General Warriors SG Ball 2023

[mt.wellington]

Lol was just about to post that. Jordan Friend use to work for the Warriors recruitment team but was let go during the covid reshuffle. I guess with his job as mainly a NZ junior scout and no games being played it made his job redundant. That being said he's a huge loss and the club should look to get him back. Every parent I have ever spoken to about him has nothing but great things to say. One of the few scouts who actually cares about the players. You will see him everywhere watching both codes...

 

[Noitall]

S G Ball team launches new era​

Richard Becht & warriors.kiwi
Sat 14 Jan 2023, 07:48 AM


One New Zealand Warriors players of the future will have the honour of launching the club’s first full home-based season since 2019 when they kick off their campaign in the S G Ball Cup (under-19) next month.

It starts offshore against South Sydney on Sunday, February 5 before the team plays the first of its home games a week later against Manly Warringah.

In doing so it will also have the distinction of being the first One New Zealand Warriors side to play at the rugby union venue which used to be the celebrated Jonah Lomu's playground.

Now known as Navigation Homes Stadium, the Counties Manukau Rugby Union’s base in Pukekohe will host the One New Zealand Warriors three times in the short-form S G Ball competition.

The S G Ball side was the only one of the club’s teams to play official competition games on home soil in 2020 before its impressive debut was cut short by the Covid pandemic.

And now the side will reprise that effort in a competition renowned as a prolific breeding ground for future NRL players.

After being forced to operate out of Australia for the last three seasons, the One New Zealand Warriors begin a new era with a return to the stable of teams they started with in 2020 in the NRL, New South Wales Cup and S G Ball.

It’s a rebirth distinguished by a new club name, new coaches at all levels and a slew of new NRL signings.

Tasked with guiding the club’s most promising prospects in the S G Ball is Adam Blair, whose prolific playing career included 331 NRL appearances – 65 for the Warriors – and 51 Tests for the Kiwis.



After retiring at the end of the 2020 season Blair stepped into coaching at development level and now has his first full-time role.

He and his staff have had an expanded squad in preseason training since early November incorporating an inter-squad trial before Christmas with another this weekend and the final hit-out next weekend before the season starts.

Apart from their three home games in Pukekohe against Manly (February 12), St George Illawarra (February 26) and Western Suburbs (April 2), the young Warriors play the Sydney Roosters at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere on March 12 and Canterbury Bankstown at Mount Smart Stadium on March 26. Their away games are against South Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Penrith.

When the 2020 S G Ball was cut short by the Covid crisis, the Warriors were running second equal on the ladder just a point behind the leader Newcastle after winning four of their first six games.

Included in that squad were current NRL squad members Viliami Vailea, Taniela Otukolo, Otukinekina and Valingi Kepu as well as contracted juniors Ali Leiataua and Zyon Maiuu.

SG Ball team first on deck for club's homecoming season

One New Zealand Warriors players of the future will have the honour of launching the club’s first full home-based season since 2019.

www.warriors.kiwi

Happy to see this, Pukekohe isn’t far so I’ll be catching these games.

 

[TeetsNRL]

Richie T is actually a prop , but played number 8 as St Thomas already had 2 quality props.
Harry Nossiter chch boys Nz schools crusaders academy
Matthew Lowe Nelson College nz schools crusaders academy
Cameron Blackwood St Andrews College
Hershel who does hstop200 does an amazing job , but his lists are very subjective. He gets a lot of his info off 1st xv coaches etc. He will even tell you he gets limited info from highlanders region , so not many of these kids get featured in his top 200. For example he has Ben Odonovan ranked number 10 player in the country and as number 1 halfback in crusaders region. As per the crusaders depth chart he’s ranked number 3 halfback and not good enough to get a spot in their academy.
Tanner is a good talent and I hope he goes on to play first grade. All I’m trying to say is there is a lot of talent out there. We just need to change how we find it. Cause what we’re doing at the moment isn’t working.

What’s stopping them from playing rugby league? There’s no law saying you can’t play both.

If they’re so good at footy why don’t they give themselves the best shot at cracking the pros by playing both codes?

There’s nothing to stop any of those kids having a crack at the South Island rep teams and getting a run in the NZRL rep tourney shop window.

If your club colts team that you recruit for would smash the Scorpions team, why aren’t you sending them to trial for rep teams for a wider shot at a pro career than just rugby?

Warriors can’t wait until kids are turfed out or super rugby development teams to give them a crack, by 19/20 it’s too late, you need to have begun the League journey way before then.

 

[mt.wellington]

SG Ball 2023 draw. Draw has also been added to the first post of this thread...

​

 

[Cces]

Here's the latest trial footage courtesy of Raz Makiha from the Warriors Uncut Facebook page
https://app.veo.co/matches/20230120-3rd-trial-sat-21-jan-e1033d38/

 

[Cces]

Here's the latest trial footage courtesy of Raz Makiha from the Warriors Uncut Facebook page
https://app.veo.co/matches/20230120-3rd-trial-sat-21-jan-e1033d38/

If anyone can clarify if the Sio that plays well for the team in the Warriors kit is Sio Kali or Raphael Sio it'd be much appreciated

 

[mt.wellington]

Who's the hooker???

 

[playdaball]

Lol was just about to post that. Jordan Friend use to work for the Warriors . That being said he's a huge loss and the club should look to get him back. Every parent I have ever spoken to about him has nothing but great things to say. One of the few scouts who actually cares about the players. You will see him everywhere watching both codes...

In your opinion ... What is Stan Martin's and more importantly, Dixon McIvor's reputation like?

 

[Chchfanatic]

What’s stopping them from playing rugby league? There’s no law saying you can’t play both.

If they’re so good at footy why don’t they give themselves the best shot at cracking the pros by playing both codes?

There’s nothing to stop any of those kids having a crack at the South Island rep teams and getting a run in the NZRL rep tourney shop window.

If your club colts team that you recruit for would smash the Scorpions team, why aren’t you sending them to trial for rep teams for a wider shot at a pro career than just rugby?

Warriors can’t wait until kids are turfed out or super rugby development teams to give them a crack, by 19/20 it’s too late, you need to have begun the League journey way before then.

Why am I not sending them to trial ? Because I want them to play for my club and go on to play senior rugby for my club.
I’m not paid to recruit for the warriors. I’m paid to recruit for my club. It’s up to the warriors to find these kids and entice them to Auckland.
The reason why so many stay in Christchurch is because we have 2 universities that offer scholarships. All with the dream of playing for the crusaders. But in reality 2-3 a year may end up making it.
Would I work for the warriors as a South Island scout , absolutely I would. Will it happen, I doubt it 😂😂

 

[TeetsNRL]

Why am I not sending them to trial ? Because I want them to play for my club and go on to play senior rugby for my club.
I’m not paid to recruit for the warriors. I’m paid to recruit for my club. It’s up to the warriors to find these kids and entice them to Auckland.
The reason why so many stay in Christchurch is because we have 2 universities that offer scholarships. All with the dream of playing for the crusaders. But in reality 2-3 a year may end up making it.
Would I work for the warriors as a South Island scout , absolutely I would. Will it happen, I doubt it 😂😂

Well no point worrying about their rugby league potential if they’re never going to play the game unless a pro team signs them.

Not that it never happens, but it doesn’t happen that often because it’s too much of a risk. Reps actually playing league matter.

I’m sure they’re super talented, but at some point you’ve actually got to have the inclination to actually give league a go. It’s not just going to be handed to you.

 

[Chchfanatic]

Well no point worrying about their rugby league potential if they’re never going to play the game unless a pro team signs them.

Not that it never happens, but it doesn’t happen that often because it’s too much of a risk. Reps actually playing league matter.

I’m sure they’re super talented, but at some point you’ve actually got to have the inclination to actually give league a go. It’s not just going to be handed to you.

I agree it’s not going to be handed to you. To be honest I don’t think any of these kids have ever considered playing league.
What I’m trying to say is there is soo many kids out there in NZ that are could be potential recruits. But if they have to go to league tournaments or trials then they will never get picked up by the warriors.
The warriors have to look outside of Auckland 1a rugby and league tournaments if they’re going to recruit more top quality kids. You can’t tell me there’s not a kid in Queenstown or Invercargill that could potentially play first grade. You just have to find them. They aren’t going to be handed to you.

 

[TeetsNRL]

But if they have to go to league tournaments or trials then they will never get picked up by the warriors.

God forbid these rugby stars actually have to trial like the rest of the league playing plebes.

 

[Chchfanatic]

God forbid these rugby stars actually have to trial like the rest of the league playing plebes.

I think you’ve missed the point

 

[TeetsNRL]

I think you’ve missed the point

What? That’s there’s talented rugby kids who miss out on Super rugby, yeah sure, that’s no secret.

Doesn’t mean they’d be any good at league. It’s a different sport.

There’s only X amount of Ball/Flegg spots, can’t just sign a bunch of 18/19 year old kids who’ve never played league before because they went alright in high school rugby and now the Crusaders/Highlanders don’t want them.. It’s too late.

Could try to sign em earlier but while they’re still in the NZRU pathway system you’re just going to get knocked back by the kid (and/or their parents) anyway.


I

 

[brightman]

What? That’s there’s talented rugby kids who miss out on Super rugby, yeah sure, that’s no secret.

Pretty sure the point is no one is actively scouting/talking to these kids..

 

[TeetsNRL]

Pretty sure the point is no one is actively scouting/talking to these kids..

Pretty sure if you show up to open trials and you’re any good you’ll end up being actively scouted and talked to by NRL scouts.

 

[Chchfanatic]

Pretty sure if you show up to open trials and you’re any good you’ll end up being actively scouted and talked to by NRL scouts.

If you’re any good you don’t need to go to open trials. You’ve already been snapped up by someone else. Hence the need to scout these kids before anyone else has.

 

[TeetsNRL]

If you’re any good you don’t need to go to open trials.

Geez, no wonder no one gets scouted from down there, the entitlement reeks.

Plenty of Auckland’s Poly kids play both codes and show up to every trial despite being 1st XV stars.

The Maori kids from the regions travel for hours on hours to get to trials, NRL coaching clinics, and rep tourneys. And they’ll pack up and move to Aussie at 15 to achieve the dream.

Meanwhile down in the South Island, nah we’re too good for trials, rep tourneys, and club league. Just sign us.

 

[Chchfanatic]

Geez, no wonder no one gets scouted from down there, the entitlement reeks.

Plenty of Auckland’s Poly kids play both codes and show up to every trial despite being 1st XV stars.

The Maori kids from the regions travel for hours on hours to get to trials, NRL coaching clinics, and rep tourneys. And they’ll pack up and move to Aussie at 15 to achieve the dream.

Meanwhile down in the South Island, nah we’re too good for trials, rep tourneys, and club league. Just sign us.

When did this become a South Island thing. It’s about talented kids in New Zealand. The whole country , not just Auckland.
Do white kids and Māori kids in Auckland not play both codes.
Do the white kids and poly kids in the regions not travel for hours and hours.
Open trials are for the kids who are not talented enough to have already been contracted.

 

[TeetsNRL]

When did this become a South Island thing. It’s about talented kids in New Zealand. The whole country , not just Auckland.
Do white kids and Māori kids in Auckland not play both codes.
Do the white kids and poly kids in the regions not travel for hours and hours.
Open trials are for the kids who are not talented enough to have already been contracted.

The original post was about Rugby kids who got cut by the Crusaders. And then extended to kids in Rugby League hotbeds like Invercargill and Queenstown. Sounds like a pretty Southern focus?

What white kids? You’re lucky if you’ve got one in most junior rep/club teams.

Not PC to say, but that’s the reality.

In the grassroots league community we all wish there were more! Come play!

My point is this, those players who are already contracted have generally already shown an aptitude for the game.

There’s a million logistical reasons an Auckland based club can’t just sign kids (let alone ones who’ve never played!) from the regions who are rugby focused.

Would those kids even move?

Would they leave the NZRU pathway?

How you do you scout them as elite talent and get them before rugby, when rugby is the very reason they’ve been identified and they are already in it’s golden ticket pathway?

How old is too old?

How many precious spots in your development teams can you hold open for strictly rugby players?

And again, why can’t they trial? You still haven’t answered that? Remember this conversation started about kids let go by the Crusaders.

You’re not contracted to anyone, might as well register for this Warriors trial.

In your own words,

Open trials are for the kids who are not talented enough to have already been contracted.

If you’ve been cut from the Crusaders development group, guess what, you’ve been deemed not talented enough.