Earlier this week I picked the top five coaches Warriors management should be looking to replace the under-performing Andrew McFadden with.
Now, let's take a look at the top five players they should be looking to offload following the release of centre Konrad Hurrell.
It’s no great secret the current player mix isn’t a winning formula, with several big names consistently turning in limp performances. So who should be on the chopping block?
5. Thomas Leuluai
A Warrior in his youth before he played in the UK’s Super League for eight seasons, the halfback, come hooker, come five-eighth was persuaded to come back home to Penrose on a three year deal in 2013 but has had a constant battle with form and injury since.
In his last year at the club now, the 30-year-old’s attention seems to be focused on a retirement move back to the UK with St Helens. Has had the odd standout game on his return to the NRL, but generally he’s struggled to keep up with the pace of the world’s toughest league competition.
I wish him all the best back in the chilly north of England.
4. Jonathan Wright
A try scoring machine during two seasons with the Bulldogs, unfortunately Wright has struggled to find the magic touch at Mount Smart.
The rangey 29-year-old has bagged just five tries while in and out of the side, and has coughed up perhaps twice that number in try scoring opportunities.
Seemingly a ‘jack of all trades - master of none’ presence in the Warriors backline, Wright has become a bit of a go-to joke among the fans. He could well be playing for the Tigers or Knights next year, but if he’s smart, he should head to the UK and tear it up in the Super League.
3. Jeff Robson
Signed to provide some stability next to Shaun Johnson in the halves, the 33-year-old veteran will be remembered instead for his on-field bungling.
Mis-kicks and knock-ons were his stock and trade early in the season, and he now finds himself suiting up in reserve grade.
Robson will struggle to get back into the side unless Thomas Leuluai is re-injured, and should be spending most of his time looking for the best deal on his Auckland home while begging his agent to find him a place at the Huddersfield Giants.
2. Manu Vatuvei
The club’s leading all-time try scorer has fallen on hard times.
His power game from the wing hasn’t been cutting it in 2016, and the big fella hasn’t been sighted on the field since his infamous night out on the Tramadol and fizzy with his ‘Nightshift Six’ teammates.
No one knows but the man himself what’s been going on behind the scenes, but his commitment to the club has fallen off to the point of no return.
He’s on the books at the Warriors until 2018 as one of the top tier salaries, and it's highly questionable whether the value is still there. With the modern NRL game fast heading towards pace rather than power, the 30-year-old’s services at Mount Smart could well be surplus to requirements.
Surely the club can broker an early release for Vatuvei, so he can go ply his trade in Japanese or French rugby, or become yet another ageing Australasian superstar in the UK’s Super League.
1. Ryan Hoffman
Arriving to much fanfare before the start of last season, the big money signing from the Storm delivered two tries in his first two games and many Warriors fans thought the club had backed a winner.
A tough and uncompromising ball runner, some were even comparing him to club legend and fellow Aussie Kevin Campion, a tough as nails workaholic.
But fast-forward a season and Hoffman is now captain and failing to inspire his Warriors, while struggling on the paddock himself.
He’s not nearly involved enough and at times looks frustrated with his lot in Aotearoa. His tackle count pales in comparison to the likes of Mannering, Thompson and Matulino, even youngster Jazz Tevaga has been out-pointing his skipper on defense of late.
And while Hoffman’s run metres are among the club’s best, there’s certainly no offloads or line breaks to speak of. The 32-year-old still has next year to run on his enormous 1.6 million dollar deal, and the problem is he’ll be seeing that out unless the Warriors can work out an early release. The money saved could be far better spent.
Tomorrow I’ll look at where that money could go, in my top five recruitment picks for next season.
Newshub.
