Team List NRL 2022 - Warriors vs Dragons TEAM LIST [Round 1, 2022]

[Mr Brownstone]

Let us hope that Shaun Johnson's return is more successful than Stacey's return in 2009 or whenever. I remember being hyped about that... that hype went down the toilet pretty quick..

That chip & regather against the Sea Eagles was pretty special, unfortunately it was all downhill from there

 

[AlexM]

Heard Arthur's picked up a niggle in the trial.
Assume he would've started for Villiami

 

[Five&Last]

Heard Arthur's picked up a niggle in the trial.
Assume he would've started for Villiami

He was named on the extended bench so doubt it.

 

[mrblonde]

That chip & regather against the Sea Eagles was pretty special, unfortunately it was all downhill from there

Yep. First two games, Stacey's on the bench and plays really well.

Then, Rd 3 he's in the Starting 13. One wonders if that was not the right call, given what happened from that point....

If things don't go well for Shuan, is a bench place worthwhile for him? I guessing No, given his skillset, history etc but figured I may as well fly the kite and watch everyone else fire burning arrows at it...

 

[Miket12]

Heard Arthur's picked up a niggle in the trial.
Assume he would've started for Villiami

He was named on the extended bench so doubt it.

At times players will get named, even when they're unavailable just to supply names to the NRL. In my last year of playing senior hockey, our team was down because of injuries and our club didn't have a reserve grade side so for three games our coach named his dog on the reserves bench because the local hockey association required two reserves to be named or the games were to be forfeited.

 

[Five&Last]

At times players will get named, even when they're unavailable just to supply names to the NRL. In my last year of playing senior hockey, our team was down because of injuries and our club didn't have a reserve grade side so for three games our coach named his dog on the reserves bench because the local hockey association required two reserves to be named or the games were to be forfeited.

Nah they would’ve named Ratuva if Arthars wasn’t good to go. They already have centre cover with Pompey there and also Aitken if need be.

 

[Tianasnow14]

Crazy how there isn't much talk on here. It's our first game of the week I'm excited

 

[kiwiborn91]

I’m excited too! 🔥🔥🔥
Just can’t believe it’s actually round one this week! 😝😝
Can’t wait to wear the new jersey to work on Friday!

 

[kiwiborn91]

Love the team for the week!
Can’t wait to see how Shaun Johnson and Kodi go together! Excited to see Chanel Harris-Tavita in fullback! And Katoa get back into form! Hope we start the season with a strong win 🔥

 

[Dixpat]

Am I the only one worried about the Shaun Johnson and Kodi pairing?

Both have a habit of not taking tackles. Shuffling the ball 5m before the line use to do my head in with both of them. Didn’t Tony have to pay $$$ to Kodi to run the ball more and not just pass it?

I hope I’m wrong, but I actually think they have too much similarities to compliment each other.

I feel we’re vulnerable in the halves on D and our centre pairing could get toasted. Chanel Harris-Tavita as the past line of defence doesn’t fill me with confidence either

Other than that you think we will have a good year!!!

 

[RiceOwl]

As always, looking forward to the season kicking off and hoping the boys kick off in style on the weekend. I think it'll be a close game as we are missing a few key personnel and also having missed the opportunity of another trial game. But glass half full as always!

But a couple of interesting observations from preseason listening to every podcast and reading every NZ Warriors article under the sun (sorry Preseason thread was finished so here it is):
- Vailea as well as Berry are clearly highly rated (In an interview with Justin Morgan he stated that he expects those 2 to have successful NRL careers and mentioned them ahead of Pompey etc.)
- Our bookends of Addin Fonua-Blake and Lodge often mentioned as bringing that intensity at training and being Players Players (Guys that really bring the team together). Now I wasnt too surprised to hear that about Addin Fonua-Blake, but was surprised to hear that Lodge would often pull the guys together at the beginning or end of a training session to get the boys in the right headspace with their intent.
- A bit of mention about Pene's legspeed being a key point of difference (I didnt realise he was a winger in U20s!). I'm hopeful that this is the case and can bring some tempo off the bench.
- Katoa sounds as though he has had a positive preseason and got himself in good nick and worked hard on his game, so am hoping for a big season running off Shaun Johnson.
- Ken Reinsfield: This is just a personal opinion as a part from the press release there is very little information to go on. I had been feeling relatively positive around some of the big decisions at the club (although heavily questioned the quals/decision of Craig Hodges), but this has left me feeling more unsure of the direction of the Autex owners approach with the club and seems like pure nepotism to me.
- Characters: To finish on a positive, they say culture beats all and it sounds as though that we have a number of really great characters that are pushing the club in the right direction. Confident Walshy, Siro bringing the good vibes, Tohu Harris brining the mana, and Addin Fonua-Blake/Lodge pushing the boys. Fingers crossed that is the case.

Bring it on!

 

[Wrighty]

I went back and looked up our round 25 team in 2021 vs our team to start round 2 this year

Outs
Hiku
Jamayne Tounua-Brown
Sean O'Sullivan
Evans

Ins
Johnson
Pene
Vailea
Ben Murdoch-Masila

Because Ash Taylor has not been selected and doesn't seem likely to feature then we are only four players different than last year

Hiku vs Vailea is a downgrade at this stage of Vailea's development
Pene is a big upgrade over Jamayne Tounua-Brown
Johnson is a huge and tremendous upgrade over Sean O'Sullivan
Ben Murdoch-Masila vs Evans requires a better mind than mind to comment on whether that is an upgrade or not.

Our optimism this year basically boils down to we have Shaun Johnson back instead of Sean O'Sullivan etc at half back. And Pene helping us have a better bench prop.

I am into it however. And can't wait to see how we go.

 

[Fonzie]

I went back and looked up our round 25 team in 2021 vs our team to start round 2 this year

Outs
Hiku
Jamayne Tounua-Brown
Sean O'Sullivan
Evans

Ins
Johnson
Pene
Vailea
Ben Murdoch-Masila

Because Ash Taylor has not been selected and doesn't seem likely to feature then we are only four players different than last year

Hiku vs Vailea is a downgrade at this stage of Vailea's development
Pene is a big upgrade over Jamayne Tounua-Brown
Johnson is a huge and tremendous upgrade over Sean O'Sullivan
Ben Murdoch-Masila vs Evans requires a better mind than mind to comment on whether that is an upgrade or not.

Our optimism this year basically boils down to we have Shaun Johnson back instead of Sean O'Sullivan etc at half back. And Pene helping us have a better bench prop.

I am into it however. And can't wait to see how we go.

And another year of brownie implementing his system, this time with proper preseason

 

[Citygirl]

3 sleeps to go 💥

 

[wizards rage]

Our optimism this year basically boils down to we have Shaun Johnson back instead of Sean O'Sullivan etc at half back. And Pene helping us have a better bench prop.

Plus we are not already knocked out of the competition so our mindset will be completely different from round 25 🤣

If you are comparing year on year, we had players come in on mid season transfers so form and combinations last year shouldn’t be used as the expectation this year (eg Walsh, Lodge, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak)

 

[jagz]

Here’s training Photos from this week

 

[Wheels]

I went back and looked up our round 25 team in 2021 vs our team to start round 2 this year

Outs
Hiku
Jamayne Tounua-Brown
Sean O'Sullivan
Evans

Ins
Johnson
Pene
Vailea
Ben Murdoch-Masila

Because Ash Taylor has not been selected and doesn't seem likely to feature then we are only four players different than last year

Hiku vs Vailea is a downgrade at this stage of Vailea's development
Pene is a big upgrade over Jamayne Tounua-Brown
Johnson is a huge and tremendous upgrade over Sean O'Sullivan
Ben Murdoch-Masila vs Evans requires a better mind than mind to comment on whether that is an upgrade or not.

Our optimism this year basically boils down to we have Shaun Johnson back instead of Sean O'Sullivan etc at half back. And Pene helping us have a better bench prop.

I am into it however. And can't wait to see how we go.

I think there are a lot of changes some of them subtle. A full preseason together, team bonding, building combinations with the guys that were brought in mid season. We have significant competition in a major weak spot which was decision making in the halves, we have a genuine superstar with a full preseason in Walsh, the young guns like Berry and Katoa have a full preseason and are more experience, a more mobile forward pack with the likes of Aitken moved to 2nd row and Curran more experience and cementing a starting spot, better cover at hooker with Otukolo, Kodi, & Jazz.
So I am optimistic but after watching the footy show and listening to Toovey pick us for the wooden spoon maybe I am seeing things through rose colored glasses again!!! Time will tell!

 

[Defence]

With the johnson/ jones comparison..... I think Shaun still offers a lot more at this stage of his career than Stacey did.
They were both dynamic ball runners but because of his size I felt like once Stacey lost his speed the defence could just slide off him, while Shaun is a lot bigger and stronger and has superior footwork so can still ask some questions of the defence. If u cant do that your outsides are sitting ducks.
Then theres the kicking games- Stacey had a good short game but couldn't kick long for shit (he kinda got away with that because he always played behind strong forward packs) while Shaun has a huge boot and his bombs come down with snow on them.
Also Shaun is a much better defender than Stacey ever was so can contribute there too.
just hoping he can stay injury free 🤞

 

[Citygirl]

Here’s training Photos from this week

A lot of hand on hip action 😂

 

[Defence]

The dragons have come into favoritism on sportsbet now.
Don't mind the underdog tag