General YOUR 2023 WARRIORS TEAM

[dylpickle]

Good little video from the Rugby League Guru - with his Best 17

1 Metcalf
2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
4 Nikoura
5 Montoya
6 Te Maire Martin
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
9 Egan
10 Harris
11 Barnett
12 Curran
13 Tevaga
14 Walker
15 Ben Murdoch-Masila
16 Afoa
17 Ale

Sounds pretty good but feel like Webby has a different direction in mind.

 

[Wrighty]

This is how I think we’ll line up after listening to webbys interview,

Nicoll-Klokstad/Metcalf
Montoya
Metcalf/Nicoll-Klokstad
Vailea
Watene-zelezniak
Martin
Johnson
Barnett
Egan
Fonua-Blake
Niukore
Curran
Harris

Walker
Ale
Afoa/Sironen/Ford
Tevaga

I agree that it really sounded on webbys interview like Barnett may end up at prop.
He specifically said though Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will be 1
He also inferred that he prefers Jazz or Walker as hooker relief rather than lussick

The pack will most likely be as above

8 Barnett
9 Egan
10 Addin Fonua-Blake
11 Niukore
12 Curran
13 Harris

14 Walker
15 Ale
16 Afoa
17 Jazz

That compares to 2022 pack of

8 Addin Fonua-Blake
9 egan
10 lodge
11 aitken
12 Curran
13 harris

14 jazz
15 katoa
16 afoa
17 Pene

The starting 6 have Barnett and Niukore in to replace Lodge and aitken
The potential 2023 staring pack slightly better as lodge was good and is a loss
The bench in 2023 will be much better

I still would prefer if we recruited a prop for 2023

 

[Vancent]

Awesome podcast! Well done lads and some of the most informed Aussies in the Warriors yet 👍🏻

 

[AlexM]

So after Webbys pod

1.Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2.Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3.
4.
5.

6.Te Maire Martin
7.Shaun Johnson

8.Addin Fonua-Blake
9.Egan
10.Barnett
11.Curran
12.
13.Tohu Harris

14.Walker
15.Jazz(Lussick?)
16.Niukore
17.

18.

?

 

[The Falcon]

After that enjoyable interview with AW, all those ‘backrowers’ signed for next season make sense in that the majority of the pack need to be fast, mobile and strong. A pack where most can play every position.

I get the impression this team could resemble the teams we have loved in the past where ball movement, offloads, and speed shone. Just need to make sure they can tackle.

AW has seen the changes in the game and wants his team to be at the front in embracing these while working to the players strengths.

My hot take for 23’ - Tom Ale to have a breakout season! 💥🚀
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Vailea
?
Kosi
Te Maire Martin
Shaun Johnson
Addin Fonua-Blake
Egan
Bunty
Barnett
Curren
Tohu Harris

Jazz
Walker
Ale
Niukore

 

[Up the guttz]

After that enjoyable interview with AW, all those ‘backrowers’ signed for next season make sense in that the majority of the pack need to be fast, mobile and strong. A pack where most can play every position.

I get the impression this team could resemble the teams we have loved in the past where ball movement, offloads, and speed shone. Just need to make sure they can tackle.

AW has seen the changes in the game and wants his team to be at the front in embracing these while working to the players strengths.

My hot take for 23’ - Tom Ale to have a breakout season! 💥🚀
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Vailea
?
Kosi
Te Maire Martin
Shaun Johnson
Addin Fonua-Blake
Egan
Bunty
Barnett
Curren
Tohu Harris

Jazz
Walker
Ale
Niukore

Ale is my up and coming favourite. If he can stay injury free 100% he will have a breakout season. He has the leg speed that AW was talking about + unique body shape

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Recruit watch: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

The NRL market has been in full swing for 2023 with several stars switching clubs ahead of the new season.

www.nrl.com

 

[Wrighty]

This video is mint and gets you jacked for rugby league

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

The two main issues I see for the 2023 team is that they have to replace the x-factor of Walsh and fix the atrocious defense out wide. With this in mind, my lineup (based on the roster at the time of writing) would be as follows.

1. Luke Metcalf
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Marata Niukore
4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Shaun Johnson

8. Bunty Afoa
9. Wayde Egan
10. Tohu Harris (C)
11. Mitchell Barnett
12. Josh Curran
13. Jazz Tevaga

14. Dylan Walker
15. Addin Fonua-Blake
16. Tom Ale
17. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Backs: As soon as you accept that Niukore has to be in the centres to solidify the defense out there, then you have to prepare for the prospect of the opposition (either consciously or subconsciously) sending their attack down the other side to avoid him. I think Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the most likely of the options we have to scramble well on the other side and make intelligent defensive decisions. Kosi and Vailea would be next in line in case of injury or loss of form. I think we desperately need some sort of x-factor in what is a pretty staid backline, so Metcalf can play FB and pop up where he likes to play heads-up football. If Johnson is still shitting the bed at round 10 then we throw the keys to Volkman and tell him it's his team for the next two and a half years.

Forwards: Let Afoa and Harris start the match and take the sting out of the game. Then bring on Fonua-Blake and Ale as a double replacement 15 minutes in. I think the attention Addin Fonua-Blake demands from the opposition would open things up for Ale (who is still a little unknown). Ben Murdoch-Masila plays in 10-15 minute patches and is strictly a runner of the ball down an edge. Dylan Walker fits in as needed (cover an injury, spell Egan, or replace anyone having a shocker).

 

[Toookey]

I think the areas we'll look to improve over last year are:
Better defence at the back (Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to start at fb)
Bigger and better forwards to make more meters, but also shore up the defence
Better halves (Shaun Johnson with a full preseason at home, and no more merri-go-round with Te Maire Martin starting)
Spark off the bench with Walker and Ale/Ben Murdoch-Masila

I don't think we start with Metcalf at the back. We need to focus on a few key areas first before building in to this. For me, I'd have Vailea starting. He has some x factor, but still needs to develop. I think he's going to have a big year next year.

My only issue with an Egan/Shaun Johnson/Te Maire Martin/Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad spine is that Shaun Johnson will do 90% of the kicking which can become predictable to opposition defence

 

[Cces]

 

[wizards rage]

View attachment 49768 View attachment 49767

Great insight - just checked this out.

For comparison the team ratings released so far (1 every day):

Storm 90
Sharks 89
Raiders 87
Broncos 87
Titans 86
Manly 85
Warriors 84
Knights 84
Dolphins 83
Bulldogs 80

Really puts into perspective where we are at even with the new recruits. It’s going to be how much Webby can get out of what we’ve got!

Hope the Dolphins don’t finish above us!

 

[snake77]

After that enjoyable interview with AW, all those ‘backrowers’ signed for next season make sense in that the majority of the pack need to be fast, mobile and strong. A pack where most can play every position.

I get the impression this team could resemble the teams we have loved in the past where ball movement, offloads, and speed shone. Just need to make sure they can tackle.

AW has seen the changes in the game and wants his team to be at the front in embracing these while working to the players strengths.

This is an interesting perspective from Webster. If you look back to when the 6-again rules were put in place and the end of that year O'Sullivan when he was here was talking of favouring big men to get over the advantage line. To be fair some of the sides that year that did well did have big packs. It is still interesting to see the different perspectives. Its also been a few seasons since O'Sullivan said that. Then there is the recruitment manager watching from the sidelines vs the guy doing the day-to-day coaching in Webster.

There have been some changes in recent years, especially with the lock forward with teams going back to the traditional ball player vs the third front-rower like the last 10 years or so.

 

[Fonzie]

I’m thinking to start the year:

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Vailea
4. Niukore
5. Montoya
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Egan
10. Jazz
11. Barnett
12. Curran
13. Tohu Harris

14. Walker
15. Bunty
16. Ale
17. Lussick

Bunty shares the ‘big prop’ role with Addin Fonua-Blake.

We compensate for our smaller prop (Jazz, Ale) by getting our edge backrowers to work hard in yardage and having Tohu Harris play a quasi prop role at 13.

When Walker comes on Jazz comes off and Tohu Harris pushes up to prop.

Ale does a stint in the middle.

Lussick spells Egan.

Walker is injury cover in the backs.

I like the pack better with Niukore at backrower and Barnett at prop but I can’t bring myself to pick 2 of Vailea, Berry, Pompey at centre.

Webby has convinced me to start the year with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback.

 

[AlexM]

I’m thinking to start the year:

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Vailea
4. Niukore
5. Montoya
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Egan
10. Jazz
11. Barnett
12. Curran
13. Tohu Harris

14. Walker
15. Bunty
16. Ale
17. Lussick

Bunty shares the ‘big prop’ role with Addin Fonua-Blake.

We compensate for our smaller prop (Jazz, Ale) by getting our edge backrowers to work hard in yardage and having Tohu Harris play a quasi prop role at 13.

When Walker comes on Jazz comes off and Tohu Harris pushes up to prop.

Ale does a stint in the middle.

Lussick spells Egan.

Walker is injury cover in the backs.

I like the pack better with Niukore at backrower and Barnett at prop but I can’t bring myself to pick 2 of Vailea, Berry, Pompey at centre.

Webby has convinced me to start the year with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback.

Montoya was decent enough at centre and then we can play our next superstar Ed Kosi

 

[ndp26]

I’m thinking to start the year:

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Vailea
4. Niukore
5. Montoya
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Egan
10. Jazz
11. Barnett
12. Curran
13. Tohu Harris

14. Walker
15. Bunty
16. Ale
17. Lussick

Bunty shares the ‘big prop’ role with Addin Fonua-Blake.

We compensate for our smaller prop (Jazz, Ale) by getting our edge backrowers to work hard in yardage and having Tohu Harris play a quasi prop role at 13.

When Walker comes on Jazz comes off and Tohu Harris pushes up to prop.

Ale does a stint in the middle.

Lussick spells Egan.

Walker is injury cover in the backs.

I like the pack better with Niukore at backrower and Barnett at prop but I can’t bring myself to pick 2 of Vailea, Berry, Pompey at centre.

Webby has convinced me to start the year with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback.

Given the current squad and what Webby has said thus far, this is the logical 17. Only question-mark is whether Metcalf pushes either Shaun Johnson or Te Maire Martin out - but I don't really see that happening (unless Webby is ballsy enough to start the season with a rookie half).

The benefit of Niukore at centre is Barnett and Curran start. If Berry starts in the centres with Vailea (surely Webby sees straight through Pompey...), what does your pack/bench look like Fonzie?

 

[Tragic]

My take from the Webster interview was that he sees Barnett as a modern day prop. But everyone is putting him at 2nd row, so are you thinking he plays a prop role from 2nd row or do you think Webby was fooling us or do you just not bloody listen?

 

[Defence]

My take from the Webster interview was that he sees Barnett as a modern day prop. But everyone is putting him at 2nd row, so are you thinking he plays a prop role from 2nd row or do you think Webby was fooling us or do you just not bloody listen?

My take was that he was saying both Barnett and niukore have the attributes to play prop in the modern game- didn’t sound like he had either locked into a specific position yet?
Or did I miss a direct quote there?

 

[Fonzie]

Given the current squad and what Webby has said thus far, this is the logical 17. Only question-mark is whether Metcalf pushes either Shaun Johnson or Te Maire Martin out - but I don't really see that happening (unless Webby is ballsy enough to start the season with a rookie half).

The benefit of Niukore at centre is Barnett and Curran start. If Berry starts in the centres with Vailea (surely Webby sees straight through Pompey...), what does your pack/bench look like Fonzie?

My best pack would be:

8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Niukore
12. Curran
13. Tohu Harris

14. Walker
15. Ale (really hoping he kicks on)
16. Bunty
17. Lussick

But I’m too worried about edge D to start with two of the young centres.

 

[Fonzie]

My take was that he was saying both Barnett and niukore have the attributes to play prop in the modern game- didn’t sound like he had either locked into a specific position yet?
Or did I miss a direct quote there?

He definitely used Barnett as his prime example of a modern prop converted from the backrower