- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s that time of year again Warriors fans, when the usual late August depression sets in. The time of year when we all attempt to explain our support to those who ask us why we bother.
We say things like ‘next year is the year’ and ‘they’ve been unlucky this season because of injury’.
I’ve been doing this to myself for as long as I can remember.
There were a few ups, however. The eight straight wins in 2002 that propelled them to minor premiership (thank you Doggies for breaching the salary cap). The run home in 2011 where they put together a consistent (shocking, right?) seven wins out of nine to finish the regular season.
Both of these seasons finished with a spot in the grand final where poor second half performances cost them the trophy. It’s almost like the franchise has got so used to building up hope only to let their supporter base down that they feel like they have to do it every season.
Take this season for example, sitting pretty in the top four heading in to the Round 19 clash against the Roosters. This is where the season started to derail with the first of six straight losses.
The Warriors’ left edge was exposed and everyone has taken advantage of this since. As good as Solomone Kata and Konrad Hurrell are on offence, their goal-line defence is weak.
I thought they had turned it around against the Cowboys last weekend and I smugly messaged my brothers at 16-0 to let them know that those who show faith in the Warriors are rewarded in the end. I should have known better. They went on to concede 50 unanswered points.
We’re a special breed though, us Warriors fans. We’re the best excuse makers and mathematicians in New Zealand, although we do need to work on our grammar – “Lets gone Warriors!”.
We’re constantly working equations to figure out for and against needs, how many points we can get from the last six rounds of the season, and who is going to beat who in the other games to let us in.
When it gets to the last three rounds and it’s over, we go into oracle mode and start predicting the future. How next season is going to be different. How they’ll live up to their potential and become a top four team.
2016 is a do or die year for me as a Warriors fan and by the looks of social media there’s many more like me. The addition of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as another attacking weapon and the passionate pocket rocket that is Issac Luke will free up current superstar Shaun Johnson to play with less pressure, like he does with the Kiwis.
The 2016 Warriors squad has all the makings of a championship team. They have a solid forward pack full of State of Origin and international calibre players and a talented spine (Luke, Tuimoala Lolohea, Johnson and Tuivasa-Sheck) that will rival any in the competition. They also have some brilliant youngsters with a winning mentality coming through their Under-20s set-up, which has won three premierships in the last five years.
The main area they need to improve in the off-season though is their defence, especially from their wings and centres. When their defence is strong they win games, it’s that simple. They’re naturally a very talented attacking team but they concede too many points.
I believe Andrew McFadden is the man to lead them through next season but if they don’t finish in the top four, I’m gone forever as a fan. Warriors – you’re not good for my mental health.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.