G2’s sAw Praises NertZ Impact as New Lineup Shows Early Promise

G2 coach Eetu “sAw” Saha believes the addition of Guy “NertZ” Iluz can give his team the extra edge it has been missing, saying the Israeli rifler is the kind of player who can raise the ceiling of a roster when he is used correctly. Speaking after G2’s recent stretch of competition, sAw made it clear that he sees NertZ not merely as a replacement piece, but as a player capable of pushing the team forward if he is placed in the right situations and supported with the right structure. He also suggested that G2 had already shown encouraging signs in London, but that the sample size was too small to draw major conclusions, which is why NertZ’s arrival could be so important for what comes next. 

NertZ joined G2 in March as part of a swap deal with Team Liquid that sent Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa the other way. The move also reunited NertZ with two familiar figures: sAw and Álvaro “SunPayus” García, both of whom previously worked with him before their current time together in G2. HLTV’s report on the transfer noted that Liquid’s return to an American core had ranking implications ahead of the Major qualification cutoff, while for G2 the deal was also about unlocking a player whose level had dipped in a difficult spell with Liquid. During that stint, NertZ’s rating fell to 1.05, significantly below the 1.13 he posted in ENCE and the 1.12 he recorded in HEROIC. 

That statistical drop helps explain why sAw is so convinced there is still more to come. In his view, the problem was never a lack of ability. His comments point to a belief that NertZ’s impact depends heavily on role clarity, supportive conditions, and being put in positions where his aggression and instincts can actually influence the game. That interpretation lines up with NertZ’s own explanation of why his time in Liquid did not work out as hoped. In a separate interview, the rifler said his period there was affected by personality clashes, and he described the atmosphere in G2 as much healthier for him personally. He said the team shares the same energy, communicates naturally, and is actively trying to help him improve. 

The early signs have been positive. At the start of April, HLTV reported that NertZ had posted a 1.24 rating over his first 17 maps with G2, a sharp improvement from his Liquid form. In that same interview, he said he had full confidence in both the players and the system around him, even while admitting that the team still had not fully clicked and still needed more practice time. He also stressed that adaptation would take time because G2 were playing frequent events instead of spending long periods training online. Even so, his confidence in the project was obvious. 

Results have already begun to support that optimism. On April 4, G2 won Stake Ranked Episode 1, going undefeated through the bracket and claiming their first title with NertZ on the roster. They beat Nemesis, GamerLegion, and BetBoom twice on the way to the trophy. HLTV’s coverage of that run described NertZ as looking far more like the player who had earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 than the version seen during his rough period on Liquid. That does not prove G2 have solved everything, but it does suggest the new lineup is finding traction quickly. 

There are also strong signs that NertZ’s arrival is benefiting the chemistry around him, especially with SunPayus. In another recent interview, the Spanish AWPer said he loves playing with NertZ and is very happy that he is on the team. SunPayus explained that the two understand each other well both in and out of the server, and that their communication works because they see situations in similar ways. He also said G2 are using these lower-tier events to identify mistakes, improve their map pool, and become mentally stronger before bigger tournaments. That matches NertZ’s own comments about G2 still being in a building phase rather than a finished product. 

Taken together, the recent interviews and match results paint a consistent picture. G2 are not presenting NertZ as a miracle fix, and sAw is not claiming that one player alone will instantly turn the team into an undisputed title favorite. What he is saying is more specific and, in some ways, more convincing: NertZ is a player he knows well, a player whose strengths are already understood inside the camp, and a player who can meaningfully elevate the lineup if G2 continue to give him the space, confidence, and structure he needs. Considering the immediate improvement in his form, the positive feedback from teammates, and the team’s first title with him already secured, G2 have real evidence that this reunion may be working exactly as intended.