It’s that time of year again Warriors fans, when the usual late August depression sets in. The time of year when we all attempt to explain our support to those who ask us why we bother.
We say things like ‘next year is the year’ and ‘they’ve been unlucky this season because of injury’.
I’ve been doing this to myself for as long as I can remember.
There were a few ups, however. The eight straight wins in 2002 that propelled them to minor premiership (thank you Doggies for breaching the salary cap). The run home in 2011 where they put together a consistent (shocking, right?) seven wins out of nine to finish the regular season.
Both of these seasons finished with a spot in the grand final where poor second half performances cost them the trophy. It’s almost like the franchise has got so used to building up hope only to let their supporter base down that they feel like they have to do it every season.
Take this season for example, sitting pretty in the top four heading in to the Round 19 clash against the Roosters. This is where the season started to derail with the first of six straight losses.
The Warriors’ left edge was exposed and everyone has taken advantage of this since. As good as Solomone Kata and Konrad Hurrell are on offence, their goal-line defence is weak.
I thought they had turned it around against the Cowboys last weekend and I smugly messaged my brothers at 16-0 to let them know that those who show faith in the Warriors are rewarded in the end. I should have known better. They went on to concede 50 unanswered points.
We’re a special breed though, us Warriors fans. We’re the best excuse makers and mathematicians in New Zealand, although we do need to work on our grammar – “Lets gone Warriors!”.
We’re constantly working equations to figure out for and against needs, how many points we can get from the last six rounds of the season, and who is going to beat who in the other games to let us in.
When it gets to the last three rounds and it’s over, we go into oracle mode and start predicting the future. How next season is going to be different. How they’ll live up to their potential and become a top four team.
2016 is a do or die year for me as a Warriors fan and by the looks of social media there’s many more like me. The addition of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as another attacking weapon and the passionate pocket rocket that is Issac Luke will free up current superstar Shaun Johnson to play with less pressure, like he does with the Kiwis.
The 2016 Warriors squad has all the makings of a championship team. They have a solid forward pack full of State of Origin and international calibre players and a talented spine (Luke, Tuimoala Lolohea, Johnson and Tuivasa-Sheck) that will rival any in the competition. They also have some brilliant youngsters with a winning mentality coming through their Under-20s set-up, which has won three premierships in the last five years.
The main area they need to improve in the off-season though is their defence, especially from their wings and centres. When their defence is strong they win games, it’s that simple. They’re naturally a very talented attacking team but they concede too many points.
I believe Andrew McFadden is the man to lead them through next season but if they don’t finish in the top four, I’m gone forever as a fan. Warriors – you’re not good for my mental health.
Nathan
Roar Rookie
Yup, once again I tuned in on Sunday and got my hopes up when they scored first... I just can't help myself
cedric
Guest
yes all the plays, not many, revolved around Johnson. To look at the questions about the Warriors winning ways in U20 and that moving onto Nrl level, I think it is an indictment on U20 footy. U20 is a wide open field with plenty of space which big pacific island boys relish. Then onto the Nrl, no space and guess what nearly everyone is big and everyone can tackle! Warriors best performing coach, Daniel Anderson, was sacked cause there was a bit of a player revolt because he was too tough, I mean they said he couldn't relate to Island boys and he got upset when Lautiti said his family and church come 1st. I say sack the guy who sacked Daniel. Infact I think he was last year? I recall Renouf saying, under Wayne Bennett he was a Bronco 1st and aboriginal 2nd, Renouf said that with a bit of admiration of Bennett! I just hope McFadden can do the job, but we do need another two Matalinos!!
Sylvester
Guest
I boldly declared immediately after the Johnson injury that the Warriors wouldn't win another game, and my prediction is on track. It was quite obvious their fortunes hinged almost entirely on his form when he did play - without him, they were always going to be toast.
Eddie
Guest
C'mon Nathan. You, me and every other long suffering Warriors fan say it every season: 'thats it not backing this rubbish anymore I mean it this time honest' only to have your heart warmed and teased into fearless predictions after an ad-lib magic victory, usually against the Storm. I swore blind I'd never watch em again after the Dragons debacle, but there I was, yelling at the telly with Tui stepping Thurston until I started yelling differently later. The motto I found usually with supporters win, lose or draw is, 'who'd coach em.'
maximillian
Guest
I heard an interview with Warriors boss Jim Doyle a few months back & he also lamented the number of U20s stars that struggle to make the step up to top grade. They've changed their philosophy & are pushing the most promising young players out of U20s & into NSW Cup. Lolohea/Vete/Lisone all spent time in NSW Cup last year & I think their transition to the top grade has been smoother than a few others.
maximillian
Guest
Hasler would be my dream coach for the Warriors. We've had coaches come down here before & try to implement a structured game plan before & its failed miserably. The Warriors best footy has come under coaches that have embraced the razzle dazzle style NZers play with & have come up with a game plan to suit. I admire what Hasler has achieved at the Dogs. Hes almost won them a premiership by basing his game plan around big ball playing forwards. We have so many of those types of players coming through the NZ system that the Warriors could be world beaters with the right coaching & structures in place! Im at least prepared to give McFadden another year. He inherited a team last year that was substandard & the volume of injuries to key personnel has derailed a lot of the good stuff he achieved earlier in the season. But next year he will have the roster he wanted, & the support staff he wanted so no more excuses. If he fails my hope is the Warriors make a big play for Dessie.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
The failure of the Warriors to translate U20's success into NRL success is baffling. I'm not sure whether it's an indictment on the Warriors, or on the U20's comp, to be honest.
Nathan
Roar Rookie
He'd probably be top 5 just because he knows the players him and Doyle have signed. He just needs a good defensive coach though. The other 4 would be: Wayne Bennett - Obvious reasons, the man's a guru. Craig Bellamy - The players would fear him. Ivan Cleary - Coached them to a final already Trent Robinson - He can coach kiwis and has done amazing things with that Roosters team.
Stucco
Guest
At the moment not high. Maybe Toovey could be lured over? I mentioned Kearney before and still think he could do a good job for the Warriors.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Set your watch by the Warriors starting slowly, being top four after Origin, being declared every second tipsters 'smokey' to win the comp, falling in a heap to miss the 8 and then declaring 'next year'. I think it does look good for them for next year. The spine will be sensational. Lolohea is one of the most exciting and talented young players in the comp. Size, power and skill all over the park. If you could pick any coach or assistant coach in the comp to lead this team - how high would McFadden be on that list?
Stucco
Guest
The dummy runners, to me, show that a play is organised as all of the players have to know their roles and then perform them. The fact that the Warriors don't do it is, again, a sign that they are waiting for one of their genius attackers to do something, well, genius. I do think that sometimes propheses can be self-fulfilling. The Warriors are weak on the left edge, so everyone runs their players at the left edge. Eventually the left edge fails and we're again talking about the weakness of the left edge. So more plays get run that way and so on and so on. Maybe the answer is to run the left edge defenders at the attackers like kamikazes. Sure, they'd leak points but hey might make the players wary of attacking that way if they knew they were going to get hurt* *not advocating violence or illegal play :)
cedric
Guest
yeah that left edge, if they fail this weekend then they haven't trained at all. Because I would imagine the coach has had 4 of them in a channel defending their line while the right edge of 6 players run at them all day at every different angle with multiple dummy runners. 40 hours of that and if they fail, god knows what then! Speaking of dummy runners , the Warriors appear to do that on the odd occasion. Not like the Storm or Roosters who have mobs of them to the point of obstruction!!!!!!!!! You know if Hurrell and Kata get their defence right and that includes their wingers, they will be worth their weight in gold. As their attack is there. It's a hard jump to NRL!
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Warriors need a coach that the players fear. I look at elliot, mcfadden, mclennan and they have all been useless and seem like "nice guys". They coaches who took them to grand finals were Anderson and Cleary. Both at a different level to the guys mentioned beforehand. One could only imagine how well they'd go if a guy like Bellamy or Hasler got his hands on them. I'd also knock their support staff. Cult figures and guys who 'wore the jersey' has been a problem with the warriors for years. I am sure they know a lot about their craft but I reckon they need unfamiliar faces who come from successful clubs. You want to revitalize the joint, not regurgitate failing practices. The fact that the warriors have been killing the junior leagues for years and failing for that to translate to the top grade is quite frankly unacceptable.
E-Meter
Guest
Gees heard of Parramatta? Being an Eels fan you feel crushed by the eternal gloom of disappointment. When you reach the point where you feel you're rarely a chance of winning, and they actually win just a game here and there (usually there), that winning feeling brings a smile to your face. Beating Manly last week is a classic example. My normal expectation is that we'll get thumped each week, but that one seldom win now and then, is enough to keep you coming back for more.
Stucco
Guest
Where to begin? Another sad end this season. Yes, we've had injuries and the youngsters coming in but every team can say that. The big issue, IMHO, is the lack of trust on defence. The team doesn't seem to trust each other to make tackles, which means they anticipate covering the missed tackles, which means they are out of position if the ball is moved. McFadden has to take some of the blame for that - he either hasn't got a system in place or he is not uniting the group enough to get them work together in defence. Actually, they don't work that well together in attack either- so many of our tries come from one player doing something remarkable (particularly Johnson) rather than a structured plan of attack. In the Under-20's this works, maybe not so much in first grade. I know he had a rotten run at the Eels but perhaps the move was to try and get Kearney to be the coach - his experience under Bellamy and working with Bennett would have helped in this regard. As it is I worry about next year. Yes, we will have those 3 incredible attacking players in the spine but that won't matter if the coach can't gel them together.
cedric
Guest
mate just think what souths supporters went through for the past 30 years. And yet during my time in Oz, 76' - 96', a would say, in the Northern Territory anyway, that the most worn jersey seen in pubs was souths. It was infact a statement I believe, as to how tough a person you were, mentally and being working class as well! I'm really just happy we've got a team in the NRL and they usually come about mid way in the comp. No disgrace! And like a souths supporter if they were continually on the bottom it would steel my resolve!!!!!!!!!!
Nathan
Roar Rookie
I've had a few moments where I nearly gave up Cedric but I keep crawling back for more disappointment. Five 20 year olds is no excuse to let in 50 unanswered points. They get their heads down and lose interest after a couple of tries.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Isaac Luke will have a big impact at the Warriors. have a look at Souths recent form when he is not in the team.
cedric
Guest
surely you jest about ditching the Warriors, if it is true then you are maybe like the 2016 Warriors young and mentally young! Last week the Warriors had five 20 year olds on the field, I don't think there is another team with two in their side. There is a tv show in NZ called the aftermatch and Guttenbiel (the compare) said maybe we should question the recruiting for the past 3 years. I would say 20 years! But the good thing is we have a great core of a team for 2016 maybe just another couple of bruisers like Matalino would turn into top 4.
cedric
Guest
surely you jest about ditching the Warriors, if it is true then you are maybe like the 2016 Warriors young and mentally young! Last week the Warriors had five 20 year olds on the field, I don't think there is another team with two in their side. There is a tv show in NZ called the aftermatch and Guttenbiel (the compare) said maybe we should question the recruiting for the past 3 years. I would say 20 years! But the good thing is we have a great core of a team for 2016 maybe just another couple of bruisers like Matalino would turn into into top 4.