Player Aaron Heremaia

[Ryan_old]

Aaron Heremaia

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Pork & Garlic Sauce: https://www.sportal.co.nz/league-news-display/heremaia-feels-heat-116245

You're not alone in sensing the Warriors are well off the pace after two rounds, as Aaron Heremaia admits 'it feels like we've been losing 50-0'.

The judge's scorecard is not healthy if you're a heavyweight Warriors' fan.

Sure it's early in a long, arduous season, but they're one of only three clubs – Rabbitohs and Titans the others – yet to produce any joy.

Not until the 65th minute of the season-opening loss to the Eels did they show any attacking spark, and the second defeat to the Tigers was a bumbling mess.

Yes, they've copped some poor refereeing decisions, none more costly than the failure to check a botched in-goal grounding against the Tigers which should have been a momentum-turning Feleti Mateo try.

But those sorts of blunders are ingrained, almost expect, from Aussie whistlers.

In truth, the Warriors have no-one to blame but themselves. It's premature to hit the panic button, but Sunday's clash with wounded defending premiers St George Illawarra is an intimidating prospect.

"You can accept a loss if you're playing well, but we've been playing poorly. It feels like we've been losing 50-0 every game," Heremaia gripped.

The nippy 28-year-old hooker is unhappy with his first two outings, where threatening dummy half scoots were rarely sighted. Like many of his team-mates, Heremaia is feeling the competitive heat from the in-form second-tier Auckland Vulcans.

Two victories and some standout performers in that New South Wales Cup team had Warriors coach Ivan Cleary place his side on notice this week.

"He [Cleary] mentioned that this week. He's given the same group of guys the chance to redeem themselves and put in a good performance. There could be some changes if that doesn't happen," Heremaia revealed.

"Personally disappointing," he responded when asked to assess his own form. "I've been trying a bit too hard, forcing the issue.

"I'm looking over my shoulder because the Vulcans have won two games and the boys are playing well. Another bad performance could see me down there, you never know."

Unlike most professional sportsmen, Heremaia knows what a 'real job' feels like. He was a chef in Thames two years ago before grasping a one-month trial at the Warriors.

Last year's meteoric rise was capped by a one-off appearance for the Kiwis in the Anzac Test. Players often struggle to back-up, suffering second year blues, and Heremaia admits this year presents challenges.

"I've never been in a position where I've had a good season and I've had to back that up. I'm just trying to find some consistency."

For the moment he's kept out-of-sorts recruit Shaun Berrigan on the bench, but both should watch out for explosive talent Alehana Mara, who impressed at the back-end of last year.

"He's certainly putting his hand up," Cleary said of Mara. "He showed last year when he played NRL he's got a bright future. He's probably improved since then so he's in there fighting."

 

[Magic Stick_old]

Heremud should of been released last year

 

[Fazz_old]

I kind of hope we play like shit this week tbh. A win will see all of the nuffies in our team given a free ride for a few weeks. If we lose I'm hoping to see Mara and Godinet in the team. A lot is being made of "people on notice" it looks like it's more than just a media beat up...

 

[Ryan_old]

I kind of hope we play like shit this week tbh. A win will see all of the nuffies in our team given a free ride for a few weeks. If we lose I'm hoping to see Mara and Godinet in the team. A lot is being made of "people on notice" it looks like it's more than just a media beat up...

Honestly? You'd rather we lost? That's crazy, dude.

 

[Fazz_old]

We're probably gunna lose anyway. May as well get something out of it. Don't get me wrong I'll be cheering us on and hoping we win, but honestly if a loss means goodbye Buster, goodbye Heremaia. I won't be too heartbroken.

 

[Magic Stick_old]

We're probably gunna lose anyway. May as well get something out of it. Don't get me wrong I'll be cheering us on and hoping we win, but honestly if a loss means goodbye Buster, goodbye Heremaia. I won't be too heartbroken.

I agree,hopefully good bye Luck also

 

[Ryan_old]

We're probably gunna lose anyway. May as well get something out of it. Don't get me wrong I'll be cheering us on and hoping we win, but honestly if a loss means goodbye Buster, goodbye Heremaia. I won't be too heartbroken.

And, let's say, we do lose, and Godinet and Mara, etc. come in and replace those guys, and we lose again...?

 

[Fazz_old]

They're rookies. Long futures ahead of them. Seymour and Heremaia are both over 25, they aren't going to improve a hell of a lot in the future barring good games here and there. Mara and Godinet aren't gunna be superstars right off the bat, but both have the potential to sew up international jerseys in the future...

 

[Ryan_old]

They're rookies. Long futures ahead of them. Seymour and Heremaia are both over 25, they aren't going to improve a hell of a lot in the future barring good games here and there. Mara and Godinet aren't gunna be superstars right off the bat, but both have the potential to sew up international jerseys in the future...

Meh, all I care about is that we win. I don't give really care who plays and how we do it - all that stuff is secondary. And while I agree with the general idea that we are looking very bad, the proposed solution of clearing out a whole bunch of dead wood looks even scarier. We want to blood players when we are going steady, not in a mini-crises, in my opinion.

 

[Fazz_old]

When we're going well the opportunity never comes up, only teams like the Dragons have the luxury. And honestly, we may not win at all with Heremaia and Seymour in the team. Both are a severe detriment to us. We won't win a finals game with them in the team even if by some miracle we get there.

Early in the season is the best time to draft in new blood, the skill level is down across the board, thus they have the best chance to get into the swing of things.

 

[David Bragg_old]

Any time is a good time to blood someone if the form of the incumbents is not up to scratch.
There are no "easier" games in which to bring someone in.

 

[Ryan_old]

Any time is a good time to blood someone if the form of the incumbents is not up to scratch.
There are no "easier" games in which to bring someone in.

In hindsight, Fish in the Eels game turned out to be a great idea, didn't it?

 

[Fazz_old]

Any time is a good time to blood someone if the form of the incumbents is not up to scratch.
There are no "easier" games in which to bring someone in.

I disagree. I'm not saying the earlier games are easier. But intensity lifts to a large degree near the end of the season as teams fight to get into the finals. The start of the season is clearly a better time (by a small margin) to blood a player.

 

[Ryan_old]

Whatever is the case regarding new players, the only thing I'm trying to point out is that there seems to be an undue level of optimism regarding how said players will go in the first grade. Extreme optimism, even. Like they are some sort of magic pill. That said, they all have potential, but show me the guarantee and I'll be sold on the idea. Like I've always said, winning (without cheating, or behaving unethically, etc.) supersedes all other things, so I'm happy to be wrong if the new guys come in a win us the comp. But, in my opinion, the reality is that, while it's likely these guys could come in a kill it, it's even more likely they will not.

 

[Fazz_old]

There is no guarantee. To say there is would be blatant lying on my part. Fact is, these "proven" players are playing like busted arses at the moment and a change can't be much worse than what we're dishing up right now.

You think we're going to be doing much winning with Seymour letting in three tries per game with his shit defense while setting up less than nothing? No.

Do I think we're going to do more winning with young guys in the team? Yes. The reason for that is that they're at least going to be trying things, while they make make a ton of errors, it won't be through a lack of trying that we lose.

If we're going to lose either way, I'd rather we go down in flames while at least looking like we want a win, rather than slinking out the back door with a whimper while looking like we were just trying not to lose.

 

[Iafeta_old]

There are a fair few examples of blokes who look like the next big thing from NYC who have not (as of yet) made it. A fair few of those who have certainly took a while to get their rhythm in first grade. Some of the next big things have been players like Wade Graham, Josh McGuire, Kevin Locke, Masada Iosefa, Daniel Mortimer, I think Karl Filiga also had a go in that grade... its strange, today I was reading an article on a seasons youngsters, it had $BW, Filinga, Aaron Groom, Shannon Walker, Josh McCrone, Greg Waddell, Martin Kennedy, Ben Jones, Joseph Tomane, Ray Thompson and Tony Williams... it's a mish-mash of surreal successes and abysmal failures.

As a club we have a done a reasonable job of bringing players out of that grade into first grade. Matulino, John, Locke, Fisiiahi, Ah Mau, Mara, Fai, O'Regan, Lousi, Tupou, Likiliki, Poching have all come through into first grade... more is the issue is that most haven't been perservered with - why in some of those cases I'm not sure and that is probably the more disappointing part of it than the amount that get a go. Ah Van also was picked in first grade before NYC started.

I guess my policy on bringing youngsters into first grade is you have to consistently show you're good enough in the grade down, really earn your stripes, and then you should be ready for a shot. Its why its disappointing that neither Fish or Locke are playing fullback for the Vulcans. And this week its why I would have taken a very serious look at Alehana Mara for Heremaia and Pita Godinet for Brett Seymour. In Alehana's appearances last year in first grade he played extremely well. As I understand it, he's started very well again for the Vulcans. As for Godinet, it's hard to argue with a bloke who won the NSWRL halfback of the year award last year and has started off 2011 extremely well, including some dominance in NRL trials. Given what transpired with Seymour last week, I would definitely have liked ot have seen Godinet have a go. In respect to Michael Luck, I wouldn't drop him as such, however, I would be mindful that the U20s have produced a very good set of backrowers and as such, I don't think Luck should have a long term future with the club. Similarly, Lance Hohaia is an interesting predicament, as sooner rather than later I would expect Kevin Locke to be given a shot at fullback. Its all well and good not picking up a large quantity of players in the NRL market and resigning a core group of NYC players, but there needs to be a definitive succession plan set so these players can have expectations that a shot will come their way if they keep doing what they've already shown.

 

[Fazz_old]

Agree 100% with you there. Hopefully we'll se them given a shot sooner than later if the FG guys form doesn't pick up.

 

[Samo_old]

Not sure if it was already posted but interesting news article...

https://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/heremaia-to-leave-118608/page/1

 

[Lego_Man_old]

Sweet.

 

[LordGnome_old]

He was one of only two Warriors who featured in all 25 games last year but unwanted hooker Aaron Heremaia will leave the club at the end of this season.
The imminent arrival of durable Gold Coast rake Nathan Friend, signed from next season on a lucrative two-year contract with an option for 2014, effectively showed one-Test Heremaia the door.
Professional sport can be a luxurious industry. It's also ruthless. Flavour of the week one minute, on your backside the next.
The cold facts are the Warriors went out of their way to seek a replacement and are unlikely to take up a one-year option on Heremaia, who's consigned to leaving.
"I'm not the first guy it's going to happen to and I won't be the last," Heremaia spoke of his shunning to Sportal on Thursday.
Heremaia, who made his Kiwis debut in last year's Anzac Test, refused to be disgruntled or see Friend's signing as a slap in the face for himself and dynamic 21-year-old dummy-half Alehana Mara.
This year, the club also bought utility Shaun Berrigan, who has extensive experience at hooker. And last year they let nippy Junior Kiwis No.9 Nafe Seluini go to the Penrith Panthers, where he is now playing first grade.
"I'm not dirty [about the signing]. That's just not the way I am," the 28-year-old said.
"With signing Nathan Friend I'll probably look to go somewhere else. If we can put some good performances together and I can play some decent football, you never know where I'll be next year."
Touted as a major coup for the Warriors, Friend is an 80-minute nugget who averages 42 tackles a game. The 30-year-old's made a club record 97 appearances for the Titans – 56 in succession – since their 2007 debut season and is rated one notch below the calibre of leading NRL hookers Cameron Smith, Robbie Farah and Isaac Luke.
Heremaia is accustomed to a merry-go-round lifestyle. The journeyman played for English clubs Widnes, Halifax and Leigh as well as North Sydney and the Wests Tigers before finding an Auckland home in 2008.
"I'll put my name out there, chuck the rod out and see if I can get any bites. I've just got to move on.
"I'll definitely weigh everything up. I'll sit down with my wife. We've already talked about it. We'll take anything that comes my way."
A two-year-old son and twins on the way will be factors in Heremaia's next move.
He came to the Warriors from humble abodes. Sharp pre-season form extended the former playmaker's one-month trial and he debuted for the club in 2009. But, before that, he worked as a chef in Thames and almost gave up his footy dream.
"If you had've told me three years ago I would've been playing for the Warriors I wouldn't have believed you, so I'm just happy with the run I've had here," he explained.
"I've got three good years out of the Warriors. I'm definitely looking to carry on playing next year. Wherever football will take me I'll be happy."
But what of Mara's future? Is he content to remain down the pecking order? What if another club comes knocking and the Warriors lose another homegrown talent destined for bigger things?
"I've mentioned it to Alehana. He's only young so there's plenty of time ahead of him. I think he's got a big NRL future.