After years of promising so much and delivering so little, the New Zealand Warriors are finally looking like they can make their way into the top four and push for the premiership.
The Warriors came from the bottom half of the eight in 2011 to make it to the grand final. This came after a qualifying finals round flogging at the hands of the Broncos – they can thank the McIntyre system for keeping them alive that year.
They went on to fall at the final hurdle to Manly, but many saw 2011 as the start of a Warriors dynasty. With a youthful team full of quality players, leading into 2012 New Zealand were premiership favourites.
History goes to show that they were pretty ordinary throughout 2012 and 2013 and this year didn’t start much better. Despite having a squad brimming with talent and attacking flair, the Warriors were languishing at the bottom of the table. Matt Elliott found himself as the first coach sacked this year.
A few months later and under the tutelage of Andrew McFadden, the Warriors are playing to their potential. Sam Tomkins is starting to live up to the hype that surrounded his big money move from England, Konrad Hurrell is proving near impossible to stop, and Shaun Johnson is the most exciting attacking player in the comp.
You can’t forget the forward pack either, with Jacob Lillyman, Simon Mannering and Ben Matulino all big men leading the way up front.
Things have really clicked into gear over the last two months, with the Auckland-based side winning their last three games and five from their last six. Their record of nine wins from sixteen games is pretty impressive when you consider that they lost five of their first seven.
While the Warriors have always been good at putting teams to the sword, the last few weeks saw them grind out some closer wins, notably against the Broncos and Panthers.
Their huge win against the Eels also exhibited how lethal they can be when they are on song. While Parra are proving to be a one-man team, not even the great Jarryd Hayne would have been able to stop most of these first half tries.
The Warriors have even got luck on their side at the moment. I loved seeing Tomkins score from a contested scrum on the weekend, and I would like to see more of it in the future, rather than referees blowing a penalty to the team with the feed nine times out of ten.
While the Warriors are still a way off from taking their maiden premiership, as a Manly fan I would be nervous if the Sea Eagles faced them in the finals.
The Warriors play the Broncos in Brisbane and Manly in Auckland over the next fortnight, and their performances against both of these teams will give a good indication as to whether or not they can grab a top-four spot.
Follow Louis on Twitter @louismcintyre
Hosey G
Guest
Every year at this time when SOO is on, the Warriors do well over the 6-7 week block and everyone talks them up. Then when other teams get their players back and focused on the end of the season then they start losing again. Don;t expect to see much different this year.
Nate Hornblower
Roar Rookie
I'm glad the final paragraph added some much needed perspective. In two weeks time, the Warriors could be coming off back to back losses to the Broncos and Manly and all the hype will be out of the sails of the team from NZ
Watcher
Guest
Sorry mate, you misunderstood me, I wasn't impyling the 'high profile' players hadn't improved, just that the other guys in the team were asserting themselves and performing.
Gazzatron
Guest
As a long suffering Warriors fan I think we are allowed to be genuinely excited by our teams chances of winning the big one this year. There's just something different about the team this year that makes me dare to dream. Even when the Warriors made the grand final in 2011 I thought Manly would lap them and they did. This year I feel it's a 50/50 contest against whoever they face in the final (if they get there) just because of how they are playing atm. For me the broncos are the The Warriors of the NRL this year. They are a good team and could make the final but are too inconsistent and leak points. Great season so far and lets hope they can keep it going!!!
Clark
Guest
The thing about the Warriors is that no matter where they finish in the 8 they can win against anyone, something I believe few teams can do. Exciting times ahead over here, With Tomkins getting his hands on the ball more, we become very dangerous, he has an underrated passing game and getting Hurrell running from 10 metres out is almost a certain 4 points, he is probably the hardest player in the comp to tackle.
Nworb
Guest
One thing people forget about the bunnies game is that it was played in Perth and it was pushing 1:00am NZ time at the back end of the game. Hardly surprising they were starting to tire (I know I was).
Clark
Guest
Just curious, who do you support?
Spiritfree
Guest
Yes, Watcher, they did lose concentration against the Bunnies, but then those Bunnies had at least 14 on the field, with penalties coming just when they needed them most. It was an early match of Cappy's reign though and since then, concentration has been total for 80 minutes. In every match. I don't agree that some players have not been big improvers. *Every* player has been a big improver under Cappy. For example, Shaun Johnson has been phenomenal, and not just in play. He's kicked 9 out of 9 and 8 out of 8 in matches since Cappy took over. Yes, the blooding of Fusitua has worked very well and tomorrow we have Agnatius Paasi's first grade debut to relish. This is an incredible year to be a Warriors supporter!
Watcher
Guest
I see exactly where you are coming from NSW, I think the point us Warriors fans are getting at is that they are a lot more disciplined and structured since McFadden took over. I think the players got the point when they lost patience against the Bunnies and got lapped. The old adage that you learn more from your mistakes applies and since then have been disciplined. The worry I have is that they are not yet relentless, like Manly, who I think are the best because they can hurt you all over the field and are in form. The Warriors are building towards that. For me the big improvers are not the name players, Vatuvei, Johnstone, Hurrell and co. It is the younger guys coming of age, Fusitua, Laumape, Townsend, Ikahihifo, Henry (great anywhere), Matagi, plus a host of guys in NSW cup holding their hands up. Too often in the past we have seen players picked without performing. Everybody has to perform now or they get dropped. Agree totally they are smokies at best, however, they are on the improve at the right time of the year.
Parrafan
Guest
Maybe the Eels played so poorly as a direct result of the Warriors playing so well. Considering NZ starved parra of ball. I think it was 18 sets to 6 in the first half, I would be exceptionally nervous if I came up against either team.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
No of course not.My point is the Warriors when attacking actually control the ball ,whereas in the past there tackle completion rate was horrendous. Did not the Tigers give a right royal hiding to the Eagles in rd 5 34-18.And the Tigers do not have the overall IMO attacking players the Warriors have. ? Did not the Cowboys thrash the Roosters 42-10 in rd10 And in rd 6 the Warriors only were just pipped b y the Dogs by 21-20. Based on the above examples I believe I can(as a non Warrior's supporter) make a comment about the Warriorrs at their peak in a G/F.As examples have indicated the three defensive teams have been shown to be vulnerable.
DSF
Guest
totally understand where you are coming from I had the same pessimistic view to all the hype the warriors were getting in 2012 and 2013 but other than those 3 teams you listed below I hold reasonably high hopes for the warriors. There is something different this year that suggests it won't end in heartbreak and despair (not making the 8).
Parrafan
Guest
NSW, I'm not making excuses but between the Eels and Tigers they have about 16-17 First graders on the sideline injured. That's enough to make a full team.
NSWelshman
Guest
Do you think that the team they play will be a team like the Eels? If Manly plays the way they did against the Tigers can we then say heaven help the Warriors? How do you think they would play against teams with defenses like the Dogs, Manly or Roosters? You can't make a comment like you have when the team they thrashed played so poorly!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
And so the other sides should be worried looking over their shoulders. The Warriors are a side of historical inconsistencies>When they were bad they were very very bad and when they were good they were very good. Under their new coach,they seem to have been instilled with a new urgency and pattern in defence.Being there defensively when the attacker is on his way..Their attack really was never in question,execpt the want to ad lib too often and the wrong time. The timing in attack,the value placed on ball control,the reading of play ,all enhanced by the attacking prowess of Johnson/Tomkins/Hurrel and the Beast have shown a maturity,that has been lacking in the past. I submit the coach knows the obvious athletic talents of his players,and has said stick to the basics of reading the play,positioning yourself in defence , support the ball carrier ,and stand deeper in attack,and your natural abilities will do the rest. If they make the Grand Final and play the way they did against the Eels.heaven help their opposition.
NSWelshman
Guest
DSF..............not actually saying that they're a bad team. I know how good they can be on their day, however so can every other team. Earlier in the season when the Tigers were on fire people were saying watch out! Now they're getting hammered. Then came all the hype about Parramatta & now.........they're getting hammered. The Warriors promise something every year & fail to deliver. Yes McFadden has them firing but then again so did Cleary. I do hope they do well as they are my 2nd team! Maybe it's just my disappointment when so much is expected of them & then they let you down.
DSF
Guest
@Watcher Definitely loving the structure mcfadden has deployed to suit the strengths of the warriors, I think the previous coaches got caught up in letting the warriors play a loose gameplan and never gave the team a platform or structure to play expansive footy from. I dont think they'll win the comp but as a warriors fan it is nice to see some consistency in performances and not have to worry about which warrriors team will show up on the day.
fiver
Guest
That 2011 grand final appearance really highlighted how bad the mcintyre system was. You should never be able to make the grand final after getting thrashed in the first week, when you are 6th on the ladder.
DSF
Guest
@NSWelshman don't know if you have watched many warriors games since mcfadden took over. The warriors have put in great performances which do look a lot better than those performances under cleary in 2011. Also the defence has improved a lot under mcfadden, the biggest defeat under mcfadden was against the rabbits by 16pts and the warriors looked great but just couldnt put away their chances due to the rabbits great defence. The warriors for the past 2 years were poor due to the poor coaching abilities of brian mcclennan and matt elliot. I'm not saying warriors will be premiers but they deserve a bit of credit for their performances rather then discrediting them by pointing out the opposition deficiencies. The next 2 fixtures will be a good indicator of how far the warriors have come under Mcfadden, should be interesting to see if johnson has improved his decision making after losing out to hodgekinson twice and adam reynolds this year in the tight ones.
Watcher
Guest
The old cliches about the Warriors don't seem to apply now. They are playing structures designed to optimise their strengths. They have a real focus on defence and pride themselves on it. The nil was the most satisfying thing about the game against the Eels. Previous Warriors teams would have won the game but would have leaked points. I am a Warriors fan, I don't know whether they will win the comp however. If they maintain their consistency and produce 80 minute performances up to the finals they will be a real force, particularly if they make the top four. Like every other team injuries, form, refereeing and the bounce of the ball will dictate the outcome of the comp, it is that close.