General Ken and fus vs faster wingers?

[Bangbros 2023]

If I was to say to an early post about what difference does jennings bring that Fusitua and ken dont, it would be the pace and urgency they play at. More faster play the balls and he actually gets the same metres just in a different way. (Maybe not as much metres as Ken) ken is a beast in that department.

 

[wizards rage]

Payton is getting the team to thrive both individually and as a team. I think our home bodies would be the same if still here so it’s really hard to judge.

But agree, Jennings particularly has offered just as much to the team as our superstars.

 

[Harlz]

They both won Dally M winger of the year. Whats the point of this?

 

[warriorsfan92]

I personally see both sides of the argument. Fusitua was signed for a large contract & has been fairly average since. Maumalo had his breakout year last year & was the best winger in the comp.

I like the idea of having two types of wingers. A strike or finishing winger (Jennings), and a yardage/contact metres but also capable of finishing (ken/Fusitua). It offers variety, and the ability to act as a second fullback if required to help Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Often big men struggle to turn & go so having two 6.6 wingers leaves us a little exposed on defence

 

[WellingtonOrca]

Fusitua isn't a yardage winger, last year he averaged 70 less meters per game than Ken. Also only 7 linebreaks to Ken's 16. Would definitely keep Ken over Fusitua based on current form.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

They both won Dally M winger of the year. Whats the point of this?

Just trying to help the kids by starting a debate on this page instead of recruitment and retention😂

 

[shuffle]

kind of don’t miss Fusitua or Maumolo at all. When they left I thought I hope they never return but they have done a lot for the club as players. I hope they come back next year fresh and ready to go..

 

[The Batman]

Fusitua need to develop his game as centre long term. Defence and ball movement

 

[Defence]

Be interesting to see what shape they return in next season- the break and chance to freshen up could be the best thing to ever happen to them.
Or could be the worst...
Hopefully they’re working hard on their speed and agility.

 

[fizurg]

Have the Warriors had wingers that are used as props or is it that the players inside the wingers have been devoid of the skills to put the wingers the team has had into space?
The warriors haven’t really had centers and second rowers that can really trouble defensive lines. The one year the team had Johnson, Hiku, Harris and Fusitua that edge looked amazing and Fusitua ended that season considered one of the best wingers in the comp. The next year Ken gets Hiku and evening he manages over 20 tries in the season. Is the problem the wingers or are they just a symptom of the men inside them?

 

[Bangbros 2023]

Have the Warriors had wingers that are used as props or is it that the players inside the wingers have been devoid of the skills to put the wingers the team has had into space?
The warriors haven’t really had centers and second rowers that can really trouble defensive lines. The one year the team had Johnson, Hiku, Harris and Fusitua that edge looked amazing and Fusitua ended that season considered one of the best wingers in the comp. The next year Ken gets Hiku and evening he manages over 20 tries in the season. Is the problem the wingers or are they just a symptom of the men inside them?

Can't argue with that! And it looks like we have signed another bone head who doesn't have vision? I guess we will see next season.

 

[kenny44]

I hope the last few weeks without Ken an Fusitua have proved to the club that it's OK to break out of the "must have massive wingers" blueprint which we seem to have stuck with and searched for since Manu Vatuvei.

Speed = Power.

Speed = Agility.

Speed helps with defense (especially dealing with kicks in behind, turning and chasing).

Not having Ken carrying for 200+ meters per game has put the onus on the forwards to pick their individual games up. They can't fob off the hard work to the wingers.

Obviously Jennings and Herbert aren't super quick, but they're more agile and while they may not make as many meters as Ken, I feel the meters they do make are of higher quality - i.e getting in behind the D line, half breaks, stretching the D line which creates opportunities elsewhere.

I'd love to see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck used more effectively as well. Sniffing around the ruck, in support of every play (Wade McKinnon style), less hitups, more effective meters. He's doing what any competent, high workrate fullback could do (at half the cost).

While 200m+ running games from our backs are impressive on the stats sheet, I'd rather see those numbers come from line breaks and length of the field tries instead of stat-padding hitups.

 

[CHURCUZ]

Ken & Fuss are two mean mother effers on their day, hopefully they've been using their hiatus well. Keeping fit, boasting confidence, get a good off season under their belt and come back chomping at the bit. Exciting times for wingers next year especially with Patrick Herbert & Junior Ratuva in the mix pushing for spots.

 

[6Again]

Honestly believe the debate on speed will be resolved by next year with Junior Ratuva coming in.

I get the sense the club was courting him through his injury period prior to signing him and the Fusitua switch to Center was to give Dave game time in that position to make way for Ratuva next season rather than to allow Patrick Herbert to play wing this year.

POS has massive wraps on Ratuva, possibly his most important find for the club thus far. There is no doubt in my mind he’s in our immediate plans for 2021.

In saying that speed of course is only one aspect of wing play so not the entire debate here.

Question: How do you like your wingers?? they come in all shapes and styles. From Sivo with his powerful bump and fend coupled with his speed to Nofoaluma‘s can’t be tackled yardage carries and finishing to Brian To’o acrobatics to Brett Morris’s craftiness.

The point is what style of winger is best suited to our roster next year? I‘m expecting more meters out of our middles next season than in previous years, that has a knock on effect for other players in the roster.

Core roles can change and if your not a complete player in your position you may start to find yourself surplus to requirements as the team continues to evolve around you.

At the Warriors we tend not to produce well rounded players - some positions you can paper-mache over a little. With wingers it’s that much harder because ball transitions are so crucial in league and often it starts and ends with Wingers so you need to have certain attributes and you need to have all of them to sustain a long term career in the Nrl.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

Honestly believe the debate on speed will be resolved by next year with Junior Ratuva coming in.

I get the sense the club was courting him through his injury period prior to signing him and the Fusitua switch to Center was to give Dave game time in that position to make way for Ratuva next season rather than to allow Patrick Herbert to play wing this year.

POS has massive wraps on Ratuva, possibly his most important find for the club thus far. There is no doubt in my mind he’s in our immediate plans for 2021.

In saying that speed of course is only one aspect of wing play so not the entire debate here.

Question: How do you like your wingers?? they come in all shapes and styles. From Sivo with his powerful bump and fend coupled with his speed to Nofoaluma‘s can’t be tackled yardage carries and finishing to Brian To’o acrobatics to Brett Morris’s craftiness.

The point is what style of winger is best suited to our roster next year? I‘m expecting more meters out of our middles next season than in previous years, that has a knock on effect for other players in the roster.

Core roles can change and if your not a complete player in your position you may start to find yourself surplus to requirements as the team continues to evolve around you.

At the Warriors we tend not to produce well rounded players - some positions you can paper-mache over a little. With wingers it’s that much harder because ball transitions are so crucial in league and often it starts and ends with Wingers so you need to have certain attributes and you need to have all of them to sustain a long term career in the Nrl.

A part of me still wants to see a big rolling forward pack with our big rolling back 3 and just see the front foot play kodi, channel and egan can play on the back of?

 

[snake77]

I have been advocating that we need to add speed into the side for a while now and also compared with other sides on early sets how their wingers still get the job done. They might run from dummy half more or use their pace to ensure they hit the advantage or try and get around the defenders instead or running straight at them.

Jennings has done a job and shown big wingers aren't a requirement.

I agree with other posters about the guys inside them. The last two years either Ken and Fusitua have prospered due to having Hiku on that side. Aitken is likely one centre and there has already been debate about his distribution skills. The other centre position is up in the air with Hiku and Herbet still waiting on contracts.

Instead of lumping them together I'd prefer to look at Ken and Fusitua individually.

Fusitua is fine on early plays, great under the high ball (tactical kicking is another debate), great at finishing especially in the corner. We need to setup plays where we move the ball to his side creating space for him. He was getting some long range tries when we had Johnson, Harris, and Hiku on his side. I know he was being used as a centre but we have a new coach now so that is up in the air. However Brown's likely mainly seen him play on the wing taking attacking kicks or diving for the corner.

Ken is great on the early tackles, is pretty good under the high ball and is getting better in finishing in the corner. He needs someone inside him to create space.

If we have guys coming through that are ready for first grade that provide something different that's great. More competiton.

 

[6Again]

A part of me still wants to see a big rolling forward pack with our big rolling back 3 and just see the front foot play kodi, channel and egan can play on the back of?

Don’t get me wrong I’m not suggesting that good yardage carries shouldn’t be part of wing play - it’s troubling though if it‘s the thing your best at when newer players are providing good meters for the team.

Front foot ball is one thing but you want good strike around Kodi/Chanel Harris-Tavita/Egan to take advantage too I assume??

 

[Bangbros 2023]

Don’t get me wrong I’m not suggesting that good yardage carries shouldn’t be part of wing play - it’s troubling though if it‘s the thing your best at when newer players are providing good meters for the team.

Front foot ball is one thing but you want good strike around Kodi/Chanel Harris-Tavita/Egan to take advantage too I assume??

Just having visions of Clinton Toopi on open play! I dont think we have had a strike centre since TBH?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

If Maumalo and Fusitu'a came to the Warriors from an Australian-based club, as residents of Australia on loan during Covid-19, we would be adoring them I reckon.

Jennings has been way better than expected, but that is part of the issue here. He is the new kid on the block without expectation. Fusitua and Ken have been micro-analysed for some time. Fusitu'a is an excellent winger and Maumalo has plenty of upside. I also think that Jennings' play of the ball has been excruciatingly slow at times. He hasn't made many mistakes, but he will make some because that comes part and parcel of the position. He has been impressive though.

I'd prefer a speedy, elusive winger to Maumalo personally, but these two are being judged on a much different scale to others because they have young families and they are two of our longest serving players. Just because we are playing with commitment doesn't mean they were the root cause when we weren't. There are so many things at play this season. I don't buy into the drop lip assumption, and both have earned their careers in FG, whether or not they are the right fit for this team going forward.

 

[Samo]

Fusitua went back for the birth of his child and he has been absolutely dragged through the mud for it. I will tell you one thing, I would never have missed the birth of my daughter. Not for my job, not for footy, not for nothing. You may only get one chance at cutting that cord in your life - you might not even get that. To be fair I would probably have thought worse of him if he didn't go back for such a big event in his life and to support his wife.