Historically, the New Zealand Warriors’ seasons of success have been followed by prolonged periods of disappointing underachievement. In recent years, they have set the competition alight one week and not turned up the next.
Their inability to bring consistency to their performances has meant they’ve missed the finals for the last five straight years, despite being considered one of the league’s best sides at the start of every season.
So, as another season rolls around, what will the Warriors bring to the table in 2017?
Long-considered the NRL’s dark horse, and with the addition of a new coach, star playmaker and international spine, will this finally be the year everything comes together?
Perhaps tagging them with a ‘dark horse’ title is misguided, because everyone knows how good they can be. Maybe a ‘white-elephant’ tag suits better, considering they have the talent but produce next to nothing, right?
While injuries may have hampered their seasons in 2015 and 2016, the fact the club went with untried NRL coach Andrew McFadden following the departure of Matthew Elliot was baffling.
With a team capable of achieving considerable damage on the back of 2014 Golden Boot winner Shaun Johnson, who in his mid-20s was arguably in career-best form, the Warriors surely could have done with a more experienced man in charge.
Remember this a team who pundits constantly suggest need more discipline, both on the field and around the club.
Hindsight, however, is a valuable thing, and for all their recent woes, they may have finally found the right man for the job in Stephen Kearney.
A former Warriors player himself, Kearney has spent almost 30 years involved in professional rugby league.
He returns to Auckland with a World Cup and Four Nations trophy to his name, assistant-coaching experience under Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett and, crucially, time as an NRL head coach.
Doubters will point to his failed two-year stint at Parramatta where he achieved only a 24 per cent win-rate, but the fact he went straight to the Broncos to continue his coaching career shows his determination to succeed.
After spending four years at the Broncos, Kearney would have had ample time to reflect on what went wrong at the Eels and he has now quite rightly got another well-deserved chance.
The appointment of the proud Kiwi may also assist a squad who have previously been touted as needing a coach who understands their culture. It was reported that former coach Matthew Elliot went out of his way to achieve that, but to little avail.
One of Kearney’s toughest but most vital tasks will be to name a captain, with Ryan Hoffman, Simon Mannering, Issac Luke and Shaun Johnson all in contention.
While Hoffman took over from Mannering in 2016, perhaps handing the role to halfback Johnson will allow his talents, energy and determination to filter through the side.
Johnson should hopefully have the benefit of a stable, experienced and equal-in-talent halves partner in Kieran Foran, who will take a large chunk of playmaking pressure off him.
For all his troubles off the field, Foran can produce a steadiness, grit, and competitive desire the Warriors so desperately need.
In essence, his consistency and stamina could be the perfect partner for the flashy and thrilling style of play from Johnson.
But many questions remain, for example:
• How will Issac Luke perform under Kearney?
• Will Roger Tuivasa-Sheck regain his best after an ACL reconstruction?
• Will stalwarts Hoffman and Mannering have the punch as hole-running second rowers?
• Is there enough quality on the fringes to produce points?
• Do the Warriors even have the genuine hunger to go all the way?
In what looks to be one of the more open competitions in recent years, where the Warriors end up at the end of NRL Season 2017 is anyone’s guess.
While many questions remain to be answered, they will surely be one of the teams to watch as they enter the next era at a club which has traditionally underachieved.
If they can get their fans onboard and make Mt Smart Stadium a living hell for their opposition to visit, they will have every chance to make their best statement in years.
But it’s the Warriors. You just never know what you’ll get.
Mike
Guest
These are just incredible ratings for rugby http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38859441
Jacko
Guest
Stu its not difficult doing the travel, its the constant requirement to travel every 2nd weekend for 2 days every OS trip and this leads to interference on training and recovery etc but doing it once or twice a year is no issue, meaning its not an issue for clubs to travel to NZ . Warriors do it 12 -14 times a season. Thats 24-28 days of travelling in the season. Which is double what other clubs do. Melbourne and The Cowboys also travel more than the rest but even a team like Brisbane have a 2 hr flight to Sydney where they are at the airport 30mins before the flight and walk off the plane and straight to their bus.
Jacko
Guest
Aem Im not trying to pull any cards I agree that Hingano is a future prospect just like Hurrell and Lolohea and I hope that they can keep him instead of losing him because of bad management. I believe there is room in the team for Lolohea in the centres and I am sick of seeing Warriors juniors doing very well at other clubs because of bad management ( coaching mainly )at the Warriors.
Stu
Guest
Agree with the comments around travel. I regularly travel to Auckland from Brisbane - door to door (or hotel) I'd say 7 hours. Also note there is a 3 hours time difference from QLD and 2 hours with NSW for the first month of the comp. For the Warriors to get to regional areas (Newcastle, Townsville, Wollongong, etc) it would add at least another 1-2 hours. Having said that, teams travelling over to NZ have the same challenges - Warriors should have a 100% home ground success rate!
Jacko
Guest
The team has to stay somewhere when OS Barry
Jacko
Guest
Really Casper??? Thats what you got from that?
Aem
Guest
@souvalis - so what, he's forgotten how to play his best position because a bad coach played him elsewhere for a while? Yep, totally makes sense.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Scurrah was the cancer that was removed, onward and upward for the Warriors over the next 5 years. Patience is required but they have the back office in place finally and a coach who will be out for redemption within a team he knows inside out, mentored by the best and wrongly portrayed for his failings with the basket case admin of the Eels. Case in point, Ricky Stuart returning to his roots at the Raiders after flopping also at the Eels.
Craig
Guest
Its a 3 and a bit hour flight. Leaving Brissy or Sydney. Lets say you get to the airport 2 hours prior, maybe a 30 minute drive to the airport. That's almost 6 hours, with a bit of flapping around at the other end and a taxi to your hotel, its comfortably 7 hours of travel.
Sylvester
Guest
Hurrell was going OK with the Warriors too. The suggestion was attitude. Some players just need a change of scene. The reason Lolohea isn't the answer at 6 is because Johnson needs a game manager to take the pressure off and it's not his strength. The Warriors have struggled with this since Maloney left. Foran is exactly this type of player.
souvalis
Guest
'He’s only no longer an edge forward in that he has been played in the middle for the last 2 seasons. 'Bu Wa ha ha..
Aem
Guest
He's only no longer an edge forward in that he has been played in the middle for the last 2 seasons. His best footy has always come, and will continue to be, on the edge. Defensively in the middle he's fine, but he's a liability going forward - and it's part of the problem with the Warriors pack. Not enough balance, and not enough power through the middle. Put him back on the edge to play the role he is best suited to. Bodene has been good, not awesome - runs off Johnson have been impressive... through a rookie came in for some games last year and immediately was able to replicate that - so perhaps not unique to Bodene. The problem comes when he makes simple errors when the Warriors are on top of games... the most recent example that comes to mind is the Souths game at the end of 2016. Warriors were totally dominating early, multiple scores up... and then Bodene drops the ball on the simple hit up after the kick off return. Souths score from the field position, take momentum and run with it until the game is out of reach. Similarly, Bodene is generally good defensively - but has has several games each year at the Warriors where he lost the plot and costs them multiple tries. Anyway, the problem with Bodene isn't that he's bad, just that his cap money would be better spent on a genuine middle forward when the Warriors have other world class edge guys in the squad, and two good young backups.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Living in motels?
Casper rose-coloured glasses.
Guest
So the team gets beaten because the fans kids have to go to bed early, that's a new one on me, have to remember that for origin time when they drag the pre-game rubbish out until after 8.30 pm. BTW, the Warriors usually have nil participation in state of origin and often get a game against a weakened opponent or two during that 6 week period, isn't that compensation enough. Seems like you want every advantage and no balancing criteria. Kearney has done ok at international level but those games are under slightly different rules with far more breaks in play, giving his lazy forwards time to recuperate.
Casper rose-coloured glasses.
Guest
Last time I went from Brisbane to Auckland it was nowhere near 7 hours to the end of the trip, you guys are looking at giving the Warriors a ready made excuse. If that's the criteria, they should be undefeated at home every season, and we've seen those stats over the years. As a fan of the much maligned Broncos regarding the salary cap and rep players, how do the Warriors get away with limited criticism when they add Tohu Harris to their current international packed roster. They'd have to have 25 kiwi & junior kiwi reps already, where does it all end? Is 2018 one of the nrl's fairytale seasons, the Warriors to follow the Sharks blueprint with a first premiership.
maximillian
Roar Rookie
Yea I was unsure of RTS as captain initially. He's good with the media side & hes 1 of the 1st players picked, but hes still young & coming back from a long-term injury so I'd be happy for him to focus on playing & getting back to his best. Mannering is the only real choice & he doesn't want the job, so Im happy with RTS to get the gig by default as he will grow into it. Its exciting times to be a Warriors fan with the team that is being assembled, but with the failures we have had recently Id be happy with 8th this season.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Customs in NZ is a breeze compared to Australia. You use the automatic gates when you leave, when you arrive they usually have plenty of staff. Unlike Australia who use automatic gates when you arrive and then trap you in another queue when you have your baggage to hand your arrival form in... that nobody looks at. Frustrating as all hell and tiring. Point being, international travel is easy at the NZ end, bags arrive quicker too so your two hours isn't right. I accept Australia is definitely more lengthy. Those bloody customs forms.... Singapore. Scan passport, check, thumbprint, check. Next......Ahhh, too easy.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Maxi I like the decision by Mooks to install RTS as skipper. Trains harder than anyone else, and his actions should inspire his team mates and the hopefully a new culture can be created by the youngsters coming through. Also have Mannering as his deputy will ease the burden. The fact RTS loves to challenge himself outside of his comfort zone makes it a no brainer. Luke hates talking to the media, ditto Mannering, Hoffman won't be re-signed and isn't even guaranteed a starting role in 2017 and SJ needs to worry less and play his natural game. Adding Harris is again another feather in Jim Doyle's cap. It will take a few years but the club is in good shape after the debacle created by the previous management, most notably the inept Wayne Scurrah. I can see Bunty Afoa taking ownership of the No.13 this season with Bodene and Mannering in the 2nd Row. The kid reminds me of a young Thaiday, Tapau type who loves the physical battle and is rather athletic and intelligent in running his lines. Hingano won't be released, Tui should play centre and Fusitua on the wing, given the latters aerial skills and freakish try finishing ability in tight situations. I think they will definitely improve in 2017 and a lot depends on what role Foran plays. He leads by example as does RTS and Mannering. In Mooks they have another coach like Cleary who played for the club and know's the culture inside out. Please refrain from any Tony Kemp references peep's...
Aem
Guest
In 60-odd minutes in the halves at NRL level he's matched what Tui managed over 6 full games there. And Hingano did that against the Cowboys while his team was getting belted up the middle. He also out-performed him at junior level despite playing with a worse roster around him. If you're going to pull the NRL-proven card... well, Lolohea is not a proven half. Hingano is the best young (still 20s-eligible!) 6 in the game, Tui is a good prospect but it's not the same - plus Tui has pretty consistently looked a better 1 than 6 on the attacking side of the game. Hurrell is a crap defender who apparently liked KFC more than training and who lost his position to Ayshford (who actually played well, shockingly). Cappy's treatment of Lolohea was disgraceful last year - but he's not the head coach anymore.
Jacko
Guest
Squid doing the trip once is easy. Twice still easy. The constant travel and living in motels is very draining.If they have 2 games in a row in Sydney then its either a week in motels etc or its 4 days travel in 8 days. I believe that this years draw is the fairest for the Warriors Ive seen with home games in a row and away games in a row. Different than previous years. Maybe it will make the difference this year