Warriors play hardball with Shaun Johnson

[Philip_Smith007]

If we got him plus a decent prop I'd be pretty happy with that outcome.

Nikorima and Tevita Pangai Junior as a Broncos package???

Nikorima had more to offer than SJ did on the kiwi tour.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

If we got him plus a decent prop I'd be pretty happy with that outcome.

They’re looking for a superstar forward so I imagine they’ll keep their powder dry for 2020. Two kiwi forwards from the end of year tour have already been sounded out.

If we did sign Kodi (which I think is a real chance) I'd still consider that "keeping our powder dry" for a forward signing in 2020.

I still think the most likely scenario is we fill SJ's role internally and make a major signing in the forwards next year. The Kodi signing is probably too reliant on the movements of other players at other clubs to lock-in as a given.

Brian will do what Brian does - he'll reshape this squad into a very competitive machine. Then he'll head back to the farm. Either way, really exciting times a head.

 

[VillaTheGorilla]

I'd be stoked to pick up Nikorima.

Remember we would potentially have Luke's money for 2020 too and very few upgrades to make at the end of this year (probably Roache, depending how he goes)

1.1mil from Johnson, 800k from Luke and about 100k from Gavet means we have around 2mil to spend from 2020 onwards. Thats not even counting the 1.1mil from SJ for next year.

That's some big money, we could really get 2 or 3 big signings and a mid ranger or two. Exciting times in the next 6 months or so

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

NZ Herald reporting we were offered Kodi but turned it down.

Also reporting we'll promote within. Short term Hiku-Green but we have CHT, Perham, Keighran and Turner on the books as possible options

I'd rather we took on Nikorima, keep Hiku out of the halves and have the younger fellas as back up. If Green goes down injured next year, we could be in a spot of bother

 

[JJ]

Brian will do what Brian does - he'll reshape this squad into a very competitive machine. Then he'll head back to the farm. Either way, really exciting times a head.

Yep - while he has his detractors, he certainly knows how to do this stuff

 

[waipiro]

Do you reckon Hiku could get the first shot as he will struggle to hold a centre spot this coming year?
He does seem to break the line a bit so could suit as a running 5/8

 

[Mixmasterreece]

NZ Herald reporting we were offered Kodi but turned it down.

Also reporting we'll promote within. Short term Hiku-Green but we have CHT, Perham, Keighran and Turner on the books as possible options

I'd rather we took on Nikorima, keep Hiku out of the halves and have the younger fellas as back up. If Green goes down injured next year, we could be in a spot of bother

Yeah still hearing Kodi is a possibility - Kearney is an advocate. Concern over similarities to Green though and the messy nature of any deal.

TMM offers something different to Blake, so we’ll see.

Think though that the most likely candidate is within the club. Potentially Hiku starting the season with one of young-uns coming in off the bench later in the season with Hiku moving to centres at the backend of games.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Nikorima too similar to Green?

That's not really the comparison I would have made, but certainly these guys are looking at him a lot closer than I am with far more knowledge of the game.

 

[TheDMC]

Nikorima too similar to Green?

That's not really the comparison I would have made, but certainly these guys are looking at him a lot closer than I am with far more knowledge of the game.

Dang, I think Kodi would be an excellent cost-effective replacement for SJ. Has a sharp running game. Surely not at all like Green, but complementary. Oh well, will be exciting to see some youngsters get a crack. Hope they do and we aren't stuck with Hiku plodding up the halves.

 

[WellsNZ]

Surprised to see they'd turn down Kodi. Would have thought that a great solution to the problem.

I do like the mentality of building on some of these young kids but it's a green bunch currently.

They're fortunate they had a good year last year for the fans because if they'd served up another year of shit and then lost SJ morale would be dead altogether. The problem is now though that they've finally taken a good step forward and it would suck to now take a big step back which is why I would have thought they'd be all over Kodi to try to keep moving forward because it's a tough sell that they're "rebuilding" after all these years if they're going with a kid and missing the eight.

What someone mentioned recently that resonates with me though is that this spine still has the Dally M winning fullback hopefully a motivated Luke who is a top tier hooker, Green, that still is a good looking spine.

 

[Matua]

Surprised to see they'd turn down Kodi. Would have thought that a great solution to the problem.

I do like the mentality of building on some of these young kids but it's a green bunch currently.

They're fortunate they had a good year last year for the fans because if they'd served up another year of shit and then lost SJ morale would be dead altogether. The problem is now though that they've finally taken a good step forward and it would suck to now take a big step back which is why I would have thought they'd be all over Kodi to try to keep moving forward because it's a tough sell that they're "rebuilding" after all these years if they're going with a kid and missing the eight.

What someone mentioned recently that resonates with me though is that this spine still has the Dally M winning fullback hopefully a motivated Luke who is a top tier hooker, Green, that still is a good looking spine.

Are you new to the Warriors organisation?

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

I'd love for us to get Kodi or TMM

Can anyone vouch for how well these youngsters are likely to fare in FG?
I remember quite vividly that SJ was praised and people were just waiting for him to debut (heck, I even remember ringing Radio Sport to ask Steve McIvor when SJ will be in first grade), yet I can't see too many people suggesting these younger guys have it.

I might be wrong, but I'm concerned. I'd prefer not to see Hiku at 5/8 and my concern is about depth. As I've mentioned, if Kakariki goes down injured, we're going to be in a spot of bother.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

NZ Herald reporting we were offered Kodi but turned it down.

Also reporting we'll promote within. Short term Hiku-Green but we have CHT, Perham, Keighran and Turner on the books as possible options

I'd rather we took on Nikorima, keep Hiku out of the halves and have the younger fellas as back up. If Green goes down injured next year, we could be in a spot of bother

Was price a factor in turning him down?

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Double post.

 

[WellsNZ]

Are you new to the Warriors organisation?

Not at all.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

I'd love for us to get Kodi or TMM

Can anyone vouch for how well these youngsters are likely to fare in FG?
I remember quite vividly that SJ was praised and people were just waiting for him to debut (heck, I even remember ringing Radio Sport to ask Steve McIvor when SJ will be in first grade), yet I can't see too many people suggesting these younger guys have it.

I might be wrong, but I'm concerned. I'd prefer not to see Hiku at 5/8 and my concern is about depth. As I've mentioned, if Kakariki goes down injured, we're going to be in a spot of bother.

Sj got that hype due to his running game. No, none of these guys posses that level of running game (he was a freak) although CTH has skills. But at least 3 of the 4 have far superior game management skills to what Shaun had at the same point.

 

[Juju]

So SJ's 2019 salary goes unspent we just front load $1m + amongst the squad to create the space for 2020?
How does that work?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

So SJ's 2019 salary goes unspent we just front load $1m + amongst the squad to create the space for 2020?
How does that work?

You're just paying players in advance.

Say player x is taking up 500k in the cap each year. Pay him 50k extra in 2019 and he only costs 450k in 2020 freeing up that 50k for someone else.

Doubt we frontload 1mil, but stranger things have happened.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

You're just paying players in advance.

Say player x is taking up 500k in the cap each year. Pay him 50k extra in 2019 and he only costs 450k in 2020 freeing up that 50k for someone else.

Doubt we frontload 1mil, but stranger things have happened.

Depends how big the want to spend in 2020 I guess.

 

[waipiro]

What someone mentioned recently that resonates with me though is that this spine still has the Dally M winning fullback hopefully a motivated Luke who is a top tier hooker, Green, that still is a good looking spine.

If you think about it that spine set up is probably the perfect time to pick a young guy and give him a crack to cement himeself