New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Matiunz]

Probably just about pips the kiwis team from the mid-late 90’s that had the likes of jones, pongia, Barnett, McCracken, Lomax, wiki, hoppe, ridge, Kearney, big Joe, and the Paul bros etc.

Remember this team fondly, had an epic semi final with Aus that had we gotten through we had a decent chance at taking it out.
First game I ever went to was this team vs Great Britain in Palmy

 

[Wb1234]

Second only to hooker.

Sounds like a loose forward

 

[Wb1234]

Don't you reckon the current Kiwis squad (at full strength) is one of their best ever?

Granted Manu is a big loss

Now not talent wise no

That 2002 warriors side was special

 

[Wb1234]

Playing for the storm unfortunately, atleast we have Ali’s nephew playing for us now out of that lot.
Villasanti then went on to steal shit from his Aus team mates on tour

Is lauatits nephew any good ?

What position does he play

 

[warriors 95]

Remember this team fondly, had an epic semi final with Aus that had we gotten through we had a decent chance at taking it out.
First game I ever went to was this team vs Great Britain in Palmy

95’ World Cup semi-final in Huddersfield?

was the Great Britain test a super league test game?

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Sounds like a loose forward

Or a dummy half.

 

[Matiunz]

Is lauatits nephew any good ?

What position does he play

Ali Leiataua (named after his uncle), has potential and has looked pretty decent the games he’s played in first grade, will make a push to be first choice centre this season

 

[warriors 95]

Ali Leiataua (named after his uncle), has potential and has looked pretty decent the games he’s played in first grade, will make a push to be first choice centre this season

Will the warriors use him on the wing as well?

 

[Matiunz]

95’ World Cup semi-final in Huddersfield?

was the Great Britain test a super league test game?

Yeah that was the game, Ridge had a chance to put us ahead in the dying minutes But wasn’t to be.
The GB tour was 96 so the season before super league but looking at the squad there’s no McCracken or Freeman who were ARL aligned but did have Grant Young (crushers) and Tyran Smith(South’s) but they had both signed with the Warriors for 97 so may have been why

 

[Matiunz]

Will the warriors use him on the wing as well?

Could be an option with Montoya gone, be interesting how they juggle Ali, RTS, CNK, Tane, Pompey,DWZ and seeing as Berry seems to a Webby favourite a couple will need to miss out

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Ali Leiataua (named after his uncle), has potential and has looked pretty decent the games he’s played in first grade, will make a push to be first choice centre this season

Def need those dangerous centres a-la Clinton Toopi.

 

[warriors 95]

Yeah that was the game, Ridge had a chance to put us ahead in the dying minutes But wasn’t to be.
The GB tour was 96 so the season before super league but looking at the squad there’s no McCracken or Freeman who were ARL aligned but did have Grant Young (crushers) and Tyran Smith(South’s) but they had both signed with the Warriors for 97 so may have been why

That game for me was the turning point for the kiwis in which they went from being constant underdogs to Australia to being on a level par with the kangaroos.

 

[Matua]

Def need those dangerous centres a-la Clinton Toopi.

I don't think he'd get many starts under Webby. Aside from his little man bench he doesn't seem to favour flair, instead favouring whatever the hell Berry is (chases kicks???), Toops would have been packed off to another club to become a star like many other ex Warriors back in the day.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Now not talent wise no

That 2002 warriors side was special

Oh wait, you mean Warriors? Yeah absolutely, Kiwis are a different story. The national side is probably the best ever

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Probably just about pips the kiwis team from the mid-late 90’s that had the likes of jones, pongia, Barnett, McCracken, Lomax, wiki, hoppe, ridge, Kearney, big Joe, and the Paul bros etc.

Ironically the Kiwi team that brought home the 2008 World Cup and 2010 4 Nations was on paper a weaker Kiwi side. Just really committed and could really get on a roll during tournament play.

The current Kiwi side doesn't have the weaknesses of the past. World Class (at full strength), depth across key positions and can play for 80 mins.

 

[Wb1234]

Oh wait, you mean Warriors? Yeah absolutely, Kiwis are a different story. The national side is probably the best ever

Kiwis need to back up last years performance

The week before the final Australia belted them

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Kiwis need to back up last years performance

The week before the final Australia belted them

That happens in the modern game. Tonga were solid last night relatively and lost by 18.

Queensland are a world class side obviously and got blown off the park by NSW in game 2 this year.

The Kiwis are 2-3 in their last 5 games against the Roos. The rivalry is more competitive than the Bledisloe now and probably rates better, we just need the crowds as the final piece of the puzzle.

 

[Wb1234]

That happens in the modern game. Tonga were solid last night relatively and lost by 18.

Queensland are a world class side obviously and got blown off the park by NSW in game 2 this year.

The Kiwis are 2-3 in their last 5 games against the Roos. The rivalry is more competitive than the Bledisloe now and probably rates better, we just need the crowds as the final piece of the puzzle.

Last bledsiloe got 400 k on nine

The comparable league test will be 700k to 800k

 

[Matiunz]

Kiwis need to back up last years performance

The week before the final Australia belted them

It’s unlikely the will with the number of players out this year and having to pull players out of retirement just to fill positions, Tonga will be tough to get past with the team we’ve been forced to name

 

[Matiunz]

That happens in the modern game. Tonga were solid last night relatively and lost by 18.

Queensland are a world class side obviously and got blown off the park by NSW in game 2 this year.

The Kiwis are 2-3 in their last 5 games against the Roos. The rivalry is more competitive than the Bledisloe now and probably rates better, we just need the crowds as the final piece of the puzzle.

No doubt rates better in Aus, will be interesting to see what the NZ figures will be. Bledisloe managed to pull a much better crowd though (granted the league has a much smaller capacity)