General 2025 Junior Reps

NZWarriors.com

Who is this kid? Just searched him up and he made U16 NZ Basketball, played in U18 NZ Baseball, played for NZ Junior Black Sox (Softball) and League and Union too? Apparently good at Volleyball too.
I've seen him play for the last five years. He was bencher and very barely played for the Silverstream 1st XV and still made the Hurricanes U18s squad back in 2022. One year later he got injured after few games for Petone RFC colts (U21s) and still getting picked for the Wellington U19s reps. Last year moved up into Wellington U20s reps and Hurricanes U20s then U19s reps again at the end of the season. Few months later he got trial for the Jersey Flegg and now he made the cut. The footage don't lie and he's a prone injury. I wonder if he's still available for Wellington U20s reps and Hurricanes U20s next month. You will know when you see him play. I never rate him
 
David Tangata-Toa, Grant Pocklington and TJ Ashford again fill head coaching roles for One New Zealand Warriors pathways teams this year while successful development coach Shannon Rushworth will guide the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) side.

The experienced Tangata-Toa returns for a second season as the club’s New South Wales Cup head coach – and NRL transition coach – after a 2024 campaign which saw the Warriors make the playoffs in fourth spot.

He was then on Tonga’s coaching staff for the Pacific Championships, helping the island nation to a victory over the Kiwis and a place in the final against the Kangaroos.

After coaching both the Warriors’ SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) sides last season, Pocklington takes the reins of the Flegg side in 2025 with Ashford again heading up the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) coaching team. The Warriors created history last season by becoming the first club to win the Harold Matthews premiership on debut since the competition’s introduction in 1970.

Canterbury-raised Rushworth has joined the One New Zealand Warriors after spending six years in Australia.

In a three-season stint as Canterbury Bankstown’s Harold Matthews Cup head coach he piloted the Bulldogs to the premiership in 2023 while they reached the semi-finals last year before being knocked out by the Warriors. He also had assistant coaching roles with the Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg and SG Ball sides.

As well as his Harold Matthews position, Rushworth will be a New South Wales Cup assistant coach for the Warriors this season.

Assistant coaches supporting Rushworth with the Harold Matthews team are ex-Warriors captain Monty Betham (Warrior #61) and former prop Albert Vete (Warrior #197) along with Jethro Friend, who played for the Warriors at both NSW Cup and NYC (under-20) level.

2025 pathways coaches​

New South Wales Cup (reserve grade)
Head coach: David Tangata-Toa
Assistant coaches: Brayden Wiliame (Warrior #273), Shannon Rushworth

Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21)
Head coach: Grant Pocklington
Assistant coaches: David Fauonuku, Sefo Fuimaono, TJ Ashford


SG Ball Cup (under-19)
Head coach: Shannon Rushworth
Assistant coaches: Jethro Friend, Albert Vete (Warrior #197), Monty Betham (Warrior #61)

Harold Matthews Cup (under-17)
Head coach: TJ Ashford
Assistant coaches: Paul Clarke, Tony Iro
 
David Tangata-Toa, Grant Pocklington and TJ Ashford again fill head coaching roles for One New Zealand Warriors pathways teams this year while successful development coach Shannon Rushworth will guide the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) side.

The experienced Tangata-Toa returns for a second season as the club’s New South Wales Cup head coach – and NRL transition coach – after a 2024 campaign which saw the Warriors make the playoffs in fourth spot.

He was then on Tonga’s coaching staff for the Pacific Championships, helping the island nation to a victory over the Kiwis and a place in the final against the Kangaroos.

After coaching both the Warriors’ SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) sides last season, Pocklington takes the reins of the Flegg side in 2025 with Ashford again heading up the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) coaching team. The Warriors created history last season by becoming the first club to win the Harold Matthews premiership on debut since the competition’s introduction in 1970.

Canterbury-raised Rushworth has joined the One New Zealand Warriors after spending six years in Australia.

In a three-season stint as Canterbury Bankstown’s Harold Matthews Cup head coach he piloted the Bulldogs to the premiership in 2023 while they reached the semi-finals last year before being knocked out by the Warriors. He also had assistant coaching roles with the Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg and SG Ball sides.

As well as his Harold Matthews position, Rushworth will be a New South Wales Cup assistant coach for the Warriors this season.

Assistant coaches supporting Rushworth with the Harold Matthews team are ex-Warriors captain Monty Betham (Warrior #61) and former prop Albert Vete (Warrior #197) along with Jethro Friend, who played for the Warriors at both NSW Cup and NYC (under-20) level.

2025 pathways coaches​

New South Wales Cup (reserve grade)
Head coach: David Tangata-Toa
Assistant coaches: Brayden Wiliame (Warrior #273), Shannon Rushworth

Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21)
Head coach: Grant Pocklington
Assistant coaches: David Fauonuku, Sefo Fuimaono, TJ Ashford


SG Ball Cup (under-19)
Head coach: Shannon Rushworth
Assistant coaches: Jethro Friend, Albert Vete (Warrior #197), Monty Betham (Warrior #61)

Harold Matthews Cup (under-17)
Head coach: TJ Ashford
Assistant coaches: Paul Clarke, Tony Iro
Interesting to see Rushworth an assistant coach for nsw cup as well as sg ball. Really couldn’t say Robinson isn’t willing to bring proven winners to the club. Tangata-Toa apart of panthers winning system, Rushworth with bulldogs young guys and Griffiths with knights ladies
 
Listening to Ashford commentate one of the youth rep games, he mentioned that the players are all there because of something they've done on attack.

Didn't fill me with much hope for our scouting practices.

But would explain why halves who base their games around a strong kicking game still get ignored for halves who step and run over people.
Is that TJ or Blake?
 
Went and watched the juniors play last Saturday at Te Papapa Rugby Union club in Onehunga. First game was the Future Warriors (U15) trial with about 35-40 kids playing in that one including 3 13yo. Second game I think was SG Ball vs Jersey Flegg in the 1st half then SG Ball vs Harold Matthews in the 2nd half.

Seen an earlier post asking about Joseph Ratcliffe and he was there playing fullback for the SG Ball team. Now most will know I really rate this kid but I don't think fullback is his best position.

Another one playing fullback was Wayde Egan brother Tallan Egan. His fitness and game awareness has improved out of sight since last season and he'll be one to watch this season. Vastly superior player to what he was just 6 months ago.

As we have come to expect we have absolutely no shortage of home grown front and second row talent. Both will carry us this season. Gone are the days of having two oversized book ends in the pack. These kids are tall and mobile with most of the second row having amazing footwork that wouldn't go amiss in the centres. Couple of run away tries from props who had speed to burn. Definitely a common thread there with our recruiting.

Main chink in our armour this season will be the spine positions especially hooker. We don't seem to be investing much in that position which is why Kaawyn Patterson left despite him and his family being staunch Warriors supporters. Also explains why we are more interested in importing players to fill that role.

Was good to see Albert Vete back at the club even if its just running water. He's been looked at as a long term coaching prospect...
 
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