Coming out of Rugby League World Cup, the hottest Aotearoa Warriors player enjoying plenty of buzz is Ata Hingano. The 20-year-old half played a key role in Tonga's run deep into RLWC and Hingano's nice performances were juxtaposed against the Warriors signing veteran half Blake Green to effectively take the spot alongside Shaun Johnson that Hingano had in his sights. Going into RLWC, Hingano had a chance to stake his claim and now Hingano's back down the pecking order, not that Hingano did anything wrong.

I've been high on Hingano for a while now and seeing Hingano defend through the middle last season as a bench utility was a top-five Warriors moment of 2017. Anyone who has watched Hingano play at any level can see that he's a fine play-making prospect, chuck most of the NRL's play-making prospects in the middle of the park though and watch them become a turnstile. Hingano's aggressive in defence and that's enough to get my sensors tingling more than they were having seen Hingano in attack.

This had me excited to see Hingano settle into his halves role for the Warriors next season. Now though, for everyone involved, I reckon it's best that Hingano continues to suss out the hardest NRL job by consistently playing in reserve grade and 'best for everyone involved' includes you and you mother too. Chuck Hingano in the halves for 2018 alongside Johnson and there needs to be patience, understanding that Hingano will have ups and downs as he's far from the finished product.

Warriors fans have no more patience left and while I preach patience and understanding - hence I'm fine with Hingano playing next seasons - for the sanity of youz, it's best that Hingano continues to develop. Develop in reserve grade where he can dominate, week in, week out and not in the NRL where his development would coincide with inconsistent performances.

But Hingano showed he's ready during RLWC...

Judging Hingano's readiness should in no way, shape or form be based on what he did for Tonga as he was playing behind an almighty forward pack. The Warriors don't have Jason Taumalolo, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Andrew Fifita in the same team, neither do any other NRL team, let alone Manu Ma'u, Peni Terepo and outside backs like David Fusitu'a and Konrad Hurrell who offered just as much go-forward as the big boppers.

That's the beauty of RLWC and Hingano definitely executed his job to near-perfection for Tonga, with the luxury of never-ending supplies of quick play-the-balls and metres. RLWC is also four-five games and defences do not have the same resources as NRL teams do; NRL teams know what all your habits and will hammer away at a weakness.

All of this leads me to offer a word of caution in celebrating Hingano. I really like Hingano, but that's based on what I've see of him with the Warriors.

An interesting wrinkle in all of this is what's best for Shaun Johnson. I got a clear answer to my 'What Is Shaun Johnson?' ponderings during RLWC and I'm left content in the knowledge that Johnson's a solid NRL half, yet to show that he's capable of bursting into the top-tier of NRL halves. That's all good, if Johnson has someone alongside him like Green who can take a large portion of responsibility away from Johnson, allowing for greater clarity in Johnson's actual job.

A rugby league hard man from Down Under, Blake Green uprooted his young family for a new challenge; from sunny Australia to the cold of England's north west, Green now wears the famous red and white jersey of Super League's biggest club, Wigan Warriors. By Elliot Richardson, sports broadcaster for Eurosport in Paris.

If Hingano plays alongside Johnson, then all the responsibility is on Johnson to lead the Warriors while his young comrade comes to terms with consistent NRL footy. Do youz really, really, really want that after watching Johnson during RLWC and perhaps most notably, how Johnson reacted to RLWC failure?

Johnson has always had a prickly relationship with expectations about him and has always been weirdly vocal with regards to criticism. We're at a point where we need to kick back with Johnson and Johnson needs the opportunity to kick back and play footy without the burden of whatever crazy burden has been placed on him; by fans and himself.

Green seems like a decent bloke to do that job, he goes about his business quietly and has shown at Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles that he can fit in without fuss. He's also an OG who has life experience, he's played in England and not only does Green understand what it takes to perform every week in the NRL, he also understands what it takes to earn consistent NRL footy. That vibe coming from Green will permeate nicely on to Johnson, someone who hasn't had to earn his NRL footy and was simply anointed as 'the guy'.

While I believe that Stephen Kearney would have eyed up Green with Hingano's development in mind, what is best for Johnson and what is best for the Warriors would have also been a large factor. This wasn't just a case of 'is Hingano ready?' and maybe this wasn't even about Hingano as Kearney may have become well aware of what Johnson needs in a halves partner, during the season.

Much has been made of Hingano's future at the Warriors and he's always had other NRL clubs sniffing around him to lure him across the ditch. That's a risk the Warriors have to take if they want to enjoy greater success in 2018 (key thing there is what the Warriors want as if they wanted to develop into a top-four team over a few years, Hingano's the guy but they clearly want to make that jump asap) and if the Warriors enjoy a bit of success, with Hingano as the collateral damage, there won't be much fuss in Hingano leaving.

If Hingano shows patience and foresight, he will see that there is a great opportunity for him to be the long-term Warriors halfback. This will coincide with a slight decline in Johnson's production, or Johnson would have settled on some clarity on his job in adding funk to the Warriors attack, forming a strong combination with Green based on Green steering the team around. Hingano would take over from Green and that my friends would make Hingano the most important player at the Warriors; possible Stacey Jones territory, possibly better.

Hingano might not see the long-term though and may want to cash in now. Again, that's a risk the Warriors have to take if they want to chase immediate success, which in all honesty is something that the fans want. It'll be very weird if fans who have been crying about the Warriors being a fringe top-eight team, then cry about the Warriors letting Hingano go when the Warriors are making moves to swiftly be better than fringe top-eight.

What do you want?

I can't find fault in whatever Hingano does. There's a long-term pathway for him at the Warriors and there is getting out of his comfort zone in a move to Australia - getting out of your comfort zone is crucial in your development as a human. Recruiting Green is the best move for the Warriors and for Johnson; the Warriors made their move and now it's Hingano's turn.

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Peace and love 27.