Warriors legend Clinton Toopi believes if the current roster doesn’t hoist the NRL trophy by the end of next year, the club never will.
Expectations have reached fever pitch in Auckland after the acquisition of the unregistered Kieran Foran, as well as former Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney.
Foran’s impending registration will give Kearney his first-choice Test spine in a line-up Toopi labelled ten times better than the club’s 2002 grand final team.
“Minimum is top eight, but I’d be pushing for top four because that calibre, how can you not think that they’re capable of doing that?” Toopi told AAP.
“On paper, the team that we had when we went to the grand final back in 2002, they surpass that ten-fold.
“It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. If we can’t get it in this first year, it’s surely going to be the second year.
“And if we can’t do it in those two years, we’re never going to get it.”
Twice the Warriors have reached the grand final, in 2002 and 2011, and twice they’ve fallen at the final hurdle.
But Toopi is a big believer in Kearney, who led the Kiwis to World Cup glory in 2008 and Four Nations triumphs in 2010 and 2014.
“Nothing against any of coaches, because one of the best coaches I had was Daniel Anderson,” he said.
“But I always felt like it’s got to be one of ours to take us all the way. It’s just a deeper meaning, if that makes sense.
“He was one of the best professionals when I first came into the Kiwis. There’s a whole lot of other players, but he stood out, just being cool, calm and collected.
“He’s still the same today.”
However if boasting arguably the best-assembled roster isn’t enough, then Toopi reckons the club’s favourable schedule is even more reason to dream.
The introduction of the early Friday night game means broadcaster favourites Brisbane no longer have a monopoly on the free-to-air fixture.
The Warriors have six Friday clashes in the first 20 rounds, one less than the Broncos, who also have six Thursday night games.
“There’s an advantage that way because you get more supporters coming to the game, getting behind you, making it more of a graveyard,” he said.
“Most teams that travel over, they don’t want to play in a night game. It’s all wet and dewy, which they’re not used to.
“Generally it’s a Sunday game, that’s what teams are accustomed to. In that sense, that’s going to be a huge advantage, even though the likes of Broncos, they get it because they’re prime time.”
Eddie
Guest
What is the 'Polynesian' attitude to defence? Is it because if some in this team clock off ( which other teams do, mind ) they happen to be Polynesian? Or is it a trait that is present in all 'Polynesian' players?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I think the point behind Toopi's comments is that if the Warriors can't win the title with this team then what will it take to win it?
Jimmmy
Guest
Foran will change that side completely. Whether that's enough to win a GF I don't know but the Warriors have such junior talent surely they have to win it one day.
andrew
Guest
They never stood a chance with a boyband singer as their coach.... I don't think much of their pack. Mannering is an honorable player who i think everyone in league world seems to respect, but he is past his best as are Lillyman and Hoffman. If Bodene is in first grade more than he is not, then the team isn't making the eight, much less the four. Johnson has limitless talent but is yet to put a full season together and Foran has to have a question mark on him. Could be amazing, could be a repeat of last year, may not play at all. End of the day there are more questions around this team; Will Foran be right to go? Can Kearney coach in the NRL? Can Johnson give you a season of quality? Is Tuivasa-Shek going to bounce back and realise his potential? What is happening with Lolohea? They may get favourable answers, but history suggests winning the comp is unlikely.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Personally I think their forward pack is absolute dross. Back rowers are all similar in style Bodene aside in attack. Front row has potential but Luke and Matulino need a rocket week in week out up their clacker before they take the field. Bull Lillyman is older than Brad Hogg. Decent young 'potential' forwards in Lisone, Vete, Bunty Afoa (who could be the next Sam Thaiday), Toa Sipley and Co. in the mix, but the old experienced heads need to lift and give SJ & Co. the space and momentum required. They lack a big physical leader of the Ruben mould IMO. Kearney is an upgrade on Brian McFadden, that's for sure and Jim Doyle is a great operator. Toopi = legend?? Questionable.
BigJ
Roar Guru
i think that it is a bit rough to say now or never, Sharks did that for fifty years and they finally got there so anything is possible. I for one would love it if the Warriors won it but not this year, but i reckon 2018 will be the year of the warriors.
KenW
Guest
The 'never' part is obviously an exaggeration but there's a useful point there. There's a lot of money and talent in that side, most of the time you can only hold that together for a handful of seasons until it starts to break apart. If they don't do it in the next couple of years it could be a long time before they have another opportunity.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
You can't deny Kearneys succes as coach of the NZ national team. 2 4Nations, 1 RLWC and managed to get them to top spot for the first time years.
Casper
Guest
"Rigours of travel which takes its toll every year", seriously? It's 3 hours on a plane, same as Townsville to Sydney which the Cowboys do every second week. If the Warriors can't make the best of their fortnightly home ground advantage they need to pull out and give someone else a crack. Maybe you need to look more closely at the 'Polynesian' attitude to defence (or lack thereof) which is generally found out in the NRL. That's been the Warriors consistent failing over the years, along with a penchant to throw speculative passes at inconvenient times, despite a near international roster.
kk
Roar Pro
The problem lies with an ageing pack for whom I still hold in the highest regard. Mannering (31), Hoffman(33), Lillyman(33) Matulino(28), Thompson(29) all have bursts of brilliance during the season but are not able to sustain the necessary effort to compete at the top 8 level. I suspect every one of them has carried injuries into games. Until Watson, Doyle and Kearney sort that problem there will be no top 8 let alone top4 or premiership. I yearn for the day when the Warriors and the Titans have each won the big one and the Knights are owned by their fans. Rugby League needs them.
Jacko
Guest
love to see it but I am less confident in the coach than Toopi is. Was wrapped to get rid of "Cappy" but yet to see success from Kearney at club level, and havnt been impressed with him at international level. I just hope that the Warriors improve in consistancy but no matter who is on the roster or who the coaching staff are, they will still need to overcome the rigors of travel which takes its toll every year
The Barry
Roar Guru
Thought the same thing about Toopi. I thought it would be Stacey Jones or Rueben Wiki... I don't think the now or never was meant to be taken literally but headline writers grab what they can. Toopi makes a good point though. This is a top 4 quality side and potential premiers. On paper they should still be kicking deep into the semis. They have more excuses made for them than any team. Starting badly, surging through origin and then flopping in the final third of the season won't be good enough.
peeeko
Guest
i dont believe this "next 2 years or never" last year in world sports showed anything can happen. since when is an average NRl player like Toopi a "warriors legend"?