Two things are happening with Aotearoa Warriors...

They are linked to a bargain deal for Ash Taylor.

Sebastyan Jack is the only Warriors halves junior from Aotearoa who made the move to Redcliffe.

This two things may be related and I'm curious to see how this plays out. Let's start with Jack who is a Marist Saints junior and played in the 2020 Warriors SG Ball team, then moved over to Redcliffe with a small army of Warriors juniors. Jack played alongside outside back Eric Va'afusuaga in the Redcliffe Aihe Mal Meninga Cup team (U18). Warriors don't have any Aotearoa halves in their Redcliffe U21 and Intrust Super Cup teams.

Across other positions, the Warriors are stacked with depth that is from Aotearoa and moved to Redcliffe. Viliami Vailea and Taniela Otukolo played SG Ball alongside Jack last year, while there are plenty of outside backs and forwards in this group of Warriors juniors who played for the three Redcliffe Aihe teams. Chuck in notable Warriors juniors that we know about in 1st 15 or local rugby league such as Zyon Maiu'u, Jacob Laban, Tony Tafa, Francis Manuleleua, Ali Leiataua, Jeremiah Asi and Tamakaimoana Whareaorere; Kings College 1st 15 midfielder Manuleleua is the only one who could be a half.

Both of Jack's halves partners in the Warriors SG Ball team have moved to Australia. Sione Moala started most games alongside Jack and he went to Canberra Raiders SG Ball where he and Christchurch Boys High School 1st 15 trooper Jack Sandford won that competition this year. Cassius Cowley played a game in place of Jack and Cowley then moved to Brisbane where he's been playing with Wynnum-Manly Seagulls.

Those departures were part of a mini Warriors exodus as they couldn't keep their SG Ball team under the current conditions. Many players from that SG Ball team moved to Australia and there will be the standard Warriors negativity here, yet the Kiwi-NRL takeover is lit and way more fun.

Ultimately I have emptied my Warriors brain and found one half in Jack. Don't expect Jack to sniff anything close to NRL next season or beyond as he was clearly placed in the best development position for himself. This is more about explaining the Ash Taylor type of signing and less about identifying who the gun halves prospect is on the Warriors roster.

This lack of halves talent is not evident in other positions for Warriors. To the point where it may be by design and this is why I'm curious to see how this all plays out. Catching the vibe here, I reckon Peter O'Sullivan is aware of what the Warriors NRL team require and how Warriors juniors can add the most to the NRL team.

In less than 12 months we saw Vailea go from U18s/1st 15 rugby to NRL and Otukolo play NRL without any reserve grade footy. I've seen the Kepu twins quickly progress through Redcliffe's U21s to ISC and both played in a finals game last weekend. The Warriors are stacked for depth in positions that are better suited to athletes, physicality, power and mobility.

In the halves positions there is a need for experience and solid footy every week. Shaun Johnson offers that and Chanel Harris-Tavita is now entering his fourth season with 37 games to his name. Should the Warriors sign Taylor, he has 115 games of experience since making his debut in 2015 and regardless of how you view Taylor he does at least provide a solid halves option. Even the funkiest possible signings like Joseph Manu are well acquainted with the weekly grind of NRL footy.

I suspect any half the Warriors sign will be of this variety. Three solid halves with experience will be crucial in supporting Reece Walsh, even better if the Warriors can find a consistent hooking rotation of Wayde Egan and Otukolo. I do not believe the Warriors want a debutant half slowing their progress down and while their youthful juniors can plug a bunch of other positions, experience will be more useful in key positions.

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