Team v Dragons

[Izz]

The issue with Nikorima isn't positional. He's just too hot and cold. Somedays he looks like he just can't be bothered.

Most days, more like. Guy's a prime example of someone who's carved out a career based purely on potential. Has about 2 good games a season, usually against teams doing it tough (like Canberra last season who had no interchanges for basically the whole second half). But boy, the potential!

 

[Penrose Warrior]

With Nikorima, we know what we're getting - which as Izz said - is one performance at best a month - but we keep picking him. That's accepting mediocrity.

 

[Meth]

With Nikorima, we know what we're getting - which as Izz said - is one performance at best a month - but we keep picking him. That's accepting mediocrity.

Yep- hence my initial selection of someone else. But we just may not be there just yet.

 

[TheDMC]

Our backline is likely to be this in Round 1:

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson

That is pretty uninspiring. C- wings. A C- center and the other a C (Berry, with a fair bit of upside).
Fullback likely a D (in that position). No. 6 a C-, and SJ, who knows, but probably a B.

None of them have real gas, none of the them are super elusive runners (except Nikorima occasionally, didn't see much of SJ tearing it up on the running front at Sharks).

It would take a super coach and a dominant forward pack to get that lot racking up the points.

I hope I am pleasantly surprised. Walsh in R2 will up the attacking ante immeasurably, but not great to have all the attacking eggs in one basket. Oh for a Manu (not the jailbird kind).

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yep- hence my initial selection of someone else. But we just may not be there just yet.

Let's get there quickly. You're not making the top 8 with Nikorima in the halves every week, unless you have our 2002 pack.

Our backline is likely to be this in Round 1:

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson

That is pretty uninspiring. C- wings. A C- center and the other a C (Berry, with a fair bit of upside).
Fullback likely a D (in that position). No. 6 a C-, and SJ, who knows, but probably a B.

Bit rough on Berry, who is a defensive stronghold and can set up his wing really well. I'd have him as a B and as you say, is going to get better. Montoya was great last year, too. And Pompey is a D, at best. I still cannot fathom how we let Herbert go for him, and not only that how he gets picked every week.

But yeah, it's not setting the world on fire, that backline. With Walsh back at FB, a new centre to replace Pompey (Aitken back out of the 2nd row?) and perhaps CHT or Taylor at 6, I might start to have more hope.

 

[Sanchez]

10- Ale (keen to see him get a run)

Im not even sure hes on a top 30 deal this year

 

[Meth]

Our backline is likely to be this in Round 1:

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson

That is pretty uninspiring. C- wings. A C- center and the other a C (Berry, with a fair bit of upside).
Fullback likely a D (in that position). No. 6 a C-, and SJ, who knows, but probably a B.

None of them have real gas, none of the them are super elusive runners (except Nikorima occasionally, didn't see much of SJ tearing it up on the running front at Sharks).

It would take a super coach and a dominant forward pack to get that lot racking up the points.

I hope I am pleasantly surprised. Walsh in R2 will up the attacking ante immeasurably, but not great to have all the attacking eggs in one basket. Oh for a Manu (not the jailbird kind).

This is an issue. I'm not the biggest Pompey detractor, but I am not sure we can release Aitken into the back row when we have an abundance of talent there (even with Harris missing) and only 1 (rookie) centre.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I don’t hate Pompey as much as most here. Hes slow and lacks finesse, but he does have upsides, he runs hard and runs good lines, and I think his attitude is good. Still probably only puts him as a C, but he strikes me as the type that could improve on where he is.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Im not even sure hes on a top 30 deal this year

Still there unless this is out of date

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[Campion]

Pompey is really, really average :-/ Berry I reckon will have a bumper year. Tremendous potential.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

This is an issue. I'm not the biggest Pompey detractor, but I am not sure we can release Aitken into the back row when we have an abundance of talent there (even with Harris missing) and only 1 (rookie) centre.

Agreed. Well actually I'm one of the biggest detractors but I agree with this.

I don’t hate Pompey as much as most here. Hes slow and lacks finesse, but he does have upsides, he runs hard and runs good lines, and I think his attitude is good. Still probably only puts him as a C, but he strikes me as the type that could improve on where he is.

That's my biggest issue - he's slow. He's never going to improve that. He can be beaten on the outside, and his handling isn't great either. I'm sure he's a nice guy but he's a plodder and I cannot fathom why Herbert was let go ahead of him.

 

[Sanchez]

Still there unless this is out of date

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

Is Fox Sports considered reliable these days? This is what they have..

WARRIORS

2022 squad: Bunty Afoa (2023), Euan Aitken (2023), Jesse Arthars (2022), Rocco Berry (2024), Josh Curran (2024), Wayde Egan (2024), Addin Fonua-Blake (2026), Tohu Harris (2024), Chanel Harris-Tavita (2022), Shaun Johnson (2023), Temple Kalepo (2022), Eliesa Katoa (2024), Matt Lodge (2022, PO 2023), Marcelo Montoya (2022), Jack Murchie (2022), Ben Murdoch-Masila (2023), Kodi Nikorima (2022), Aaron Pene (2023), Iliesa Ratuva (2022), Pride Petterson-Robati (2022), Adam Pompey (2023), Bayley Sironen (2023), Ash Taylor (2022), Jazz Tevaga (2022, PO 2023), Viliami Vailea (2023), Reece Walsh (2023, PO 2024), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (2024)

Development players: Lleyton Finau (2022), Otukinekina Kepu (2022), Valingi Kepu (2022), Taniela Otukolo (2024)

Train-and-trial players: Jacob Laban, Zyon Maiu’u, Eric Vaafusuaga, Demitric Sifakula, Ali Leiataua, Trei Fuller, Jayden Corrigan, Tom Ale, Garrett Smith, Jackson Frei, Adam Cook

2022 gains: Aaron Pene (Storm), Shaun Johnson (Sharks), Jesse Arthars (Broncos), Ash Taylor (Titans)

2022 losses: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZ rugby union), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Kane Evans (Super League), Leeson Ah Mau (retired), David Fusitu’a (Super League), Jyris Glamuzina, Isaiah Vagana (both unsigned)

2023 gains: Marate Niukore (from Eels until 2026), Luke Metcalf (from Sharks until 2024)

via https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/50dac9204619280397af6224cf635544

 

[hitro]

 

[Rich102]

I doubt Brown will get away with playing 25 players.

 

[Meth]

hmmm yet to be convinced on Vailea

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Don't know anything about Vailea but I am glad Pompey misses out. Dislike CHT at fullback but given it's for one week, I think it's about as good a side as we can put out.

 

[Tongue]

Tevaga vs Otukolo continues.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Great team

 

[Meth]

Don't know anything about Vailea

Apparently, a lot of potential, but looked really green last year. Has had the benefit of a full off-season, so lets see how he goes up against Lomax

 

[TheDMC]

Let's get there quickly. You're not making the top 8 with Nikorima in the halves every week, unless you have our 2002 pack.


Bit rough on Berry, who is a defensive stronghold and can set up his wing really well. I'd have him as a B and as you say, is going to get better. Montoya was great last year, too. And Pompey is a D, at best. I still cannot fathom how we let Herbert go for him, and not only that how he gets picked every week.

But yeah, it's not setting the world on fire, that backline. With Walsh back at FB, a new centre to replace Pompey (Aitken back out of the 2nd row?) and perhaps CHT or Taylor at 6, I might start to have more hope.

I rate Berry a lot. Gave him a C simply because he is an utter newbie in the NRL and has had few chances to shine so far. He could well escalate to an A later in the season all going well. Fingers crossed.