S
SpaceMonkey
Guest
Thought I'd pull this one out of the swamp at WORL and give it an update seeing as a bit has happened on our personnel front in the last week or two.
Well we're past the halfway mark of the season and the player market has just opened up. The Warriors have performed above all expectations so far, so now looks like a good time to look at our current player roster and decide who's pulling their weight, who we would perhaps be better off letting go to bolster our ranks in our weaker positions.
Here we go;
Stacey Jones: Back to his best. The clubs biggest asset and #1 signing priority.
Kevin Campion: Huge workrate and invaluable for his leadership and professionalism. Getting on but good for a year or two more.
Jason Death: As reliable as ever, although unlucky with injury. Needs to be retained.
Awen Guttenbeil: Finally having a decent run uninjured and starting to show his class again. Still fairly young. Retain.
Logan Swann: In some of the best form of his career. Should be a Kiwi. Retain.
Monty Betham: Maturing into a world class utility forward. Worth a long term contract.
Ali Lautiiti: Still a bit inconsistent but untouchable when on form. Can also play second row. Retain long-term.
Jerry Seu Seu: A big improver and our most consistent prop. Good for a few more years.
Richard Villisanti: Has proved he was well worth buying although his hands are a little suspect. Still young, worth keeping.
Wairangi Koopu: Can play both second row and centre. A bit inconsistent, but dangerous and with a long career ahead of him. Keep him.
Ivan Cleary: Better luck with injuries this year and Mr Reliable at the back. We need to keep him there.
Henry Faafili: Awesome. If he gets any better at catching bombs he'll get poached by the AFL. Needs to stay long term.
Frances Meli: Our answer to Wendell and Tuquiri. Big hitter and very hard to stop. Retain long term.
Clinton Toopi: Sometimes prone to errors but still very dangerous and talented. Strong, fast and with a lethal step. Retain long term.
Motu Tony: One of the finds of the season. Still young and rough around the edges, but has the talent and potential to be a superstar. Retain long term.
Iafeta Paaleasina: The mid-season suprise packet, came out of nowhere and within weeks has produced a man of the match display agains the premiership favourites. Still early but this guy really looks the goods. More go-forward than a rhinoceros on amphetamines, and looks set to be a star of the future. Retain long-term.
Justin Morgan: Was proving an excellent buy at prop before an injury ended his season. Retain but hope he recovers ok for next year.
David Myles: Hasn't really done a hell of a lot. Solid defender but lacks pace. Possibly worth releasing to make room for a quicker centre.
Justin Murphy: Young and very fast, but suspect hands and a lot of talent on the wings already mean he needs to do a lot to prove he is worth retaining. Not worth it unless he proves himself at fullback.
Shontayne Hape: Hasn't had too much game time partly thanks to injury but has looked fairly good when he has. Can play both wing and centre, but probably better in thae latter position. I'd keep him as a long term partner for Toopi, as Koopu will probably end up in the second row.
Cliff Beverley: Looked Ok at the seasons start but the rise of Motu Tony has kept him out of the side. If we confirm P J Marsh as a signing, there will be no room for him. Release.
Nathan Wood: Has gone ok and good utility value but only second or third choice in any position. If P J marsh is signed he won't get the game time to justify his retention. Perhaps a return to the Rabbitohs is on the cards?
Mark Tookey: Indifferent form before suffering a long-term injury. Needs to really impress to justify a re-signing with five props definitely ahead of him at present. We only need six, and can probably justify counting on recruiting the last one out of the Bartercard cup as we've done this year with Paalesina. Anderson connection may save him.
Jason Temu: Hasn't been too bad when he's played but again we don't really need him due to our depth at prop. Release.
Jonathan Smith: Hasn't really played enough to be judged. We could still do with another back rower or two so a definite possibility.
Richie Blackmore: Will almost definitely retire at seasons end. Not worth retaining anyway.
That Leaves us with the following:
Fullbacks: Cleary, Tony, possibly Faafili and Toopi. Only Cleary is accomplished in the position, although if we have signed P J Marsh we could see Tony tried there again. Probably our weakest position. We need to invest here.
Wings: Faafili, Meli, with Hape and Toopi also capable. Well covered in this position, we can afford to develop junior talent to back these guys up.
Centres: Toopi, Koopu, Hape. Not bad but inexperienced. Worth buying one more quality player.
Stand-off: Tony, P J Marsh. If Marsh is confirmed signed then we are starting to look good here. If not we need to look at signing someone else.
Halfback: Jones. whoever is backup won't get to play unless he's injured, so probably best to rely on local talent, especially if we also have Marsh.
Lock: Campion, Betham, Death. Three great players who can cover this position, although Betham and Death are also our top hookers. We should probably start scouring the Bartercard Cup for up and comers, as Campion and Death won't be around for ever. We should have held on to Perenara.
Second Row: Swann, Guttenbiel, Koopu, Lautiiti. Plenty of talent here, and none nearing retirement age yet. We can rely on our juniors for more.
Props: Seu Seu, Lauitiiti, Morgan, Villisanti, Paaleasina. We probably need one more, but its a lower priority than most other positions. Shouyld be able to rely on local talent fo the number six spot.
Hooker: Death, Betham. Two world class players. Similar to lock, we need to look at bringing someone up at some point but are pretty well served for now. Wish we'd kept Robbie Mears though.
Released: Murphy, Temu, Tookey, Blackmore, Beverley
Maybes: Myles, Smith, Wood
So by my reckoning our top signing priorities should be fullback, stand off and centre. PJ Marsh takes care off stand-off if we get him and also covers halfback. We dont need wingers, and our pack is pretty good although perhaps another lock or second rower wouldn't go amiss. I'm sure there are players I've missed, and those who you think I've over or under-rated. I look forward to seeing other Warriors fans suggestions!
Well I don't think I was too far off the mark. According to reports we have re-signed all of our established players except for Wood, Beverley, Temu and Blackmore. Despite a season ending injury it looks like Paleaaesina has been offered a contract as well. Blackmore is apparently being offered a non-playing job at the club. Wood and Beverly have been released as has Joe Gulavao who was re-signed mid season for this year but has not played, with Wood looking likely to return to the Rabbitohs. Only Temu is still in limbo, but I doubt he'll be retained. Tookey has been resigned, and I must admit his performance against the Broncos was promising, and with Paleaaesina injured, we'll have plenty of chance to see if that was the right decision. With two props out for the season, this may also give Temu a last shot at getting another contract.
On the new signings front, no more definite acquisitions since PJ Marsh, but Warriors management have confirmed as predicted that they are looking for a quality centre. The big news however has been that they have been talking to Jonah Lomu. While signing Lomu would be a massive boost to the Warriors and League in general, it must be viewed as unlikely due to the dollars involved.
Well we're past the halfway mark of the season and the player market has just opened up. The Warriors have performed above all expectations so far, so now looks like a good time to look at our current player roster and decide who's pulling their weight, who we would perhaps be better off letting go to bolster our ranks in our weaker positions.
Here we go;
Stacey Jones: Back to his best. The clubs biggest asset and #1 signing priority.
Kevin Campion: Huge workrate and invaluable for his leadership and professionalism. Getting on but good for a year or two more.
Jason Death: As reliable as ever, although unlucky with injury. Needs to be retained.
Awen Guttenbeil: Finally having a decent run uninjured and starting to show his class again. Still fairly young. Retain.
Logan Swann: In some of the best form of his career. Should be a Kiwi. Retain.
Monty Betham: Maturing into a world class utility forward. Worth a long term contract.
Ali Lautiiti: Still a bit inconsistent but untouchable when on form. Can also play second row. Retain long-term.
Jerry Seu Seu: A big improver and our most consistent prop. Good for a few more years.
Richard Villisanti: Has proved he was well worth buying although his hands are a little suspect. Still young, worth keeping.
Wairangi Koopu: Can play both second row and centre. A bit inconsistent, but dangerous and with a long career ahead of him. Keep him.
Ivan Cleary: Better luck with injuries this year and Mr Reliable at the back. We need to keep him there.
Henry Faafili: Awesome. If he gets any better at catching bombs he'll get poached by the AFL. Needs to stay long term.
Frances Meli: Our answer to Wendell and Tuquiri. Big hitter and very hard to stop. Retain long term.
Clinton Toopi: Sometimes prone to errors but still very dangerous and talented. Strong, fast and with a lethal step. Retain long term.
Motu Tony: One of the finds of the season. Still young and rough around the edges, but has the talent and potential to be a superstar. Retain long term.
Iafeta Paaleasina: The mid-season suprise packet, came out of nowhere and within weeks has produced a man of the match display agains the premiership favourites. Still early but this guy really looks the goods. More go-forward than a rhinoceros on amphetamines, and looks set to be a star of the future. Retain long-term.
Justin Morgan: Was proving an excellent buy at prop before an injury ended his season. Retain but hope he recovers ok for next year.
David Myles: Hasn't really done a hell of a lot. Solid defender but lacks pace. Possibly worth releasing to make room for a quicker centre.
Justin Murphy: Young and very fast, but suspect hands and a lot of talent on the wings already mean he needs to do a lot to prove he is worth retaining. Not worth it unless he proves himself at fullback.
Shontayne Hape: Hasn't had too much game time partly thanks to injury but has looked fairly good when he has. Can play both wing and centre, but probably better in thae latter position. I'd keep him as a long term partner for Toopi, as Koopu will probably end up in the second row.
Cliff Beverley: Looked Ok at the seasons start but the rise of Motu Tony has kept him out of the side. If we confirm P J Marsh as a signing, there will be no room for him. Release.
Nathan Wood: Has gone ok and good utility value but only second or third choice in any position. If P J marsh is signed he won't get the game time to justify his retention. Perhaps a return to the Rabbitohs is on the cards?
Mark Tookey: Indifferent form before suffering a long-term injury. Needs to really impress to justify a re-signing with five props definitely ahead of him at present. We only need six, and can probably justify counting on recruiting the last one out of the Bartercard cup as we've done this year with Paalesina. Anderson connection may save him.
Jason Temu: Hasn't been too bad when he's played but again we don't really need him due to our depth at prop. Release.
Jonathan Smith: Hasn't really played enough to be judged. We could still do with another back rower or two so a definite possibility.
Richie Blackmore: Will almost definitely retire at seasons end. Not worth retaining anyway.
That Leaves us with the following:
Fullbacks: Cleary, Tony, possibly Faafili and Toopi. Only Cleary is accomplished in the position, although if we have signed P J Marsh we could see Tony tried there again. Probably our weakest position. We need to invest here.
Wings: Faafili, Meli, with Hape and Toopi also capable. Well covered in this position, we can afford to develop junior talent to back these guys up.
Centres: Toopi, Koopu, Hape. Not bad but inexperienced. Worth buying one more quality player.
Stand-off: Tony, P J Marsh. If Marsh is confirmed signed then we are starting to look good here. If not we need to look at signing someone else.
Halfback: Jones. whoever is backup won't get to play unless he's injured, so probably best to rely on local talent, especially if we also have Marsh.
Lock: Campion, Betham, Death. Three great players who can cover this position, although Betham and Death are also our top hookers. We should probably start scouring the Bartercard Cup for up and comers, as Campion and Death won't be around for ever. We should have held on to Perenara.
Second Row: Swann, Guttenbiel, Koopu, Lautiiti. Plenty of talent here, and none nearing retirement age yet. We can rely on our juniors for more.
Props: Seu Seu, Lauitiiti, Morgan, Villisanti, Paaleasina. We probably need one more, but its a lower priority than most other positions. Shouyld be able to rely on local talent fo the number six spot.
Hooker: Death, Betham. Two world class players. Similar to lock, we need to look at bringing someone up at some point but are pretty well served for now. Wish we'd kept Robbie Mears though.
Released: Murphy, Temu, Tookey, Blackmore, Beverley
Maybes: Myles, Smith, Wood
So by my reckoning our top signing priorities should be fullback, stand off and centre. PJ Marsh takes care off stand-off if we get him and also covers halfback. We dont need wingers, and our pack is pretty good although perhaps another lock or second rower wouldn't go amiss. I'm sure there are players I've missed, and those who you think I've over or under-rated. I look forward to seeing other Warriors fans suggestions!
Well I don't think I was too far off the mark. According to reports we have re-signed all of our established players except for Wood, Beverley, Temu and Blackmore. Despite a season ending injury it looks like Paleaaesina has been offered a contract as well. Blackmore is apparently being offered a non-playing job at the club. Wood and Beverly have been released as has Joe Gulavao who was re-signed mid season for this year but has not played, with Wood looking likely to return to the Rabbitohs. Only Temu is still in limbo, but I doubt he'll be retained. Tookey has been resigned, and I must admit his performance against the Broncos was promising, and with Paleaaesina injured, we'll have plenty of chance to see if that was the right decision. With two props out for the season, this may also give Temu a last shot at getting another contract.
On the new signings front, no more definite acquisitions since PJ Marsh, but Warriors management have confirmed as predicted that they are looking for a quality centre. The big news however has been that they have been talking to Jonah Lomu. While signing Lomu would be a massive boost to the Warriors and League in general, it must be viewed as unlikely due to the dollars involved.
