General NYC article

[Spence_old]

Education and playing in the Toyota Cup are the major reasons why four of New Zealand's most promising rugby union schoolboys have recently signed with the Warriors.

St Kentigern College 1st XV captain Albert Vete, Auckland Grammar centre Braxton Stanley, King's College winger Ngataua Hukatai and Palmerston North Boys' High School centre Ngani Laumape have joined the Warriors after starring in school union.

Their signatures are a coup for the Warriors - though each player says his decision was more a reflection of what the Warriors are doing right rather than what union is doing wrong.

Braxton Stanley, son of Martin and nephew of All Black Joe (who played league during his childhood) and cousin of All Black Jeremy, had to think hard about whether to turn his back on union.

"My reasons for signing were, firstly, that the Warriors have created a very professional environment. I will benefit from that. Secondly, I have always watched the Toyota Cup and I really want to give that a go. Playing a new sport also appeals to me." Stanley says he will study sport and recreation at AUT, aiming to grow intellectually as well as physically.

Like Stanley, Albert Vete has no league experience: "But they [the Warriors] are a very professional outfit. With their emphasis on education, they can help make me a better person."

Vete will study towards a Bachelor of Physical Education at university.

Ngani Laumape says his decision was based more on the game itself: "Watching the Toyota Cup and knowing that if I work hard, I might be able to make that squad was very important. I also think that league suits my game better than union does."

Ngataua Hukatai's motivation was two-fold: having played league between the ages of six and 12, he understood it.

"I was approached a year ago by clubs but my parents thought I should focus on my education. And I like that the Warriors make sure their players study for a degree or a trade."

A young player contracted to the Warriors receives around $6000 (depending on age and other factors) a year. He will also receive financial assistance with study fees. He will train up to six days a week.

The Warriors learnt about each of these new recruits through schoolboy rugby. Recruitment manager Dean Bell says the club would be foolish to ignore schoolboy union talent.

"This is not to say we are ignoring the local league players. That is where we still get roughly 90 per cent of our players."

There is no universal way the Warriors discover a union player: they were tipped off by a St Kent's room-mate about Vete; Stanley stood out when recruitment officers were looking at another player; they saw Laumape play for a Heartland XV; Hukatai was spotted at King's.

Where possible, the Warriors will approach the young player's parents, although many will already have agents.

The Warriors' recent success in all competitions has not hurt in signing their union recruits but Bell believes the key to recruitment is getting the right systems in place.

"We know the players who come to us aren't coming for the money. They come for the right reasons. The Toyota Cup has definitely helped but we put huge emphasis on education and making sure these players are well supported off the field."

Bell says the Warriors are interested in creating good people.

"Professional sport being what it is, some of the young players who sign will make it and others won't. We want them to benefit from the experience of being with us, regardless of what happens down the track."

By Todd Nicholls

Link.

Good to see that the Warriors (and league) is getting a good reputation!

 

[ToiletDuck_old]

Screw the reputation, keep poaching those union schoolboys! Though NU will disagree, those Auckland Union boys have much more time, money and effort put into them during their development. Their foundation is laid early and as such, we see guys like Hurrell, Slimey walk into the 20's with virtually no league background and excel.

Oh and the reputation thing is alright too I guess..

 

[Northern_Union]

Screw the reputation, keep poaching those union schoolboys! Though NU will disagree, those Auckland Union boys have much more time, money and effort put into them during their development. Their foundation is laid early and as such, we see guys like Hurrell, Slimey walk into the 20's with virtually no league background and excel.

Oh and the reputation thing is alright too I guess..

No i don't disagree. It's signing guys in there late 20's that i call a waste of time and effort. Get the young blokes into the game and let them learn the game for a season or two and they are set.
The other thing about the 20's is that it's pretty lose as far as defense goes so the transition from union to league is a lot easier than trying to go from S15 to NRL or similar.

 

[ToiletDuck_old]

I meant you'd disagree about Union schoolboys having more resources available/spent on them than the league boys...not that you'd disapprove of signing the Union boys.

 

[Northern_Union]

I don't know enough about the junior setups in union to compare and comment.

 

[slaughterhouse.sa_old]

Screw the reputation, keep poaching those union schoolboys! Though NU will disagree, those Auckland Union boys have much more time, money and effort put into them during their development. Their foundation is laid early and as such, we see guys like Hurrell, Slimey walk into the 20's with virtually no league background and excel.

Oh and the reputation thing is alright too I guess..

Lumape, is a league player as well and played Taranaki league reps.
I think he made the nz 17s merit team last year and was invited for the closed trial for NZ 18s.

I will disagree.
Please no more time and effort in school rugby. than the warriors put into Warriors Development players. Made up players both signed and invted to train with the Warriors twice a week and PLAY LEAGUE.
Plus many of them play in the NZRL National Comp and many of next years 20s play nz 18s against aussie schoolboys.
Hence why 80-90% percent of them come directly from league comps.

The time and effort of rugby schools is put into finding, scouting and getting boys on scholarships isnt it?? lol

But i am not against Warriors picking up a few rugby players each year.
These rugby players arent they are picking up are the best in auckland/ the country.
They are the cream of the crop - so i wouldnt give the warriors scouts too much credit either.

Also there are plenty of league talent within Auckland alone for a real need both within the Under 18 grades but those 17/18 year old playing premier club league.

A season in the Fox Memorial would be much more beneficial for a players development than a season in 1a first xv.

There are so many players who could play at NYC level . . its not funny.
Its possible some player who dont make the 2012 nyc squad could play games for the vulcans.

as for NU comment . .

Talents talent . .. warriors or the likes should be able to pickup any top talent at 6 or 7 form even 18/19 a year out of school and have them ready for 20s after a pre-season.

Finally,
I just hope those league juniors get equal opportunity as those rugby junior stars.
Because more work has been done to poach them - they susp. often get more gametime.

Like seriously how did DJ collier get a whole years worth of games. With out trialling out other wingers or backup centers.

 

[a.c.e_old]

im happy we have a pedigree in Stanley signed to the Warriors! I feel like im in a dream state.

 

[2big2strong_old]

For those of you that don't get to see any 20's action through the year...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAKfGKX___o&context=C325874eADOEgsToPDskK6qLMoDWD_Nnw7o4YBitX8[/youtube]

 

[Viking_old]

For those of you that don't get to see any 20's action through the year...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAKfGKX___o&context=C325874eADOEgsToPDskK6qLMoDWD_Nnw7o4YBitX8[/youtube]

Collier showed a good turn of speed there to straighten it up.

Sam could be anything, he'd be way more effective if they stopped bulking him up. He was an 80 minute player in the U16s at 110kgs. I think they see as a prop long term though which will be a shame as he won't get the chance to offload as much.