Recruitment YOUR Warriors Team For 2017

[InsideBall]

YOUR Warriors Team For 2017​

*Mod - First 37 posts have been moved from the 2016 Recruitment Thread after the news that Thomas Leuluai will be released at the end of the year. A lot of great debate concerning his successor which deserves its own thread.

Two horse race for that 6 now, in my opinion.

Very torn on that one too - I'm an admittedly huge fan of Tui, blows me away how good he's been in the number of positions he's played thus far, and he would make a killer running 6... BUT, Ata is such a talent, and there's no coincidence whatsoever that he's been groomed as a left edge playmaker - he's got all the playmaking skills in the world, and most crucially, a left boot. He could be the missing link in our spine that propels us to greatness. Next pre-season is going to be massive for those two young men.

I could see a backline like this happening:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. David Fusitua
3. Blake Ayshford
4. Solomone Kata
5. Tuimoala Lolohea
6. Ata Hingano
7. Shaun Johnson

And there's A LOT to like about that back line. Almost everyone of them is a game breaker, and they're all improving out of sight. defensively - especially Sol and Fusitua, and Blake and Shaun are both already very solid in D.

 

[Jay M]

I could see a backline like this happening:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. David Fusitua
3. Blake Ayshford
4. Solomone Kata
5. Tuimoala Lolohea
6. Ata Hingano
7. Shaun Johnson

Can we play Ata on the right and Shaun Johnson on the left please? . An edge of Hoffman, Hingano, Kata, Lolohea might be exposed. I'd feel more comfortable with Hoffman, Shaun Johnson, Kata, Lolohea on one edge, and Thompson, Hingano, Ayshford, Fusitua on the other.

 

[Freddie Futler]

I could see a backline like this happening:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. David Fusitua
3. Blake Ayshford
4. Solomone Kata
5. Tuimoala Lolohea
6. Ata Hingano
7. Shaun Johnson

Nailed it, and that will be an exciting backline, just need one big bopper forward.

 

[Jay M]

Nailed it, and that will be an exciting backline, just need one big bopper forward.

Manu?

 

[James W]

Wont be needing to look elsewhere IMO. We have Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano ready to fill in the spot. Either that or Doyle is in talks with Foran but thats a longshot...

I've noticed a few of the forumers putting quite a bit of faith in Hingano. I hope it's not misplaced. My only thing is that there's going to be quite a chunk of a settling period with either Tui or Hingano there, which points to yet another undesirable season start.

Having Foran on an image redemption run... now that's just too good to be true.

 

[InsideBall]

Can we play Ata on the right and Shaun Johnson on the left please? . An edge of Hoffman, Hingano, Kata, Lolohea might be exposed. I'd feel more comfortable with Hoffman, Shaun Johnson, Kata, Lolohea on one edge, and Thompson, Hingano, Ayshford, Fusitua on the other.

Well, the issue with that, is that we'd have a right footed kicker on the left edge, and a left footer on the right - not the ideal scenario for kickers.

One thing I worry about with that backline though, is the height of the left edge. I could see Sol and Tui getting badly exposed there - the option would be to switch Fusitua to the left and Tui to the right, as Blake is plenty tall on that right edge - problem with that is Fusitua is the best finisher we have, and Blake is the best centre at putting his wing away we've had in MANY years... Id be loathe to break that partnership up... Of course, ALL of that wouldnt be an issue if Sol could develop an elite passing game...

 

[Miket12]

Manu?

That deserves a thread all of it's own.... oh, never mind

 

[Jay M]

Well, the issue with that, is that we'd have a right footed kicker on the left edge, and a left footer on the right - not the ideal scenario for kickers.

One thing I worry about with that backline though, is the height of the left edge. I could see Sol and Tui getting badly exposed there - the option would be to switch Fusitua to the left and Tui to the right, as Blake is plenty tall on that right edge - problem with that is Fusitua is the best finisher we have, and Blake is the best centre at putting his wing away we've had in MANY years... Id be loathe to break that partnership up... Of course, ALL of that wouldnt be an issue if Sol could develop an elite passing game...

Conversely you'd also have someone on the left with a natural right to left passing game, someone on the right with a natural left to right passing game, and two halves defending with their dominant shoulders on the inside. Given we mostly kick from the centre third anyway (with the exception of our fifth tackle up and unders) - would it really be so bad?

 

[InsideBall]

Conversely you'd also have someone on the left with a natural right to left passing game, someone on the right with a natural left to right passing game, and two halves defending with their dominant shoulders on the inside. Given we mostly kick from the centre third anyway (with the exception of our fifth tackle up and unders) - would it really be so bad?

I don't follow - why would Ata have a natural right to left passing game, because he's left footed? Is he left handed as well?

 

[Jay M]

I don't follow - why would Ata have a natural right to left passing game, because he's left footed? Is he left handed as well?

I was assuming he's left handed, which means his left to right passing game should be his dominant side, and would benefit our players on the right edge more.

Opposite of Shaun Johnson.

 

[InsideBall]

I was assuming he's left handed, which means his left to right passing game should be his dominant side, and would benefit our players on the right edge more.

Opposite of Shaun Johnson.

Haha, why do you assume that?

 

[Jay M]

Haha, why do you assume that?

most of the time, left footers tend to be left handed.

 

[Miket12]

most of the time, left footers tend to be left handed.

It's interesting because some of the best hockey goalkeepers are left handed/left footed because they hold their stick in their right hand.

I ran a coaching clinic a few years ago for some of the goalkeepers from high schools in the counties area. The ones I knew who would make it were either left footed or who spent time training with practising with it.

 

[rugged]

That line there is a problem for me. Attack shouldn't get you into first grade...

I wouldn't read too much into it, think he was more meaning he felt his attack was up to first grade standard but his defense wasn't.

 

[Fazz]

All i know is if we hit the skids and lose our next two after the bye, Tui better get slotted into 5/8th. Sink or swim so that we have the off season to look at plan B, because I think we're going to need it. His lack of kicking game really makes me doubt he's cement a spot there.

 

[InsideBall]

most of the time, left footers tend to be left handed.

I don't think that's the case.

I myself am left footed and right handed. And everyone Ive met whos been left footed has also been right handed.

 

[Jay M]

I don't think that's the case.

I myself am left footed and right handed. And everyone Ive met whos been left footed has also been right handed.

hmm that's interesting. There are a lot of lefties in my family, and every one of them is left footed and left handed (father, sister, three uncles, multiple cousins).

 

[InsideBall]

hmm that's interesting. There are a lot of lefties in my family, and every one of them is left footed and left handed (father, sister, three uncles, multiple cousins).

Now you've got me searching for studies on the ratios of this kind of thing... haha.

EDIT:

Thanks wikipedia:

Over 90% of right-handers are also right-footers; right-footedness hence predominates in the general population.[1] Only about half of the left-handers, however, are left-footed.[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footedness

 

[diehard]

Manu goes to the bench as an impact forward and cover back. If Maumalo continues to do well, where does he go? I know, he can join Manu on the bench as an impact forward and cover back.

 

[Blain]

Hoping they can the 'LoLo to 6' idea and look for a young Aussie 5/8th who's on the cusp of first grade. Our best shot of winning a premiership is probably in the next 2-3years. Better to sign a good young half who's a thinker, as opposed to hoping LoLo develops into a good 6.

Yeah I know it's much easier said than done and I'm probably just hoping for a Maloney clone, but man I just don't like the idea of LoLo at 6.

We have a young thinking half in Hingano.

Johnson is being paid enough to be a stand alone half, he's not a kid anymore and doesn't need a TL/Robbo to hold his hand. Ata/Lolo with even Luke being able to jump in at 6 is fine to me. Or Lino.