Another year gone, the same outcome for the Warriors and their fans. Let’s recap season 2014 from the New Zealand Warriors.
It was a poor start followed by an improved run of form during Origin, followed by four to six weeks of games where they look like the best team in the NRL and may walk away with the big prize.
The season then finished with the Warriors failing to win the games that count and missing the finals.
This year, they lost to the Knights 28-22 then met the Roosters where they were flogged at home 46-12. They then beat the Titans 42-0. This week, with Brisbane losing, they were afforded a chance to sneak into the eight. They didn’t even have to win – a draw or a narrow loss would have sufficed.
They failed, losing 22-6 to end another wasted year. So what is the problem?
Do the Warriors have a culture problem? Do they struggle for leadership within the club? The Warriors most successful teams were the 2002 and 2011 versions which included the likes of Stacey Jones, Kevin Campion, Michael Luck as well as Ivan Cleary as a player (2002) and coach (2011).
They were no-nonsense leaders. Does the 2014 version lack these style of players?
Could it be that the fact that the team is mostly made up by Kiwis? The constant losses to the Australian national side could somehow influence the performance of the NRL side.
The Warriors have for a long time had a reputation for not working hard enough. Matt Elliot commented when he took over that he couldn’t believe how unfit the team was.
Do the Warriors believe in flash over hard work? With players like Sam Tomkins, Shaun Johnson, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvai and Feleti Mateo, they posses some of the most dangerous offensive players in the NRL.
But besides Nathan Friend and Jacob Lillyman, they have no workers. They have nobody that will set a platform for others to perform. They have no-one that will make the tackles or work their backside off.
With Ryan Hoffman arriving next year, he may be able to bring a bit of Melbourne Storm professionalism. He may bring a hard edge to their team to bring them back to the finals.
Sylvester
Guest
I actually think the total opposite is true Knightblues. Once McFadden came on board the defence completely turned around, bar the odd blowout (ie Roosters). I watched them staunchly defend their line countless times, mainly due to their inability to smart decisions with ball in hand at crucial times.
Knightblues
Roar Guru
Warriors have so much going for them except they cant dig in deep in defence, some games they do, but overall its just a lazy attitude.
cedric
Guest
how about Johnson at fullback?
cedric
Guest
alot of good points; I do think they have to keep a coach for several years though. Mcfadden sounds good, I think he just needs the cattle. Have a look at the NFL and college football teams, some of their coaches have been there for 20 years! Maybe some of our young forwards will get better with experience, they say it takes 100 games to be there unless your a bit of a freak. But at this time I only see Mannering, Matalino and Lillyman with the addition of Hoffman. Havilli and Lolohea need to be in this team fulltime come mid season and we need the Fish on song at fullback. Bring on 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jacks
Roar Guru
You make some great points sylvester, Im not totally convinced by McFadden but he deifnatly needs longer to see what he can do the centres with the failure of Justin O'Neil does need to improve and a organising 5/8th would be very handy also
Sylvester
Guest
There are some positives to take out of 2014: - They nearly pulled the season of out of fire after a woeful start. - After McFadden took over, the defence - usually an Achilles heel - improved almost immediately, bar a couple of blowouts. The weak links are definitely five-eighth and centre. Leuluai is awful. Never rated him the first time around and still don't. Townsend is second-rate but did OK before inexplicably getting dropped. Johnson is brilliant talent but still not an expert playmaker against good defences. Maloney took a lot of that pressure off. It was no surprise the Warriors had the lowest kick/try ratio. I don't know what the answer is at centre. Anyone would be better, but if Matai is not on the market there's no whispers about any other high-profile targets. The forward pack I don't needs that much tweaking. Hoffman will add defensively solidity, to complement Mannering and Friend. If the big boppers fire, the mix is great. Overall, the main issue is individual consistency of players. Take Hurrell for example. In some games unstoppable but against the Panthers didn't fire a shot and it wasn't a one-off. Manu's the same, Tomkins was up and dow, Johnson, Mateo - the list goes on. The good teams, as you would expect, have their best players playing at their best more often than not.
Muzz
Guest
imo - His game and the teams overall performance and consistency would improve with someone more solid/structured as1st receiver with Johnson calling the plays and adding the polish from five-eighth.
Realist 1975
Guest
The Warriors when on song are IMHO the best team to watch. Problem sometimes is that they are inclined to prefer to play attractive footy in pursuit of victory rather than say structured footy. If I was at the Warriors I would try to get a guy like Kieran Foran over as opposed to say the more older and more injury inflicted Steve Matai. At very least some pressure is taken off Johnson if Foran was to cross the ditch to NZ. The Warriors appear to solely miss the "killing instinct" ingredient that only very good teams possess.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
A consistent hard working prop with some leadership qualities and years left in the game, perhaps Aiden Tolman. It's not a flashy choice, but they have plenty of flashy, it's the grindy less exciting stuff where the Warriors fall over. Wouldn't pick a spine player, they have a pretty solid spine with Friend/Johnson/Tomkins in it and the players who could complement them (mostly thinking Cronk or Soward) don't have a lot of time left. Gareth Widdop would definitely be worth considering though.
kiwi
Guest
I don't know, but I don't feel that it's flair we lack, or necessarily speed or hardness - unless it's mental hardness. I'd say your assessment of the need is quite accurate. An older "been there, done that" kind of guy. Someone who commands respect - both on and off the field. Someone fairly unflappable. Someone able to "rark them up" - and settle them down. Someone who always makes the right decisions. Someone totally professional. Gee, the more I look at what I've written, the more Cameron Smith's face comes to mind!
Digby
Roar Guru
Excellent suggestion Muzz. Often wondered if Johnson would make a better stand off.
Jacks
Roar Guru
I agree with Muzz and Gaz Cam Smith but I would also put Kerian Foran in there his young a kiwi and just a tough guy who could captain the club for 10 years
Glenn Innes
Guest
Nordburg- I agree, for some strange reason League fans always over rate this team,I really don't know why but I am sure the betting agencies are big Warriors fans, At the beginning of the year I said they would finish sixth to twelfth and they finished right in the middle, which I think is about par for the talent they actually have. Their spine is their problem, their dummy halves are pedestrian,I don't like Johnson as a half back,, he is not prepared to take the ball right to the line and cop the bruises that come with it, his kicking game is unreliable and I don't think he really knows how to push a team around the park, the jury is out on Tomkins but if he doesn't improve on what he produced this season then he is going to be a very expensive mistake. The game against Penrith last Sunday night showed how they simply lack potency when they are at the money end against a well structured defence.Apart from the time Hurrell dropped the ball with the line wide open. they never really troubled Penrith, who handled everything the Warriors through at them with relative ease, because really they didn't throw much of any quality at them and as usual Johnsons kicking game was poor, while the unfashionable Soward produced his usual reliable, clinical display..
Muzz
Guest
Jinx Gazza : )
Muzz
Guest
Smith or Cronk Smith - would keep things tight and within the teams system.It would be like having a coach on the paddock Cronk - would add first class decision making and total ownership of the halfback role. Would move Johnson to 5/8
Gazzatron
Guest
Only thought about it for a 30 secs but I'd say Cam Smith or Cooper Cronk. They need a leader in the team and an all out professional in everything they do. Who's your pick Kiwi?
Gazzatron
Guest
I don't think his defence is a big problem. Thurston is regarded as one of the best players if not the best in the comp and his defence is pretty weak.
Kris
Guest
Now you know how Queenslanders feel 24/7
kiwi
Guest
Serious question... If money/contract etc.. were no object, who would be - of all the players currently plying their trade in the NRL - the single best acquisition for the Warriors? And what position would you play him?
MAX
Guest
The refs. jump on minor infringements which NZW may commit whereas the same is often ignored when the Aussie based team offends. The tally is always near even but the damage is done. Mt. Smart and Redfern should be on the same itinerary.