The Warriors can win this year’s NRL title, and their chances have never been better.
In 2002 and 2003 they were the best team in the comp, yet lacked one vital ingredient to go all the way and claim the premiership.
In 2011 the Warriors played in the grand final, however few could argue they were the best side in the competition that year – that title, quite rightly, belonged to Manly.
But rewind back to the 2002/2003 era, where the Warriors set a new precedent for ad-lib, off-the-cuff, Harlem Globetrotters-style rugby league. With players like Stacey Jones, Brent Webb and PJ Marsh calling the shots the Warriors became the envy of the league.
Who can forget the 48 points they posted on a hapless Broncos outfit in 2002 in front of a packed ANZ stadium? Evarn Tuimavave’s try under the sticks after a Sione Faumuina no-look, over-the-head speculator pass rounded off a 70-metre movement in that match.
But history has taught us that the side who plays the most attractive football does not always win the competition. There is a vital piece of the jigsaw that, if lost beneath the couch cushions, leaves a puzzle that is close, but not quite the finished picture.
Defining what that key missing ingredient is no easy task, but I think coaching has something to do with it.
In Daniel Anderson, the Warriors circa 2002/2003 had an intelligent, thoughtful coach who in the space of just two seasons transformed the Warriors from the NRL outhouse to the penthouse.
Perennial under-achievers to the real-deal. Well, almost.
The Warriors of the 2011 vintage had, in Ivan Cleary, a future NRL super-coach in the making but one who’s flower had yet to truly blossom. Cleary will no doubt lead an NRL side to a premiership, but in reality he was still in training wheels when the Warriors made their march to the grand final.
Following the resignation of coach Matt Elliott after just five rounds of the season proper, this inexperience issue has again reared its head at the Warriors.
One gets the feeling though that this time it’s different.
New coach Andrew McFadden is fresher than Todd Carney’s breath before a trip to the urinals, however he projects the sort of inner calm and confidence that’s become synonymous with successful coaches.
Just think of Wayne Bennett, Michael McGuire or Trent Robinson. McFadden is a keeper. In just a few months in charge at Penrose, he has transformed the Warriors from potential cellar-dwellers to bona-fide top-eight certainties. The Warriors under McFadden have a measured and confident look about them.
The key difference has been substance, and not of the variety likely to earn the ire of ASADA investigators.
Substance, backbone and resilience. Whatever you choose to call it, it is evident in the Warriors’ play that this is now a side that teams will struggle to beat.
In Konrad Hurrell the Warriors have uncovered a bull-dozing superstar. He is the best attacking centre in the NRL.
Jamie Lyon or Justin Hodges may be more complete centres but would either of those two, or indeed any other centre in the NRL, be capable of brushing off would-be defenders as nonchalantly as a cattle-driver swats away a horse-fly?
The answer is no. Hurrell is a freak, and one whose star is only going to continue to rise.
Potential opponents are already nervously scanning the NRL draw to identify when they will likely encounter this rogue force of nature.
Despite not playing the opening rounds of the NRL, Hurrell still leads the NRL comfortably in tackle busts and is equal first in line-breaks alongside Canberra’s Anthony Milford and Manly’s Steve Matai.
In barging his way over the line last weekend he made fellow powerhouses Jamal Idris and Josh Mansour look as though they had been studying the Chris Sandow academy of defense. He makes good defenders look average.
The ever-improving, future-international David Fusitua ensures the Warriors right side is as strong as any in the competition, while Shaun Johnson has taken his game to another level this year.
The attacking flair and intercepting abilities he has become renowned for are still well and truly intact, however Johnson is choosing when to engage them now with the nous of any of the game’s great halfbacks. He has added substance to his game. He is Andrew Johns’ favourite player and that speaks volumes of his ability.
Johnson’s kicking game and consistency of option-taking has improved beyond sight, and in Chad Townsend he has found a wily foil.
Townsend may only be keeping the number six jersey warm for the incapacitated Thomas Leuluai, but on current form Leuluai’s return to the side may be better suited to coming off the bench. It is a welcome luxury for McFadden to have.
The forward pack have been outstanding this year and the often-maligned captain Simon Mannering is in rare career-best form. The Warriors have unearthed their own Fui Fui clone in the Tongan juggernaut Suaia Matagi and Jacob Lillyman’s superb week-in week-out efforts have seen him rewarded with a Maroons starting berth in State of Origin.
In Nathan Friend the Warriors have a Rock-of-Gibraltar in defence who leads the NRL tackle count comfortably, with Cameron Smith a distant second.
On the left edge Ngani Laumape has developed into a weapon whose defensive efforts have not received high enough praise. Together with Manu “the Beast” Vatuvei the Warriors left edge has been statistically superior to any other left-side defence over the past seven weeks. One blip in the second half against Souths aside they have been rock-solid.
Vatuvei is a polarising figure, all rocks and diamonds and gold teeth (with the odd questionable hairstyle to boot). But love him or hate him Vatuvei is the Warriors’ talisman and the side are better for having him. Like Hurrell, he is a man opposition players fear playing. He made Beau Ryan’s retirement decision that much easier to make.
Manly and the Roosters have valid title claims but I will leave it to more qualified scribes than myself to promote the claims of those two sides.
The Warriors have a favorable run to the play-offs, with five of their remaining nine games to be played in Auckland. Add to that away fixtures against the struggling Knights and Raiders and it’s not unreasonable to expect them to push hard for a top-four berth.
From there they are every chance of going all the way to the big dance, and they will bring their best dancing shoes this year. Third time lucky? You wouldn’t want to bet against it.
Worriers
Guest
Good read. However, Suaia Matagi might take umbrage at being called a Tongan tho given he's Samoan.
Buzzard
Guest
Don't dare talk the Warriors up, its poison to them. The Warriors are at their best when they are written off and major underdogs. They seem to dig deep. When they are talked up they seem believe the media hype and have a few stinkers. I predict the Warriors to finish 9th. Hope I'm still alive when they finally win a premiership. Go the Warriors!!
Orville
Guest
The Warriors have a terrific draw and on top of the Nines in Auckland and the Four nations mean the NRL are angling for a second Kiwi side - the South island moas who will be based in Christchurch but play in Dunedin as well...
Boomshanka
Guest
The game deserves a Warriors v Panthers Grand Final. For me, the round 26 game (scheduled for Sunday night WTF) looks to be the game of the round. Will probably be the last live HD game of league we'll be able to enjoy for a while after to.
Cedric
Guest
the Warriors look good in patches, small patches. Several times a game, they quickly jump up a couple of gears and railroad the opposition, then somehow the fire goes out. I think the new coach has got the fire going more often now and their defence has really picked up. But take a look at Manly and the dogs and when the roosters decide to play, the Warriors need to be a whole lot more commited to be able to compete with them. I'm hoping the new coach can switch them on for 80 minutes but there's not much time left. A team going good on a constant roll usually is harder to stop. That's more so Manly and dogs, ( that's today, just ) than anyone else.
KiwiLuke
Roar Rookie
Fair point E-meter - Sandow's commitment in defence can't be questionned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V4ct9v_KSM
R&B
Guest
That's my point the Bunnies aren't going that great without Inglis & Teo. In a couple weeks the NRL will take centre stage rather than SOO. The Warriors and Panthers will lose the advantage they have at this time of year - running teams that aren't too disrupted by the SOO series. Most of the Warriors top players can't play origin being kiwi reps. The only other team not disadvantaged are the Raiders and they really aren't that good. They're at the bottom of the table. No wonder Milfords off.
Clark
Guest
In saying that it just means that the Warriors can't really be that good if none of their players get picked. And I am quite sure South Sydney aren't that good as of late, I mean they did just lose to the Titans without their Origin players and the standard rub of the green from the officials. Also, Thomas had been going well but is constantly hampered by this injury he has. Last year he was one of out best but with Townsend, Johnson and Tomkins in the playmaking roles you would play him on the bench (but who would you drop?)
R&B
Guest
I hear the same thing every year when the Warriors string a few wins together, then I remember it's State of Origin time & the Warriors rarely supply many SOO players. The Warriors always win at this time of the year with the other teams struggling with injuries & short turn around times for their SOO players. They'll scrape in to the top 8 then get bundled out in the first few weeks when the Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Roosters & The Bunnies get into their rythym. They'll need to finish top 4 to have any chance of winning the GF & I don't see that happening. Bringing back leuluai would be a big mistake. He can't tackle & his kicking game is rubbish. Thompkins whilst starting to gel with the team on attack is suspect on defence. Keep dreaming bro it ain't going to happen this year.
Watcher
Guest
This 'Warriors can't win away' is wearing thin. Is there any other club that has won in Townsville and Melbourne this year ?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The Warriors are playing good footy and are right up there with the other high flyers. The Warriors concern will be can they win away in the big games. They have fallen by the wayside before and the way the NRL and TV treats their fans it is understandable. Love to see a panthers/Warriors GF.
E-Meter
Guest
Oy, leave Sandow alone. His defence has been great this year.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If there is one team other than my own ,who I would love to see in the G/F it is the Warriors. Various reasons influence my thinking. Firstly it would continue to underpin and help grow the code on the Shaky Isles.For too long the Warriors have been maligned as being the "could haves".Or more derisory so "the worriers."Kids look up to successful teams or individuals. Secondly the team when in full "flight"play an exciting and at times ad lib brand of rugby league,simply due to the fact they have not only footballers but athletes playing for the club.Shawn Johnson in action is worth the price of admission.They have a backline and use it to its potential.Hurrell and the Beast are scary propositions for any confronting defence. Finally either a win in the G/F or even an appearance can have an impact ,hard to quantify TBH ,on the International aspect of the game.
MAX
Guest
Hello KiwiLuke, How go the Warriors goes Rugby League. Their success is vital to the health of the code and in attracting players to whom playing footie is as natural as breathing. I love 'em. The Warriors play/ entertain with a style/ recipe that defies entry into the cook book ... like a sophisticated version of a Jamie Oliver experiment, using what is available. This Premiership is so close that 8th place may need 32 points to qualify. This they can do. Could the Warriors (or any team) win 12 straight to win the title. I think not. Finishing top 4, preferably top 2 is a pre requisite to enjoying the lap of honour.
maximillian
Guest
When Elliot was in charge earlier this season the Warriors were in contention for the wooden spoon. Since McFadden has taken over they have won 6 of their last 8 matches & are now in 7th place. This includes 2 wins against top 8 teams in their last 2 starts & a win against the table topiing Panthers. If you also consider the Warriors have a relatively easier run home with 5 of their remaining 9 matches at Mt Smart, as well as away trips to struggling Canberra & Newcastle, I think a top 8 finish is a reality & even a top 4 finish is possible. At the moment Id rank them below Manly/Roosters/Bulldogs/Souths but if they hold their form & stay injury free, they are darkhorse contenders IMO.
Redback
Guest
You obviously know something that the rest of us don't. Unless they have bought the all blacks I can't see how the warriors can win anything.
maximillian
Guest
I think McFadden set the tone early on by dropping players that werern't perforrming & essentially putting the players on notice. Hurrell/Neilsen/Mateo/Townsend etc have all spent time in reserve grade for subpar performances under McFaddens watch & the players now understand that mediocrity will not be tolerated. The attitude of the players is better for it & the Warriors are conceding almost 10 less points per game on average since McFadden took over. The Warriors have always had that flashy aspect to their play but defence will win you titles so with the improvement in this area I see the Warriors as a potential darkhorse.
Watcher
Guest
I am a Warriors fan and am loving how the team is going. However, this competition is brilliant in that the majority of teams are still in the hunt. The top four have earnt their favouritism, especially Manly. You could make a case for all teams in line for the 8. A very good team will win it and a very good team will get the wooden spoon. I just hope that no matter what team, results are not blighted by injuries, inconsistent Judiciary, and refereeing blunders.