General Warriors Academy and Development Discussion Thread

[Ryaan]

SIX AOTEAROA WARRIORS JUNIORS TO LEARN ABOUT​

Aotearoa Warriors are grinding through their summer training and as folks enter the festive period, there are six local juniors to learn about ahead of the 2023 NRL season. This starts with twins Otukinekina (Kina) and Valingi (Lingi) Kepu who are Manurewa/Otahuhu juniors and currently sit in the top-30 squad. Warriors have also listed Ali Leiataua (Papatoetoe), Demitric Sifakula (Otahuhu), Jacob Laban (Randwick) and Zyon Maiu'u (Te Atatu) as players on 'Development Contracts'.

All six have endured immense niggle via the pandemic, specifically the Warriors-Redcliffe era. Both Kepu twins, Leiataua and Maiu'u played in the 2020 SG Ball team, while Laban was too young for that team but featured in Future Warriors footy around the same time. Sifakula made the 2020 NZRL Under 16 Residents team and the first major note about him with Warriors was a yarn late last year about him training with the NRL squad.

The niggle of the Warriors-Redcliffe era can't be understated. No other team had their non-NRL teams swiped away and Warriors went from a NSW Cup team full of Warriors to sprinkling Warriors into a Redcliffe Queensland Cup team. The SG Ball squad vanished and with fewer spots up for grabs, juniors had to leave while others were shipped over to Redcliffe.

Sifakula for example, finished school and moved to Brisbane to join the wider Warriors whanau. The Kepu twins, Leiataua and Maiu'u were cruising with Warriors SG Ball, suddenly their choice to be 'Warriors players' meant moving to Brisbane. Laban shifted from Wellington to Auckland where he joined Maiu'u in the Kelston Boys High School 1st 15, only to then have to move to Brisbane.

While folks were moaning about Warriors juniors, this group of lads endured the Warriors-Redcliffe era and also played key roles in taking the Redcliffe Under 21s team to a final against Townsville. The Kepu twins also made the semi-finals of Hastings Deering Colts in 2021; the Kepu twins featured in consecutive finals campaigns for Redcliffe U21s.

That phase should develop some grit in these Warriors juniors. Folks also moan about how easy things can be for Warriors juniors as they don't have to endure the journey of moving to Australia, living away from home and grinding in the Aussie system. These juniors embraced the Warriors-Redcliffe era and finished that phase as some of the best U21 players in Queensland.

Prior to moving to Brisbane, these lads were all operating as high performance footy youngsters. Leiataua played 1st 15 at King's College, Sifakula played 1st 15 at De La Salle College along with Maiu'u and Laban in the KBHS 1st 15. These four and the Kepu twins have a bunch of NZRL rep honours and featured in various NZRL development camps, providing extra mana to their teenage years.

By nature of their contract situations, the Kepu twins are closest to NRL footy of these six lads. Both are middle forwards and while they dabbled in Q Cup footy for Redcliffe, there were signs of the Warriors-Redcliffe niggle in the Kepu twins not gaining consistent opportunities at Q Cup level. This flips into near-certainty that they will start the season in NSW Cup and their NRL opportunities will like come in 10-20 minute stints off the bench.

Tom Ale (Mt Albert) will add oomph through the middle for Warriors and he sits ahead of the Kepu twins in the depth chart. These lads will need to churn out big minutes in NSW Cup, while building towards their NRL roles where injuries and suspension will ensure opportunities. If the Kepu twins can do their defensive mahi while averaging 10m/run in limited opportunities, this will be an exciting boost for them and the Warriors forward pack.

NRL is kinda silly and there is no salary cap in place for the 2023 season, let alone clarity on the many salary cap details. This means that wahine have no certainty around their NRLW careers and the status of players on 'Development Contracts' remains unclear. The premise of this development bracket in recent years has been six players outside the top-30 who earn a lower wage (reported as $60,000 in previous seasons) and can play NRL after a designated date such as June 30 or round 11.

None of that is sorted for next season and it's easy to see how bonkers this is.

Based on previous years, the four players with development deals for Warriors are likely to be available later in the season. As members of the top-30, the Kepu twins can play round tahi.

Warriors are currently operating with an Under 19 SG Ball team and NSW Cup, meaning that Leiataua, Sifakula, Maiu'u and Laban are likely to settle into the reserve grade grind.

Sifakula, Maiu'u and Laban all forecast as forwards. Their opportunities will be influenced by what positions Mitch Barnett, Dylan Walker, Marata Niukore and Jackson Ford play as this will filter down to NSW Cup.

Sifakula transitioned from 1st 15 midfield to middle forward with Redcliffe U21s. Sifakula was also listed at fullback in an Auckland Vulcans team that played Future Warriors in 2019 which adds further clutter to Sifakula's best role. The yarn about Sifakula training with Warriors NRL late last year described him as a 'utility/ball-playing lock' and his mahi early next season will be crucial to track as we learn about how coach Andrew Webster views Sifakula's best role.

Maiu'u and Laban have primarily played as edge forwards, until dabbling in middle forward mahi with Warriors-Redcliffe. Maiu'u played edge forward for Warriors SG Ball and Auckland Blue in the 2021 NZRL Under 20s competition, then he came off the bench for most of the Redcliffe U21s season. Maiu'u was a loose-forward at 1st 15 level and his power/mobility combo is different to Sifakula's style.

Laban is more likely to focus on edge forward and there is obvious class in his development journey. Laban started in Wellington and featured in various Future Warriors stuff while in Wellington, then he moved to Auckland and KBHS. Then Laban started getting middle forward minutes with Redcliffe U18s which suggests he was big enough and hearty enough to play through the middle for his age-group. Laban finished up U18s and moved into Redcliffe's U21s team, starting on an edge in the final.

If Laban played Mal Meninga Cup this year (U18), he may still be eligible for SG Ball (U19) next year and yet Laban has an NRL development contract. Laban and Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo (Bay Roskill - named in SG Ball squad) are the only Warriors juniors who played U18s and U21s for Redcliffe this year.

Leiataua has all outside back positions covered, although he forecasts as a centre. Leiataua played fullback for Warriors SG Ball and he then played fullback for Auckland Blue U20s while still at school. Leiataua played midfield for King's College 1st 15 and was a consistent presence at centre for Redcliffe U21s this year.

NRL opportunities require outside backs to plug a hole, which often means fullbacks or centres starting as wingers. Leiataua is at the bottom of the depth chart and will have space to develop in NSW Cup. It is worth noting that he played centre in most of his junior rugby league. This is different to Vailea and Berry who didn't have league backgrounds, moving from 1st 15 rugby to a role that requires nuance in defensive reads, spatial awareness and even the simple draw-pass/offload.

Regardless of how much NRL footy these lads play next season, learning about them is crucial to understanding Aotearoa Warriors mahi. Players on development contracts are far cheaper and can offer greater value than top-30 players. Top-30 lads on their first or second full-time contract such as the Kepu twins have a smaller salary cap hit than new signings - or those on their third/fourth contracts who want more money.

Managing the (unknown) salary cap requires players out-playing their salary cap hit and the best way to do this is promoting from within. These six lads aren't regular Warriors juniors, they were forced to move to Australia to keep representing Aotearoa Warriors and performed at high levels against Australian juniors. They provide value to Warriors in building their roster, as well as being the local juniors who will help Warriors re-establish their turangawaewae.

The Six Aotearoa Warriors Juniors To Learn About — The Niche Cache

Aotearoa Warriors are grinding through their summer training and as folks enter the festive period, there are six local juniors to learn about ahead of the 2023 NRL season.

theniche-cache.com

 

[mt.wellington]

Penrith Panthers continue to elevate their Kiwi-NRL mana with Francis Manuleleua (Papatoetoe) named in their Jersey Flegg squad, along with a bunch of Kiwi-NRL juniors.

Part of that Papatoetoe super team I spoke about before. They have mostly been together right through the grades and have pretty much won it all during that time year on year. A lot of that are signed with NRL teams. Reminds me of the Ellerslie super team that Star, Christain, Temple, Jyris etc were playing for a few years back. 14 of them had NRL contracts by the time they were 17yo.

Fangupo played league in Auckland and then shifted south to study, where he embedded himself in the local league scene. Fangupo played for South Island in the NZRL Under 20s competition earlier this year and he started most games at centre, including the final against Akarana. This is another example of the many Kiwi-NRL routes on offer to young folks in Aotearoa and for Panthers, this is an example of their hearty Kiwi-NRL recruitment process.

Taani comes from great athletic bloodstock with the Fangupo family well known in Tonga as accomplished boxers. Never seen him play centre but he goes well at 2nd row. He'll fit in well at Penrith...

 

[AlexM]

Warriors outline new-look pathways system​

Corey Rosser
Sun 25 Dec 2022, 09:23 AM

The Warriors are back in New Zealand and soon enough, when the reality of another grueling NRL season sets in, memories of the chaos the pandemic caused the club will begin to fade.

While life will pretty much go back to normal for the club’s Telstra Premiership side in 2023, the damage will take a little longer to recover from in their junior ranks, with the pathways system effectively needing a reboot.

Since early 2020, travel restrictions meant the Warriors couldn’t field their own SG Ball Cup (NSW U-19) or reserve grade side, and with the exception of a handful who headed to
Australia to play for Redcliffe in the Queensland reserve grade or U-21 competitions, most players outside of the top 30 squad haven’t played competitive matches in Australia since then.

That has seen some talent leave in search of more opportunities, while development was stunted for many who remained in New Zealand.

Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick in action for Redcliffe during the 2022 Queensland Cup season. ©NRL Photos

Now Andrew McFadden, in a new job in his second stint at the Warriors, is tasked with trying to get the club’s junior pathways back on the right track.

​

A familiar face to navigate a changing landscape​

In the role of’ general manager of recruitment, development and pathways at the Warriors, McFadden brings the unique experience of having been the club’s NRL head coach between 2014-2016.

Before that he was an NRL assistant when the Warriors were dominating the U-20 National Youth Competition.

Holden Cup GF: Broncos v Warriors (Hls)

Across the first seven seasons of that competition, the club made four Grand Finals, winning three of them, with what seemed at the time to be an endless conveyor belt of outstanding athletes coming through.

Shaun Johnson, Ben Matulino and Jazz Tevaga are among the talent who stayed to become NRL regulars, while others such as Peta Hiku and Sio Siua Taukeiaho kicked on after moving across the Tasman.

But McFadden says things have changed now due to the Warriors' backyard being littered with scouts from rival NRL clubs.

“When I first got here the under 20s was booming and largely there wasn’t a huge presence from other NRL clubs," McFadden says.

“We had so much talent back then, it may have bred some complacency because there seemed to just be talent coming from everywhere. Now I think it’s a bit more challenging because obviously everyone knows about it.

A focus on strategic relationships​

Earlier this month, the Warriors announced a partnership with the Pasifika Aotearoa Collective in New Zealand - the umbrella organisation for the New Zealand arms of the rugby league bodies for Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and the New Zealand Māori.

Between them they run some of the biggest junior rugby league competitions in the country, which the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Jordan Riki and Matthew Timoko all passed through.

The partnership won't give the Warriors exclusive rights to players from those competitions, but it does offer a valuable opportunity to showcase their club and what it can offer, with all parties committed to trying to keep players at home in New Zealand.

“Every other club wants to take the kids out of New Zealand. We are the only club with the same mandate, the same aspirations (as PAC), and that is to keep anyone and everyone who wants to be involved in rugby league in New Zealand," Warriors CEO Cameron George says.

“What we want to do through this partnership is grow the game of rugby league and grow good people within the sport. In doing so the connection with our footy club becomes generational, and we want to be their first choice of footy club.

“With that, naturally we will get some fantastic kids coming through.”

The Warriors have also been working closely with the New Zealand Rugby League and Auckland Rugby League on pathways in recent years, which has included launching new pre-season representative U-16 and U-18 competitions in Auckland.

​

The new pathways vision​

The Warriors will return to the SG Ball Cup in 2023, as well as fielding their own reserve grade side in the NSW Cup for the first time since 2020.

New NRL head coach Andrew Webster knows well the benefits of a thriving pathways system, having last worked at the Panthers.

In recent years Penrith have set the standard in that area, culminating in them winning the NRL, SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, and NSW Cup titles last year, and Webster says having full control of an age grade and reserve grade team again at the Warriors is significant.

"It’s huge. To get that continuity where your players go back to (a junior team or) NSW Cup and it’s your own," he says.

"They are the same play calls, the same defensive structures, the same attacking structures."
In December, the club also entered two teams in the rugby union World Sevens tournament held in Auckland, with a boys' side made up of players too young or not selected in the SG Ball squad, and a girls' side formed with an eye on developing talent for a return to the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership in 2025.

While playing a rival sport under the Warriors brand will raise more than a few eyebrows, McFadden said it was a way to get players some valuable game time in an environment with pressure.

Looking further ahead, McFadden confirmed the club's intention to have a side in the Jersey Flegg Cup (NSW U-21) in 2024, while at under 16 level the Warriors have a system running as well, which will include taking teams on tours across the Tasman to play Australian opposition.

While it will take some time, the vision is there for a holistic pathways system. One the Warriors hope will ultimately mean they keep more future Kiwi NRL superstars at home.

Warriors outline new-look pathways system

After having their junior pathways halted by the pandemic, the Warriors are looking to rebuild their systems with a range of new development strands.

www.nrl.com

 

[Up the guttz]

Warriors outline new-look pathways system

After having their junior pathways halted by the pandemic, the Warriors are looking to rebuild their systems with a range of new development strands.

www.nrl.com

It all sounds really positive. pleeeeeeeease get it right this time cappy and webby!!!!

 

[mt.wellington]

It all sounds really positive. pleeeeeeeease get it right this time cappy and webby!!!!

*pleeeeeeeease continue to fund this Mark Robinson...

 

[mt.wellington]

Anyone name the following players. Love to get player profiles started on them...

 

[snake77]

I'll add please see it through long term.

We have had a lot of talk on what needs to be done, then a change of management or a change of course due to the expense involved.

Having age group sides and development systems is the way to go. It needs to be implemented and continued even if NRL results go up or down or for a few years the players coming through might not be as good as a previous generation. Things will peak and dip but we are more likely to have consistency and success if we develop players so we can then rely on recruitment for weaknesses in the squad. Players coming through age group sides will also get used to the travel.

 

[mt.wellington]

I'll add please see it through long term.

This ☝️

Gus 5 year plan at the Panthers turned into about a 10 year plan but back to back Premierships in 3 Grand Finals is legendary and exactly what we should be aiming to replicate...

 

[warriorsfan92]

This ☝️

Gus 5 year plan at the Panthers turned into about a 10 year plan but back to back Premierships in 3 Grand Finals is legendary and exactly what we should be aiming to replicate...

Exactly. Me personally i don’t care about how long it takes, we’ve been waiting 25 years. What I care about is creating pathways that’ll create sustainable and continual success for our club/country. What I care about is genuine progress. Structures. Pathways. Seeing young kiwis succeed & have a desire to play for the nz warriors. Kids around nz provided the opportunity and not have to leave home to live in aus at age 15. Progress is all I care about. It feels that since 2011, we’ve literally gone backwards. It sounds obvious but id rather slow, positive progress, irrespective of a timeline, than the backwards approach we’ve had the last 10 years. Create the pathways, create a legacy, and ignite a fire within nz juniors to stick around. Imo 9/10, the young talent would rather move to Auckland for logistical reasons than uproot their lives to another country, they just need to see a definitive pathway & passion to play for nz warriors.

 

[AlexM]

Just being Based in NZ alone is a huge bonus if the Pathway is there to first grade, people dont necessarily want to move away from home but have to if the pathways better.
How long did it take Cleary to get some Success? ( here)

 

[Tony Martin]

Anyone name the following players. Love to get player profiles started on them...

View attachment 49976 View attachment 49977 View attachment 49978 View attachment 49979 View attachment 49980 View attachment 49981 View attachment 49982 View attachment 49983 View attachment 49984 View attachment 49985 View attachment 49986

Pic 1 - Leka Halasima
Pic 2 - Ali Leietaua
Pic 3 - Ali Leietaua
Pic 4 - Tanner Stowers Smith
Pic 5 - Eddie Ieremia
Pic 6 - Augustino Filipo
Pic 7 - Haami Loza
Pic 8 - Jackson Stewart
Pic 9 - Te Waaka Popata-Henare
Pic 10 - Zyon Maiuu
Pic 11 - Sio Kali

 

[mt.wellington]

Pic 1 - Leka Halasima
Pic 2 - Ali Leietaua
Pic 3 - Ali Leietaua
Pic 4 - Tanner Stowers Smith
Pic 5 - Eddie Ieremia
Pic 6 - Augustino Filipo
Pic 7 - Haami Loza
Pic 8 - Jackson Stewart
Pic 9 - Te Waaka Popata-Henare
Pic 10 - Zyon Maiuu
Pic 11 - Sio Kali

Cheers mate. Already started making threads for them off this info. Really excited to see how far they go in the future...

 

[mt.wellington]

The Warriors’ new plan to keep young stars at home​

5 Jan, 2023 04:00 PM

Warriors development boss Andrew McFadden used to coach the team. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The Warriors have outlined their plans to keep more young stars at home, as the NRL club begins their fightback after the Covid-related problems.

The club’s lengthy player development struggles weren’t helped by the pandemic travel restrictions which meant they couldn’t field reserve grade or under-19 sides in the Australian competitions.

Some players turned out for the Redcliffe club in Queensland but most outside the first grade squad have been denied competitive games in Australia for three years.

The Warriors have a proud history at NRL junior level, dominating the youth competition from 2010 to 2014 and producing tremendous players like Shaun Johnson in the process.

And they are looking to that history as the reboot begins.

Former first-grade coach Andrew McFadden, who has returned as the development boss, said the task had become more difficult.

“When I first got here the under-20s were booming and largely there wasn’t a huge presence from other NRL clubs,” he told NRL.com.

“We had so much talent back then that it may have bred some complacency because there seemed to just be talent coming from everywhere.

“Now I think it’s a bit more challenging because obviously everyone knows about it.

“A lot of NRL clubs have a strong presence over here. We can’t do a lot about that other than get our own backyard right and make sure there is an opportunity here for kids in New Zealand to develop just like at any other NRL club. They can do it at home.”

Shaun Johnson is one of many players to emerge from the Warriors' junior system. Photo / Photosport

The Warriors return to the SG Ball Cup (NSW under-19) this season and the reserve graders will return to the NSW Cup for the first time since 2020.

New head coach Andrew Webster is perfectly placed to know how great development can work, coming from the brilliant Penrith Panthers system.

Webster said: “It’s huge. To get that continuity where your players go back to [a junior team] or NSW Cup and it’s your own.

“They are the same play calls, the same defensive structures, the same attacking structures.”

The Warriors even put sides into rugby union’s world schools sevens tournament late last year as it looked at innovative ways to rebuild.

The post-Covid era includes a partnership with the Pasifika Aotearoa initiative overseeing the game in this region.

“Every other club wants to take the kids out of New Zealand,” chief executive Cameron George said.

“We want to grow the game and grow good people within the sport. In doing so the connection with our footy club becomes generational, and we want to be their first choice.

“With that, naturally we will get some fantastic kids coming through.”

The Warriors' new plan to keep young stars at home

The club’s lengthy player development struggles weren’t helped by Covid-19.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Bittersweet departure for Tauranga teen chasing NRL dream​

Bay of Plenty Times
By Sam Ackerman
16 Jan, 2023 09:21 AM

Marley Igasan was named U15 MVP of last year's NZ Maori Rugby League tournament in Rotorua. Photo / Supplied

One of the most promising young sporting talents in the Bay of Plenty is about to leave the country.

This isn’t a story about a disgruntled athlete throwing his toys and taking his talents elsewhere – rather a grateful one who plans to represent the region as he chases his dreams.

Fifteen-year-old Marley Igasan is taking up a contract with NRL heavy hitters the Brisbane Broncos as part of its contracted elite development squad, his recruitment putting him on a pathway towards rugby league’s big time.

It wasn’t a hard decision from a sporting point of view, but it was from a personal perspective.

“I look at it as a bit of inspiration,” Igasan said. “It’s a big privilege to be able to say that I’m from Tauranga and make all my friends and family proud that I’ve achieved this goal from here.

“In a way, I think I represent all the Kiwi kids that want to go over there and play footy. So it’s a good opportunity for me to take that one on my back. It’s just good to represent where you’re from and I plan to never forget that.”

Marley Igasan at 4 playing for his junior club, the Kalamunda Bulldogs, in Perth. Photo / Supplied

Igasan has crammed much into the last six years since his parents, James and Michelle, decided to bring their son and his sister Piper ‘home’.

Igasan said being in Tauranga allowed him to connect with his culture and fully understand who he is, where he comes from, and what he represents.

“My time here has been unreal.

“I’ve always been proud of being Māori and a Kiwi but to be surrounded by that culture is something that will always stay with me.”

Born in New Zealand but raised in Perth, Igasan has been playing league since he was 4. Since relocating to his adopted province in 2017, he has become embedded in the Coastline Rugby League environment. Igasan has pulled on the jerseys of the Otūmoetai Eels, the Whalers, and the Upper Central Stallions, going on to be crowned the district’s supreme player of the year.

Igasan (Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Tahu) has grabbed every opportunity to represent his heritage. For the past two years, he was named MVP in his age grade at the Rangatahi Māori Rugby League Tournament while starring for the Pikiao Warriors, going on to co-captain the NZ Māori U15 team at the Pasifika Youth Cup last year.

He also co-captained the Aotearoa Whānui U16 side (made up of players South of the Bombays) that competed against the Auckland Invitational squad.

All this in between jetting back and forward across the Tasman to train with and finally represent the Broncos elite development squad.

Marley Igasan with Broncos NRL head coach Kevin Walters/ Photo / Supplied

Some junior athletes stand out with flashy skills or blistering pace. What sets Igasan apart is his versatility and on-field work ethic.

While comfortable running attacking plays from within the halves and at hooker, his unrelenting defensive drive has also seen him spend time at prop – though it would appear the number 13 jersey is the best fit to mix his ball-playing skills with his thirst for physicality.

His oval ball skills aren’t limited to the 13-man code. Igasan, a former BOP Roller Mills Rugby rep, made the Mount Maunganui College 1st XV not long after his 15th birthday, helping them to the Baywide championship in 2022.

The sportsman hardly sat idle during his Tauranga summers.

A qualified lifeguard, you can find Igasan’s name engraved on numerous awards at the Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Club, as well as racking up a string of national titles at the country’s mecca of junior surf lifesaving, the Oceans Festival. The Igasan siblings have also been two of the prominent athletes featured in TVNZ’s Life Savers series.

He also works as a rippa rugby referee and volleyball coach and said his parents raised him right.

“They’ve taught me to use my manners and be confident but not cocky. I owe a lot to them, for helping me be a good sportsman and good person in general.

“They’ve always told me to keep putting in the mahi, to never stop unless you want to quit, which in our family is not really a thing to do.”

It’s also part of what drew the Broncos – as well as interest from other clubs like the powerhouse Sydney Roosters and NRL newcomers the Dolphins – to Igasan in the first place. Broncos academy manager Mick Kennedy explained why Igasan’s signature has been so highly sought after.

Marley Igasan (left) with Broncos development manager Mick Kennedy. Photo / Supplied

“Marley’s not only a talented kid, but he has high attention to detail. He does a lot of clean-up work, particularly defensively, that goes unnoticed a lot of the time but certainly not unnoticed to his teammates.

“The main attribute that attracted me to Marley is his competitiveness, his will to win out on the field. Every time he steps on the field, he’s doing everything he possibly can to win the game for his team. Players with those types of attributes generally do really well.

“He’s a nice, humble young man – as long as he’s prepared to work hard over the next few years, I’m sure he’ll have a really good opportunity.”

That shouldn’t be an issue for Igasan, never one to complain about a heavy workload.

In a week in June, Igasan played four games in two days at the Māori tournament in Rotorua, drove to Auckland to fly to Brisbane for physical conditioning testing before the return trip 24 hours later, then straight back to Tauranga for school the next day. On top of that, he squeezed in three rugby training sessions and, oh, a game of social basketball.

And it would have been more had bad weather not cancelled his club game.

Igasan was buzzing about joining the Broncos development system that has the legacy of turning juniors into superstars.

“You see all the photos on the wall of premierships won with the likes of Darren Lockyer and you look at the honours board with all of the players you looked up to when you were growing up. It’s amazing, it’s a real professional place to be.”

So highly is Igasan regarded that the Broncos were prepared to allow him to stay based in Tauranga, commuting Trans Tasman regularly for testings, training and games while following a personalised training programme.

Marley Igasan competing for Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Club at Oceans. Photo / Supplied

But the opportunity to get more regular quality football and have more tournaments at his disposal was one Igasan knew he needed to take – and the sacrifice of moving with his family one they were willing to make.

“The long-term goal is to make it into the NRL and have a really good career but also to be a good person while doing that, finding a way to support different charities and the community. But on the rugby league front, hopefully I will give it a good crack and be one of the greats to come from New Zealand.”

That sounds like a lofty and bold ambition, but Igasan has already shown he doesn’t sit around waiting for his goals to happen. He’s willing to do what it takes to make them a reality.

Bittersweet departure for Tauranga teen chasing NRL dream - NZ Herald

The 15-year-old is taking up a contract with the Brisbane Broncos.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Another one heading overseas for NRL development with Broncos. Hopefully this happens less when our development/lower grades are back running but can't help feeling like some of the teams overseas are better at finding and recruiting Kiwi talent than the warriors are.

 

[Warriorsitsouryear]

Penrith junior program to inspire Warriors​

By Jasper Bruce
December 2 2022 - 5:08pm

Former Tigers and Panthers assistant Andrew Webster is up for calling the shots at the Warriors. (Paul Miller/AAP PHOTOS)

New Warriors coach Andrew Webster will take cues from former club Penrith as he looks to re-energise his new side's pathways system but is warning it will take some time to parlay development into dynasty.

An assistant to Ivan Cleary in the Panthers' 2021 and 2022 premiership-winning seasons, Webster is the fifth man to coach the Warriors since the onset of the pandemic but the first with the luxury of basing the side out of Auckland.

One of the Warriors' major disadvantages in three years as nomads was being deprived of their local juniors; border restrictions forced the club's NSW Cup and SG Ball sides to withdraw from their respective Australia-based competitions.

The situation meant the Warriors needed to borrow players from other clubs when injuries mounted late in the 2020 season, with George Jennings, Daniel Alvaro and Jack Hetherington among those loaned.

But now that their first-grade team is finally home and their NSW Cup and SG Ball sides reinstated, the Warriors are poised to redouble their efforts to foster local talent under a coach with rare insight into the NRL's most fruitful junior nursery.

"Something you take is the pathways program that Penrith have installed for a long period of time," Webster told AAP.

"I just don't see why we can't generate that here in New Zealand and Auckland.

"We've got to develop our own. I'm super passionate about that."

The Warriors are already at work making the best of their return; the club is taking coaching clinics around the country, organising home stays for prospects scouted outside Auckland and have hired ex-coach Andrew McFadden as general manager of recruitment.

"The club is investing a lot of time and resources into junior development, which is exciting. I'm all for it," Webster said.

"It has a huge benefit for the future of the club and I can't wait to see it unfold."

But Webster warns not even the Panthers reaped the rewards of their junior program overnight; five and a half years passed between the opening of Penrith's $22 million academy and their 2021 premiership victory.

"These things take time," Webster said.

"One thing about the junior pathways system is that they're your future in five years' time.
"But I think being back home, if you're a kid in this country right now, you're saying, 'How cool is it that I've now got an NRL team to go and watch and that I one day want to play for'."

Since making it to the grand final in 2011, the Warriors have qualified for the finals only once but Webster says he would not put a timeline on his side's return to the post-season.

"We're not saying this is the KPI, because whatever KPI we have, it's not going to be high enough, in my opinion," he said.

"The media and the fans will set KPIs for us. All we need to worry about is winning today at training. How do we win tomorrow? Can we win the whole week?

"If we do that enough times and we do that consistently, winning every day, we'll achieve what we want to achieve."

Penrith junior program to inspire Warriors

New Warriors coach Andrew Webster will take cues from former club Penrith as he looks to re-energise his...

www.canberratimes.com.au

With this and Shaun Johnson recently saying it’s a reset for the club, sounds like we in a rebuild phase.

Yeah we definitely are!
We are back home after 3 years, a new coach, 7 new players (I think), 2 new spine players, 1 quality prop, under firing half (I'll continue to back him though), probably labelled the worst spine from anyone who isn't a warriors supporter.

In saying all that - I see all of those apart from the 1 quality prop, to be positives for our team. We will be underrated and with the new tactics, energy and lack of outside expectation and pressure - we might just positively surprise.

The better we do in the NRL - the more attractive it will be for youngsters to want to be a Warrior!

 

[sballer7]

Xavier Tito-Harris now another one gone. Signed with NZ Rugby.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Xavier Tito-Harris now another one gone. Signed with NZ Rugby.

Another lured away with the glitz of playing Sevens..

 

[Cces]

The release of Otukolo & Otukinekina Kepu showcases how poor we are at developing players. Here's a wee run down of players we've recently sunk time & money into with development contracts:

2022 - Otukinekina Kepu (0 caps & released 2 years early), Valingi Kepu (yet to debut) & Lleyton Finau (0 caps & released)

2021 - Pride Pettersen-Robati (given a Top 30 spot the following season, 0 caps & released), Isaiah Vagana (0 caps & released), Jyris Glamuzina (0 caps & released), Temple Kalepo (0 caps, declined Top 30 spot & released), Taniela Otukolo (9 caps & released 2 years early from initial contract) & Ed Kosi (16 caps)

2020 - Tyler Slade (0 caps & released), Israel Ogden (0 caps & released), Selestino Ravutaumada (0 caps then released. Made his Super Rugby debut in '22), Tom Ale (7 games), Rocco Berry (15 games) & Paul Turner (3 games before declining a contract extension).

Ed Kosi is our shining light in terms of development....

 

[Ryaan]

Does anyone know who our SG ball and NSW cup assistant coaches are?

 

[Canadian_WarriorFan]

Does anyone know who our SG ball and NSW cup assistant coaches are?