Team V Storm 5 Day Turn Around

[Iafeta]

Positives on Ken, he's keen as hell to do the hard yards. And he's good at it. Also he somehow held that bullet from RTS. Great take and grounding. His side with Kata was really good defensively.

But he has hands like flippers. It's such a basic rudimentary skill. Body of Tarzan, hands like Jane. So disappointing. He should be a gun but.... man. Why, just why

 

[jaseg]

Oh he's willing to get in there with lots of hit ups, but what irritates the crap out of me is that there are a bunch of guys sitting in NSW/QLD cup that could do the job he does in that regard without so many of the problems he has. He doesn't even try to catch contested high balls anymore, it seems. He only looks good defensively when teams don't kick in behind him - I honestly don't know why that isn't the go to last tackle option for every team in the league against us when he plays.

Someone like a Ratu Tuisese over at Penrith would be a walk up start over all but one or two of our wing options.... and he's so far down their pecking order that he's not going to get a look in at NRL despite them being THREE wingers down. In fact, he's probably still 2 more injuries away from a start. Would love that guy in our team.. takes plenty of hitups, stronger in contact than Ken despite not quite having his size (a genuine tackle breaker, can offload inside too), can catch a f***ing ball (both pass and bomb)... and doesn't have the turning circle of a B-double.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Positives on Ken, he's keen as hell to do the hard yards. And he's good at it. Also he somehow held that bullet from RTS. Great take and grounding. His side with Kata was really good defensively.

But he has hands like flippers. It's such a basic rudimentary skill. Body of Tarzan, hands like Jane. So disappointing. He should be a gun but.... man. Why, just why

The answer is simple- because he's a forward who thinks he's a winger. He needs to accept that and either bulk up another 10kg and play at prop, or work on his endurance and play second row. And yes I know we've been saying similar things about Manu for years, but as I mentioned earlier despite his flaws Manu has always had some genuine winger's skills. Ken doesn't, he's just big, strong and willing.

 

[Meth]

Positives on Ken, he's keen as hell to do the hard yards. And he's good at it. Also he somehow held that bullet from RTS. Great take and grounding. His side with Kata was really good defensively.

But he has hands like flippers. It's such a basic rudimentary skill. Body of Tarzan, hands like Jane. So disappointing. He should be a gun but.... man. Why, just why

Hands like Wade

 

[SpaceMonkey]

As someone once said of a former Warriors prop (Grant Young) "hands like a digital watch". Bad on a prop, worse on a winger, especially one that doesn't really exhibit any real winger's instincts.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Ken Maumalo (if selected) will run out pass the cheerleaders and notice Vunivalu and Addo-Carr alongside them dancing as well as he comes out. Then they'll do what Ken would think is their handshake but really its paper, rock, scissors to see who gets him.

 

[Blair]

Melbourne don't muck around with wingers, do they? They have Vunivalu from last year - all terrifyingly tall and fast and all - and then they replace Koroibete with Addo-Carr, the same Addo-Carr who tore us a new one in that penultimate game last year.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I work with Addo-Carr's cousin. Nice guy but could do without him grinning at me smugly on Saturday.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Positives on Ken, he's keen as hell to do the hard yards. And he's good at it. Also he somehow held that bullet from RTS. Great take and grounding. His side with Kata was really good defensively.

But he has hands like flippers. It's such a basic rudimentary skill. Body of Tarzan, hands like Jane. So disappointing. He should be a gun but.... man. Why, just why

He almost dropped that pass! And potentially overran it/was in bad position. Plus the Knights ran FA down that side, Gagai hardly saw the ball and I can't even remember who his winger was.

It's not his fault, he's not a winger. He has absolutely none of the attributes of a winger. He's a second rower to me, if he's tough enough. Yes he carries the ball well but McFudd seemed to think that was his main job, when we have props for that (and he kept picking plodders like Gubb when Sipley was in the wings). You can't be a winger who simply carries the ball, can't catch/field bombs, positionally bad, not a finisher etc. He has to go, it's not even a consideration as to whether Manu comes in for him or not.

 

[Rich102]

I see Vete isn't mentioned on the Judiciary List. So he should be free to play.

 

[Meth]

I see Vete isn't mentioned on the Judiciary List. So he should be free to play.

Good.

Wasn't deliberate

 

[JJ]

The answer is simple- because he's a forward who thinks he's a winger. .

Sure, but at the end of the day he doesn't select the team - so presumably the coaches (successive ones) think he's a winger - which is really strange

 

[Rich102]

We have Ayshford and Allwood available who both played well in NSW cup.
Both solid at best but reliable. Both better than Maumalo and Lolohea?

 

[Rich102]

Actually this raises another question.
Have the Warriors made a decision to go for all NZ players?
The latest signings have been Kiwi.
Are all future one going to be?
Is this good?

 

[Rich102]

VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
8.00pm, Friday, March 10

VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 Roger TUIVASA-SHECK (C)
2 Tuimoala LOLOHEA
3 David FUSITU’A
4 Solomone KATA
5 Ken MAUMALO
6 Mafoa’aeata HINGANO
7 Shaun JOHNSON
8 Albert VETE
9 Issac LUKE
10 Charlie GUBB
11 Bunty AFOA
12 Ryan HOFFMAN
13 Simon MANNERING

Interchange
14 Erin CLARK
15 Jacob LILLYMAN
16 Sam LISONE
17 Bodene THOMPSON
18 Isaiah PAPALI’I
20 James GAVET
21 Manu VATUVEI
22 Mason LINO

 

[Rich102]

Steady as she goes. Or iceberg, what iceberg?

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

VODAFONE WARRIORS
5 Ken MAUMALO

Those positives that Iafeta was talking about was maginified in the eyes of Kearney. Im gutted about his selection but come game time, I really hope Ken goes well.

 

[vvvrulz]

Oh boy.

Remember what Adam Reynolds did to our awesome wingers last year? Cronk is even better. As Rich said, at least if we brought Allwood and Aysh we'd have competence out there.

Glad Mannering and Luke are fine and hoping Manu comes in for Ken.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Jazz was injured I think. And so is roache maybe?

Soooo thin of forwards. If mannering and Luke are out I have no idea what Kearney will do.

Roache is out for a while. Shoulder

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

I reckon Luke wont play. Anyone but Bodene at 9 please