't think there's ever been resistance within the NSWRL walls to us competing across the grades, but in the past it's always been owners not willing to invest. Robinson seems willing to do that + the Warriors organization itself has made some good business decisions to diversify income streams. Gould might've laid some of those ideas down, too, considering what he did to help the Panthers become profitable

 

[Izz]

Thoughts from today's NSW Cup game:

Come from behind win, Hanson coming up with 2 big plays to ice it - first a drop goal, than a charge down in the dying seconds.

Final score 29-28

Our line speed was slow. Allowed the Tigers up the field way too easily

Putoko is getting better and better each week. Outplayed Ali, imo

Bishop Neal looking very comfortable in this grade. A nice solo try, then some great work to put Mellars in space and then score under the posts to tie things up. Was putting in a lot more effort at marker, etc, too

Cassius Tia played in the middle. He looks unfit. Plenty of errors

Braelen Marsh looks very promising

Some nice touches from Thompson but probably not quite ready for this grade yet. He'll progress a lot faster for the experience, though

AKP and Mellars both looking very good on attack, though Mellars can struggle defensively when he has to turn and chase grubbers

I like Cooper Page Wilson. Workhorse prop with a good offload

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea reminds me of Bunty

Kayliss Fatialofa looking a shadow of last year so far.

EIT his typical high workrate self

And it won't surprise me if Ali spends a few more weeks in Cup...

 

[Izz]

Some quick Flegg thoughts (based on the Warriors Anonymous YouTube highlights):

Loss against Wests ends their unbeaten start to the season. Led 30-20 with about 10 to go and imploded to lose 36-30

Sio Kali dropped back to Flegg with Ali's demotion to Cup. Came off injured after scoring a long-range try. Potential groin issue, by the looks.

Inch looked decent at 7 (bar his late drop off a scrum pass), but the highlights didn't show much of his passing game (there was a nice tip on, though). Good kicking game. I like how he does the little things: chasing back on breaks, chasing his own bombs/punts, always pushing up in support, good awareness at marker, hits hard defensively.

Pasikala the goal kicker this game, and missed half of them

Kahu Capper is playing second row this year, and is turning into a big body with footwork and some ball playing skill (though he was guilty of having his back turned and missing the late offload which led to the Tigers' game-winning try).

Lemana played 60 minutes at fullback. Not sure if he came off as a load management thing or because of injury

 

[Izz]

Round 5 NSW Cup/Flegg team thoughts:

NSW Cup:

Ali, AKP and Gannon named in Cup

EIT not named in Cup, so probably will be on the FG bench

Jett Cleary back from concussion protocols

Braelen Marsh gets another game in Cup after his strong performance last week

Bishop Neal on the Cup bench again. After how he's gone the last 2 games it's hard to see him going back to Flegg

For the Newton Jets, forward Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa is on the bench. According to the Jets site, he is related to Monty Betham, though it's not specified how

Flegg:

Jack Thompson is back to play half... however Harry Inch is out. Either injured or concussion protocols, not sure which

This means Lemana is listed to play 6, his third position in the three weeks he's been back from injury

Sio Kali also injured. Again, unsure of severity. Pasikala moves into the centres. He's another who's been playing all over the backline.

Cup team plays Sat, Flegg on Sunday

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Cup win with a Ali try 4 minutes from fulltime
Cleary converts
24-22 to us

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Flegg lost again to Illawarra

30-22

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Matta got pumped 36-6 against illawarra

 

[Izz]

Flegg lost again to Illawarra

30-22

Think that was SG Ball. Flegg plays tomorrow

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Think that was SG Ball. Flegg plays tomorrow

Yeah sorry bro it was.
I had planned to go down and watch today but the weather was dicey so flagged it.
The Semis start next week so our campaigns are over for 26

 

[Izz]

The Semis start next week so our campaigns are over for 26

SG & Matts have been disappointing this year, ay?

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

SG & Matts have been disappointing this year, ay?

Really dissapointing.
But dont underestimate the juniors NSW have coming through. Wahs just have to keep doing what they are doing and identify the next crop coming through and go from there.