Diary Of A Warriors Fan - What If...
Before I get to the What's If... situation, we've got a few trials to run through as the group of youngins' lost to the Gold Coast Titans last weekend and the squad has been named to take on the Penrith Panthers in Rotorua #Vegas!
The trial against the Titans pretty much means zilch. Besides the fact that it gave many a squad member and youngster the chance to pull on the jersey and do their thing.
As Andy McFaddo said, the trial this weekend against the Panthers will showcase a squad that is nearly the first grade crew. There's still a few holes with Manu Vatuvei and Nathan Friend repping Mt Smart with the NRL All Stars as well as a few lads out injured and Sir Simon Mannering getting some well deserved rest.
Sam Tomkins; Ken Maumalo, Ngani Laumape, Solomone Kata, Tuimoala Lolohea; Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Suaia Matagi, Thomas Leuluai (c), Ben Matulino; Bodene Thompson, Ryan Hoffman; Ben Henry. Interchange: Matt Allwood, Marata Niukore, Api Pewhairangi, Sam Lisone, Nathaniel Roache, Sione Lousi, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, John Palavi, Albert Vete, Sam Rapira, Jazz Tevaga
It's going to be interesting to see how Ngani Laumape and Solomone Kata go, they're both dynamic beast mode lads and with the other dynamic beast mode lad, Konrad Hurrell likely to return soon and take on of those spots. I'd keep an eye on Kata and see if he can hold his own defensively in an NRL system, especially as he'll be alongside Tui Lolohea.
Nathaniel Roache has quickly climbed the dummy half ladder thanks to a variety of circumstances and he'll offer Thomas Leuluai a rest. Leuluai has a chance to really impress in the absence of Friend, but I can't see Leuluai starting over Friend come week one.
Ken Maumalo has also risen the ranks rather swiftly, he's a tall lad who will be a target with the old cross field bomb that the Warriors love. It's possible that Maumalo or Lolohea could find themselves on the wing for week one with Manu holding down the other spot, they'll be eager to impress.
In the pack, it looks like I might get my wish with Ben Henry starting at lock as Bodene Thompson and Ryan Hoffman get the edge spots. That'll probably mean the Sir Simon may spend plenty of time at lock this season, which I love.
The other key thing to watch is the impact of the big boys off the bench. Suaia Matagi and Ben Matulino will start which is fair play, but there's this group of guys who are fighting for a bench spot - Sam Lisone, Sione Lousi, Albert Vete, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and John Palavi. The likes of Faitala-Mariner and Palavi will hopefully get a run out on the edge, but Lisone, Lousi and Vete need to show some major impact up the guts.
That's what McFadden will be looking for as he tries to build a forward pack that can go forward with ease but can also defend, make multiple efforts and show up every damn tackle. The Warriors have never really had that basic aspect of NRL footy sorted and it won't just be a case of who's making the most metres out of Lisone, Lousi or Vete, but who is making that extra effort. Competition does that for ya.
What's if the Warriors don't sign a big name? It's looking more and more likely that both Kieran Foran and Trent Merrin will stay in Australia, which will mean that the Warriors will have missed their targets. Which is all good baby baby.
I thought the Warriors had recruited excellently by grabbing Ryan Hoffman and I didn't really see the need to get anyone else. For me, the only issue this raises is the ownership's desire to create a media ruckus, which may have been fair play as no one seemed to care that the Warriors had singed Hoffman who doesn't need anyone to make a case for how awesome he is.
Don't get too down on yourselves if the Warriors don't get a big name soon, just get in behind the lads we've got. The more I look at this squad, this roster, this crew of Warriors, the more excited I get.