Which Junior Warrior will make the leap?

Reporter·NZ Herald·

6 Oct, 2014 12:35 AM3 mins to read

Sam Lisone, left, and Solomone Kata are players with bright futures. Photo / Getty Images

The NYC championship winning Junior Warriors has produced another crop of youngsters ready to make the transition into the NRL in 2015.

Winger David Fusitu'a had just two NYC appearances in a year when he made his first grade debut (12 games) and backline utility Tuimoala Lolohea had one NYC game early in the season before returning to the side just before the finals. The middle part of the year saw him play three NRL games and 14 NSW Cup games.

Solomone Kata, Sam Lisone, Ngataua Hukatai, Michael Ki, Mason Lino, Metia Lisati, and Ken Maumalo also experienced NSW Cup football throughout the season and will look to continue their development in 2015 after finishing their NYC career's in Sunday's 34-32 grand final win over Brisbane.

Of that group, grand final hattrick scorer Kata and Lisone will join the NRL squad fulltime next year, along with 17-year-old fullback Brad Abbey.

"They're the obvious ones but there will be a couple more out of there," current NYC coach and newly appointed 2015 NSW Cup coach Stacey Jones explained.

"Brad Abbey will move into that group to train fulltime with the NRL squad so that's exciting for his development but he's still a couple of years away. He's talented and his game has really come on from the start of the year. We had to stick with him, he struggled at the beginning with the physicality of it, but he's coming good now and he's been one of our best players, especially in this latter part of the year. He's really stood up and played some really good footy."

NYC co-captain Lisone has a strong all-round game, with skill and agility complementing his size and power, and says his time playing NSW Cup has fuelled his ambitions for 2015.

"I enjoyed rubbing shoulders with guys who play in the NRL and playing against opposition that play in the NRL so it's been cool," Lisone said. "It makes you a stronger player both physically and mentally so next year I'll get the opportunity to spend more time up there and hopefully push for first grade."

Similarly, the fleet-footed Lolohea remains eligible to play NYC next year but has his sights set on higher honours.

"My goal is to play first grade and play more games than I did this year so that's my goal for the offseason and preseason," Lolohea said.

The NYC has also proved to be a stepping stone for Jones, who will replace outgoing NSW Cup coach Rohan Smith, who is joining the Gold Coast Titans NRL coaching staff, while current Junior Warriors assistant Kelvin Wright will succeed Jones in the head coaching role.

"Stepping up to the NSW Cup is going exciting, a great challenge. The Warriors means everything to me and I'll do all I can to help us to go to the next level," Jones said.

Jr Warrors on the Rise

Solomone Kata
Born: 03/12/1994, Neiafu, Tonga
Position: Centre
Junior club: Sacred Heart College (rugby union)
Rep honours: Tonga Under 21s (rugby union)

Sam Lisone
Born: 19/02/1994, Auckland
Position: Prop
Junior club: Otahuhu Leopards
Rep honours: NZ Residents 18s (2011-2012)