Sorry guys, I know this stuff is old hat, but I’m obliged to produce one of these per season. So just lie back and read a magazine while I do what I need to do and it will be over before you know it.
So here goes…
With the New Zealand Warriors on a three-game winning streak and now loitering in an unlikely top-four position, is it time to consider them as genuine premiership smokies in 2015?
After six wins out of eight Origin-drained rounds of football, you’d be crazy for not believing this is a potential possibility that could quite literally occur, pending the variable impacts of various external determinants.
I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m convinced the small sample of evidence from the last couple of months unmistakably proves that this incarnation is the real deal to figure in something sometime in September.
That’s right, I’ve seen enough to indicate that Andrew McFadden’s men will be hard to beat, or at the very least, set expectations high and disappoint.
On the weekend, we were treated to all the choicest colours of the Warriors rainbow against a fit, fresh and firing Storm at Mt Smart Stadium.
The home side’s 28-14 victory was a melange of belligerence, speed and complex handshakes, all capped off with the type of domineering-yet-workmanlike scoreline that perfectly contributes to inflating expectations.
So if they can really give this competition a shake, where do their key areas lie?
In a layoff from tradition, the pivotal element of New Zealand’s charge will be in the forwards.
Unlike any other team in the NRL, they have a big, mobile pack that likes to roll through the middle, a decisive point of difference in a modern game overrun with light packs who prefer to truck it up as close to the sideline as possible.
Bringing an invaluable edge in experience to these forwards is 2015 State of Origin grand finalist Ryan Hoffman.
Provided you disregard Jacob Lillyman and Nathan Friend, Hoffman is the cliched cool-headed foreign forward that the Warriors have craved in recent times, and as history tells us, they’ve depended on weathered imports to guide them through similar unfulfilled campaigns. Having him there is an omen.
Like Steve Price and Denis Betts, who have filled the overseas role before him, the backrower is a shrewd buy for his composure, leadership and migrant status. There’s no doubt he could be a blue-collar wild card come finals time. Or a deportee.
In addition to their advantage up-front, the Warriors have broken another old habit by arming their side with wildcards.
One of those who will run roughshod off the back of their typecast scrum is 100-gamer Shaun Johnson, a one-time enigmatic frustration way back in 2015 who has now matured so much that he can pack his own lunch.
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but he was once voted the world’s best player, and it was from here that his nickname of ‘Magic’ was derived after speculation arose about supernatural forces infiltrating the judging panel.
Some are now even saying Johnson is the greatest Warrior halfback since Greg Alexander and the other bloke who runs the Subway in Avondale, but I’m going to wait until I see at least one more flashy flick-pass before I make a call of that gravity.
Then when it comes time to break the big games, the New Zealanders have a big-game game-breaker in Manu ‘The Beast’ Vatuvei.
The cult figure is an invaluable point-scoring machine, primarily because he produces the required amount of tries to cancel out his freakishly high error count.
Vatuvei sets a wonderful example for a backline of stylish young bucks, showing them exactly what not to do if they don’t want their finely-fashioned hair tousled by teammates every third set-of-six. For any of these reasons, he could easily be the highlight of this year’s finals series.
So like me, are you tentatively certain? Is this the year that this group of ever-reliable talent take the Warriors all the way?
I, for one, certainly think so, despite making an agreement with my spouse to go nowhere near them with my money.
Can Coach McFadden harness the power within and write his name in New Zealand history alongside Daniel Anderson, Ivan Cleary and Jimmy Spithill as another Australian who let the country down at the final hurdle?
Let’s hope he’s lucky enough to earn the title. But it won’t be easy.
Besides a grand final that’s rumoured to be held in a different timezone, they have to endure a tough run to the finals beforehand that includes away games, not to mention the challenge of trying to maintain their interest levels. But I’m not deterred; I’ve just got that familiar feeling about them.
Get on board with me. Because if anyone knows how to be a dark horse, its the mighty Warriors!
Roy
Guest
A great defense wins premierships and that means the Roosters will win the comp, they are by far the best team.
Irritated By Stupidity
Guest
Yeah, but they're only 4th on for and against.
Sylvester
Guest
Two differences to recent years. 1. They're not usually in the top half of the top 8, usually bottom half or outside at about this time. 2. They have quite a reasonable run in.
Roy
Guest
The Warriors defense is rubbish, the Roosters should win the comp.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The thing with Warriors is they're a team for whom each "is" is followed by an "if" -- their forwards can win matches if the bench holds up, their backs can be brilliant if they don't make too many errors, their halves are dangerous if they maintain their form.
Birdy
Guest
I'm with you johnnyball, broncos cowboys GF and the true smokies are Manly.
eee
Guest
Except next year their team is ridiculous and they will win
PLANKO
Guest
Dane it is cause every year at some point during the season they look unbeatable. To me it is a little scary that you are saying this now knowing the list are going to be their next year. But with all the big name's they are going there they will miss Nathan Friends 50 tackles though.
watcher
Guest
I cannot blame Aussies for thinking the Warriors will fall over again. However, I would like to point out a couple of areas where things have changed. Consistency of performance. Although a cursory look seems to show the usual variance of performance to other years, there are differences. The first being the forwards have matched every pack they have come up against this year. Hoffman coming has made a big difference being one of three 80 minute back rowers. Along with the re emergence of Matulino and the emergence of guys like Vete, Gubb, Lisone and Faitala-Marriner. They all work hard now. The backs on the other hand have been stymied by injuries in that a backline has not been able to play consecutive weeks too often. This has meant players like Lolohea and Kata have had to be advanced in their development. To their credit they have more than held their own. Tomkins, Vatuvei, Fisiahi, Laumape, Fusitua, Hurrell, Leuluei and Henry have or are suffering from injuries. This has meant that team structures have suffered and individual players, especially Johnstone have not had the platform to work off. The real big loss to injury has been Tomkins. The Warriors are actually unbeaten this year when he has played. His influence is that big. His link play and organising are top notch. His vision is brilliant and provides guys like Johnstone that inch which is all they need. There is competition in the squad for places and no one is safe. This means perform or go. They seem to understand now that they have to earn the right to play ad lib and they have upped their work rate and defence. I am a Warriors fan and am unconvinced whether they can win the comp but they will go deep into the finals in my opinion. I think they are a better team than 201 when they played the final.
offsider
Guest
Hoped you saved this article Dane, then all you have to do is re-post it again same time next year.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
The Warriors on their day are near unbeatable. Probably won't win the GF, but will be a nuisance in the finals to other contenders.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Haha! Very, very astute!
watcher
Guest
It was a good performance against the Storm, highlighted by the rookies standing up so well. This week will be the test. There is no reason why the Warriors can't beat the Roosters, and have been level pegging with them for years. If the Warrior forwards can match their forwards I am confident of a win. Both are very good sides and it should be a cracker. Key match ups for me are. Friend V Friend. Both are under rated players who contribute big time for their sides. JWH V Ben Matulino, worth price of admission alone Simon Mannering V Anyone. He is a machine. Pearce V Johnstone, Pearce has to stand up here Johnstone can run through a shower and stay dry if given room, Pearce's organisation has to to be top drawer. Maloney V Townsend. Jimmy can't tackle and as an ex Warrior we know it, Chad is a steady foil for Johnstone. (Both sets of halves dependant on how their forwards go) Jennings V Fusitua David will be a top first grader, what isn't known is whether he is there yet, showed promising signs against Storm. Fergusson V Kata, all you Roosters fans, do not under estimate Kata. RTS V the Pom, Tomkins contribution to the Warriors cannot be under estimated, they are unbeaten this year with him at the back. RTS is brilliant.
maximillian
Guest
Yea Im also a little surprised at 4th but I think that's more a reflection of how close the comp is right now. Im not convinced they can match the roster of the Roosters/Souths/Cowboys but anything is possible given Johnsons recent form. Interestingly, the Warriors haven't lost any games that Tomkins has played this season so his combination with Johnson could carry them a long way if they can both stay injury free. 1 can only dream!
maximillian
Guest
Get the forward pack right?! The Warriors have 2 Origin players & 2 kiwi internationals in their starting forward pack. They're also ranked 4th in total metres made & 3rd in lowest metres conceded. The forwards are fine.
MAX
Guest
Premiers ? Dark Horse? Warriors 2015 would need to be Zabeel and have the GF played at Cambridge Stud with Patrick Hogan officiating. When Jim Doyle gets the forward pack right Warriors will be truly feared.
cedric
Guest
I think this weekends game against the Roosters will show where the Warriors are. If the young guns, and there's alot of them, can show a defensive effort and still fire on attack, then there's hope! They have the physical ability on attack, we just need to know if on defense they have the mental ability to match. When you look at the Warriors past wins, apart from a Slaterless team, they have beaten teams well down the order. I think in the last 8 games they have to play 5 from the top 8. It's a work in progress (fingers crossed)!!!!!!!!! Just want to add, Fusitua, wow, how focused was he!
Gazzatron
Guest
Come on Max, get excited!!! There's no reason with the way they are playing at the moment they can't win the big one. That's the key though, consistency. To be honest I'm a little suprised to see them sitting in 4th spot but this weekend is a big game in regards to their premiership ambitions. A win or a close loss will be the least I expect. I don't think you are giving this Warriors roster enough credit and like a lot of Warriors fans have been looking at next year a little too closely since the signing of Luke and RTS. We made the GF with a worse roster than this year I reckon. The Warriors rookies are standing up big time with the likes of Vete, Kata and Lolohea leading the charge and after seeing Johnson on Sterlo, his composure and maturity have me believing he can keep up the great form he's been in the last few weeks. I'll probably end up sulking and being disappointed again at the end of the season but last weeks win against the Storm has given me hope especially since Manu, Hoffman and Hurrell were missing and I thought they would probably lose but a convincing win was a bonus. Strap yourselves in Warriors fans because the rest of the season should be one hell of a ride!!!
stu
Guest
To be fair it was only one sided once hoffman left through injury.
AJM
Guest
Are you sure Hoffman was a State of Origin grand finalist? The game that I watched only one team turned up and they wore maroon. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.