Tohu Harris retires

[Matua]

Heard George on the radio on the way home this afternoon

said they haven’t had any discussions with Brown or his management, they have 4 “exciting” halves in the squad already and young guys coming through. Want to fill spots from in house but will keep big money aside for Australian players that fill a spot that is needed

Can all take that with a grain of salt though lol as on the same station last year he said they’d never spoken to Capewell and he was announced the next day

Ah, so all this talk of focusing on NZ players was just talk.

 

[Meth]

Harris is a truly great, underappreciated player whose greatness has been curtailed by injury. Very sad.

Barnett would be fine as a captain as a prop, as he plays relatively big minutes any way.

No to RTS for mine. I'm sure he'll have a natural leadership and cultural influence, as will JFH

 

[JJ]

Ah, so all this talk of focusing on NZ players was just talk.

hope so tbh, just get the best we can

 

[Matua]

hope so tbh, just get the best we can

I'm not a franchise person, I don't care about winning if its with a team full of Australians. I could just support a well run Aussie team if that's what I wanted.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Ah, so all this talk of focusing on NZ players was just talk.

The same guy who's management sounded out the Wallabies?

Our starting lineup next year, based on my best guess, will have 11-12 Kiwis in it. That's surely enough? Likely 6 out of 7 backs, a full bench. And ok, our starting pack may not have many in it apart from JFH but that's obviously where they've identified we aren't there yet with local talent. In 5 years, with the kids we've got, I can almost guarantee that changes.

 

[Matua]

The same guy who's management sounded out the Wallabies?

Our starting lineup next year, based on my best guess, will have 11-12 Kiwis in it. That's surely enough? Likely 6 out of 7 backs, a full bench. And ok, our starting pack may not have many in it apart from JFH but that's obviously where they've identified we aren't there yet with local talent. In 5 years, with the kids we've got, I can almost guarantee that changes.

Huh? I wasn't discussing Brown's manager. It was about George's earlier comments that they were going to focus on NZ players, now he's saying they want to keep money aside for Oz players.

It's been 30 years of the Warriors, I'm tired of waiting, it's always 5 years away from anything ever happening.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Huh? I wasn't discussing Brown's manager. It was about George's earlier comments that they were going to focus on NZ players, now he's saying they want to keep money aside for Oz players.

It's been 30 years of the Warriors, I'm tired of waiting, it's always 5 years away from anything ever happening.

Yeah, but I meant your comment was in regards to Dylan Brown, who hasn't exactly shown he's a true blue die for the jumper NZer, given he's clearly asked his management to sound out the Wobblies.

I think 11-12 of a starting 17 is a pretty strong ratio, you may disagree and that's cool.

The 2011 GF, we had 13. 2002 GF was 10.

 

[Matua]

Yeah, but I meant your comment was in regards to Dylan Brown, who hasn't exactly shown he's a true blue die for the jumper NZer, given he's clearly asked his management to sound out the Wobblies.

I think 11-12 of a starting 17 is a pretty strong ratio, you may disagree and that's cool.

The 2011 GF, we had 13. 2002 GF was 10.

Well you quoted the wrong post for that comment. I wasn't talking about Brown in that comment, and do we honestly know if he's truly sounded out playing for the Wallabies? Not so long ago NAS had gone to the Wallabies according to media reports.

As for the 2011 and 2002 GF that is my point, we do best with mostly homegrown teams with a sprinkling of Aussies. George made a song and dance about wanting to be a homegrown team and then discusses using money left over from NZers for Aussies.

Since you seem to be keen on one off starting lineups, in the last three games last year we never had more than 6 NZers in the starting 13, 7 if you want to count Australia born and raised and Tonga rep AFB. The numbers were similar for our first two matches last year too and that's including that born and raised in Aus Tuaupiki as a homegrown.

 

[JJ]

Not sure "we do best with mostly homegrown teams" is the key issue though - our great junior teams sadly didn't amount to much in the end (in contrast to what's happening at Penrith)

We've done best when we've have more talent and balanced teams - quality halves, good pack and good coaching... nobody is going to win anything with the halves we have at the moment, sadly... and I don't see Dylan Brown as the answer (although he does make it better) - maybe Cleary the younger? Haven't seen much of him, but think we all agree we need a half (or a combination) that can own a game - the best teams had Jones, and then Maloney/Johnson...

 

[Penrose Warrior]

At the end of the day I respect the hell out of Matua and people of his ilk that are dyed in the wool Kiwi league people. Without people like that, we don't have a game or a history.

And we're all different. I grew up watching Kiwis tests with my old man, but I've only played one day of league in my life. I would celebrate the Warriors winning a title if they had 17 Australians, Russians or aliens. To me, as long as they commit to us and come to live in our country - as they have to - I'm all on board. I don't really even notice the nation of origin makeup of our side.

But Matua does, and that's cool to me

 

[Penrose Warrior]

As for the 2011 and 2002 GF that is my point, we do best with mostly homegrown teams with a sprinkling of Aussies.

To me, that's very much centred around the coaches...who were both Australian. Honest question: does that matter? And I'm not suggesting the guy in charge now will win one because he is too.

 

[Matua]

To me, that's very much centred around the coaches...who were both Australian. Honest question: does that matter? And I'm not suggesting the guy in charge now will win one because he is too.

I'm not fussed about coaches that much, probably in part due to how terrible NZ coaches seem to be.

I would celebrate the Warriors winning a title if they had 17 Australians, Russians or aliens. To me, as long as they commit to us and come to live in our country - as they have to - I'm all on board. I don't really even notice the nation of origin makeup of our side.

While I don't agree with this sentiment I have no problem with you holding it. But, in all honesty, if the Warriors started fielding 17 Aussies I'd be done as a fan, I wouldn't even bother watching.