Veteran sports commentator Ken Laban says the Warriors missed an opportunity by not signing halfback Ben Hunt during the NRL offseason, which could have provided support for the growth of younger Warriors players.
Laban says with the retirements of Tohu Harris and Shaun Johnson, while James Fisher-Harris ensures stability in the forward pack, the backline remains a concern.
He says the 2024 Warrior debutants, including Jacob Laban, Zyon Maiu’u and Selumiela Halasima, were exposed to the challenges of stepping up to first grade, leading to disappointing performances compared to other rookie players.
However, Laban says there are positive signs for the future with strong showings by Warriors players in junior competitions, such as the Under 17 Harold Matthews Cup and the Under 19 S.G. Ball Cup.
“Hopefully these other kids, including Jacob, a year older and a year wiser, can be a little bit more dominant, but I do think that Ben Hunt would have been such a great addition to the team,” says Laban.
The NRL preseason starts in two weeks, with the Warriors set to feature in the regular season opener against the Canberra Raiders in Las Vegas on March 2.
