General Squad rebalancing

[Fonzie]

Theres been some interesting comments from Brownie lately culminating in the wild call to put Aitken in the second row and (apparently) keep him there. A few observations on how Brownie has adjusted the squad:

Ken out, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in - less size, more speed
Ben Murdoch-Masila to middle/out - wants faster edge forwards
Lodge in - instructed to ball play to overcome lack of speed/footwork
Jamayne Tounua-Brown down/out - wants props with size and at least one of passing game/footwork/acceleration
Pene in - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
LAM out - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
Aitken to 2RF - wants small agile edge forwards (see also Sironen, Curran; Katoa needs less weight more speed? Murchie?)
Curran extended - see Aitken above
Kodi to 14 - doesn't organise, too limited; going with Chanel Harris-Tavita/Shaun Johnson instead
Montoya - see 'Ken' - fast, good trainer

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

 

[Wrighty]

Kodi to 14 - doesn't organise, too limited; going with Chanel Harris-Tavita/Shaun Johnson instead
Montoya - see 'Ken' - fast, good trainer

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

We spent this year figuring out Kodi is a Naff half after he was a great part of us losing many close games and not slipping into the 8 as we should have done based on the cattle we have in our team,
Please don't respond to my point and tell me it is a gross oversimplification to blame our season on Kodi. Of course you are correct that it is an over simplification. But the only way knowledge advances is through debates and debating requires a hypothosesis even if that hypothesis is only 70% accurate.
Kodi's game mismanagement and our weak halves all season long was why we didn't make the eight in my opinion and I strongly believe POS and Brown agree with me which is why we recruited Shaun Johnson and put Nikorima at 14 on the weekend behind SOS.

Where I am going with my point is this
We spent all year long learning for ourselves that a cut price or budget option like Kodi at half doesn't work. Even though when he first came here we were excited because he had some great games here and there and when he bursts past a defender Kodi Nikorima looks sexy from a rugby league perspective. It is pure exhilleration when Kodi steps on the gas and runs and beats a player.

Despite all those rebalancing moves you have listed there Fonzie we are not going to make the 8 next year either but will in 2023. The reason why we won't make it next year, in my humble opinion, is that this year we learned Kodi doesn't cut it. And next year we will spend maybe 15 to 20 games frequently losing before we realise that Chanel Harris-Tavita is not a half and is best suited to being a centre or some other position or not playing first grade at all.
I wrote him off when he missed that drop kick right in front of the posts to win a game. He is not skilled enough with any of his kicking. His defence is good. His distribution is mediocre and even ok some days. His running game is non existent.

All of those moves Brown is making will not pay off next year in my humble view.

No flames for this view please. I am just a poster on this message board with a view.

 

[jsmooove]

Theres been some interesting comments from Brownie lately culminating in the wild call to put Aitken in the second row and (apparently) keep him there. A few observations on how Brownie has adjusted the squad:

Ken out, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in - less size, more speed
Ben Murdoch-Masila to middle/out - wants faster edge forwards
Lodge in - instructed to ball play to overcome lack of speed/footwork
Jamayne Tounua-Brown down/out - wants props with size and at least one of passing game/footwork/acceleration
Pene in - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
LAM out - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
Aitken to 2RF - wants small agile edge forwards (see also Sironen, Curran; Katoa needs less weight more speed? Murchie?)
Curran extended - see Aitken above
Kodi to 14 - doesn't organise, too limited; going with Chanel Harris-Tavita/Shaun Johnson instead
Montoya - see 'Ken' - fast, good trainer

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

I loved Aitken in the second row purely due to how much more he got involved than when he is out in the centers. hes a good footy player but needs to be involved alot more.

i really like our backline. Walsh just needs to work on his defensive awareness. i dont expect him to make tackles on barging over forwards but ive noticed at times he is out of place for kicks or even reading a play in our red zone. That honestly comes with experience so not overly worried

i am happy enough with the front row stocks to be honest. although i wouldnt have Ben Murdoch-Masila up front. he showed how good he was out wide.

i dont like the backrow to me its either siro or curran not both in the team. the difference between curran having a good game and bad game are way too far apart. i genuinely dont see what they see in siro. its rare i even notice him on the field. I rate Katoa but it shows he needs a half who knows what they are doing to give him good ball to see how good he can be. when johnson comes i expect him to be just like nikora in how they play

kodi to 14 is smart if we dont have any other options at a dummy half on the bench. Jazz is good to go there when injury strikes DURING a game but wouldnt be naming him to play there. I personally believe egan is best use in shorter minutes. Played some really good football when we had lawtown coming into replace him and vice versa.

 

[Cces]

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

What do you think Brown's role of the #13 to be? We've seen Tohu Harris, Sironen, Tevaga & Curran (despite his limitation passing left to right) all play there.

 

[Geoff Public]

We spent this year figuring out Kodi is a Naff half after he was a great part of us losing many close games and not slipping into the 8 as we should have done based on the cattle we have in our team,
Please don't respond to my point and tell me it is a gross oversimplification to blame our season on Kodi. Of course you are correct that it is an over simplification. But the only way knowledge advances is through debates and debating requires a hypothosesis even if that hypothesis is only 70% accurate.
Kodi's game mismanagement and our weak halves all season long was why we didn't make the eight in my opinion and I strongly believe POS and Brown agree with me which is why we recruited Shaun Johnson and put Nikorima at 14 on the weekend behind SOS.

Where I am going with my point is this
We spent all year long learning for ourselves that a cut price or budget option like Kodi at half doesn't work. Even though when he first came here we were excited because he had some great games here and there and when he bursts past a defender Kodi Nikorima looks sexy from a rugby league perspective. It is pure exhilleration when Kodi steps on the gas and runs and beats a player.

Despite all those rebalancing moves you have listed there Fonzie we are not going to make the 8 next year either but will in 2023. The reason why we won't make it next year, in my humble opinion, is that this year we learned Kodi doesn't cut it. And next year we will spend maybe 15 to 20 games frequently losing before we realise that Chanel Harris-Tavita is not a half and is best suited to being a centre or some other position or not playing first grade at all.
I wrote him off when he missed that drop kick right in front of the posts to win a game. He is not skilled enough with any of his kicking. His defence is good. His distribution is mediocre and even ok some days. His running game is non existent.

All of those moves Brown is making will not pay off next year in my humble view.

No flames for this view please. I am just a poster on this message board with a view.

Hi Wrighty. I thought they said Kodi can fight it out with Chanel Harris-Tavita for the other half position when we went after Hughes.
Also Kodi had a 1 year extension in his favour which he has activated.Im not seeing love from the club for some time.
But you're right, halves are still looking weak next year.
I'm a Manu fan but there was a guest who commented on Fonzies podcast page that we need a game management, ball kicking half that will help convert those narrow losses to wins.
I think that signing is our top 8 place next year. For it to be Chanel Harris-Tavita he needs to keep improving.
I can't currently see Kodi as our energy replacement because I thought that's what we signed Jazz for.

 

[Beastmode]

Theres been some interesting comments from Brownie lately culminating in the wild call to put Aitken in the second row and (apparently) keep him there. A few observations on how Brownie has adjusted the squad:

Ken out, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in - less size, more speed
Ben Murdoch-Masila to middle/out - wants faster edge forwards
Lodge in - instructed to ball play to overcome lack of speed/footwork
Jamayne Tounua-Brown down/out - wants props with size and at least one of passing game/footwork/acceleration
Pene in - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
LAM out - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
Aitken to 2RF - wants small agile edge forwards (see also Sironen, Curran; Katoa needs less weight more speed? Murchie?)
Curran extended - see Aitken above
Kodi to 14 - doesn't organise, too limited; going with Chanel Harris-Tavita/Shaun Johnson instead
Montoya - see 'Ken' - fast, good trainer

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

I like what he did to improvise with Aitken in the forwards. But as cover only. He’s not a big enough body to play a full 80min in the forwards, especially close to the line.

In fact, I would say 5m out, if you have forward pack of Kodi, Jazz and Aitken, you go straight up the middle. If you haven’t already scored, then you hit them out wide on which ever side Walsh is covering. This team will leak in points next year and then some…

 

[Teeps4Shore]

Theres been some interesting comments from Brownie lately culminating in the wild call to put Aitken in the second row and (apparently) keep him there. A few observations on how Brownie has adjusted the squad:

Ken out, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in - less size, more speed
Ben Murdoch-Masila to middle/out - wants faster edge forwards
Lodge in - instructed to ball play to overcome lack of speed/footwork
Jamayne Tounua-Brown down/out - wants props with size and at least one of passing game/footwork/acceleration
Pene in - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
LAM out - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
Aitken to 2RF - wants small agile edge forwards (see also Sironen, Curran; Katoa needs less weight more speed? Murchie?)
Curran extended - see Aitken above
Kodi to 14 - doesn't organise, too limited; going with Chanel Harris-Tavita/Shaun Johnson instead
Montoya - see 'Ken' - fast, good trainer

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

Montoya in for Fusitua. Fusitua on the outer and unlikely to feature in 2021. Possible recruit to replace if they part ways in 2022
Afoa extended over LAM for speed.
Le Chad/Shaun Johnson for Chanel Harris-Tavita at 7 - organising half
Chanel Harris-Tavita to 6 to replace KN - running half

 

[Lance155]

Obviously Aitken had a good game, hard to say if he will be good there long term. I like Brownies original plan of him playing centre for another year or 2 first while we lock in our other centre whoever that may be. Then you will have a clear couple of front runners for second row out of Katoa, curran, siro murchie and Ben Murdoch-Masila. Aitken joins them (the under performers are let go) and our up and coming centres (and/or manu) cement as the new centres

 

[Noitall]

The way I’m looking at it, a lot revolves around getting Manu and Nikorimas decision to leave or stay.
Fullback-Walsh, Watene Zelezniak, Manu?
Wingers- Watene Zelezniak, Montoya, Fusitua?, Ratuva?, Kosi?, Vailia?, Manu?, Pompey?
Centre’s-Aitken, Berry, Manu?, Montoya, Fusitua?, Pompey?, Vailia?
Halves- Johnson, Harris Tavita, Walsh, Nikorima, O Sullivan?, Manu?
Hooker- Egan, Nikorima, Otukolo, Jazz
Front Row- Fonua Blake, Lodge, Afoa, Tounua Brown, Evans, Murdoch Masila, Pene, Tohu Harris, Katoa? Murchie?
Back Row/Lock- Curran, Sironen, Katoa, Murchie, Jazz, Tohu Harris, Murdoch Masila, Afoa, Pene, Aitken?
We have many players that can fill more than 1 position.

 

[The Falcon]

Our back row has lacked a bit of speed if anything and long term a 5kg heavier Aiken could be good especially as he is a renowned defender. We have had problems shutting down opposition teams on the edges this season, case in point vs South’s and this will need to be worked on for next season.

 

[AlexM]

Brownie said on triple M he did the same thing with Beau Scott that he's doing with Aitken.
Seemed to work pretty well then too.

 

[Cces]

Brownie said on triple M he did the same thing with Beau Scott that he's doing with Aitken.
Seemed to work pretty well then too.

Beau Scott had begun to convert to the Backrow in his last year at the Sharks so Brownie sounds like he's blowing smoke up his own arsehole

 

[wizards rage]

Theres been some interesting comments from Brownie lately culminating in the wild call to put Aitken in the second row and (apparently) keep him there. A few observations on how Brownie has adjusted the squad:

Ken out, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in - less size, more speed
Ben Murdoch-Masila to middle/out - wants faster edge forwards
Lodge in - instructed to ball play to overcome lack of speed/footwork
Jamayne Tounua-Brown down/out - wants props with size and at least one of passing game/footwork/acceleration
Pene in - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
LAM out - see Jamayne Tounua-Brown above
Aitken to 2RF - wants small agile edge forwards (see also Sironen, Curran; Katoa needs less weight more speed? Murchie?)
Curran extended - see Aitken above
Kodi to 14 - doesn't organise, too limited; going with Chanel Harris-Tavita/Shaun Johnson instead
Montoya - see 'Ken' - fast, good trainer

Interested in other thoughts/challenges?

POS commented that with the rule changes, players values shifted overnight and the game has moved away from some players. The key to the whole sport now is speed and acceleration. More muscle tone and less weigh. Power players are losing their value. Ben Murdoch-Masila, Katoa, Murchie, etc.

Yet the trend for hooker seem to be the stocky/ nuggety players with a burst of speed. I’m a fan of Egan but feel he actually needs a little more weight (while keeping his pace).

Katoa has also lost effectiveness being leaner. Seems to struggle with fatigue counterintuitively and struggles to break tackles. Harris is the same. Lighter and leaner but lost impact. Need to get the conditioning right and get them leaner without losing their power. Something is wrong in the conditioning.

I agree with the different 2nd rowers but they need to be faster, not necessarily smaller. Smaller players that are slow are not an upgrade.

I think they should look at the conditioning (as it hasn’t hit the mark this year) and a speed coach for the next preseason.

 

[Ferdie]

A couple of our best/potentially best young players coming through are centres, so by moving Aitken it possibly opens up this pathway for them.

 

[Noitall]

POS commented that with the rule changes, players values shifted overnight and the game has moved away from some players. The key to the whole sport now is speed and acceleration. More muscle tone and less weigh. Power players are losing their value. Ben Murdoch-Masila, Katoa, Murchie, etc.

Yet the trend for hooker seem to be the stocky/ nuggety players with a burst of speed. I’m a fan of Egan but feel he actually needs a little more weight (while keeping his pace).

Katoa has also lost effectiveness being leaner. Seems to struggle with fatigue counterintuitively and struggles to break tackles. Harris is the same. Lighter and leaner but lost impact. Need to get the conditioning right and get them leaner without losing their power. Something is wrong in the conditioning.

I agree with the different 2nd rowers but they need to be faster, not necessarily smaller. Smaller players that are slow are not an upgrade.

I think they should look at the conditioning (as it hasn’t hit the mark this year) and a speed coach for the next preseason.

Don’t think the Warriors fitness has looked the same since 2018 under Corvo. Strength seems ok, the players generally carry players forward instead of carried backwards like in the last couple of seasons.

 

[Fonzie]

We spent this year figuring out Kodi is a Naff half after he was a great part of us losing many close games and not slipping into the 8 as we should have done based on the cattle we have in our team,
Please don't respond to my point and tell me it is a gross oversimplification to blame our season on Kodi. Of course you are correct that it is an over simplification. But the only way knowledge advances is through debates and debating requires a hypothosesis even if that hypothesis is only 70% accurate.
Kodi's game mismanagement and our weak halves all season long was why we didn't make the eight in my opinion and I strongly believe POS and Brown agree with me which is why we recruited Shaun Johnson and put Nikorima at 14 on the weekend behind SOS.

Where I am going with my point is this
We spent all year long learning for ourselves that a cut price or budget option like Kodi at half doesn't work. Even though when he first came here we were excited because he had some great games here and there and when he bursts past a defender Kodi Nikorima looks sexy from a rugby league perspective. It is pure exhilleration when Kodi steps on the gas and runs and beats a player.

Despite all those rebalancing moves you have listed there Fonzie we are not going to make the 8 next year either but will in 2023. The reason why we won't make it next year, in my humble opinion, is that this year we learned Kodi doesn't cut it. And next year we will spend maybe 15 to 20 games frequently losing before we realise that Chanel Harris-Tavita is not a half and is best suited to being a centre or some other position or not playing first grade at all.
I wrote him off when he missed that drop kick right in front of the posts to win a game. He is not skilled enough with any of his kicking. His defence is good. His distribution is mediocre and even ok some days. His running game is non existent.

All of those moves Brown is making will not pay off next year in my humble view.

No flames for this view please. I am just a poster on this message board with a view.

Hi Wrighty

You won’t get flames from me, in fact I’d like to hear more from you on my threads because you are the kind of analytical uncorrelated thinker that moves my thinking forward

Next year Shaun Johnson will be kicking drop goals, managing games, kicking long, and (subject to injury) Chanel Harris-Tavita will be learning from him with Walsh adding a third ball playing and kicking option. So my take is we don’t need Chanel Harris-Tavita to be the complete package next year to make the 8. I would also disagree about his pass, I think he has a great flat pass to his edge.

Why do you think we will make the 8 in 2023?

 

[Mr Dragon]

Aitken is a great all rounder, i think he could play hooker with that pace and good defence

 

[Nangsy]

A couple of our best/potentially best young players coming through are centres, so by moving Aitken it possibly opens up this pathway for them.

U know who they are, besides Vailea?

 

[AlexM]

U know who they are, besides Vailea?

Berry

 

[Wrighty]

Hi Wrighty

You won’t get flames from me, in fact I’d like to hear more from you on my threads because you are the kind of analytical uncorrelated thinker that moves my thinking forward

Next year Shaun Johnson will be kicking drop goals, managing games, kicking long, and (subject to injury) Chanel Harris-Tavita will be learning from him with Walsh adding a third ball playing and kicking option. So my take is we don’t need Chanel Harris-Tavita to be the complete package next year to make the 8. I would also disagree about his pass, I think he has a great flat pass to his edge.

Why do you think we will make the 8 in 2023?

Hi Fonzie,

Thanks for the compliment - have noticed you like a few of my posts over the past 6 months so appreciate the feedback!

I did wonder if I had overplayed my point in my post about Chanel Harris-Tavita as Shaun Johnson is good enough provide enough direction on behalf of both halves and carry Chanel Harris-Tavita to a degree.

I guess we will find out next year.
Certainly if Shaun Johnson gets injured or if Chanel Harris-Tavita tries to "express himself" to use a Brendon McCullum saying rather than playing a supporting role then things will get pear shaped.

I picked 2023 I assumed by then we would have replaced Chanel Harris-Tavita with a better accomplice for Shaun Johnson.

The other thought I had was Manu. I think a halves pairing of Shaun Johnson and Manu would be better than Shaun Johnson and Chanel Harris-Tavita. And I viewed that Chanel Harris-Tavita would hold back that pairing from happening for about 10 games or so until Brown could palpably see Shaun Johnson needed a halves option that drew defenders away from keying on him and rushing him.

Regarding CHTs pass. It has come along way, I think I used the word mediocre for his distribution. By NRL halves standards he is a mediocre passer. Neither good nor bad. He has come a long way since last year. I really like how he takes the line on and then turns and pivots and passes out the back to his edge. It is good you are correct. I docked him a few points as he doesn't yet have sleight of hand that a Cleary, DCE or even Nikorima has, his pop passes are a bit laboured, and doesn't always make the correct call of when to run vs pass (although this aspect has improved remarkably). His play making and setting up of players needs to improve.
This year he has 7 appearances and 1 try assist and 1 line break assist.
Actually the big stat there is the 7 appearances out of 19 games. Poor guy isn't getting much time to develop by being injured. So I can see why many of the fans here want to give him more of a chance taking his down time into account.

Sorry for long answer !