Aotearoa Warriors Diary: Pre-Season Challenge vs Dolphins Preview
New Zealand Warriors return to Mt Smart for their second Pre-Season Challenge game against Dolphins and coach Andrew Webster has tightened his rotation with the top-tier lads selected to play. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad won't be playing though as he is out injured which presents an opportunity for Taine Tuaupiki to build on sporadic appearances at fullback..
Tuaupiki isn't as robust as Nicoll-Klokstad, nor does he have the freakish grit that Nicoll-Klokstad displayed in the Aotearoa Kiwis campaign last year. Nicoll-Klokstad is the best fullback from Aotearoa and his presence is crucial to NZW success, especially given his defensive mana along with his security mopping up any kick. Tuaupiki has earned this opportunity because of what he has shown coach Webster in training, as well as his NSW Cup mahi so he must be ticking those boxes.
There is also more zip in Tuaupiki's running game that enables him to be effective against bigger bodies. The NZW have a system and as a few things below highlight, playing the role within that system is most important for coach Webster. This means that Tuaupiki will take a tough run around the ruck when NZW are grinding out of their territory before swinging out to the right edge as NZW approach the opposition try line.
Nicoll-Klokstad has grown into a fabulous fullback thanks to his play-making which flourished last season. Don't expect Tuaupiki to perfectly execute the key pass every time, but this will be a intriguing indicator of Tuaupiki as an NRL fullback. All these lads can run, bust tackles and they should have the stamina to do it for 80 minutes. NZW were a good footy team last year thanks to their passing and how Tuaupiki distributes the footy, while also offering his run threat will be a learning wrinkle to start the season.
Kurt Capewell will taste Mt Smart's mana for the first time and he is likely to play right edge with Jackson Ford on the other side. This should be an easy transition for Capewell despite a mid-summer shift from Broncos to NZW as Capewell and coach Webster shared time at Panthers before moving on to fresh challenges.
As impressive as Jacob Laban and any other lad outside the top-17 was against Tigers, coach Webster leans towards reliability in his selections. Ford and Capewell can be trusted to show up with repeat efforts for 80mins in attack and defence, which is likely to see them feature as the edge forward combo to start the season, while Marata Niukore's versatility can cover those slots coming off the bench.
Playing edge forward for coach Webster revolves around line running in attack and decision making in defence. Laban fits this perfectly and he executed decoy runs nicely against Tigers, making sure he ran through the defensive line without impeding a defender while also shining in the the cut-back lines that are a staple of NZW footy under coach Webster. Here is a basic examples of Ford and Laban running these lines, which are essentially 'unders' lines but after getting the footy they arc back out towards the sideline...
These plays pop up when NZW enter the opposition half. Sometimes the defence is sharp and waiting as was the case in Ford's example, sometimes the defence misses their assignment as was the case for Laban's try. Another staple of NZW footy is how they start from a penalty with three passes to a runner (Bunty Afoa below) who takes his run away from the opposition pressure and in the middle of the field...
This doesn't happen every time. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rocco Berry or Ali Leiataua will run themselves to keep defences honest and Tuivasa-Sheck is likely to run more often given his 'best footwork ever' ability. The edge forward running lines and the shift to middle from a penalty are simple NZW staples that inform folks about the opposition, just as much as they inform folks about how sharp NZW are.
In Laban's try and both the shifts to middle from penalties, Tigers aren't prepared or at least they aren't as locked in as better teams may be. Add in how NZW execute their shape to attack holes in the middle and other staples folks may spot, for a guide about how alert Dolphins are to NZW footy.
There are selection battles throughout the NZW squad. Adam Pompey and Ali Leiataua are competing with blokes ahead of them for outside back opportunities. Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin are battling to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves. Bunty Afoa and Tom Ale are hunting middle forward minutes. These battles are fun to ponder with the homies, but most importantly they are signs of depth and the brutal NRL season will sort these battles out. Lads will get injured and suspended, so having options in every position, or every role is one of the best attributes of the current NZW squad.
The middle forward rotation is always fascinating as coach Webster balances grit, size, mobility and skill. NZW love small forwards such as Jazz Tevaga, Dylan Walker, Kalani Going (not playing vs Dolphins) and there is always a spot up for grabs for a running middle forward who has the run-it-straight job.
This is evident in how Afoa and Ale are deployed. Afoa saw his minutes dip below 30mins/game for the first time since 2017 (when he played a bit of edge forward) in coach Webster's first season, after a career-high mark in 2022. Ale's minutes stayed the same, even though he flashed the ability to play more with his power/agility. Both played wee roles in their first few seasons so they have been trimmed away…
Bunty Afoa minutes per game
2018: 35
2019: 33.9
2021: 32.9
2022: 38.8
2023: 29.6
Tom Ale minutes per game
2022: 24
2023 25.4
Youngsters selected to play Dolphins are Leiataua, Laban, Leka Halasima, Moala Graham-Taufa and Setu Tu. The two wingers were impressive vs Tigers and Graham-Taufa's ability to play centre/wing like Pompey and Leiataua is likely to boost his case for more opportunities. Halasima is the dude to watch out for and track during the Dolphins game though as he churned out middle forward mahi with ease against Tigers despite being one of the youngest players on the field.
Where Halasima plays against Tigers will be the funkiest NZW wrinkle. Middle mahi is the likeliest scenario for Halasima as he develops his footy to an NRL level, but Halasima also played edge and centre in NSW Cup last year. Halasima has the physicality to handle middle mahi as well as the mobility to play on the edges and this makes him the most intriguing NZW youngster right now.
Versatility is crucial for getting NRL minutes and coach Webster has embraced this with players like the centre/wingers, Niukore, Dylan Walker and Mitchell Barnett. While Halasima probably won't get a crack in the opening stanza of the NRL season, these trial opportunities will set the tone for how coach Webster brews Halasima as one of, if not the best prospect in the NRL.
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