Hectic Crossovers
Deep in the Warriors mangroves, U20 World Cup footy, NBL finals hype, and Flying Kiwis in Europe
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Kiwi-NRL Spotlight: Joseph Manu's Legendary Mahi (Rugby League)
How Are Things Looking For Liberato Cacace At Empoli For The 2022-23 Serie A Season? (Football)
Flying Kiwis – August 9 (Football)
Best Pay Attention To This Aotearoa U20 Women’s World Cup Team (Football)
2022 Blackcaps Tracker: Santner & Sodhi (The Firm) (Cricket)
27fm Album Jukebox - July 2022 (Music)
Scotty’s Word
Something interesting perked up my antenna this week and this takes us deep into Aotearoa Warriors mangroves. Every week I take a geeze at all the team lists for the various competitions in Queensland and New South Wales. Earlier in the year this includes U18/19 competitions in either state and there is a hectic crossover period where those competitions are winding up while U21s and reserve grade seasons start. Right now it's just U21 and reserve grade competitions in both states, featuring lots of Kiwi-NRL talent.
Western Clydesdales are a team I skip over when checking these team lists. WC are a team based in Toowoomba and I've skipped over their teams so much that I actually thought they were based in Perth, competing in the Queensland U21s competition. Toowoomba is a west of Brisbane and with all teams in the Queensland competitions sitting on the coast, this is where the Western name comes from.
WC are not linked to any NRL club and along with Central Queensland Capras, they are the only Q Cup clubs not aligned with NRL clubs. WC are currently last (14th) in the U21s competition with 13 losses and a draw. Last week WC were rolled 12-50 by Sunshine Coast (linked to Storm) with Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo and Lleyton Finau in their team; two Warriors juniors who have played for Redcliffe 21s this season.
Wtf are two Warriors juniors doing playing for Toowoomba?
Cowley-Lupo is named to start in the halves again this round, with Finau starting at prop. They are not the only lads who have played for Redcliffe this season now playing for WC and there are at least two others who aren’t Warriors juniors. The fact that there are Warriors and Redcliffe juniors who have moved suggests that WC are struggling for numbers, so surplus talent was placed with WC to get more footy.
As WC have not won a game this season there are no competitive issues here. This simply feels like clubs coming together for a mutually beneficial situation. This also highlights how tricky Warriors junior matters have been since the pandemic started. When a team or organisation stinks, we’ll break down the stinky vibe. When there are reasons, excuses, and general context around their struggles, we’ll be empathetic to them.
Warriors joined forces with Redcliffe in another mutually beneficial arrangement during the pandemic. Warriors had to move to Australia and lost all their teams below NRL, so linking with Redcliffe provided a reserve grade team for Warriors squad members as well as U21 and U18 teams. Redcliffe were hunting NRL expansion and as they had previously been affiliated with Brisbane Broncos, they had to flex as their own operation in Brisbane.
This collaboration kept the machine moving and grooving. Below NRL, the Warriors playing base was kinda cut in half though. Warriors went from having their own teams consisting solely of Warriors players, to sprinkling a few players into Redcliffe teams. The numbers below are estimates to keep things as simple as possible…
Regular Warriors (Early 2020)
SG Ball: 20-25 U18 players
NSW Cup: 15-20 players.
NRL: 30 contracted players.
Redcliffe Era (2021-22)
Mal Meninga Cup: 5 U18 players.
Hastings Deering Colts: 5 U21 players.
Queensland Cup: 5-10 players.
NRL: 30 contracted players.
Warriors owner Mark Robinson probably funded all of this and the Warriors/Redcliffe relationship was a collaboration, not a takeover. Warriors couldn't take their entire U18 team and takeover the Redcliffe junior teams because Redcliffe is a thriving rugby league hub, as well as that being extremely expensive. Same applies to the reserve grade lads who did not have NRL contracts. This year was especially tricky as Redcliffe have players contracted for NRL next season as well as signing junior players - who all need game time.
This was making the best out of a crappy situation and when that larger pool of 60 players has to be trimmed down, obviously those who didn't get 'chosen' have to move on. Some got better opportunities after being scouted in that good SG Ball team. Part of the Warriors junior recruitment stuff doesn’t take into account that many Kiwi-NRL juniors simply get better offers; schooling, accommodation, helping family, more money, guaranteed game time.
Warriors could do better at identifying talent. Then again they already did that in selecting their 2020 SG Ball squad. Sione Moala (Raiders), Josiah Karapani (Rabbitohs), Daeon Amituanai (Panthers), Salesi Ataata (Sharks), TJ Devery and Vaka Sikahele (Titans) all played Warriors SG Ball before the pandemic and are now impressing at other clubs. Warriors were forced to cut this group in half and tough decisions had to be made.
Warriors then shipped their players over to Redcliffe where they were integrated into Redcliffe teams. Redcliffe are not obliged to give Warriors game time. Taniela Otukolo has already played NRL but he's stuck in Redcliffe U21s for example, while the Kepu twins were grinding away in Q Cup before dropping down to U21s.
While it's fabulous for Warriors to play NRL games at Mt Smart, this makes things even trickier considering that players who are part of the wider squad but don't play tonight (vs Bulldogs) then have to get back to Australia for a Q Cup game. No Warriors player is named for Redcliffe in Q Cup this round but they play on Sunday so late inclusions are possible.
Redcliffe U21s have Otukolo, Ali Leiataua, Zyon Maiu'u, Jacob Laban and Valingi Kepu named this week as Warriors juniors. Leiataua and Cowley-Lupo both played in the Future Warriors U18 team for their return to Mt Smart celebration, before returning to Redcliffe. The whole vibe right now is that Redcliffe is home with 'away' trips to Aotearoa mixed in. Niggly.
Cowley-Lupo and Finau could be playing for Redcliffe, but this collaboration means there are surplus players. Various Warriors juniors have popped up in local Brisbane footy just to get game time, now Cowley-Lupo and Finau are playing for WC just to get game time. This applies the other way as Leiataua is starting for Redcliffe, making Redcliffe junior Caleb Pfingst surplus to requirements and he's starting centre for WC.
Amituanai is a super interesting lad right now as he has scored nine tries in eight games for Panthers NSW Cup. Hailing from Whiti Te Ra (Otaki), Amituanai was part of the first Warriors-Redcliffe wave and then moved to Panthers ahead of this season. Warriors only have so many spots available in Redcliffe U21s/Q Cup, while Panthers have their own U21s/NSW Cup team and ample space for Amituanai's development.
Amituanai quickly progressed through Panthers U21s to NSW Cup this season. Panthers do an excellent job in brewing wingers (Brian To'o, Taylan May) and Amituanai is following that path. Don’t let the Aussie spin fool you as clubs like Panthers definitely have good local development … and also love talent from Aotearoa.
Warriors will return to SG Ball next season. This means that they shift from having 10 players living in Brisbane to having an entire SG Ball squad of their own juniors in Auckland. Warriors also seem likely to return to NSW Cup, shifting from having 5-10 lads sprinkled across a Redcliffe Q Cup team to having an entire NSW Cup team of Warriors players.
Warriors are the only team in the NRL who have had that adversity, or kink in their development pipeline. The pandemic took away any home advantage or legit turangawaewae and also cluttered the landscape below Warriors NRL. Some NRL teams have two or three other clubs affiliated to that NRL club, providing multiple reserve grade, U21 and U18/19 teams for that NRL club.
I am well aware of how easy it is to moan about Warriors and highlight issues, especially in the junior development realm. Any judgements about Warriors matters is on pause until the summer when they can enjoy the same NRL organisational fundamentals as the other 15 clubs.
Cool new hip-hop…
Wildcard’s Notebook
Having hyped up the Women’s U20 squad as they travelled over to Costa Rica for their World Cup, I could hardly ignore them after they earned a gruelling and impressive 1-1 draw with Mexico in their first game. It’s a testament to the quality in that team that a draw feels almost a bit underwhelming despite the fact that they really had to battle to hold on there towards the end. But that’s where we’re at these days. Aotearoa no longer turns up to these youth World Cups simply happy to be participating. We’re out there making knockout rounds. Hope has evolved into expectation. These are the new days.
A couple of curious selections here from Gemma Lewis. Murphy Sheaff held off Brianna Edwards for the goalkeeping gloves... and was largely flawless in an impressive display. Aniela Jensen was another interesting one winning the CM gig next to Grace Wisnewski and Jensen was one of the best on the park. Most curious was Tui Dugan, ordinarily an attacking player, being picked at right back... but Dugan played really well too. Same deal for Jana Niedermayr at CB alongside Kate Taylor. Probs best to just trust that Gemma Lewis knows what she’s doing, aye?
There were some nice signs early on with Milly Clegg having the first shot at goal and the kiwi backline moving the ball around confidently. But Mexico soon took control with their sharp off-ball movement and their speedy wingers. There were a couple tricky moments in there. Mexico’s finishing wasn’t often up to scratch which was a relief... though to be honest for all their attacking promise they didn’t really create too many clear opportunities. Kate Taylor being an absolute gun at the back had a bit to say about that.
Then Grace Wisnewski picked up the ball in transition and carried it over halfway to approach the penalty area. She probably should have found either of her overlapping wingers but with the defenders standing off she was instead invited to shoot. Which she did. That shot took a big deflection and although the MEX keeper did get two hands to it she couldn’t parry it away.
Oddly, it was credited as an own goal... which feels harsh. Unless there’s an angle that shows the shot was definitively off target before it hit the defender then I’m really not sure how anyone comes to that conclusion. Ah well. A goal’s a goal. Get in!
That was the one key save that the Mexican keeper had to make and she wasn’t able to. Compare that to Murphy Sheaff continually made all the saves she was expected to plus one superb tip over the top in the second half. That was one of the defining differences between the teams on the day.
The Junior Fernies couldn’t hold on until half-time. That was a bummer. But they came back out strong to start the second half with Milly Clegg again heavily involved. Alyssa Whinham too, of course - such an immensely fun player to watch. Yet after about the sixty minute mark things began to trail off in a hurry. Clegg went down with cramp. Taylor went down with cramp. Wisnewski went down with cramp. Dugan and Jensen appeared to take knocks. Ave Collins copped a few heavy blows. Marisa van der Meer looked utterly gassed. This was was a difficult game in hot and humid Costa Rican conditions and that took its toll.
That attritional cost prevented the NZers from pushing for a winner in the latter stages; a shame as, despite having far less ball in the attacking third, they’d shown a decent capability to create chances. Gotta remember the A-League players are all several months into their offseason and in these conditions that was never gonna be easy. Hopefully the recovery process goes well. Gonna need it to with Germany on the cards on Sunday morning at 5am (meaning I’ll be able to write a recap of that one in Monday’s newsletter too).
Therefore pretty happy with a 1-1 draw. There is a lingering feeling that if they were a little sharper in possession, or even if they’d held that clean sheet into half-time, then this was a game they could well have won. But also on the face of it they ought to have lost so best not to get greedy. Colombia beat Germany 1-0 in the other game which leaves this group all sorts of poised for what’s to follow.
NZ U20s vs Mexico: Murphy Sheaff | Tupelo Dugan (Zoe McMeeken 70’), Jana Niedermayr, Kate Taylor (Te Reremoana Walker 80’), Marisa Van Der Meer | Grace Wisnewski, Aniela Jensen | Alyssa Whinham (Charlotte Wilford-Carroll 80’) | Ava Pritchard, Milly Clegg (Charlotte Lancaster 63’), Ava Collins
Dunno if you watched the NBL semi-final last night between the Taranaki Airs and the Auckland Tuatara... but if you didn’t then you missed one of the great games of local basketball.
Fascinating game in which the top seeded Airs, who went from wooden spooners to first-placed in the space of one year, led for most of the way. They did so on the back of imports Anthony Hilliard (21 points) and Javonte Douglas (24 points), not to mention some mean defence from Tai Wynyard, and as Hilliard bagged a rebound with ten seconds remaining and drew the intentional foul it seemed like it was all over.
Taranaki were up 91-86 with the top scorer in the league at the line. Except Hilliard missed both. Silas Schneider grabbed the board and the Tuatara transitioned immediately into offence where Rob Loe made the quick lay-up for two. Another foul was seemingly on the way... but instead Rob Loe poked the ball away from Richie Rodgers and then stepped back and banked in the game-tying triple. Feast your eyes upon this. It was incredible...
Hilliard missed a tough corner three on the buzzer as the game moved into extra time and there the Tuatara were able to roll to a 107-104 win. Rob Loe was outstanding with 29 points, 18 rebounds & 5 steals. Veteran import Chris Johnson was also great with 21p/16r.
However there’s two other blokes I wanna highlight from that squad. One of them is Dontae Russo-Nance who scored 16 points here which is only one shy of his actual age. Right on his season average too in the biggest game of career to date. Insane talent. Already a reliable NBL scorer and he’s still in high school. But that’s just the start of it. Check out the week this dude has had...
Played for St Kentigern’s College and scored 61 points in an overtime win over Mount Albert Grammar
Flew to Canberra (alongside a selection of other NZers) for the 2022 Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in Canberra where he impressed enough to be named to the All Star team
Named 2022 NBL Youth Player of the Year for his mahi with the Tuatara
Returned to Aotearoa to kit up for the semi-final and scored 16 points in an overtime win including a couple clutch triples and some late game-clinching free throws
And then also Taki Fahrensohn who again came up big as a scorer, particularly in the fourth quarter, exactly as he did in the play-in win the night before against the Wellington Saints. Another player who has taken his game to a whole new level this season. This is what his box scores look like from those two postseason games...
vs Saints: 38 MIN | 24 PTS (9/25 FG) | 7 REB (2 OFF) | 3 AST
vs Airs: 43 MIN | 22 PTS (9/20 FG) | 13 REB (6 OFF) | 3 AST | 2 STL
Only drama was that his three-ball wasn’t flash, going 4/21 across the two games which you can see dragged his shooting percentages down. But first of all he was up against two supreme defensive teams – this is the postseason after all – and secondly just like DRN he largely saved his best stuff until late when it mattered most.
Fahrensohn also produced a strong showing for the Tall Blacks at the Asia Cup. He’s 23 years old coming off a three year stint with Portland Pilots in the NCAA stuff, although he didn’t do his senior year. Probably because of the pandemic. Anyway, he played for Auckland last season when they were the Huskies and averaged 6.1p/2.3r/0.3a in 15 mins per game. He then went and played a bit of German second tier basketball with Team Ehingen Urspring where he shot the ball smoothly and seemed to take a new step as a scorer (even though his team lost 31 of the 32 games that he played for them), which led to his breakout with the Tuatara where he at least doubled all those major averages. 13.4p/4.7r/1.9a in 29 minutes per game.
There aren’t a lot of roster spots still available in the Aussie NBL and what’s left is mostly reserved for imports and development players so we’re running out of time to add to the 12 kiwis signed up for NBL23 as it stands. A considerable drop from the 20-odd that have partaken in each of the last two terms. That’s a pity because Fahrensohn is a dude who’d make for an enticing gamble by some team out there and he’s not alone.
Spare a thought for Joe Bell who this morning got knocked out of European competition via a penalty shootout. That’s bad enough for most folks but Bellinho has a history of penalty shootout heartbreak...
Having said that, he was really good in this game. After starting the season on the bench in three of the first four games he’s already hammered home his first eleven status again. Not as a defensive midfielder like last season but as a proper number eight operating in a midfield diamond.
He moved the ball smoothly and brought a calming presence to the team as they worked their way up the pitch. Assisted their goal in the second leg with a slick bit of progressive play. FC Basel were the better team on the day so there was a fair bit of defensive coverage to be done on this occasion though it’s been fun to see him in a more expansive role recently. Also got a yellow for a very tired sliding tackle in the 119th minute against FC Basel.
Alas that’s the end of his European quest for this season. Tough draw for Brøndby who again just didn’t quite have enough in attack to get them over the line. Could be an uphill climb to qualify for continental stuff next season if they don’t find a solution there because their Superliga form’s been rank average to start the season.
Also Sligo Rovers were expectedly bounced out of the ECL at the same stage this morning as well. That was already short odds after losing 5-1 to Viking in the first leg, however they did get a pleasant 1-0 win in the return home leg. Max Mata and Nando Pijnaker both started. Centre-back and captain Gary Buckley did his ACL in the first leg of that tie so it looks like Nando Pijnaker’s about to become an undisputed starter for the rest of the year.
This is not the end of Flying Kiwis x European Quests though. Marko Stamenic and FC Copenhagen get amongst it next week when they enter Champions League qualifying at the final playoff round as Danish champs. They’re up against Trabzonspor (Turkey) and if they win the tie they make the UCL group stages, if they lose the tie they drop into Europa League group stages. Either way it’ll be a good chance for the kind of squad rotation that should keep Stamenic’s minute ticking over.
Stamenic didn’t play for FCK last week as their club captain Zeca returned from injury to play off the bench. Zeca had been on the bench the previous game but a) both he and Stamenic were unused subs and b) with Zeca fit enough to feature that removed the need for another defensive midfielder on the bench. Particularly with attacking options Mohamed Daramy and Akinkunmi Amoo also included. Daramy back from injury, Amoo called up.
Stamenic’s season so far as gone: 45 mins as a sub, 9 mins as a sub, unused sub, not in the squad. However he did play 90 minutes for the reserves in a 3-3 draw against Lyngby II this week. The guy he replaced in both Superliga games, Rasmus Falk, went off injured in the last game although it sounds like he’s pulled up okay since. But that could be another window for Stammers, dunno.
Elsewhere the Women’s Champions League qualifying begins this upcoming week as well and both Daisy Cleverley (HB Køge) and Indiah-Paige Riley (Fortuna Hjørring) both involved. Fortuna Hjørring are hosting their preliminary tournament, facing Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) in a single-legged tie next Friday before three days later taking on the winner of Ajax (Netherlands) and Kristianstads (Sweden). Which is a really tough group with only one team advancing to the second round. At least HB Køge go straight through to the second round (via the champions path) where they’ll have one two-legged tie to traverse for a place in the group stage.
FC København vs Trabzonspor – Weds at 7am NZT (Marko Stamenic)
Fortuna Hørring vs Eintracht Frankfurt – Friday at 5am NZT (Indi Riley)