General Warriors fun draft from 1995 onwards

[Panther]

Botica is one of the defining features of both drafts for me. I remember him being brought into a Warriors squad that had Alexander, Jones and Ngamu and being on the wing. I can understand sometimes rep teams are short on talent and you can end up with randoms like him, Tohu Harris or Hiku in the halves but not sold on him in at stand off. There are a few other players in interesting positions that may hold their teams back.

 

[Weno]

Botica is one of the defining features of both drafts for me. I remember him being brought into a Warriors squad that had Alexander, Jones and Ngamu and being on the wing. I can understand sometimes rep teams are short on talent and you can end up with randoms like him, Tohu Harris or Hiku in the halves but not sold on him in at stand off. There are a few other players in interesting positions that may hold their teams back.

Its different when your in the firing line brother

Cant be too fussy or prolong neither though we have a 24hr window.

That's where over thinking comes in.

First thing that comes to mind for me are my favourite players and players that had something that stood out who others dont view in the same way.

Whole heap of fun though brother,should be able to add more come the World VIII if it happens.
I'm like McDonald's and Loving It.

 

[warriors55]

Its different when your in the firing line brother

Cant be too fussy or prolong neither though we have a 24hr window.

That's where over thinking comes in.

First thing that comes to mind for me are my favourite players and players that had something that stood out who others dont view in the same way.

Whole heap of fun though brother,should be able to add more come the World VIII if it happens.
I'm like McDonald's and Loving It.

Agree with that. Everyone has a general idea of the type of players that they want but every round you need to adjust the makeup of your team when players you want are picked in other teams. There is time pressure as well.

Had a blast playing it as well. Can't wait for the World XV!

 

[Panther]

Its different when your in the firing line brother

Cant be too fussy or prolong neither though we have a 24hr window.

That's where over thinking comes in.

First thing that comes to mind for me are my favourite players and players that had something that stood out who others dont view in the same way.

Whole heap of fun though brother,should be able to add more come the World VIII if it happens.
I'm like McDonald's and Loving It.

Apologies if it appears criticism of the selection, you do what you do. Its more when you are being asked to rate the teams.

 

[ryno]

It is tough, on my sheet I had Botica, Green, and Lolohea as options going into the last round.

I didnt want to have Luke as my goal kicker so thats why i favoured Botica. Was quite keen on Lolohea so to have some more X-Factor in the halves with Jones. But yeah, drafting is alot of fun and I cannot wait for the World XIII!

 

[Defence]

My memory of botica as a warrior was scoring an awesome solo try (tried to find it on u tube) and breaking his leg- possibly in the same game?
Great union player- I was always dirty the all-blacks picked fox ahead of him- primarily because of his goal kicking. He should’ve worked on that before moving to league.
He was a big star at Wigan- broke some point scoring records there and that’s when that competition was a lot stronger.
I’d rate him a better player than lolohea and green- not a better warrior tho. That’s where it gets a bit murky...

 

[ryno]

My memory of botica as a warrior was scoring an awesome solo try (tried to find it on u tube) and breaking his leg- possibly in the same game?
Great union player- I was always dirty the all-blacks picked fox ahead of him- primarily because of his goal kicking. He should’ve worked on that before moving to league.
He was a big star at Wigan- broke some point scoring records there and that’s when that competition was a lot stronger.
I’d rate him a better player than lolohea and green- not a better warrior tho. That’s where it gets a bit murky...

Yeah that's the interesting thing, I couldn't pick Swann because I still don't forgive him for not passing the ball in the finals game against the Titans?. I am still not fond of picking Blair just because. There are defining memories that stick with you and can influence your perception of the player either positive or negative.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Yeah that's the interesting thing, I couldn't pick Swann because I still don't forgive him for not passing the ball in the finals game against the Titans?. I am still not fond of picking Blair just because. There are defining memories that stick with you and can influence your perception of the player either positive or negative.

That game was against the Eels and yes unfortunately for Swann altho he played 195 games for the club and gave sterling service, that's probably the moment he gets remembered for.

What i found difficult was the edict that it went on players whole careers.

There we're some players (Dennis Betts for example who had possibly one of the most decorated careers ever) shouldve been one of the first players picked on that principle, yet his performances here was such a let down and disappointment i just didnt have it in me to select him.

In the end for the most part i went for the players i enjoyed watching the most. Really stoked that in Meli, Manu, Toopi, and Lauit'iti i managed to snag 4 players that from general consensus are always named in these greatest all time teams, dont know if many other sides had more than that.

 

[ryno]

That game was against the Eels

Ah thanks man!

 

[wizards rage]

What i found difficult was the edict that it went on players whole careers.

There we're some players (Dennis Betts for example who had possibly one of the most decorated careers ever) shouldve been one of the first players picked on that principle, yet his performances here was such a let down and disappointment i just didnt have it in me to select him.

The more variables the better. We are all after the same core group of players, so the teams have all ended very similar. The ability to add in unknowns adds excitement rather than working down a list from best to worst players.

Picking a player like Sonny Fai or Ben Henry is a guess at their future and what could have been;
A current player like Maumalo or Fusitua you can argue they are disadvantaged in not yet reaching the peek of their career yet;
A player like Bully, Foran, etc you can argue their talents was better than their Warriors form suggests.
A player who came at the end of their careers like Blair, Mann, etc get unfairly discounted if only their Warriors form is included
Then there are the players with variable form in different season for the Warriors - Mateo, Inu, even Manu - how do you factor that in.
Players where a weakness in one area affects our individual perception of a player - I regard Mannering as a good player but not in the legendary standing that others see. Personal opinion.

It’s all subjective and that’s the fun of it!

 

[ryno]

That game was against the Eels and yes unfortunately for Swann altho he played 195 games for the club and gave sterling service, that's probably the moment he gets remembered for.

4:05 in if you want to relive the misery.

 

[ryno]

And we are done!

Ryno - Winner
Wizards Rage - Runner Up

 

[ryno]

Out of interest here are the two draft winning teams.

Common denominator: They went first and took Stacey Jones!

	Wizard rage (Kiwis Draft)	Ryno (Warriors Draft)
1​	Brent Webb	Wade McKinnon
2​	Sean Hoppe	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
3​	Steve Matai	Ngani Laumape
4​	Dean Bell (c)	Kevin Iro
5​	Francis Meli	David Fusitua
6​	Kieran Foran	Frano Botica (gk)
7​	Stacy Jones (gk)	Stacey Jones
8​	John Lomax	Russel Packer
9​	Howie Tamati	Isaac Luke
10​	Ben Matulino	Steve Price (c)
11​	Marty Taupau	Jacob Lillyman
12​	Tohu Harris Harris	Tohu Harris Harris
13​	Jason Taumalolo	Leeson Ah Mau
Coach	Geoff Toovey	Mark Graham

 

[wizards rage]

Great team Ryno. Solid, well rounded with no obvious weaknesses.

 

[ryno]

Thanks all, was really fun!

Looking forward to the World 13! Should have some more halve options!

 

[wizards rage]

Thanks all, was really fun!

Looking forward to the World 13! Should have some more halve options!

Really found the Warriors limited in some positions. And little scope to find diamonds in the rough as everyone was to well known.