Who are we buying for 2021 onwards

[One Warrior]

O'Sullivan makes it 29 in the squad for next year

https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2020/11/06/every-clubs-2021-squad/#warriors

Note - Jayden Nikorima isn't in the senior squad (as of yet...)

We have ALOT coming off contract next season: Tohu and RTS are the major ones, also: Afoa (if he stays?), Ah Mau, Ale, Curran, Frei, Hiku, Lawton, Nikorima, O'Sullivan, Perham, Pompey, Tevaga and Turner

RTS is signed until the end of 2022.

 

[WellsNZ]

Seeing a couple of posts that we signed Montoya?

Can't say I've ever been too keen watching him play for the Dogs.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

RTS is signed until the end of 2022.

Obviously I can't multi task, you are correct

I have also seen somewhere, I think on the Daily Telegraph that we'd signed Montoya.
He'd be our 30th squad member
Can't say I'm overly familiar with him, thoughts?

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

As per the Daily Telegraph

The New Zealand Warriors are locked and loaded for season 2021 after new coach Nathan Brown finalised his top 30 roster with the signature of Canterbury flyer Marcelo Montoya.

Montoya agreed to a two-year deal from season 2021 on Tuesday afternoon.

The 24-year old was one of eight players including Aiden Tolman and Kieran Foran who were not part of Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett’s rebuild at Belmore, which officially kicked off on Monday.

The Canterbury local junior joins Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake, Parramatta forward Kane Evans and St George Illawarra centre Euan Aitken - who have all agreed to join the Warriors for season 2021 and beyond.

Montoya, who made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs in 2017, only managed 20 games in his final two seasons at the club.

A season-ending knee injury in 2019 was compounded by a serious hamstring year this which resigned him to only nine games.

But coach Brown’s show of faith in Montoya will see him compete with the likes of David Fusitu‘a, Ken Maumalo and Adam Pompey for a spot in the starting side.

Montoya’s addition to the Warriors roster closes the door on any chance for rising Sea Eagles back Albert Hopoate to join the club.

Hopoate was loaned to the Warriors in August but was recalled to Manly only 10 days later after an injury crisis at Narrabeen.

Despite returning to Manly, where he made his debut in round 16, Hopoate had remained a target for the Warriors with veteran recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan labelling the teenager as one of the best prospects of his age group.

Elsewhere the Wests Tigers are closing on Penrith Panthers fullback Daine Laurie.

Laurie played three games in season 2020 after making his NRL debut in round 13 and has one more year remaining on his development contract at the club.

The two parties are in negotiations to finalise the move but it’s believed the Wests Tigers have offered Laurie a two-year deal from season 2022.

Born and raised in Iluka on the NSW north coast, Laurie joined Penrith’s SG Ball outfit in 2017 and went on to the named the Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2018, where he scored 17 tries, made 119 tackle busts and 20 line breaks from 22 matches.

But after a resurgence from Dylan Edwards, Laurie found himself down the pecking order for the no.1 jumper at Penrith.

The 21-year old is one of 13 players off contract - without a contract option - at the end of season 2021 at the Panthers.

Penrith’s salary cap squeeze has meant the grand finalists are open to exploring a number of early releases, including for the likes of Laurie, rising halfback Matt Burton and Josh Mansour.

The Bulldogs have offered Burton a two-year deal from season 2022 believed to be worth in the vicinity of $800,000.

But new coach Barrett, who was Ivan Cleary’s assistant at Penrith, is keen to have Burton join his ranks as soon as this pre-season.

 

[Big Marn]

We probably didnt have to pay overs for him given his injury woes the past 2 years. Adds depth. Not a flashy signing but maybe the kind of signing that the team requires where the coach isnt afraid to drop Ken or Fus if they arent performing at a high level.

 

[Tongue]

No hooker then...

 

[jaseg]

I'm pretty sure Montoya is quite fast, that is about all I remember of him..

I imagine RE hooker they're looking at the young guys with a longer term approach. Apparently we have a couple of really good dummy half prospects working their way through the grades - Kalepo and Otukolo. Egan/Lawton can hold down the position until then, with the likes of Jazz (eww, but that's the reality), Tyler Slade (more of a lock like Jazz) and Sean Mullaney (if he's still at the club?) around as backup options. Or a half, I guess.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I'm pretty sure Montoya is quite fast, that is about all I remember of him..

I imagine RE hooker they're looking at the young guys with a longer term approach. Apparently we have a couple of really good dummy half prospects working their way through the grades - Kalepo and Otukolo. Egan/Lawton can hold down the position until then, with the likes of Jazz (eww, but that's the reality), Tyler Slade (more of a lock like Jazz) and Sean Mullaney (if he's still at the club?) around as backup options. Or a half, I guess.

I would look at Turner as a prospect. Can cover 1-7, Why not 9? lol

 

[Tongue]

Still missing one diamond....I guess just used to having RTS and Harris around, but feel one more major signing would make next year more promising.
But definitely should be developing our own diamonds here on in.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Still missing one diamond....I guess just used to having RTS and Harris around, but feel one more major signing would make next year more promising.
But definitely should be developing our own diamonds here on in.

I actually reckon AFB is the 3rd diamond. Very good piece of recruitment getting him in.

 

[JJ]

I actually reckon AFB is the 3rd diamond. Very good piece of recruitment getting him in.

Yep, three elite players... can the rest pull their weight?

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Yep, three elite players... can the rest pull their weight?

Based on 25 years of history, no.

 

[SmashEmBro]

Yep, three elite players... can the rest pull their weight?

Every team who wins the comp has several players who aren't considered stars, often having a few journeymen/ standard players and a sprinkling of rookies who step up.

I feel weve got a few of those players - Katoa, Hiku, Jazz, LAM, Bunty, Egan, Evans. These players aren't top teir, but largely would be on little - average money who can do a really solid job for us week in week out. Coupled with our top teir players, we've got the makings of a good team.

Honestly, I think it's our halves where we really fall short. While I'm okay with who we have and think they'll go fine, I think we're one top half short of having a real go to crack the top 3 or 4.

 

[SmashEmBro]

Also, I think that Ewen Atkinson, while not the best player would probably be considered one of the top 10 specialist centres in the game, so it's pretty cool to have a top tier out and out centre next year.

 

[JJ]

Every team who wins the comp has several players who aren't considered stars, often having a few journeymen/ standard players and a sprinkling of rookies who step up.

I feel weve got a few of those players - Katoa, Hiku, Jazz, LAM, Bunty, Egan, Evans. These players aren't top teir, but largely would be on little - average money who can do a really solid job for us week in week out. Coupled with our top teir players, we've got the makings of a good team.

Honestly, I think it's our halves where we really fall short. While I'm okay with who we have and think they'll go fine, I think we're one top half short of having a real go to crack the top 3 or 4.

Yep, our halves don't look close to a premiership threat... Chanel might develop, but they're a long way from it... Egan is fine at 9, and RTS is a stud... but look at the real premiership threats - Munster/Hughes, Cleary (not to mention Luai and May), Reynolds/Walker, Keary, Wighton/Williams, Keary...

 

[Matua]

WTF, did anyone actually watch Egan this year? He's not fine and didn't do a solid job.

Excusing his type of mediocrity is why the Warriors will never be successful.

I hope he becomes close to fine or solid next year now that we're stuck with him.

 

[JJ]

WTF, did anyone actually watch Egan this year? He's not fine and didn't do a solid job.

Excusing his type of mediocrity is why the Warriors will never be successful.

I hope he becomes close to fine or solid next year now that we're stuck with him.

Have to disagree fwiw...

 

[SmashEmBro]

Have to disagree fwiw...

In our last 10 games we won more than we lost, and those games we lost was to the top tier teams by only 6-8 points.

In those games I think Egan was really good. I'm not talking Cam Smith good but he provided good service, started to find his running game and I thought his best asset was straightening up our attack and drawing that first defender.
He helped set up quite a few tries like this, giving players like Kodi space outside him who were able to capitalise on the extra space.

I imagine with a forward pack who has a roll on he's going to have even better opportunities next year, really looking forward to see how he goes

 

[BLN2]

Paasi confirmed as released to St Helens today. Be interesting to see the plans with his roster spot, rumours around we've signed Amone from the Bunnies, if that was his replacement that's a down grade in performance and cash, even if he is highly rated. Coming off injury, he could be worth a crack.

Montoya.. Meh. Pretty sure he'd be cheap as, centre/winger back up. Coming off injuries, still young and decent experience. Possibly another Jono Wright type of player? But still has potential to be better than that.

Feels like there is some serious roster re balancing happening this season.

 

[SmashEmBro]

Paasi is an interesting one. Surely even with our current crop of forwards he would have had a bench spot at worst?

Frees up a bit of coin and one more spot in our 30...