Warriors played trump cards with Halasima, young guns
Joel Gould |
Powerhouse Warriors teenager Leka Halasima celebrated his dazzling match-winning try against Newcastle with a humble game of cards at the back of the team bus.
The Warriors hierarchy had already been holding their own internal celebrations after extending the 19-year-old in May on a monster contract until the end of 2029.
At the same time they also re-signed 21-year-old forward Jacob Laban until the same date, six months after inking Demitric Vaimauga until the end of 2028.
All three outstanding back-rowers are now out of the grasp of expansion clubs Perth and PNG, slated to enter the NRL in 2027 and 2028 respectively.
The trio are the present and the future of the club and all are examples to other up and coming Warriors in the development pathway to prove that staying is better than leaving for so-called greener pastures.
Warriors CEO Cameron George told AAP that coach Andrew Webster and development and pathways manager Andrew McFadden deserved credit for the rise of the trio, who have been integral to the side’s rise to fourth on the NRL ladder.
“They identified them early as kids that were showing signs of being exceptional talents but playing against their own age group wasn’t really testing them,” George said.
“They tested them in NSW Cup to give them a harder edge.That strategy really brought them up to speed a lot sooner than anyone expected.
“That gave them the confidence that they were ready and through some injuries they got thrown in the NRL side and have never really looked back.
“From that point we were never going to not try and sign them long-term because our challenge forever and a day at the Warriors has been keeping the talent.
“If they were still on the market now I’m sure the clubs coming into the competition would have really put us under pressure but to the kids’ credit they believe they are the core to take this club forward.
“They are inspiring all our pathways players to want to come after them and stay.”
Halasima’s 80th-minute try to secure a 20-15 win over the Knights on Sunday showcased speed, footwork, power and desire in a 45m run for the ages.
“After the game he got on the team bus and laid down the back. He sat there and played cards with his mates,” George grinned.
“Next morning I went to the review meeting and he was sitting up the back with his mates just watching. It wasn’t like he was up the front saying ‘look at me’. He’s just that style of kid and so laid back, which is great.
“He is still having fun and it is a credit to Webby that he is just letting him be himself without any pressure, while also not trying to coach anything out of him.
“Leka is loving it and with Jacob and Demitric alongside him it is like he is playing backyard footy with his mates.”
AAP
