Diary Of An Aotearoa Warriors Fan: Five Funky Things
No fuss, just five Aotearoa Warriors things to ponder.
Shaun Johnson Loves Aotearoa Warriors
Upon his return to Warriors, it is tremendously clear that Shaun Johnson loves the club. Johnson is a leader of the club as this sets the vibe which is flowing down the estuary to impact his play-making comrades. Warriors have a spiritual leader as well as a bloke who ticks all the footy leadership boxes for a halfback. Johnson's kicking game is among the best in the NRL and he was able to take his team downfield with booming penalty kicks for touch vs Cowboys, while also executing a wide variety of kicks consistently.
Johnson has a try assist in each game he's played this season and 3 Forced Drop Outs (none vs Cowboys). Johnson is averaging 453.27 kicking metres/game which is the most of his career and only the second season with 400+ kicking metres/game. That's lovely halfback play but more importantly, there are signs that this is influencing the mahi from Chanel Harris-Tavita and Reece Walsh.
Chanel Harris-Tavita and Reed Mahoney are the only players with two 40/20s this season. Harris-Tavita also has 3 FDO and 2 TA which has him on track for his best season, while his 69 running metres/game is also a career best right now. Walsh has 2 FDO and that's already tied with last season's tally, plus he has gone from 119m/game to 173m/game. Small signs of these three working well together and executing their roles.
Tu Meke Addin Fonua-Blake
Addin Fonua-Blake was exceptional once again in leading Warriors to victory over Cowboys. While Jason Taumalolo won their match up, Fonua-Blake appears to be playing injured and his general stats are slightly lower for this game because it was his first game of the season playing less than 50mins. Battling injury and churning out five games of 40+ mins, 60+ Post Contact Metres, 150+ Metres while tacking with 96.3 percent efficiency.
When Warriors needed Fonua-Blake the most, he commanded runs with three carries in less than three minutes of golden point. Fonua-Blake averaged 10.43m/run vs Cowboys and while he is among the best props in the NRL because he does that every game, this looks glorious in clutch moments. Here's an example...
Fonua-Blake is 2nd for PCM and 6th for RM. He averages 171.1m/game this season and that's a career high mark. Similar to Johnson, Fonua-Blake appears to be shining as a leader for Warriors and is showing an exciting level of passion for Warriors footy. Mt Smart will love Fonua-Blake.
Players Seem To Be Improving
Fonua-Blake, Johnson, Harris-Tavita and Walsh have all shown signs of development. Stretch this out further and Jesse Arthars has elevated his mahi since joining from Broncos, Ed Kosi is settling into the NRL grind while Marcelo Montoya has become a very solid NRL winger with Warriors. Adam Pompey covers multiple positions and is continuing his development; this is his first season tackling over 90 percent.
Wayde Egan is in his first season averaging over 50m/game and has improved each season at Warriors. We all know the Josh Curran yarn, Euan Aitken embraced his role change and has been coached to deal with the change. There is a decent group of eager forwards who can step in each week to play a role as well and that group is led by the uso Bunty Afoa now averaging over 100m/game for the first time in his career.
Afoa and the Aotearoa lads in NRL or with Redcliffe have all shown development since being based in Australia. Aussie players are buying in to the process and coaching, eager to add value. However you view Warriors, player development is evident.
Ali Leiataua and Aotearoa Aihe (Dolphins)
Player development? Last year Ali Leiataua stepped up age-groups (like many did and are doing) to play NZRL Under 20s, then he settled back into 1st 15 footy and the Papatoetoe Panthers junior has now gone from 1st 15 to scoring four tries for Redcliffe U21s over the weekend. That was Leiataua's first game for Redcliffe U21s as well, starting at centre and he was joined by 2020 Warriors SG Ball homies Eric Va'afusuaga (Kings College), Kina Kepu (Manurewa/Otahuhu) and Lleyton Finau (Marist) in the Redcliffe U21s team this round.
Zyon Maiu'u (Te Atatu) is floating around the U21s as well, while Jacob Laban (Randwick) has been a consistent presence in Redcliffe U18s. Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo (Bay Roskill) and Tamakaimoana Whareaorere (Te Puke) have also played U18s this season.
Low Expectations
Three wins in a row against Tigers, Broncos and Cowboys. Next up are Roosters, Storm, Raiders, Sharks and Rabbitohs. Warriors are right where they usually are in being better that the stinky-drama clubs and there is nothing to suggest that Warriors are a funky finals team. Three wins in a row does nothing to expectations or what this team is capable of, they are just the same old Warriors that we love. Manage expectations to manage the vibe.
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Peace and love.