It isn't just a slow start for New Zealand Warriors in the NRL as they are 1-5 across the top three grades after two rounds and the NRL crew now face a niggly challenge against Raiders in Christchurch. The Under 17 team (4-2) is the only Aotearoa Warriors team with a winning record in 2024 and along with the 3-4 Under 19 team, they share positive points differential. From Under 21s to NRL, all three teams have conceded more points than they have scored and anyone who assumed that success carries on from the previous season is being reminded that it takes improvement to stay in the same top-eight zone.

NZW were without Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Wayde Egan against Storm. Missing two spine players will hinder any NRL team's chances of winning and this is amplified for NZW in Melbourne as they usually struggle regardless of who is playing. Egan is listed to return for this encounter vs Raiders and Taine Tuaupiki is still filling the fullback hole.

What has Tuaupiki done in his two games at fullback so far? 1 try assist, 10 tackle breaks, 88.8% tackling and 192m/game. Most notably, Tuaupiki has improved from his 66.6% tackling and 132m/game in 2023. Add in the fact that Tuaupiki has the most kick return metres in the NRL after two games...

Kick Return Metres

• Taine Tuaupiki: 270m

• Dylan Edwards: 209m

• Clint Gutherson: 159m

• Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow: 148m

• William Kennedy: 147m

Despite his size, Tuaupiki is able to wiggle between defenders and bounce across them. Opposition teams are probably targeting Tuaupiki with their kicks to make sure that the smallest lad in the NZW team has to run and so far he has responded nicely. Tuaupiki's lively running is also evident in him averaging 10.68m/run (19 runs) and 10.58m/run (17 runs) in his two games this season.

With Tuaupiki leading the NRL for kick return metres, NZW are first in the NRL as well. NZW are also second for line engaged and they sit behind Panthers in this category, reflecting how coach Andrew Webster is rolling out attacking movements and shape to make defenders bite. Egan is the best at this and seeing how this is a fundamental element of NZW footy serves as a reminder of how important he is around the ruck.

NZ Warriors Stat Rankings

• Tries: 11th

• Set Completion: 7th - 79%

• Supports: 13th

• Line Engaged: 2nd

• Post Contact Metres: 11th

• Tackle Breaks: 8th

• Kick Return Metres: 1st

• Dummy Half Runs: 11th

• Offloads: 10th

• Missed Tackles: 10th

• Errors: 12th

• Penalties Conceded: 10th

The rest of the NZW stats stuff sits in the middle of the NRL. This is a positive considering that NZW are 0-2 and suggests that they aren't in horrible form. NZW have had tricky fixtures to start the season, they haven't played their best footy and now they take on a Raiders team who are playing excellent footy. This game is in Christchurch where rugby league is thriving and this game could see NZW draw a crowd closer to 20,000 which is the benchmark at Mt Smart.

Crowds for last five NRL/Trial games in Christchurch

• 2016 vs Panthers: 18,000

• 2018 vs Sea Eagles: 17,357

• 2019 vs Sea Eagles: 11,774

• 2023 Trial vs Storm: 12,000

• 2024 Trial vs Tigers: 13,760

The bench rotation is still intriguing, specifically the Bunty Afoa/Tom Ale pocket. After setting this up in his Aotearoa Warriors Diary, here is an update for the first two games of this season...

Bunty Afoa minutes per game

• 2018: 35

• 2019: 33.9

• 2021: 32.9

• 2022: 38.8

• 2023: 29.6

• 2024: 20

Tom Ale minutes per game

• 2022: 24

• 2023 25.4

• 2024: 14

Significant dips for both lads there, roughly 10mins less each per game. Maybe the minutes will increase throughout the season and it's likely that bigger opportunities will arise through injury/suspension. This doesn't seem like the best use of resources though and it's something to keep tabs on moving forward.

Jacob Laban's two seasons of NSW Cup...

• 2023: 17 games, 5 tries, 4 linebreaks, 3 offloads, 88.5% tackling, 74m/game

• 2024: 2 games, 2 tries, 2 linebreaks, 94.7% tackling, 105m/game

Zyon Maiu'u returns for the NSW Cup team this weekend for their game vs Raiders in Australia. This will be played on Saturday so there isn't much space for crossover with the NRL squad which means less fringe NRL lads and more hearty NSW Cup troopers. Eddie Ieremia-Toeva has made a development leap from bench impact forward to a starting prop, playing 43mins off the bench in round one and then had 53mins as starting prop.

Tanner Stowers-Smith has played 35mins and 39mins as starting prop in NSW Cup. Maiu'u is listed to start alongside Ieremia-Toeava with Stowers-Smith coming off the bench. There isn't a clear pecking order here and all three have NRL upside, as well as all three being U21 eligible but only playing NSW Cup. Given that Maiu'u went straight into NSW Cup last year, Stowers-Smith quickly transitioned from U19s to NSW Cup and Ieremia-Toeava had to brew in Fox Memorial after U19s before rising to NSW Cup; Ieremia-Toeava is making the best impression to start 2024.

Quinnlan Tupou is also getting game time in NSW Cup coming off the bench. Tupou flashed his powerful running in the pre-season and is part of a cluster of NSW Cup lads like Jeremiah Schuster and Toni Tupouniua who are making the most of their opportunity with NZW.

Fresh off Egan injuries and Freddy Lussick extending his time with NZW, here are the dummy halves who are playing/lurking in the NZW pipeline and all these lads are from Aotearoa...

• NSW Cup: Paul Roache, Dylan Tavita, Etuate Fukofuka

• U21s: Caleb Laiman, Noah Harmer-Campbell, Makaia Tafua

• U19s: Jacob Auloa, Jeriko Filipi

• U17s: Kaawyn Patterson

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