Ah, the crystal ball. I don't ball too often, when I do it's either a combination lay ups and certified swishness or it's dollar coins being lofted in to the air. Sometimes however, I do take part in a bit of crystal ballin'. Yup I'm a crystal baller.

The Warriors aye, let me take a wee looksie at them. Keep in mind that this is a mere look at what I reckon is their best line up, strictly on field business with injuries not really taken in to account. I'd also like to voice my confusion at the signing of Api Pewhairangi, nothing against Mr Pewhairangi as I'm sure he's a lovely lad who is just trying to make it in the NRL. He's a centre and can play in the halves, two areas of the field where there's a bit of depth both in first grade and in reserve grade. They've effectively signed him to play NSW Cup, which is a weird one and doesn't speak too highly of the home grown talent. Guess we'll see how it goes.

The back three for the Warriors should consist of Sam Tomkins, Manu Vatuvei and well, who else? David Fusitua got a fair bit of game time last season but the return of Glen Fisi'ahii will make that other wing spot a very interesting one. I'd back the Fish, partly because I'm hopefully that he can play some consistent footy. Keep an eye on Brad Abbey as well, if he's given a chance it will come on the wing or at a push fullback but he's behind Tui Lolohea in that regard.

The centres speak for themselves in my eyes. You could slide Ngani Laumape out to the wing, but I don't see why he can't start the season as a centre and have an opportunity to earn the right to be consistently selected there. Konrad Hurrell is the other centre, but the interest lies beneath these two. Solomone Kata is an absolute beast and expect him to be the next beast off the Warriors production line. Both he and Dominque Peyroux are better suited to centre than wing, so they could push Laumape to the wing if they demand selection. Matt Allwood and Pewhairangi offer plenty of depth here as well.

Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend are my halves. I've voiced my confusion at how Townsend was used last season, but he an Johnson need plenty of game time together. Who's offering depth here? Well Thomas Leuluai is in the mix, but he's my bench hooker while Mason Lino and Sam Cook will battle it out in reserve grade.

Jacob Lillyman was the best forward for the Warriors last season, which wasn't a very difficult task as most of the other props were ghost. It's a lottery as to who you pick to join Lillyman, I'm going with Sam Rapira to start. He hasn't really done a whole lot to demand a starting berth, but whatever, there ya go Sammy. Now, I've opted to push Ben Matulino out to the edge because he's a miss-match out there every time. So who are our bench props? Suaia Matagi gets a spot, but he'll need to improve a whole lot as he didn't do anything last season. Charlie Gubb, Sione Lousi and Sebastine Ikahihifo are all bench options, they all deserve a chance but my bench only has two prop spots (Leuluai and Ben Henry are locks). To be honest, Ikahihifo is ranked #1. His energy and effort last season was top notch but he's not a prop, he's a middle forward lock type. Ikahihifo, Matagi, Lousi and Gubb ... in that order.

I like Nathan Friend, for me he'll be the starting 9 but it's hard to expect him to play the same minutes as he has in the past. Leuluai should be the man to spell him, with Leuluai able to also come on as a small forward (oh yeah just invented a position) playing alongside Friend. It's happened before and gives the Warriors a plethora of attacking options without loosing much toughness. I really want to see Saliva Havili get a decent run at some stage, but he must wait his turn. 

The back row gives me a stiffy. Ryan Hoffman joins the club and I'm pumped, he's a serious professional and will add some much needed class to the side. He's got one edge and like I said, Matulino on the other edge. That pushes Simon Mannering to the middle which is a bit rough given how awesome he's been, but I'm all in on Matulino's impact on the edge. However, I wouldn't be upset if Matulino played in the middle as another prop/middle forward and Mannering stayed on the edge. In fact, I like that as it gives the middle a bit more size up the guts.

Ben Henry deserves a special mention on the bench. He's on the bench because he's the man and can play a variety of positions pretty darn well. If needed, he can cover centre (which means he can offer wing cover by pushing a centre out wider) and he can play as an edge back rower. For example, if Matulino starts in the middle, Benry can come on for him and push Mannering out which would change the scheme of the Warriors - variety. Which ever way Benry's used, he's a key cog.

There's a fair amount of competition for spots with this Warriors side. That should add a bit of interest to their off-season training as you'd have to assume that places are on the line depending on how lads perform in the off-season. There are a heap of young guns who will push for selection, but there are also the young-but-experienced guys who won't want to give up their spots. Hopefully they're training the house down.