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

[Wrighty]

Aiken in the 2nd row. He's still a centre in my book

Niukore is coming next year too. Which will create a log jam at second row if Aitken is still in the 2nd row then. The decision to play Aitken in the second row is not future minded.
Finally we are short on centres this year and could really use him there.
While at second row we have

Second row stocks in 2021
1 Curran
2 Sironen
3 Ben Murdoch-Masila
4 Katoa
5 Murchie
6 Aitken
7 Harris (injured)

 

[Wrighty]

Injury report from nrl.com

Warriors​

• Ben Murdoch-Masila (foot, round 1)
• Matt Lodge (suspension, round 2)
• Reece Walsh (suspension, round 2)
• Tohu Harris Harris (knee, mid-season)

 

[6Again]

Predicted lineup for Round 1 according to Nrl.com​

Warriors​

Shaun Johnson's return back to the Warriors will see him start in the halves alongside Kodi Nikorima, who appears set to win the number six jersey after strong performances in the Harvey Norman All Stars and trials. Reece Walsh's one-game suspension will likely see Chanel Harris-Tavita start at fullback for Round 1, while Bunty Afoa could start for Matt Lodge.

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Bunty Afoa
9. Wayde Egan
10. Addin Fonua-Blake
11. Euan Aitken
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Josh Curran
Interchange:
14. Jazz Tevaga
15. Bayley Sironen
16. Ben Murdoch-Masila
17. Aaron Pene

2022 Rookie to watch.
Taniela Otukolo

Most years they’re well off the mark when it comes to the Warriors predicted round 1 side but it’s hard to argue too much with this line-up.

There’s likely two areas we could see change when Brownie names the side on Tuesday, one is on the bench with Otukolo maybe coming in for Siro and there‘s no certainty in my mind that Pompey is a lock in at Center.

Should remind myself that Brownie tinkered with the side a lot last season and I could certainly see him using several rounds doing that again, being forced to abandon our second trial game surely wouldn’t have helped matters.

I know they came up the coast for an opposed hit-out last Thursday but we had over 100mm of rain that day so I‘m not sure if that went ahead.

My hope is we’re not too under done going into this game against the Dragons who looked pretty good against the Bunnies in their last trial.

​

 

[Five&Last]

Predicted lineup for Round 1 according to Nrl.com​

Warriors​

Shaun Johnson's return back to the Warriors will see him start in the halves alongside Kodi Nikorima, who appears set to win the number six jersey after strong performances in the Harvey Norman All Stars and trials. Reece Walsh's one-game suspension will likely see Chanel Harris-Tavita start at fullback for Round 1, while Bunty Afoa could start for Matt Lodge.

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Rocco Berry
4. Adam Pompey
5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Bunty Afoa
9. Wayde Egan
10. Addin Fonua-Blake
11. Euan Aitken
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Josh Curran
Interchange:
14. Jazz Tevaga
15. Bayley Sironen
16. Ben Murdoch-Masila
17. Aaron Pene

2022 Rookie to watch.
Taniela Otukolo

Most years they’re well off the mark when it comes to the Warriors predicted round 1 side but it’s hard to argue too much with this line-up.

There’s likely two areas we could see change when Brownie names the side on Tuesday, one is on the bench with Otukolo maybe coming in for Siro and there‘s no certainty in my mind that Pompey is a lock in at Center.

Should remind myself that Brownie tinkered with the side a lot last season and I could certainly see him using several rounds doing that again, being forced to abandon our second trial game surely wouldn’t have helped matters.

I know they came up the coast for an opposed hit-out last Thursday but we had over 100mm of rain that day so I‘m not sure if that went ahead.

My hope is we’re not too under done going into this game against the Dragons who looked pretty good against the Bunnies in their last trial.

​

Vailea's ability with ball in hand will get him picked over Pompey.

But if no Vailea for whatever reason, I agree with Pompey over Arthars.

 

[Wrighty]

Vailea's ability with ball in hand will get him picked over Pompey.

But if no Vailea for whatever reason, I agree with Pompey over Arthars.

I hope that Vailea turns out every bit as good as you predicting and that we have a potential star at centre. Will be interesting to watch him go this year.

In other news 7 sleeps to the game (Hope I got the maths right this time )

 

[Defence]

Is the Walsh-Chanel Harris-Tavita combo a real thing that could swing it?

They do link well together, in a way that Chanel Harris-Tavita and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck never did. Even Johnson throughout his long tenure was never really setting his fullbacks away (might say more about his fullbacks) he was more setting up his edge.

Chanel Harris-Tavita without Walsh has been a bit tits on a bull.

Last year in the games they played together we went 3W-5L and together they scored 8 tries in those games, with one of them on their own (after Walsh joined) it was 2W-7L and 3 tries between them.

Shaun Johnson pomkins was deadly but unfortunately one or the other was injured the majority of the time.

 

[Defence]

Everyone besides Wrighty has got Aiken in the 2nd row. He's still a centre in my book.

My winning team

Sloan
Ravalawa
Suli
Lomax
Ramsey
Amone
Hunt
Kerr
Mbye
Lawrie
Sua
Sims
DeBelin

Bird
Fuimaono
Molo
Burgess

That’s outrageous! interesting looking at that line up tho- it’s not bad- strong bench.

 

[Defence]

Vailea's ability with ball in hand will get him picked over Pompey.

But if no Vailea for whatever reason, I agree with Pompey over Arthars.

Feels like he’s a secret weapon- everyone sleeping on him- reminds me of Clinton toopi in that regard- everyone in Australia was going who the fark is this guy!
Fingers crossed.

 

[Five&Last]

Feels like he’s a secret weapon- everyone sleeping on him- reminds me of Clinton toopi in that regard- everyone in Australia was going who the fark is this guy!
Fingers crossed.

100% being slept on, a lot of people don’t realise how good this guy is already.

Definitely going to turn heads this season.

 

[Fonzie]

100% being slept on, a lot of people don’t realise how good this guy is already.

Definitely going to turn heads this season.

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

 

[Dannevegas]

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

As far as the backs go, if they bring speed and energy I’m happy. That’s exactly what Berry and Vailea have and why they’re my first choice Centres. Vailea’s shown his attacking game but one plus sign was…in a podcast Shaun Johnson was asked who he was most excited about this coming season and he said Vailea, made a special mention about his aggression in defence.

 

[Swanny]

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

I think the less structured “Melbourne Storm” type rugby league being played means that debutants can fit in much easier. It is moving back towards being a skill based game

 

[Gizzyfan]

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

With the covid situation what is the alternative. Players like Kosi cop criticism for mistakes but allowances must be made for the lack of play these guys get.

One thing positive for me out of the trial played was how everybody seemed to care. New and experienced players.

They have to start somewhere.

 

[matiunz]

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

I sometimes worry about that also, many of our guys are very confidence based performers and it’s natural to make a few mistakes when your learning but it’s the effect on our younger guys confidence that can be a concern.
One thing that gives me a bit of quiet hope this year is comments about Brown stripping back early preseason to fundamental basics and building off that as preseason progresses- last time I remember hearing that was when Daniel Anderson came in

 

[wizards rage]

4 more days to the first NRL game in 2022!

6 more days until the Warriors play.

Feels like we were robbed of the preseason games after the floods so I’m amped up now for the season to start!

 

[brightman]

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

Perhaps that's a good reason to sign a guy like Dylan Walker, a matured player with knowledge of experience and performance to help the team and the young individuals within..

It's really a boon for the Warriors.

 

[Five&Last]

What do you think about the number of players in our squad ‘learning in first grade’? Conventional wisdom says that’s a bad sign

You need those guys on low money contracts to balance out the cap with guys like Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Tohu Harris etc

I think these young guys are getting picked on their own merits now anyway.

In regards to Berry and Vailea, yes they are young but, in my opinion, they are our two best centres right now. What does experience matter when the inexperienced player is better? If you're good enough, you're old enough.

Katoa is definitely still learning but looks worth the investment - extremely high ceiling and I don't think you could argue against him being our best second rower outside of Aitken and Curren right now.

Chanel Harris-Tavita will have to beat out Kodi to take his spot, whereas in the past they were both picked by default because there was nobody else (SOS is not a NRL calibre half).

 

[janfin]

Just checking …does anyone know if the tipping comp will be up and running again this season

 

[sydneywarrior92]

The reason why we missed the 8 last year was because of our decision making under pressure: losing all those games by 6 or less were because our halves couldn't close out a game. For that Kodi deserves much. of the blame: he has consistently shown throughout his time here that he cannot lead this team when it matters during crunch time. I hope this is something Brown remembers when he decides the halves: these rumours that Kodi has the lead is truly worrying given last year.

 

[playdaball]

2,3,4,5 are our weak spots and our depth is probably worse.

Looking at our players how many would get picked up by the top 4-6 teams?

Maybe Berry on potential ? Montoya as a cheap buy? I would have looked at Murchie for centre but this process would have kicked off in Nov 21.

I’m worried about our backs.