Five Players that must Improve in 2022

 

After last week's list of players to stand out in 2022, it's time for me to offer my opinion on the five Warriors that I feel have the most to prove this season. Three of the players I selected on my 2021 list have since left the club (David Fusitu'a, Leeson Ah Mau and Kane Evans), while the other two (Bunty Afoa and Josh Curran) showed improvement, so fingers crossed the players I have selected this year follow in their footsteps. Once again, the rankings are in no particular order.

1. Kodi Nikorima

The first man on my list is probably no surprise to anyone that reads my game reviews. Kodi Nikorima finds himself at a crossroads in 2022.

Nikorima played 21 games for the Warriors in 2021, scoring four tries and kicking 42 goals. He forced 8 dropouts and averaged 145.9 kicking metres a match. He also had 11 try assists, 12 linebreak assists, 12 offloads and 61 running metres a game.

I am sticking to my guns with Kodi, I believe his best position is at No.14, and In this day and age, that position can be so vital to a teams success. He has shown glimpses of his potential as a half and has also combined well with Shaun Johnson for the Kiwis. However, he lacks the consistency for me to have him starting. If he can add spark against tiring forwards as a 14, he could prove the difference in 2022.

2. Jack Murchie

Jack Murchie was a standout in 2020 but struggled to make an impact in 2021; with so many talented forwards at the Warriors this season, he may see himself used in a limited capacity.

Murchie only appeared in 10 matches in 2021. He didn't set the world on fire in his limited showing, averaging only 56 meters a game and making 1 linebreak, 4 offloads, and 5 tackle breaks. He averaged 23 tackles a match and ended his year with a 92.4% tackle efficiency. 

There is no denying that Murchie is a talent, but I just don't see him getting many chances this season. He showed in 2020 that he is a strong runner who could find his way to the try line and fill in at centre if needed. If he gets a chance to make the gameday 17 and return to that 2020 form, then the sky could be the limit for the young second-rower.  

3. Ben Murdoch-Masila

As the unofficial leader of the Ben Murdoch-Masila Fanclub, this one hurts. BMM started 2021 strong, but as the season progressed, his impact dipped.

In 2021 he played 16 games, scoring 6 tries and making 8 linebreaks, 1 linebreak assist and 5 offloads. He averaged 71 running metres a game for a season total of 1137 metres. Defensively he made 305 tackles with a 94.4% tackle efficiency.

I love Murdoch-Masila, and I'm biased, so I would include him in my gameday 17 every week. He is a strong runner that loves finding the try line; he just needs to bring the same level of impact week in and week out. Unfortunately, I feel BMM is in the same boat as Jack Murchie, there are just too many quality players to pick in the pack, and he may have to bide his time. 

4. Adam Pompey

Adam Pompey had a decent enough showing in 2021 but was being played out of position, in my opinion, and wasnt used to his best potential.

In 2021 Pompey appeared in 16 games scoring 4 tries. He also made 51 tackle breaks and 4 line breaks and had 1 try assist. He averaged 110 running metres a match but was also a bit spotty on defence, which was missing 30 tackles.

Pompey is quite a handful with the ball in hand, but I feel that he was misused in 2021; he is not a centre as he proved with his inability to feed his outside man and instead is better suited as a winger. With a full-strength backline, I don't see Pompey starting, but he will get game time to make his mark throughout the season.

5. Bayley Sironen

The last man on my list is Bayley Sironen. I had him on my 2021 list of players to stand out, but after a strong start, he started to disappear in matches which doesn't fill me with much hope for him in 2022.

Sironen had 19 appearances in 2021, scoring 2 tries while making 2 linebreaks, 2 linebreak assists and 1 offload while averaging 56 metres a game. His defence was sound; however, ending the season with a 93.1% tackle efficiency.

I was excited about the signing of Sironen last season but felt that he was not as effective as he should have been. He is oozing potential and was not helped with the constant positional changes last season. He needs to get more active with the ball in hand, increase those running metres and perhaps strengthen his offload game if he wants to be a regular on the team sheet throughout the season.

So those were my picks for the Warriors players that need a big 2022. Next up is my season preview, but that will have to wait until the preseason games have been played. I will cover the preseason news, the current rosters, who my gameday 17 would be and how I think the Warriors will fare in 2021. Until then, let me know what you think about my choices and who you think needs to improve the most in 2020.