Pick Your Team Pick Your Team 2022 Rnd 1 - Warriors vs Dragons

[Defence]

I feel a huge sense of relief. 1 game with kodi at stand off is an order of magnitiude better than two, presuming Kodi gets benched in the 2nd game.

Look at it this way mate- by the end of last year kodi had clearly had a line put through his name as a halves option.
So what’s changed between then and now? Well he’s cleary ticked every box- trained the house down and gelled with Shaun Johnson.
He’s a talented player and this can only be a positive thing for the team.
Hopefully he carves up- he’s still only 27- no reason his best footy couldn’t be ahead of him .

 

[rugged]

So what’s changed between then and now?

His contract is up for renewal?

 

[Gizzyfan]

His ability has never been in question, it is his consistency. If the right players are in the right shapes around him, and he is not the team's director, his role will be simplified to playing what is in front of him.

 

[Wheels]

For the first half dozen or more games last season I thought Kodi was one of our better players well definitely our most attacking player before Reece Walsh turned up. The second half of the season it was like he had given up which was an extremely poor look (maybe personal stuff got on top of him - not sure!). He did not try which for a Warriors supporter is hard to come back from and I doubt some people will jump on board the Kodi band wagon again because of this. However, he has some quality footballing skills, particularly speed off the mark, and the game is now well suited to his style of playing. As mentioned in the previous post with the right players around him and not having to direct the team around I hope he reaches his potential again and pushes the Warriors forward to play finals footy! If he is not putting his body on the line then get rid of him however I think he deserves a second chance!!!

 

[Tonbridge (Swanley)]

Not fussed but if Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is not fullback for round one, sack Brown.

He's played there for the kiwis FFS and it's only for one game.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Montoya
Berry
Vailea
Pompey
Kodi
Shaun Johnson
Addin Fonua-Blake
Egan
Lodge
Curren
Aitken
Jazz
Bunty
Ben Murdoch-Masila
Pene
Katoa

 

[tajhay]

Not fussed but if Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is not fullback for round one, sack Brown.

He's played there for the kiwis FFS and it's only for one game.

He won't be fullback.

So what if he played there for the kiwis? Siliva Havili played hooker for the kiwis, doesn't mean he became the Warriors starting hooker based on that.

Dallin is severely overrated by kiwi fans.

 

[PNG Kiwi]

Very interesting why Dallin Watene-Zelezniak isn't in the picture for first round fullback, as it is now only for 1 game.

I would be inclined to put Aitken in the centre's for the first round to strengthen up the defense, as we have good debth in second row. Some say his body shape would have changed to be more suitable for Second row.

Sounds as if Kodi has the nod in the halves, can only trust the coaching staff on that, and if there is a back story on his poor form last year.

I believe with Shaun Johnson and the the balance of the team we are in better shape than last year.

 

[Five&Last]

Not fussed but if Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is not fullback for round one, sack Brown.

He's played there for the kiwis FFS and it's only for one game.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Montoya
Berry
Vailea
Pompey
Kodi
Shaun Johnson
Addin Fonua-Blake
Egan
Lodge
Curren
Aitken
Jazz
Bunty
Ben Murdoch-Masila
Pene
Katoa

That doesn't mean anything. His games at fullback for the Dogs have far more weighting. Way bigger sample size. He was fking terrible there.

Brown should be sacked if he is named fullback.

 

[Five&Last]

His ability has never been in question, it is his consistency. If the right players are in the right shapes around him, and he is not the team's director, his role will be simplified to playing what is in front of him.

I think his ability in the kicking department has always been in question, which has probably held him back. Ball in hand and on the defensive side, no issues there for me.

I'm struggling to see how Kodi has turned it around in one off-season. There was nothing in the the All Stars game and first trial that made me think he won't become a passenger like he did in majority of last seasons games.

I still prefer Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves once Walsh returns. Kodi is just isnt the answer for me, respectfully.

Having Walsh and now also Shaun Johnson will be able to hide Chanel Harris-Tavita's kicking deficiencies.

Ash Taylor is the wildcard, but i think people are overlooking this guys chronic health/injury issues with his hip etc. I think it might be half a season before we see him back to his best anyway.

 

[Wheels]

I think his ability in the kicking department has always been in question, which has probably held him back. Ball in hand and on the defensive side, no issues there for me.

I'm struggling to see how Kodi has turned it around in one off-season. There was nothing in the the All Stars game and first trial that made me think he won't become a passenger like he did in majority of last seasons games.

I still prefer Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves once Walsh returns. Kodi is just isnt the answer for me, respectfully.

Having Walsh and now also Shaun Johnson will be able to hide Chanel Harris-Tavita's kicking deficiencies.

Ash Taylor is the wildcard, but i think people are overlooking this guys chronic health/injury issues with his hip etc. I think it might be half a season before we see him back to his best anyway.

I thought Kodi was good in the All stars and 1st trial game. He does disappear a bit but I thought he had lifted his game from the poor effort from last season, particularly the back end. I think time will tell who ends up supporting Johnson for the majority of the games. Chanel Harris-Tavita will never showcase the poor effort of Kodi and it will be interesting to see how he Links up with the halves against ST George. I think he could play himself into the starting line up if he goes well and Kodi is poor. In terms of Ash Taylor I thought he looked like he was carrying an injury. There was one tackle when he stayed on the ground for about 5 seconds and didn't look right before quickly getting back to help in defense.

 

[Five&Last]

I thought Kodi was good in the All stars and 1st trial game. He does disappear a bit but I thought he had lifted his game from the poor effort from last season, particularly the back end. I think time will tell who ends up supporting Johnson for the majority of the games. Chanel Harris-Tavita will never showcase the poor effort of Kodi and it will be interesting to see how he Links up with the halves against ST George. I think he could play himself into the starting line up if he goes well and Kodi is poor. In terms of Ash Taylor I thought he looked like he was carrying an injury. There was one tackle when he stayed on the ground for about 5 seconds and didn't look right before quickly getting back to help in defense.

Yeah im excited for the Chanel Harris-Tavita v Kodi battle.

Chanel Harris-Tavita looks injury free for the first time in forever and looked to have a spring in his step in the Storm trial. Kodi has talked about how he feels refreshed. Should be good to watch.

On Ash Taylor, people think we just picked him on train and trial turned minimum wage contract for the fuck of it. There is absolutely no doubt he would've taken higher money offers in Sydney or anywhere else if they were there. The guy is broken. He needs a full season of rehab. If we are able to get a dozen games out of him at his best it would be a miracle imo.

 

[Dannevegas]

Harris-Tavita
Montoya
Berry
Vailea
Watene-zelzniak
Nikorima
Johnson
Fonua-Blake
Egan
Pene
Katoa
Curran
Tevaga

Aitken
Afoa
Murdoch-Masila
Sironen

 

[Defence]

Vailea for Arthur’s seems the obvious change otherwise this is what I’m expecting.

 

[Rick O'Shay]

View attachment 46551

Vailea for Arthur’s seems the obvious change otherwise this is what I’m expecting.

I like this. Arthars has more experience than Vailea and with a new f/b in Chanel Harris-Tavita we'll need some help.

Second row looks suss.

Maybe Otukolu for Bailey as a bolter otherwise good bench

 

[Wrighty]

Look at it this way mate- by the end of last year kodi had clearly had a line put through his name as a halves option.
So what’s changed between then and now?

So what has changed between now and then.
I will tell you. It is not the reasons you listed about him training the house down or actually improving since his useless performances throughout last season.
What has changed is that Shaun Johnson will be playing 7.
And you and Nathan Brown and Stacey Jones and Craig Hodges and every fan on this site, except for me as my opinion hasn't changed, has fooled themselves into believing that being with Shaun will bring back the Kodi from the England tour of 2019 where the two of them carved up together.
That is the logic, Be it conscious logic or unconscious logic.
And all of you, mark my words, will by game 6 or 7 at latest will concede that Kodi hasn't improved. But all of you being eternal optimists will also conclude it was worth a try and nothing ventured nothing gained.
He will cost us the season if he plays and isn't dropped is my view which I have posted a number of times. There is only one place that Kodi belongs and that isn't in the Warriors team it is on a way rocket to the sun (as I have also said before).
Hope that helps clarify your thinking for you !
This post is 80% in jest and meant in good humour.

 

[wizards rage]

So what has changed between now and then.
I will tell you. It is not the reasons you listed about him training the house down or actually improving since his useless performances throughout last season.
What has changed is that Shaun Johnson will be playing 7.
And you and Nathan Brown and Stacey Jones and Craig Hodges and every fan on this site, except for me as my opinion hasn't changed, has fooled themselves into believing that being with Shaun will bring back the Kodi from the England tour of 2019 where the two of them carved up together.
That is the logic, Be it conscious logic or unconscious logic.
And all of you, mark my words, will by game 6 or 7 at latest will concede that Kodi hasn't improved. But all of you being eternal optimists will also conclude it was worth a try and nothing ventured nothing gained.
He will cost us the season if he plays and isn't dropped is my view which I have posted a number of times. There is only one place that Kodi belongs and that isn't in the Warriors team it is on a way rocket to the sun (as I have also said before).
Hope that helps clarify your thinking for you !
This post is 80% in jest and meant in good humour.

We could start making bets on when Kodi will be dropped? 😉

I suspect it was having a baby last August that his form dropped away last year. One way or the other we will find out what Kodi offers by mid season.

 

[Dixpat]

We could start making bets on when Kodi will be dropped? 😉

I suspect it was having a baby last August that his form dropped away last year. One way or the other we will find out what Kodi offers by mid season.

Don’t think we will need to wait till mid-season

If he is not showing anything by R4 he has nothing to show
If he is showing something by R4 then I’m off to the TAB to bet his form falls away through the middle of the season.

 

[Bangbros 2023]

1 C H Tavita
2 D W Zelezniark
3 V Vailea
4 R Berry
5 M Montoya
6 A Taylor
7 S Johnson
8 A F Blake
9 W Egan
10 B Afoa
11 E Aitkin
12 E Katoa
13 J Curren

14 K Nikorima
15 B M Masila
16 A Pene
17 J Tavaga

 

[Canadian_WarriorFan]

1 C H Tavita
2 D W Zelezniark
3 V Vailea
4 R Berry
5 M Montoya
6 A Taylor
7 S Johnson
8 A F Blake
9 W Egan
10 B Afoa
11 E Aitkin
12 E Katoa
13 J Curren

14 K Nikorima
15 B M Masila
16 J Murchie (Front Row)
17 A Pene

Lodge isn't available until Round 2.

 

[Toookey]

There have been two camps since the end of rd 25 last year.

The ‘Kodi is shit and should never play half at the Warriors again’ camp, and the ‘Kodi will go great with as long as he is not the dominant playmaker’ camp.

I’ve always been in the latter, and to be honest I’m fecking psyched to see the outcome of this debate - so long as it’s not a 3 year contract extension for Kodi 😂
One thing I think we ALL agree on, is that this is Kodi’s last year as a Warrior.

So, sit back, grab a big tub of pop corn and a greasy half-live chicken leg, because bragging rights (or should we say bragging wrights, aye Wrighty 😜) are at stake here!