Team v Sharks- Round 1

[Meth]

Still a trial to go and you never really know where everybody is at going into Round 1, so picking a team at this stage generally is done with less certainty in your opinion. But time to have a crack.

1- Tauipiki
2- Watene-Zelezniak
3- Tuivasa-Sheck
4- Berry
5- Montoya
6- Metcalf
7- Johnson
8- Fonua-Blake
9- Egan
10- Barnett
11- Ford
12- Capewell
13- Harris

Res- Niukore, Afoa, Walker, Tevaga

Basically the team that's lining up this week, with Walker in for Lussick. For this to work, Egan has to play big minutes and we're still a little small.

 

[Izz]

Yeah, that's pretty much the team I'm thinking, too, though I'd like to see either TMM or CHT instead of Tevaga, but that'll never happen.

 

[Meth]

Yeah, that's pretty much the team I'm thinking, too, though I'd like to see either TMM or CHT instead of Tevaga, but that'll never happen.

It might happen (or Lussick), but the Walker/Tevaga combination was pretty effective last year.

 

[Meth]

Like somebody said, Webster was pretty committed to carrying small utility players on the bench last year in addition to Walker and Tevaga (think Sironen and Lussick)

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

01. Taine Tuaupiki
02. Dallin Watene-Zelesniak
03. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
04. Ali Leiataua
05. Marcelo Montoya
06. Luke Metcalf
07. Shaun Johnson
08. Addin Fonua-Blake
09. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Jackson Ford
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Tohu Harris

14. Dylan Walker
15. Tom Ale
16. Bunty Afoa
17. Marata Niukore

18. Rocco Berry

 

[SpaceMonkey]

01. Taine Tuaupiki
02. Dallin Watene-Zelesniak
03. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
04. Ali Leiataua
05. Marcelo Montoya
06. Luke Metcalf
07. Shaun Johnson
08. Addin Fonua-Blake
09. Wayde Egan
10. Mitchell Barnett
11. Jackson Ford
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Tohu Harris

14. Dylan Walker
15. Tom Ale
16. Bunty Afoa
17. Marata Niukore

18. Rocco Berry

I know we've got big raps on young Ali but what has he done to be ahead of Rocco Jeremy at this point?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I know we've got big raps on young Ali but what has he done to be ahead of Rocco Jeremy at this point?

Nothing, Rocco was solid as hell at the end of last year. Ali will be a superstar but we can't change that part of the team

 

[Izz]

Berry was pretty good in the trial, too. Don't think Ale's getting a look in round 1, either. But I'm certainly hoping Afoa does (and Jazz doesn't, but despite his bad trial I think he'll get a bench spot as Webby seems to love him)

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Nothing, Rocco was solid as hell at the end of last year. Ali will be a superstar but we can't change that part of the team

Yep it’s the Roc & Roger show for me for round 1

 

[ozenzud]

I acknowledge that I have been infected with Warriors optimism disease. This illness can have disastrous effects on the sufferers mental well-being. Buuuut, it seems to me, that we have a level of genuine depth, missing for many years. We are still heavily, heavily reliant on Shaun and AFB. Webby has a job on his hands.

 

[ozbash]

We've actually got a spine..
First decent one since PJ Marsh and Stace.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I know we've got big raps on young Ali but what has he done to be ahead of Rocco Jeremy at this point?

Berry is good. I love how he is developing. I just feel Ali has more to offer on both attack and defense. I guess he will wait behind Berry but once Ali gets his go. Berry will have to be even better to get his spot back. If its wasn't for RTS I'd be happy with Berry/Leiataua centre pairings.

 

[sup42]

Gonna be a tough game. Sharks pack aim up vs us so the forwards will cancel each other out, even though ours look better on paper.

This one will be won on the edges and therefore losing CNK to defend those slick Sharks plays is huge. I think that tips this one to the Sharks, however if RTS and Metcalf click we will have some answers of out own.

Roger seems to own the left on defence too going off last week. It is a lot to expect, but if Roger maintains that form, he becomes the best center in Rugby league.

Ford and Berry have got to get their positioning right, we need to look impenetrable again this year on our try line, as such the Sharks are a good opponent for our Staff and players to Guage themselves against to find where we need to work hardest.
DWZ needs a diamonds game, as I say....the edge backs will decide the fate of the battle.

 

[Blair]

I've just checked my work roster and, bugger me, I'm on Friday night.

Someone please get a live game-day thread going if Phil has shown up yet. Give him till about an hour before kick-off.

I'll be home to read it well after the last of the crowd have started to drift out of Mt Smart.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Berry is good. I love how he is developing. I just feel Ali has more to offer on both attack and defense. I guess he will wait behind Berry but once Ali gets his go. Berry will have to be even better to get his spot back. If its wasn't for RTS I'd be happy with Berry/Leiataua centre pairings.

Yeah I just think Ali is currently half a season away from being the finished product whereas Rocco put the hard yards in last year and got to that point so IMO the spot is his for now.
but I agree with you that as a long term pairing they look really good, given RTS only likely has another 3-4 years in him tops.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I worry about DWZ's defense - he was shown up badly in the finals losses, and surely good teams know this/have a plan to expose his flank.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I worry about DWZ's defense - he was shown up badly in the finals losses, and surely good teams know this/have a plan to expose his flank.

That's a fair worry. Love Dallin but he tends to come off his wing and gets blitz for speed from opposition speedsters a whole lot. Looking forward to seeing if he has watched his weaknesses with the coach and comes back 150%.

As a reliable back up I can see a world where we have RTS or Leiataua taking his wing spot pending form / injuries. Glad we got depth in our backs

 

[SpaceMonkey]

That's a fair worry. Love Dallin but he tends to come off his wing and gets blitz for speed from opposition speedsters a whole lot. Looking forward to seeing if he has watched his weaknesses with the coach and comes back 150%.

As a reliable back up I can see a world where we have RTS or Leiataua taking his wing spot pending form / injuries. Glad we got depth in our backs

I wonder where that leaves Kosi, who’s still part of the top squad. Hopefully he’s worked on his weaknesses too.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I wonder where that leaves Kosi, who’s still part of the top squad. Hopefully he’s worked on his weaknesses too.

Kosi will be required through the year but unsure if he has a point of difference to keep his spot.
His turn around is slow but once he gets in flight he can hit a good pace.
Speed is what we need on the wings and Kosi I believe is not faster than the other options we have.
I could be wrong on this though as I haven't seen their speed test results just going by game time I've seen Kosi play.

 

[ozenzud]

Genuine speed out wide is the Warriors big weakness. In the Semi, Brisbane gassed them big time. I did notice a change in defence system in the trials when the wingers jammed in. Lets hope it works.