Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Signing Kurt Capewell & Depth Chart
Aotearoa Warriors have officially signed Kurt Capewell for next season and beyond, adding a veteran presence at edge forward while also reminding folks of how easy it is to wiggle out of an NRL contract. As long as the various parties involved are all good with the outcome, contracts mean very little in the NRL and with minimal structure around player movement, surprising signings like Capewell are always possible.
Even more surprising when NZW are making these moves undercover. Before news came through that Capewell was considering a move to Aotearoa, not many folks had him as a possible target. With the two Andys (McFadden and Webster) running the footy department at NZW, many signings and extensions are sliding under the radar of Australian media.
The two Andys also seem to have the salary cap sussed. All we can do is speculate about the NRL salary cap and assess how the cap looks based on actions from NZW. Since the end of the season, NZW locked down a bunch of local juniors who offer fabulous value and this opens up space to secure the older players who command a bigger slice of the salary cap. NZW are not paying overs for anyone at the moment and the sneaky excellent pipeline of talent ensures that cheaper young players are hungry for an opportunity.
There is constant noise about Aussie players wanting to return to Australia, or NZW struggling to sign players from Australia. Don't worry about the pandemic era because Aussie players only joined NZW as they could stay in Australia. As NZW exited the pandemic they signed Mitch Barnett, Jackson Ford and Luke Metcalf to move to Aotearoa.
Capewell is the latest Australian player shifting to Aotearoa and NZW have also been able to recruit juniors from Australia. Even Ben Farr left Australia to play NSW Cup with NZW and he's worked his way into the wider NRL squad. As well as these signings at different levels of the wider NRL squad, NZW officially announced the signing of Tom Summer from Tweed Heads to bolster their middle forward stocks in either Under 19 SG Ball or U21 Jersey Flegg. There is also Jesse Soric who apparently signed with NZW from Byron Bay as a half.
These bits of junior recruitment will become more clear when NZW junior squads are announced. NZW have a solid list of recruits from Australia that stretch across all levels from Capewell down to Summer. For every Addin Fonua-Blake, NZW are able to recruit players from Australia that target a specific need. Add in players from Aotearoa who embrace the mana of being based at Mt Smart and NZW are now attracting players who want to be in the mix.
Signing Capewell may suggest that Marata Niukore will move to the middle, or at least own a bench spot that allows him to role through a middle rotation while covering edge. Capewell averaged 76.2 minutes per game last season with Broncos and he is essentially an 80-minute edge forward, giving NZW two of these lads with Ford settling into this role last season. For context, Josh Curran averaged 48.9mins/game and while Capewell started in all 24 games last season, Curran started in six of his 23 games.
The value of Niukore is that he adds oomph to the middle and his brutality may be better suited to that role, while also covering multiple positions mid-game. If Niukore is playing more through the middle, NZW have an intriguing tight-five of middle forwards; Tohu Harris, Addin Fonua-Blake, Mitch Barnett, Dylan Walker and Niukore.
Here is an NZW NRL squad depth chart
Fullback: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki
Wingers: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Marcelo Montoya, Edward Kosi, Ali Leiataua
Centres: Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Halves: Shaun Johnson, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Ronald Volkman
Middles: Tohu Harris, Addin Fonua-Blake, Mitch Barnett, Dylan Walker, Marata Niukore, Jazz Tevaga, Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Zyon Maiu'u (Kalani Going)
Edges: Jackson Ford, Kurt Capwell, Demitric Sifakula, Jacob Laban
Hookers: Wayde Egan, Freddie Lussick, Chanel Harris-Tavita (Paul Roache)
Kalani Going and Paul Roache are included, but they are in a vague spot without contracts. Both offer value to the wider NRL squad and given how they made NRL debuts followed by Aotearoa A selection, this is an assumption that they are still in the mix. This has been updated to include Chanel Harris-Tavita who can cover any backline spot, halves, hooker and small forward. Signing Harris-Tavita is aligned with the versatility of this squad and the strength of the roster is evident in Harris-Tavita not being a top-17 certainty to start the season.
The funkiest zone of the NZW squad is Tuivasa-Sheck and Leiataua. Tuivasa-Sheck is likely to get a starting centre role which could bump Pompey to wing, while also cluttering Leiataua's path to NRL opportunities. This competition will bring the best out of these players and Leiataua could demand selection in any backline position. Leiataua played fullback for NZW SGB in 2020 and most of his NZRL representative footy was at fullback while playing midfield in 1st 15 rugby union. Leiataua made his NRL debut at centre and dabbled in wing mahi this year, as well as a dominant display in the halves for NSW Cup Warriors.
Of all the outside backs, Leiataua has the widest range for where he could slot in. This highlights the depth on offer for NZW as they have options or solid back ups in every position. This includes multiple options in the 'small forward' role where Walker, Tevaga, Harris-Tavita and Going are capable of playing rugged footy through the middle with more mobility than the big boppers. Signing Capewell adds to this versatility, not because Capewell can stretch to cover centre, but because Capewell's addition to the NZW squad as a reliable edge forward opens space for someone like Niukore to do what he does best.
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