Development/Grades Stuff

[Delboy]

Should point out that Sydney teams have been playing age group rep sides agst each other from U13s. So expect them to be well prepared and battle hardened. The Fiji boys have taken a cou0le of years to start winning ,Wahs have plenty of depth just need to keep it going.

 

[Izz]

Should point out that Sydney teams have been playing age group rep sides agst each other from U13s. So expect them to be well prepared and battle hardened. The Fiji boys have taken a cou0le of years to start winning ,Wahs have plenty of depth just need to keep it going.

We did okay in Matts last 2 years, but might be another season to restock that talent. New coach at that level too, which might be a factor

 

[Izz]

Round 6 Cup/Flegg thoughts:

Cup

With Ali back in FG, 17 y/o Jeremiah Lemana gets promoted for his Cup debut after 3 games back from injury in Flegg. Super exciting talent with speed to burn, though possibly still a little small, so will be interesting to see how he goes at this level.

Jack Thompson is named at 6, providing Hanson stays on the FG bench.

Jett had another strong game last weekend. Last season at Cup level he had some good moments but never really, imo, looked on for a whole game, but he seems to be finding his feet this season. Definitely has that run first mentality.

I’ve been impressed with Caelys-Paul Putoko’s improvement week to week. Week 1 he looked completely out of his depth on defence, but looked much better week 2 and has kept on getting better on that side.

Daeon Amituanai gets a game on the wing - his first Cup game this year, I think. Tbh, I’m surprised Pasikala didn’t get the call-up.

I’ve been pretty impressed with Cooper Page-Wilson. A good head on his shoulders, high workrate, good offload, knows how to find his front.

Bishop Neal named to start, while Braelen Marsh is the bench hooker again. Not sure on the status of Makaia Tafua, but assuming he’s injured.

Jason Salalilo is set to make his first appearance of the season after overcoming injury

Flegg

Team were disappointing against the Sharkies last week, so will be looking to bounce back. To be fair, though, they had a few missing through injury and callups to Cup.

Harry Inch is back this week, playing at 6. He’ll be partnered by Maui Winitana-Patelesio

Brandon Norris out this week, with a replacement winger not yet named. Likely one of the SG lads.

Sio Kali still injured. Not sure how bad this one is, but he does seem to be a bit glass-like.

Both teams play on Saturday before the main event

 

[Izz]

Hard to get a proper read from only highlights + stats but here are some quick opinions around our Cup loss:

Down 24-0 within 30 minutes but showed good heart to fight their way back into it, but ultimately fell short.

Fatialofa seems to be coming back into form, which is good.

Gannon strong.

Lemana scored a try on debut and almost set up another with a flick pass but appeared to have some defensive issues.

Putoko strong in the other centre position

Jack Thompson with some nice touches

Jett Cleary good again, but I still have reservations around him being a side's chief playmaker

Salalilo had a good return from injury

Christian/Junior Sikuvea looks to be a good prospect. He's been playing primarily at lock

 

[Grizzman]

Agree with Izz's observations. Gannon looks every bit a first grade player.
It might be my imagination but does Salalilo look a little smaller this year?

 

[Izz]

It might be my imagination but does Salalilo look a little smaller this year?

Yeah he does. Seems just as powerful, though

 

[Big Marn]

Bishop Neal was having his first or 2nd start? How did he go?

 

[Izz]

Bishop Neal was having his first or 2nd start? How did he go?

Got bumped back to the bench as EIT played.

Didn't see much of him in the highlights package but apparently he played 49 minutes, with 8 runs for 72 metres and 21 tackles at 91.3% efficiency. So maybe a bit of a quiet game?

 

[Izz]

Flegg thoughts:

Defence one off the ruck was a problem, especially off fast ptbs.

Some big units in our front row!

Norris did play after all and scored a spectacular try in the corner. Did also drop it in the final seconds with what looked like open pastures front of him (hard to tell with the camera angle).

Joseph Ratcliffe a big improver this year. So much so that he recently signed a 2-year extension, presumably a development contract.

Something I probably should've mentioned in the team selection post was that Connor Bowden, who had been a centre/winger, played in the backrow this game. Already a tall lad, he's filling out too, so is gonna be a big lad as well!

Harry Inch scored a try, as he seems to most weeks, but his goal kicking was off today. He was 2-5, which ended up being the difference, as the Storm kicker was 3-5. Did put on a nice big hit in the dying stages, though

 

[Izz]

Round 7 Cup/Flegg thoughts

Cup

If you’re in NZ, this game is live on Sky Sport 2, btw, from 2pm

Makaia Tafua back from injury and immediately the starting 9

Fatialofa (who looks to be getting back to last year’s form) and EIT the backrowers, with Gannon starting at lock

Hanson back to 6
EDIT: Hanson has been retained in the FG 20 in the 24-hour update so is a chance of being there on game day too. If he is, not sure how that will impact Cup - the other week Gannon played Cup and was on extended bench, and last week EIT also did the same

Lemana starting at centre again, with Bishop Neal on the bench. That’s two 17 year-olds playing NSW Cup this week. There are 8 others, too, (if I counted correctly) who could being playing Flegg but are in the Cup team

I feel like this is getting close to a full-strength NSW Cup team

Salalilo, Neal, Sikuvea and Auloa is a nice-looking bench. In the early rounds Auloa was playing at lock, but should just be able to get reps at 9 now

Cassius Tia seems to have dropped completely off the radar for now

Flegg

Thompson drops back to Flegg, as does Marsh

Kahu Capper out this week - not sure if that’s injury, suspension, or form - Dezman Laban (younger brother of Jacob) and Connor Bowden are the two starting second rowers

Our outside back depth is being tested - Kali is injured, Pasikala is either injured or suspended and Lemana has been promoted to Cup (Putoko could also be playing Flegg). Halfback Maui Winitana-Patelesio has been named in one centre spot
EDIT: Late changes: Pasikala to play in the centres, Winitana-Patelesio to play 6. So Inch out... does that mean NSW Cup Debut (if Hanson stats on the FG bench), or injury?

 

[Izz]

Couple interesting facts from article on Warriors site re NSW Cup team:

EIT, who only turns 22 in December, played his 50th NSW Cup game last weekend. He made his Cup debut at 17 y/o.

Geronimo Doyle, 29 y/o, the oldest player in the team this weekend, will play his 50th Cup game today

 

[Grizzman]

Watching the game now and a couple of things stand out.
Fataialofa looking like 2025 dangerous again.
Bishop Neal is a prodigious talent with the ball.
Jett Cleary is undoubtably going to be a First Grade player but he's not there yet.
Taufua the hooker looks really sharp.
EIT is solid but not brilliant in this game.
Tuipolotou-Vaea looks a monster.
Doyle is plod.

Oh and the left wing, Amituanai looks really promising.

 

[Izz]

Cup game thoughts:

Ran away with it in the end, but mistakes and a lack of defensive resilience through the first 50 minutes kept Manly in it. Final score 38-22

Gannon copped a head knock early and was ruled out - he has to be really careful given his history of concussions so far in his career

Some players you can immediately tell are too good for the level they’re playing at. Bishop Neal is one of those. A Leka-like first half try and some great second half touches as well. Did throw a poor offload in the second half when getting driven back in the tackle, which actually led to a Warriors try, but he’ll learn not to do that. Really, the only other thing he needs to improve on are the little effort areas - and perhaps to go looking for work a bit more

Tafua is going to be really good as well

Fatialofa definitely back in form!

Not sure Lemana is ready to play at this level - at centre anyway. Maybe at fullback, though? Definitely a lot of poor defensive reads

Putoko continues to improve - looked dangerous every time he had the ball

Cleary’s decision-making is getting better each week, but he’s still a little way off being FG-ready, imo. Definitely some highlight reel plays today. Threw a great offload to Neal and then good support run to get the ball back and force his way over to score, and then later threw a miracle between the legs pass to set Lemana up for the final try

Hanson is a decent five-eight. One of those who is too good for Cup but probably not quite good enough to be an everyday NRL player

Mellars probably also too good for Cup, but maybe not quite good enough for FG yet. Amituanai made some really good defensive decisions on the other wing, but has issues under the high ball

Salalilo good again (though he definitely looks smaller than last year)

EIT high work rate but some poor errors and penalties (nice trysaver near the end, though)

For Manly, Walsh is definitely their future at 7. Classy player even if he panicked a bit chasing the game in the final 10

 

[Izz]

Tuipolotou-Vaea looks a monster.

And looks like he hasn't filled out his frame completely yet, too

Doyle is plod.

With a capital P. Guess he's there for his 'experience' but he's good for at least 1 costly error a game. I'd much rather they play Lemana at FB, but I'm sure the club has a good plan around him

 

[Rich102]

Agree with both of your assessments.
Losing Gannon so early affected the Warriors but they fought on well.
Cleary's goal kicking was great.
Hanson is a real talent. Needs some coach love.

 

[Izz]

Quick Flegg thoughts:

Comfortable win.

Pasikala just looks classy. I hope he's in our longterm plans

We've got some big boppers coming through, a couple of which have already played Cup this season. I don't think Emosai Ravosi has played Cup yet but he looks like a good prospect

 

[Rich102]

ALL EYES WERE ON...

Jett Cleary continues to dominate NSW Cup for the New Zealand Warriors. The young half continued his standout season with two try assists, two line-break assists and a try as they defeated the Sea Eagles by 16 points.

In the same match, back-rower Kayliss Fatialofa continues to push for NRL selection with a strong display on the edge. He led the run metres count with 190 and also had 49 tackles and a try assist.

From Fox weekend wrap.