My Round 1 Team List vs. Coach Websters likely picks.

[JJ]

If RTS is relegated the wing (and it is a relegation, no mistake), he really ruined the latter half of his career by trying union...

 

[Penrose Warrior]

If RTS is relegated the wing (and it is a relegation, no mistake), he really ruined the latter half of his career by trying union...

Absolutely that's a fair call, although he did become an All Black. And I respect the hell out of him for not taking the easy option to Japan rugby, the undoubtedly lucrative option

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

If RTS is relegated the wing (and it is a relegation, no mistake), he really ruined the latter half of his career by trying union...

If you mean by switching, he opened himself up to being bumped around on his return, then yea agree.

If he hadn’t left he’d probably still be entrenched as the team’s starting fullback and he showed in his limited opportunities there last year that he’s still very capable there.

But the coaches have to accept some responsibility for how it panned out last year. Switching him to centre was worth a crack so I don’t begrudge that. CNK certainly deserved first dibs anyway after his ’23 season,

But the constant shuffling throughout the year killed any chance RTS had of ever developing properly. Some really good judges backed him to become not just a competent centre, but an elite one. But no one foresaw him instead having to cover every single outside back spot in the team, on both sides of the field.

That shit is on Webby. He took a sports car and used it as people mover. Sorry for the broken record rant, but this one really really grates and probably always will.

 

[hitro]

No one has mentioned Adam Pompey but he may well be in the team for his kicking. I feel Erin Clark will get selected because he can cover at hooker

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I don't know who takes Montoya's spot on the wing, although I'm sure anything will be an improvement.

FO Kosi

 

[Campion]

I reckon Tanah Boyd will be in 6 or 7 for his kicking ability (goal kicking and general play). I actually don't mind him at all. He's no frills but tries hard.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

if Kosi gets picked for Round 1, I fear R & S may have a melt down

 

[JJ]

I reckon Tanah Boyd will be in 6 or 7 for his kicking ability (goal kicking and general play). I actually don't mind him at all. He's no frills but tries hard.

We don’t have any frills in the halves, maybe him and Metcalfe

 

[SpaceMonkey]

if Kosi gets picked for Round 1, I fear R & S may have a melt down

He won’t be the only one

 

[taste2taste]

Not long to go for trials and the start of our rebuilding season. Showing my preferred picks for Round 1 vs the most likely picks our coach will select.

Showing age and no.of games each individual brings to the table March 2nd.

The obvious elephant in the room is we need to instill more youth this season to build this team into a competitive / successful one. Harris and SJ retiring is a blessing in disguise to get our extended squad a chance to develop.

My picks.

01: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. 31/213 g.
02. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. 29/212 g.
03: Ali Leiataua. 22/7 g.
04: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 29/113 g.
05: Moala Taufa-Graham. 23/4 g.
06: Te Maire-Martin. 29/93 g.
07: Luke Metcalf. 26/26 g.
08: James Fisher-Harris. 29/200 g.
09: Wayde Egan. 27/129 g.
10: Mitchell Barnett. 30/166 g.
11: Marata Niukore. 28/132 g
12: Kurt Capewell. 31/157 g.
13: Dylan Walker. 30/229 g.

14: Erin Clark. 27/95 g.
15: Demitric Vaimauga. 21/7 g.
16: Tom Ale. 25/41 g.
17: Jacob Laban. 20/7 g.

18. Leka Halasima. 19/4 g.

Coach Webby's likely picks:

01: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. 29/113 g.
02. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. 29/212 g.
03: Rocco Berry. 23/43 g.
04: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. 31/213 g.
05: Edward Kosi. 26/32 g.
06: Luke Metcalf. 26/26 g.
07: Te Maire-Martin. 29/93 g.
08: James Fisher-Harris. 29/200 g.
09: Wayde Egan. 27/129 g.
10: Mitchell Barnett. 30/166 g.
11: Jackson Ford. 27/76 g.
12: Kurt Capewell. 31/157 g.
13: Dylan Walker. 30/229 g.

14: Erin Clark. 27/95 g.
15: Demitric Vaimauga. 21/7 g.
16: Tom Ale. 25/41 g.
17: Marata Niukore. 28/132 g

18. Leka Halasima. 19/4 g.

The starting forward pack is way to old and slow to trouble defenses.

A couple of old heads with the rest of the pack being young and explosive.

In the handful of games I saw of the wahs last year there were some absolute guns debuting, bent the line and got quick play the balls.

It won’t matter what teams runs out if Webby sticks to last years game plan, 5 hit ups, kick to the corner and wait for the opposition to make a mistake works well for the panthers but the warriors need to play their own brand of footy, I’ve always loved watching the wahs because they played ‘eyes up footy’ let’s hope they back to that in 2025

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

The starting forward pack is way to old and slow to trouble defenses.

A couple of old heads with the rest of the pack being young and explosive.

In the handful of games I saw of the wahs last year there were some absolute guns debuting, bent the line and got quick play the balls.

It won’t matter what teams runs out if Webby sticks to last years game plan, 5 hit ups, kick to the corner and wait for the opposition to make a mistake works well for the panthers but the warriors need to play their own brand of footy, I’ve always loved watching the wahs because they played ‘eyes up footy’ let’s hope they back to that in 2025

I dont think the starting pack is too old at all. 28-30 is the sweet spot for forwards and no one's concerned about Yeo or AFB being that age. IMO our starting pack is more than competitive if they perform at the level they can and should. Agree re: game plan though. Desperately need more variety.

 

[Rich102]

I know it is unlikely to happen but.... I would like to see Tauipiki given a run in the halves. seems just what we need. Light the fuse and let him go. He sets up players outside him. Is a terrier on defence, shows speed. Adds a bit of spice to a vanilla backline.

Only one pre-season game is not enough in my opinion. Might suit the coaching staff but not the 15,000 selectors in the stands.

Vegas is going to be interesting.

 

[Izz]

Only one pre-season game is not enough in my opinion. Might suit the coaching staff but not the 15,000 selectors in the stands.

Isn't there two? vs Sharks Feb 7th, and vs Storm Feb 15th?

 

[Rich102]

Quite correct. I just don't see them taking too many risks against the Storm.

 

[Meth]

I saw someone propose Leiataua to the wing.

 

[Meth]

Hasn't Rocco Berry spent some time on the wing?

 

[Campion]

Give RTS more space, be it Wing or Fullback. Saw him in wing in the team named for the trials. I think that's great. He will be catching the ball at the back more and getting a bit of a runup before a sneaky step past the opposition to make a break. He offloads to Tanah Boyd to score under the posts. Just joking. I meant Metcalfe.

 

[Meth]

To be honest, I feel like we took RTS back at a time when we had planned and adjusted for life without him. Of course, at this best, he's a world class player. When he isn’t at his best, he is still better than most. But having him in the squad has made things awkward. Is it a good problem to have? Maybe....maybe not.

He's not a winger (any more), but we do need a winger. If not him (and I don't think it is), then who?

I'm not sure he's a centre either, but it seems a convenient place to park him, until we had better options (which I think we do, in Leiataua, and might well have in picking and sticking with Berry)

CNK seems to have more versatility- can play fullback, centre and five eighth.

But yeah, RTS in the squad, to me, is a bit obstructive.

 

[JJ]

To be honest, I feel like we took RTS back at a time when we had planned and adjusted for life without him. Of course, at this best, he's a world class player. When he isn’t at his best, he is still better than most. But having him in the squad has made things awkward. Is it a good problem to have? Maybe....maybe not.

He's not a winger (any more), but we do need a winger. If not him (and I don't think it is), then who?

I'm not sure he's a centre either, but it seems a convenient place to park him, until we had better options (which I think we do, in Leiataua, and might well have in picking and sticking with Berry)

CNK seems to have more versatility- can play fullback, centre and five eighth.

But yeah, RTS in the squad, to me, is a bit obstructive.

CNK is more versatile, and I know there's some suggestion that him at fullback fits better with Webster's plans... but I'm not especially convinced... At his best, it's not even a comparison - RTS is in a different league to CNK as a fullback. As you note, even not at his best (last season), I still reckon he's a better fullback, and he has much more upside. This is not a criticism of CNK, who's obviously a very good footballer - but I agree, carrying essentially three specialist fullbacks seems OTT - and then playing the most versatile of them at fullback further highlights the issue.

Also, jumping on the Tallis (wingers aren't really footballers) bandwagon, bit of an indictment on our systems that we can't seem to develop one that isn't either lazy, slow, error ridden, or can't defend...

 

[Big Marn]

Is winger really much different than Fullback in the modern game? They get a similar amount of hit ups and need to be good under the high ball at both ends of the field.
Montoya was too inconsistent in that regard. Having RTS there as well as CNK can only be a good thing. And what are your alternatives? Theres no Rook pounding down the door to play.