Team Talk: Warriors 2023 overview, best 17, squad update
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A new coach, plenty of new faces and a long-awaited return to being based in New Zealand.
Much has changed for the Warriors since the end of the 2022 season, and given the way things transpired in a 15th-placed finish, that can only be a good thing.
After making a decent start to last season by winning half of their opening eight games, the Warriors lost their next seven, and by the time they returned to play games in New Zealand in Round 16 their campaign was all but over.
Any distractions that came from the head coaching position being vacant last year are gone after the club secured the services of premiership-winning Panthers assistant Andrew Webster, while a busy recruitment drive has seen them add eight new names to the roster, with more set to come before Round 1.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
5th Position
away Team
Knights
13th Position
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Predicted Round 1 team
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
- Viliami Vailea
- Adam Pompey
- Marcelo Montoya
- Te Maire Martin
- Shaun Johnson
- Addin Fonua-Blake
- Wayde Egan
- Mitch Barnett
- Josh Curran
- Marata Niukore
- Tohu Harris
- Dylan Walker
- Bunty Afoa
- Jackson Ford
- Bayley Sironen
Other: Tom Ale, Brayden Williame, Edward Kosi, Taine Tuaupiki, Freddy Lussick, Jazz Tevaga (injured), Luke Metcalf (injured), Rocco Berry, Ronald Volkman, Valingi Kepu, Demitric Sifakula, Zyon Maiu’u (development), Ali Leiataua (development), Jacob Laban (development).
Barnett: I want to try and lead from the front
Squad watch
- Squad spots filled: 28/30
After releasing Ben Murdoch-Masila, Taniela Otukolo and Otukinekina Kepu from their contracts in January, the Warriors have two spots open in their top 30 squad ahead of the new season, with a front-rower or two at the top of their wishlist.
Regardless of who they sign, it will be a refreshed line-up which takes the field in 2023 with five off-season recruits likely to command spots in the Round 1 side.
Coach Webster has been forthcoming with thoughts on his preferred line up, which includes a desire to use Dylan Walker off the bench and have Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad as the first-choice fullback.
Tohu Harris will likely wear the No.10 jersey out of preference but play lock. While he may miss out on a spot for the season opener with a hamstring injury, new signing Luke Metcalf, who can play halves or fullback, will be one to watch after impressing through the first couple of months of pre-season training.
The club have improved their overall squad depth for 2023 thanks to the addition of players like Walker, Metcalf and Marata Niukore, who can all cover a number of positions.
Health watch
Utility forward Jazz Tevaga is likely to sit out the opening round or two as he comes back from hernia repair surgery.
Rocco Berry (toe) hasn't played in any Pre-season Challenge matches, but is expected to return for Round 1 selection.
Half Luke Metcalf injured his hamstring in the side's big Pre-Season Challenge match in the opening weekend and is expected to spend a “lengthy period of time on the sideline”.
Prop Valingi Kepu has been ruled out for the season following a severe Left foot Lisfranc injury suffered in a wrestling drill at training.
Most contentious position
The Warriors have options galore at centre and it's the spot hardest to predict right now.
There are high hopes for 20-year-old Viliami Vailea, and given he has been re-signed through to the end of 2025 he can be considered a favourite to take one of the spots.
Marcelo Montoya is a reliable option at centre while Webster also has Adam Pompey, Rocco Berry and former Dragon Brayden Wiliame at his disposal.
Vailea vamoosed
Biggest strength
It's been a long time since the Warriors had a forward pack this much diversity when it comes to body shapes and playing style.
Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris are top-tier talents who would walk into any side, and in addition to the mountain of work they get through each week, both are adept ball players.
In adding Dylan Walker alongside Jazz Tevaga, they now have two players who can speed things up in the middle and cause issues for tiring defensive lines, while former Knights enforcer Mitchell Barnett brings plenty of aggression.
The big worry will be injuries and suspensions, with the Warriors lacking depth in the pack outside of the first-choice group at this stage.
Biggest question mark
Can they take a big step forward defensively?
Last season the Warriors leaked the most points of any side in the Telstra Premiership, at an average of 29.1 per game. On average they gave up nine points per game more than the worst defensive side who made the top eight in 2022 (the Eels), showing there is significant work to be done off the ball.
While missed tackles weren't an issue, with the Warriors having the third best record in the competition in that category, the club's edges in particular were porous and at different stages throughout the season interim coach Stacey Jones and several players admitted effort was lacking.
