Warrior482
The threat of the run particularly with those 2 guys is huge for opposition D, i noticed how well Roger Tuivasa-Sheck did this and once he had the defenders interested the pass was made.
Not excited tho. Not gna jinx it.....
The threat of the run particularly with those 2 guys is huge for opposition D, i noticed how well Roger Tuivasa-Sheck did this and once he had the defenders interested the pass was made.
Not excited tho. Not gna jinx it.....
ToiletDuck
Administrator
Happy belated NY guys.
Thoughts on the trial..
RTVS was excellent, great under the high ball and on attack. Would have liked to see him tested more on defence but no doubt we will see where he's at during the season.
I thought Shaun Johnson was fairly pedestrian, a couple of good runs but otherwise just shuffling the ball on. Hopefully that was just because it was a trial and we were leading relatively comfortably for most of the game.
Hingano looked okay with ball in hand, not sure re kicking and passing game however.
Slightly worried re the forwards. That Titans pack was fairly ineffective on the day and I thought our forwards sort of did just enough and not much more. Vete looks like he's capable of dominating up the middle.
Outside backs I thought were good. Fusi and Kata looked like they picked up where they left off, other than a couple of handling errors from Kata. Tui has always looked good on the wing and I look forward to seeing what he and Fusitua can produce.
Defence was okay, not sure that Titans side had much attack in them, nothing they did looked particularly dynamic, so will reserve judgement until we're well into the season.
Thoughts on the trial..
RTVS was excellent, great under the high ball and on attack. Would have liked to see him tested more on defence but no doubt we will see where he's at during the season.
I thought Shaun Johnson was fairly pedestrian, a couple of good runs but otherwise just shuffling the ball on. Hopefully that was just because it was a trial and we were leading relatively comfortably for most of the game.
Hingano looked okay with ball in hand, not sure re kicking and passing game however.
Slightly worried re the forwards. That Titans pack was fairly ineffective on the day and I thought our forwards sort of did just enough and not much more. Vete looks like he's capable of dominating up the middle.
Outside backs I thought were good. Fusi and Kata looked like they picked up where they left off, other than a couple of handling errors from Kata. Tui has always looked good on the wing and I look forward to seeing what he and Fusitua can produce.
Defence was okay, not sure that Titans side had much attack in them, nothing they did looked particularly dynamic, so will reserve judgement until we're well into the season.
FAN
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
InsideBall
What happens when you add Foran to that mix???
Seriously. It's scary how good it could be.
Fusitua, Tui and Sol running off that kind of play making is going to be a pretty terrifying proposition for the NRL.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
The game plan I saw in Palmerston North looks tailored especially for Forans strengths. Going to be interesting watching him take charge if he ever plays...
Afakasi247
InsideBall
It's especially intriguing to me hearing Shaun say that Foran is going to play a lot more "on the ball", leaving him and Roger to roam and look to inject themselves when they see an opportunity. That's more or less what we've been crying out for.
You give players of the caliber of Shaun and Roger that kind of license - and in my opinion, those two are legitimately the best two in the world in that situation - to roam and attack while Foz directs the play... anything is possible.
Essentially, it sounds like Foz is going to be our "halfback".
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Round 3 is what Im expecting but you never know what the PC brigade has in store for him...
bruce
Contributor
That is scary for sure. Shaun Johnson mentioned in his interview the qualities of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, KF and Luke are bringing to the squad. The way he said indicated these guys really mean business THIS season. He added they need to stay healthy though, and the lack of depth may test that.
gREVUS
Long live the Rainbows and Butterflies
Contributor
thanks for this - was a good watch. Most disappointing for me was Kata. Other than him i was fairly happy. Out of interest the one try by the titans. Who was out of position there for the warriors. As i thought Fusitua had come up to soon. but there wasnt much in it.
Warrior482
gREVUS
Long live the Rainbows and Butterflies
Contributor
thanks i think your right, wasnt able to rewind it and replay at the time but just watched it again, on the pc and it was Johnson who created the hole.
Five&Last
Few thoughts on the game,
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back to killing it. I think he'll be our best player this year. His kick returns almost always put us on the front foot and he hits the ball up with purpose trying to find the smallest of gaps like a running back. If he wasn't with the warriors, I'd have him as one of the favourites for the Dally M.
Erin Clark was huge off the bench and has 100% overtaken Jazz Tevaga as the 3rd best hooker. I don't want to see Jazz back in first grade unless we're decimated with injuries, his passing game hurts our attack more than Nathan Friend's did.
I thought Bunty was very poor at the nines, but he bounced back well and had one of the better games i've seen from him. He definitely earned a bench spot for round 1 at the very least. He's runs good lines and has strong leg drive, I just hope he can keep up with the faster second rowers in the comp on defence, e.g. if bodene doesnt recover, then sione matautia might cause bunty a few problems on the edge in round 1.
Sam Lisone looked in good nick also. He's going to blow up in this league once he realises that his strengths are his speed and ball playing, not charging through defenders. He could easily become a poor mans combination of james graham and andrew fifita.
One of our real disadvantages is that we don't have any athletic wingers that can finish from anywhere, especially now that Fusitua is at centre. I wouldnt put Lolohea in that athletic category despite is amazing feet and maumalo is obviously not there (even though I thought he played well on sunday), which leads me to think that Lewis Soosemea could be a bolter to make his debut this year as the kid has x-factor, speed and finishing ability that we lack on the wings with Tui, Manu and Ken. Its also an area we need to recruit in this offseason.
If Fusitua can stay healthy, put him in same conversation as Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Foran for importance to our season, the guy is a generational talent and if he puts it together this season, I honestly don't think there is a better centre in the game right now.
Lastly, its been pretty clear how amazing of a prospect Isaiah Papalii is since last year in the NYC or in the junior kiwis game, but I wouldn't be rushing him so early in the season. I think towards the back end of the season he could be ready for a regular bench spot and by next year i think we'll be seeing 11. Mannering 12. Harris 13. Papalii
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back to killing it. I think he'll be our best player this year. His kick returns almost always put us on the front foot and he hits the ball up with purpose trying to find the smallest of gaps like a running back. If he wasn't with the warriors, I'd have him as one of the favourites for the Dally M.
Erin Clark was huge off the bench and has 100% overtaken Jazz Tevaga as the 3rd best hooker. I don't want to see Jazz back in first grade unless we're decimated with injuries, his passing game hurts our attack more than Nathan Friend's did.
I thought Bunty was very poor at the nines, but he bounced back well and had one of the better games i've seen from him. He definitely earned a bench spot for round 1 at the very least. He's runs good lines and has strong leg drive, I just hope he can keep up with the faster second rowers in the comp on defence, e.g. if bodene doesnt recover, then sione matautia might cause bunty a few problems on the edge in round 1.
Sam Lisone looked in good nick also. He's going to blow up in this league once he realises that his strengths are his speed and ball playing, not charging through defenders. He could easily become a poor mans combination of james graham and andrew fifita.
One of our real disadvantages is that we don't have any athletic wingers that can finish from anywhere, especially now that Fusitua is at centre. I wouldnt put Lolohea in that athletic category despite is amazing feet and maumalo is obviously not there (even though I thought he played well on sunday), which leads me to think that Lewis Soosemea could be a bolter to make his debut this year as the kid has x-factor, speed and finishing ability that we lack on the wings with Tui, Manu and Ken. Its also an area we need to recruit in this offseason.
If Fusitua can stay healthy, put him in same conversation as Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Foran for importance to our season, the guy is a generational talent and if he puts it together this season, I honestly don't think there is a better centre in the game right now.
Lastly, its been pretty clear how amazing of a prospect Isaiah Papalii is since last year in the NYC or in the junior kiwis game, but I wouldn't be rushing him so early in the season. I think towards the back end of the season he could be ready for a regular bench spot and by next year i think we'll be seeing 11. Mannering 12. Harris 13. Papalii
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Excellent post.
Just on this Id tell Sam Lisone, and all our props for that matter, to have a little look at what Bunty Afoa does. His ability to bend the line is solely down to the footwork he does with defenders in tow. He shifts his centre of gravity from left to right foot continuously meaning his defenders have to work harder to plant. The other boys hit and pump the legs with the only variation being them turning their backs on leg pumping that way as Albert Vete likes to do.
Wonder whether all that lateral movement is good for the knees though???
The best props have footwork. Sure you get the occasional Fui Fui who make a career out of charging head first, but generally the best props push through the line because they get the defenders off balance rather than barging their way through.
snake77
Some good points TheCool.
Bunty stepping it up from his effort at the 9s was good to see. You want guys turning around poor efforts and with Thompson not getting any game time there is definitely a spot there for him. Seeing Afoa and Vete giving us some grunt up front was one of the best things about the effort on the weekend.
Erin Clarke was impressive against the Titans. He should have caught the coaching staffs attention and could be in line for some NRL time this year. The more competition for spots the better.
Something I like about this site is hearing from guys who keep an eye on the lower grades. I hadn't heard of Lewis Soosemea. I'll try and watch out for him if I get a chance to watch any of the lower grade games.
Bunty stepping it up from his effort at the 9s was good to see. You want guys turning around poor efforts and with Thompson not getting any game time there is definitely a spot there for him. Seeing Afoa and Vete giving us some grunt up front was one of the best things about the effort on the weekend.
Erin Clarke was impressive against the Titans. He should have caught the coaching staffs attention and could be in line for some NRL time this year. The more competition for spots the better.
Something I like about this site is hearing from guys who keep an eye on the lower grades. I hadn't heard of Lewis Soosemea. I'll try and watch out for him if I get a chance to watch any of the lower grade games.
Tonbridge (Swanley)
It was Johnson, however the try was scored from a kick and not a missed tackle....which is a good sign.
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