With their season on the field finished for 2018, Aotearoa Warriors had a fantastic week off the field as they followed up a delightful evening at the Dally M awards with news of Bunty Afoa and Jazz Tevaga re-signing with the club. The Warriors stole the show in Sydney thanks to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck winning the overall MVP award, David Fusitu'a scoring the most tries and Tevaga winning the best interchange guy award.

They took that momentum into re-signing two of their young brigade, especially with regards to Tevaga. We do however need to cut through the fluff as the Warriors piggy-backed the Dally M awards by announcing that they had 'secured Dally M winnger Tevaga'. This is true, a hundy percent true, but we need some context around the award Tevaga won because he was one of the few NRL players this season to consistently feature in a specialist bench role.

All season long I have written about Tevaga's value to the Warriors in his bench role. His skillset is not only perfectly suited to that role, but it's perfectly suited to what the Warriors require to execute their style of footy. Tevaga has good hands, shifts the footy and through his footwork/mobility he is difficult to handle in the middle of the field where bigger bodies are trying to tackle him. Tevaga's rugged style ensures that the Warriors don't lose anything defensively and you could argue that they gain a bit defensively as Tevaga's defensive prowess epitomises how the Warriors went about their work without the footy; always show up for your defensive job.

Personally, I just don't think there was much competition for this award. Some, or most NRL teams don't have a player like Tevaga who consistently played off the bench and if they do, they don't have a player who legitimately adds value in that specific role. I love what Tevaga did this season, just gotta keep it real about that Dally M award.

The Warriors have also signed Tevaga for one season and there is an option for the following year. Their official announcement doesn't make it clear as to who the option is in favour of - do the Warriors or Tevaga decide whether 2020 is a go? - which is kinda important. That's because there is no certainty that Tevaga will enjoy the same role next season, considering that Nathaniel Roache will slide back into the mix at some stage. If Issac Luke re-signs, then it's going to be a stretch for coach Stephen Kearney to role with both Tevaga and Roache on the bench.

Depending on who has the option for 2020, Tevaga could see that the same opportunities aren't there now that Roache is healthy or the Warriors could view Tevaga as surplus to requirements. Much of that depends on whether Luke re-signs.

While the Warriors have definitely locked down their best young talent long-term, signing Tevaga for one year with an option isn't locking him down. There is still plenty of uncertainty around Tevaga's mid/long-term future with the Warriors, unlike Fusitu'a, Roache, Afoa, Ken Maumalo, Hayze Perham and Tevita Satae.

Afoa was already contracted for next season, so this deal adds another two years to that existing contract. Having got his early NRL opportunities as an edge forward, Afoa flourished as a middle forward this season and because of that, the Warriors moved in to bump that deal out to the end of 2021.

Both Afoa and Tevaga took their opportunities this season, thriving under the new Warriors regime. That's nek level awesome and these deals are only made possible because two young men accepted the challenge, performed at a high level and carved out their own niche in the Warriors top-17. Especially awesome when you consider that neither Afoa nor Tevaga played these roles last season; not only did they snap up their opportunities, they did so in positions/roles that they had very little NRL experience in.

That list of youngsters who are locked in long-term, with the top-tier talent that is on deck is reason to be hugely excited about the club. Here's the full list of players who are signed until at least 2020:

Bunty Afoa, Leeson Ah Mau, Gerard Beale, Adam Blair, David Fusitu'a, Blake Green, Tohu Harris, Peta Hiku, Sam Lisone, Ken Maumalo, Hayze Perham, Leivaha Pulu, Nathaniel Roache, Tevita Satae, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The most annoying narrative around the Warriors during my time writing about them has been the desire for hard and fast success. Fair play as even this year, under the new regime, the bosses kept saying how they want to win a Premiership this season etc. Obviously that's the goal and should be the goal every season, however I reckon the high level of play from the young brigade has been overlooked and taken for granted.

Afoa, Fusitu'a, Maumalo, Satae, Pulu, Isaiah Papali'i, Agnatius Paasi and Solomone Kata were all huge contributors this season in their first season with Kearney and Alex Corvo. Afoa, Fusitu'a, Maumalo, Paasi, Papali'i, Paasi and Kata were all regular, consistent selections and anyone who thinks that they are the finished product in 2018 is bonkers.

They were excellent this season and without their contributions, the Warriors don't make the Finals. Which was all done as youngsters, adjusting to a immense change in vibe at Mt Smart and given what we have already seen, it's fair to suspect that they will level up again over the summer and into next season.

As for Tevaga, he had a very specific role based on his skillset, the Warriors style and players available. This could change very quickly and while it would be fantastic to see Tevaga hold on to his bench forward role next season, thus enabling him to get even better at that job (better than Dally M interchange guy!?), there is uncertainty around that role moving forward.

Depending on whether Luke re-signs, this is a case of Luke, Tevaga and Roache competing for two spots in the top-17. Alternatively, it could be Tevaga, Roache, Karl Lawton competing for two spots. Or, *new recruit*, Tevaga and Roache. Hence, right now, no one can be certain as to how Tevaga fits in next season.

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Peace and love 27.