Thanks for the background. really good read that and looking forward to seeing the big man in action.

Although from what`s been said he doesn`t like the donkey work coming away from the line.
He does sound like another Ryan Hall type player though which can`t be too bad.

Think you just contradicted yourself .

and it effects his game.

Haha you might be right.
What I was meaning was in reply to Jack Burton who said let`s hope he can take it in from the line and do the hard yards.
However a NZ Warriors fan said he doesn`t like doing that.
But maybe we will get a Ryan Hall type player and will be expected to do all that and finish well 10 metres out.
Don`t think my latest explanation has helped at all mate!

We’ll have a good kicking game on his side of the field next year, Martin has good pace for a back row and Newman is… Newman. He will certainly need to get his passing game sorted otherwise that’s a heck of a waste of talent outside him.

You’d have to be happy with that set for a RHS combination in a Super League side though.

It’s nice that Leeds can really play both sides too - in fact our right has more strike than our left now.

He didn't seem to mind doing his share when that was not the only reason the Warriors were using him. It became more of an issue when it became apparent that the Warriors outside backs were no longer capable of using him as a try scorer, that was when his game slipped.
The Warriors used a formulaic big Winger kick return start to all sets, Ken Maumalo was their other big winger, he is enormous. Those two, Fusitua and Maumalo, would carry the Props work, it has been that way at the Warriors going back a decade through the Vatuvei era...big Winger plays like a prop.

David has twinkle toes, he is a horse that needs to run, he just needs to get back to try scoring, you cannot stop him when he gets on a roll, a happy David is a nightmare to mark in the red zone. Once he locks onto that corner flag it is game over.

Great great insight

His Tongan appearances seem to be poles apart from his recent Warriors efforts too.
Let us hope that we can keep him happy, seems to be down to managment from the outside looking in

Big challenge for the coaching staff this year is to get a bit more width and fluency in our game in order that the likes of Fusitua, Handley and Newman can profit. This year we were very much down the middle (Dwyer & Leeming top scorers) and of course this was dictated by the constant injuries to our playmakers, but next year, with upgrades in these positions, we can play a more ambitious brand of football. Looking forward to it.

It was very rare that our half backs put our centres in a position to draw and pass to our wingers, so it is hard to be too critical of our centres. On most occasions, our centres would be swamped by the time they had received a pass.

I am hoping with new half backs that this will see a big improvement.

We should see some. Quick ptbs and some accuracy from dh will only help further, hopefully that's on the cards too.

We've got a truly world class back again now.....
Unbelievable business, considering Warriors paying a chunk of his salary too....!

Good point. We gave lots lack of quality half back options now. We have one of best squads again....

or 3 rejects

Let's hope that Dwyer doesn't get much game time then! Love the guys attitude but he can't pass which is a major issue for a hooker! If you dummy half has to stand up before they pass the ball and then its a big looping pass the balls never going to reach the wing even if you had Sterling and Lewis in the halves. Watch Roby one short step and fast accurate no nonsense pass. In real terms it equates to about 5 yards of space between the defensive line and the offence. We keep talking about props but they are only as good as the ball they run onto. Hooker is the most important position in the modern game.

Good signing, but now you need a pack of forwards that can play for 80mins to match Saints????????????????

Walmsley Lussick Lees
Mata’utia Sironen
Knowles

LMS Roby Paasi
Hurrell Batchelor
Bell

Amor Smith Norman
Forster Wingfield
Baxter

That’s a lot of forwards

If you don't fancy Roby as a starter happy to take him on a free

Oledski Leeming prior
Bentley Martin
Smith

Holroyd Dwyer Tetevano
Mellor gannon
Donaldson

Thompson Johnson Mustapha
Walters edwards
O’Connor

Saints have more depth at prop, I would say we have more depth in the back row. If Hurrell is in the top 4 options for Saints in back row then with a couple of injuries they might have a couple of issues. Couldn’t defend at centre so no chance he can defend there, don’t care how fit he gets.

Other than Bentley that was your best forwards LAST year that could not match Saints intensity and speed so what's going to change?

Your original point was about the number of forwards. I simply responded in relation to depth.

In terms of your second point, I would respond with the following:

1. Tetevano is in his second year and played a small number of games last year, he is a marquee forward so keeping him fit and on the field makes a difference.
2. Oledzki will be a year better as will Holroyd.
2. Injuries! Saints had limited injuries last year, if they did then that had reasonable cover. Leeds if they can keep their squad relatively injury free would naturally be closer. Take out Walmsley and Knowles like we did Tetevano and oledzki and Saints drop significantly.
3. Saints let go thompson and Bentley and brought in Sironen who had some of his own injury issues. So depth wise Saints have 3 decent back row options (excluding the 13 position) which is sironen, mata’utia and batchelor, that’s one player lighter than last year, I wouldn’t class Bell as anything other than a 13 myself. Leeds have Bentley, Martin, Mellor, gannon and Walters. As I said originally more depth for Leeds to cover those injuries but Saints have more cover in the front row and probably at 13 as well.
4. Roby is a year older, Leeming is a year better and won’t be playing in the halves. lussick is a good player but hasn’t played much and is coming into a new system.
5. LMS is 36 in Jan, Amor 35 in May. Injuries and age will creep up on them, especially if they have to play more to cover any injuries.

Do Saints have a quality pack, yes.
Is it better than Leeds, yes.
Will Leeds be closer to Saints in the pack this year, yes.
If Saints get injuries will they be as dominant in the pack, no.

Leeds aren’t where they need to be yet, they will be closer next year and the year after if they get the recruitment right they will hopefully be there.

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Hopefully they might actually play against you. Injuries consistently prevented Leeds getting their best pack on the field. Playing with actual half backs will make a difference too. In fairness I look at Saints squad and see the best collection of players in the northern hemisphere. You should win it again next year, but sport isn't always like that. As they say, pride comes before a fall (Leeds should know) and chances are that next year the chasing pack will edge a bit closer and Saints might have to face a bit of adversity with long term injuries etc. Maybe you won't have as much to crow about.

This theory only works if the rate of progress at Saints is slower than the rate of progress of the rest. If they progress at the same rate Saints move even further ahead.

Great insight.

Stop comparing us with Saints. They are head and shoulders above us. We are now capable of competing with every other team in the league

Were building nicely, weve as good a group of young players as there is in the British game and we will get there. Top 3 should be our aim next year which would be progression.

To keep comparing us to Saints isnt fair on the team.

Nothing wrong with comparing with Saints imo, they're the standard, excellent team that we need to try to compete with.

They were head and shoulders above us last season, dosnt mean they will be next. Looking at our team from that playoff loss to what it will look like next season...Theres a huge difference in quality.

Fusitua in at wing, L Briscoe out...Huge upgrade

L Suttcliffe in at centre, T Briscoe out...Upgrade

Sezer + Austin/Gale in at halfbacks...Leeming + Lui out...Huge upgrade

Bentley in at 2nd row, Donaldson out...Big upgrade

Leeming in at 9, Dwyer out...Big upgrade

Knock on effect is players who started that game are now bench and squad options, strengthening those areas aswel.

I thought we played like we lacked belief we could win that playoff game, hopefully the influx in quality will adress that across the squad.

Saints are the team to beat and have also improved and signed well for next season, they will rightly start as favorites, but, on paper we'v closed the gap imo. With a bit of luck in our favour and a bit of bad luck in theres, it could be enough, who knows.

Seen on the club website we were advertising the Strength+conditioning role, we need to get that hire right aswel.