Boasting new buy Feleti Mateo, the New Zealand Warriors enter season 2011 as a premiership darkhorse, thanks to a roster that showed its true potential at the back end of last year.
Indeed the Warriors defied a horrendous start to last season to eventually finish in fifth position on the ladder, only to bow out in the first week of the finals.
Although the Warriors lost their finals match against the Gold Coast Titans, the upset victories achieved by the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders were the real knockout blows that left the 2002 grand finalists eliminated from the competition.
Despite the disappointment of their finals exit, last season was a successful one for the Warriors, given the fact the club was affected by serious injuries to key players throughout the course of 2010.
Captain Steve Price, new captain Simon Mannering, Brent Tate, Manu Vatuvei, Brett Seymour, Jacob Lillyman, Jerome Ropati, Elijah Taylor, Sam Rapira, Kevin Locke, Ian Henderson and Michael Luck all spent considerable time on the sidelines, with Price in particular having to retire from rugby league due to injury.
With such a mounting casualty ward, it was no surprise to see the Warriors languishing outside the top eight for the opening half of last season, winning only 5 of their first 13 matches.
The return of key players such as Mannering, Tate, Seymour and Vatuvei however was the antidote the Warriors needed to kick start a turnaround which saw them win 9 of their final 12 matches to secure a top eight birth.
With last season’s painful finals exit still fresh in their minds, the Warriors must start season 2011 well if they are a hope of snatching a top four birth and a crucial home final.
New Zealand’s draw to start this season however is nothing simple, with matches against last year’s finals combatants, the St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers to feature inside the opening five rounds.
While a full strength Warriors outfit is more than a match for any NRL opposition, they will need to fix a few aspects of their game if they are give themselves the best chance of starting season 2011 on a positive note.
The Warriors last season ranked 11th and 13th in metres gained and line breaks made respectively. They were also ranked a lowly 10th for tackle breaks.
While injuries to key forwards played a part in those statistics in 2010, a healthy Warriors pack this year must carve out considerable territory if they are to keep the likes of the Dragons, Roosters and Tigers at bay in the early rounds.
This is where new buy Feleti Mateo will make a huge difference.
The former Eel is one of the most gifted ball playing forwards in the NRL, producing a competition high 72 offloads last season. Mateo also ranked third in the competition for tackle breaks made by a lock forward, behind only Corey Parker and Chris Heighington.
Indeed Mateo is the X-factor the Warriors have sorely lacked in the forwards, ever since the great Ali Lauitiiti departed the club back in 2004.
No doubt a fit and consistent Mateo will bring out the best in a talented Warriors backline which now makes do with the talented services of another former Eel in Krisnan Inu.
While Inu will add further flair to an exciting Warriors backline, it is the power and try scoring prowess of Manu Vatuvei that provides Ivan Cleary’s men with such an advantage over their opposition.
In just 19 matches last season, Vatuvei scored 20 tries to finish just one shy of joint top tryscorers Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Akuila Uate.
The man known as “The Beast” is impossible to stop close to the try-line, and with a player like Mateo creating second phase play, don’t be surprised if Vatuvei surpasses the 20 four pointers he scored last year.
For all the Warriors flair in attack however, one attribute of their game which improved immensely last season was their defence.
The Warriors conceded the fourth fewest tries of any side in the NRL last season, conceding an average of 3.6 tries a match. New Zealand also ranked 2nd in the league for metres conceded, trailing only the Penrith Panthers.
Their low error count throughout last season also helped the Warriors defensively, producing just 11.1 errors on average. Only the Dragons and Manly Sea Eagles were more tidy in possession.
The Warriors should have a lot going for them heading into season 2011 despite a tricky opening five weeks to open the year. The inclusion of Mateo should prove to be the missing link the Warriors need to finally take that extra step from being top eight hopefuls to premiership contenders.
Why they’ll win:
Why they won’t:
TAB sportsbet odds
Premiership winner – $13.00
Wooden spoon – $23.00
Additions: Krisnan Inu, Feleti Mateo, Shaun Berrigan, Steve Rapira
Departures: Brent Tate (North Queensland Cowboys), Siuatonga Likiliki (Newcastle Knights), Ian Henderson (Catalans Dragons – Super League), Elijah Niko (Melbourne Storm), Patrick Ah Van (Bradford Bulls – Super League), Mark Ioane (Canberra), Nafe Seluini (Penrith), Steve Price (Retired), Jesse Royal (Retired).
mjpt
Guest
I think it is more the actual style of the GC that does not suit the Warriors. I would get a video of the all stars match played 3 weeks ago and see how they killed prince with wider plays. He looked VERY average and showed why he is not a rep player anymore. His defence was just poor in conjunction with an in-experienced 2nd rower in Canterbury boy Idris. Warriors actually blew it tactically last year. They should have dropped the Tigers match to avoid a GC match, all Sydney teams fear the Warriors, but if they say, GC will take care of the Warriors before we see them, its a valid argument. Iagree forwards are the business, halves solid, the add ons esp in berrigan are fantastic, they should bring a lot of pain to a lot of teams. Inu is a worry though, VERY casual and his kickoffs are disgusting- gives teams a 20 metre head start on tackle 1. Bench at best with locke and Vatuvei starters.
oikee
Guest
Mate, little Locke is fantastic, he would be the 1st picked in my team. This kid has learnt so much in 2 years. And he takes it all on board. I watched him closely last year. One of their best. And he has got that special ingrediant all teams need, speed. Along with the Huntly Hurricane.
oikee
Guest
MJPT, i read somewhere that mentioned the warriors pack, they said they were not the biggest players compared to other packs. Which sounds about right. The raiders are monsters, all of them. Normally stamina is what wins you games, and i have seen none better than Rapira, he is outstanding. Blair from the storm is right up their as well. Perfectly built for the tough stuff. Vatuvei creates most of the problems around the middle. Matalino is good also. Brown is a little bull. He has good skill. The warriors have good back-up this year, no excuse for not being in the top 2.
Andrew
Guest
Yep, I rate him very highly as well. Was surprised there was not one mention of him in the Warriors season preview, as he is the key to this team. I also think the move of Kevin Locke to fullback will see this pocket rocket explode as he will see a lot more ball as he isn't just stuck on one side of the field. Plenty for Warriors fans to be happy about. Really now it's down to the coach, as he has the roster he needs.
mjpt
Guest
Mateo reads a good stat line but the keys you state in consistency and fitness- are on Mateo's side of the ledger-elements that he has shown, he has issues with. I think the Warriors should have won the comp last year, and are a good chance this year. They match up well against all the top sides except one-Gold Coast. This was the only team that they failed to beat last year, yet they struck GC in first round of semis. Their quick plays and small men are, have been, and will continue to be the death of the big Warrior pack. I think Mateo adds to the team for sure, I just hope that his downside is limited, because it will be big if it is not. I watched the preseason v manly and they looked good. Mateo was right side and was quiet but threw the pass that created the try for Inu. I prefer Mateo off the bench as a shock trooper, a back row of luck,mannering and brown is good for 90 tackles for Mateo to come on late and ball play when defence is lagging. Of course, should there be issues elsewhere, he covers 6, but that would be at a stretch. Keep him in the forwards.
oikee
Guest
The only rumour is the one i am trying to create. It makes sense. Lockler is retiring at the end of this year. This will free up 800 thousand dollars. Now you would have to be a blind-man not to see that Maloney is the next big thing in the game. This guy has the skill, kicking game, and is a leader and orginiser. No kid is going to be as good as Maloney is now. I watched him all last year and he has got class written all over him. He could just slot straight into the broncos squad. You would be mad not to make a big play for him, he is a ten year prospect. P.S,,,he carved the Broncos kids to peices last year. :) Scored a record points for a warrior player. :) The next Lockyer has been found.
Andrew
Guest
Maloney is the key to this team. He needed some pressure off his game, and Mateo will provide that for him. He is such a good player with the ball in hand. Are there rumours that Maloney is going to the Broncos? I thought the juniors they have running around there at the moment were being groomed to replace him. Maloney would command a lot on the open market, though if the Warriors have a good season, he may decide he likes it there. Also the TV rights should be finalised this year, which would allow the Warriors to actually pay him what he is worth.
oikee
Guest
Maloney to replace Lockyer at the Broncos. This is the Warriors year, if they fail to win, it could be a long decade. The Broncos are looking for a Half, Maloney has all the skills, the Warriors wont be able to pay to keep him now they have bought Inu and Mateo. Simple maths. What is a good half worth, 400-500 thousand.