Fakatava and Papalii the intriguing Foster picks

first place.

Fakatava, to me, is the most exciting selection in this entire squad. The youngster has already shown at the level below he’s the perfect foil to the classy Aaron Smith in the No 9 role. He’s more robust, more of a running threat and more of a risk-taker than Smith.

Christie is a little unlucky.

He’s a good player. Consistent. Reliable. Committed. But Fakatava, who will be energised by playing in front of his home fans, is much more of a differencemaker off the bench with his mindset and makeup. You can imagine him entering the fray in the last 20 of, say, a World Cup semifinal and turning the match with a dab from the base and a no-look flick inside to a support runner.

It’s why if Smith was injured I’d start Christie, and feel good about it.

Papalii’s selection at No 6 is the big talking point. The Blues skipper, who yesterday re-signed with the franchise through the 2024 season, has been the form No 7 of the New Zealand game, but is being entrusted with a different role. There has to be an element of the unknown about it.

Foster has made no secret of the fact that he’s intrigued by a loose trio of Papalii, Cane and Savea – all opensides by inclination. It should not want for mobility and skill-level. The challenges will be at the lineout and in pure physical impact. Any trade-offs must yield positive spinoffs in other areas.

But with Barrett out, and

Akira Ioane not exactly banging the door down with his performances, you can see why Foster has green-lighted the ‘flying squad’ trio now. In ideal conditions, on a fast track, with an Irish response surely coming, there’s no time like the present to answer some important questions.

One final observation. Reece and Fainga’anuku thoroughly deserve another crack on the wings. They are riding some handy momentum. But with Jordan hovering on the bench and Caleb Clarke surely close to getting that hammy right . . . let’s just say it’s a dynamic with the potential to change quickly.

Penrith assistant coach Andrew Webster is expected to be confirmed as the Warriors’ new head coach in the coming days.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that Webster had agreed to a three-year deal which will see him replace Nathan Brown at the end of this season.

Webster was courted for the role after the club’s No 1 target Kristian Woolf knocked back the Warriors and is frontrunner to be Wayne Bennett’s assistant at new team the Dolphins, the Telegraph reported.

Webster, 40, has a year left on his Panthers deal under Ivan