Under the guidance of the two Andys, Aotearoa Warriors laid down foundations in 2023 from which the can build on top of. This yarn breaks down three staples of NZ Warriors footy that are likely to continue this season and as they stick to stuff happening on the field, there are a few fundamentals of NZW mahi to highlight off the field as well.

First and foremost is ownership that is willing to spend money. This may come in the form of ownership splashing cash or investing in different initiatives that can fund an NRL system that with a fabulous game-day experience, connection to community and five teams below the NRL team with a wahine outfit coming soon. Sending the Under 17 Harold Matthews , Under 19 SG Ball and Under 21 Jersey Flegg teams to Australia every second week isn't cheap which is why it hasn't happened before.

Another key staple of NZW business is that you probably don't know what's going to happen in the player market. The Addin Fonua-Blake saga was the noisiest bit of NZW business and it seems as though the saga was sparked by Fonua-Blake's management, which NZW can't control. NZW could control their response though and this fire was quickly snuffed out with a decent outcome for both parties.

The two Andys, specifically Andrew McFadden in the player recruitment zone but also Andrew Webster who was instrumental in luring Kurt Capewell to Mt Smart, go about their business quietly. Capewell's move wasn't public until it was essentially a done deal and we were all preparing for Ronald Volkman to be part of the 2024 season until he wasn't.

About Volkman's unfortunate situation with Dragons: obviously it stinks for him. Once Volkman requested a release though and NZW granted that release, NZW bow out of this equation. Requesting a release when battling some kind of injury may not be the wisest move.

The less NZW participate in Australia's icky NRL media space, the better. The two Andys have vast connections throughout rugby league and at this stage, they have earned trust of NZW fandom. Part of this trust involves building depth across all positions and this staple was evident on the field last season as youngsters emerged to plug a hole, or nifty recruitment brought in players who can cover multiple positions mid-game without losing quality of performance.

All of which weaves together for the flax kete of an NZW system. This is a staple of NZW to watch out for as it was only on display in the NRL/NSW Cup tier where the reserve grade team played a similar style, with similar roles as the NRL team. NZW fans should expect this to blossom throughout the three levels below NSW Cup and is the most notable element of NZW to follow in 2024. Let's get on the field...

Passing

NZW were one of the most skillful teams last season with capable passers at every checkpoint of the structure. This can be simplified to a passing spine of Wayde Egan (see below), Tohu Harris, Shaun Johnson and Te Maire Martin who have deep baggies of passes to deploy in both directions. Fonua-Blake has subtle skills and Dylan Walker has a halves background which are assets in NZW shapes too.

This flows out to the centres where Rocco Berry and Adam Pompey can offload with one hand for their wingers. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has consistently showcased his passing skills at the end of shape for NZW and Aotearoa Kiwis as well. With so many capable passers who can pass in both directions as well as offering a disguise for their pass, NZW amplify the funk with decoy runners.

NZW averaged 49.7 decoy runs per game last season. This was third in the NRL and while accounting for more decoy runs across the whole NRL last season, it was a significant increase from 35.2 decoy runs in 2022. The teams with more decoy runs than NZW last season were Dragons (50.4) and Storm (53), neither of whom have the quantity or quality of passing like NZW. A decoy run only matters if the defence bites on that runner and passing skill (disguising the pass) is instrumental in making defenders bite on a decoy.

Dummy Half Craft

Wayde Egan should be celebrated as much as Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for every try scored in the corner. The passing staple starts with Egan who can throw accurate passes in both directions and before pondering how every dummy half should be able to do that, many can't. That is basic dummy half mahi though and Egan elevates above that tier by playing in slow motion with the ability to lure in defenders before shuffling a pass along, or bouncing out to one side and passing across the ruck to the other side of the field.

Egan is not powerful and doesn't have a burst of speed like other dummy halves, yet Egan consistently sucks defenders towards the ruck. The beauty of this is how Egan acts as force of gravity for defenders who don't think they need to track Egan (because he's not powerful or fast) but are lured in, thanks to Egan's subtle slow-mo.

Egan's average run metres have increased as the number of dummy half runs per game has steadily decreased for NZW...

• 2021: 8.3 DHR | 39m/game for Egan

• 2022: 7.8 DHR | 49m/game for Egan

• 2023: 6.4 DHR | 51m/game for Egan

There are many factors influencing those stats including Egan popping up in support for example. The fact that Egan's average run metres per game have increased in all six of his NRL seasons highlights his development and more craft will lead to more space around the ruck.

This goes beyond Egan though as Nicoll-Klokstad is also brewing a lovely combination by hovering around the ruck in midfield areas, before swinging out to the edge in attacking zones. A few dummy half trick plays were rolled out last season featuring Egan and Nicoll-Klokstad which was their first season playing together. NZW fans should expect growth in this combo and it will only increase the gravitational pull of defenders towards the ruck. Not only is that combo brewing, Freddy Lussick offered similar wrinkles in his opportunities last season and how Etuate Fukofuka (who does have power/speed/kicking skills) learns from Egan is an exciting aspect to track.

Mobile Defenders

NZW averaged more missed tackles last season (33.4) than each of the niggly pandemic seasons prior. However, most folks will agree that last season was a fantastic defensive season and one of the best NZW defensive campaigns of their existence. Many factors are at play here once again but it feels similar to Jackson Ford being the 'worst tackler' for NZW as he missed the most tackles overall (11th - 87) with the highest average (3.6 per game).

Without diving too deep into the tackling mangroves, Ford misses tackles because he always shows up to make at least try and tackle. Ford's fitness and effort are celebrated at Mt Smart which saw him earn a consistent edge forward role, so it should be viewed as a positive rather than Ford being a stink defender. This serves to highlight how having more mobile defenders who are always in the frame to make a defensive play can lead to more missed tackles without any negative impact on NZW defence.

The most 'sluggish' defender could be Fonua-Blake and he isn't slow to make tackles or cover space by any stretch. Mobile defence is boost by having the speed of Walker in the middle as well as Nicoll-Klokstad's gut-busting efforts to shut down attacking motions. A key trend in building this mobile defence is how Tohu Harris and Marata Niukore have played centre in the NRL previously, which could morph into Harris, Niukore and Mitchell Barnett playing as middles this season having spent plenty of time as edge forwards.

No matter how bung Harris' knees are or how Niukore may slow down as he matures, these lads grew up moving and grooving as edge forwards. This doesn't impact their physicality in the middle though as Harris is a glorious 'catch, wrap, wrestle' defender while Barnett and Niukore are as aggressive as Finn Allen's T20 batting.

This may have have impacted Bunty Afoa's game time but we will wait and see what happens this season. The next up forwards are all aggressive and mobile (Demitric Sifakula and Zyon Maiu'u), plus NZW have Jazz Tevaga alongside Walker in the small forward slot that can ensure NZW always have a smaller but rugged bloke covering space.

Out in the backline, Te Maire Martin is likely to be the starting half alongside Shaun Johnson because of his passing and defensive efforts. Martin fits into the NZW system perfectly and while one would expect the backs to offer mobility, Martin consistently popped up on the other side of the field to make a tackle last season. Martin is not as fast as Luke Metcalf, yet he is a better passer and adds value to the defensive scheme of NZW.

Don't tell anyone but Rocco Berry's tackling is just as good as his attacking mahi.

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Peace and love.