Strange as it may seem, the Warriors are the shortest-priced favourites over the whole round. This is a team to avoid at all cost.
They have their new coaching team sorted, with head coach Stephen Kearney supported by, among others, club legend Stacey Jones. Reports suggest there will be a harder edge to their play this year.
But while the Kiwi side is chock full of internationals with star power, I can’t remember when they last won their first game of the season.
The Warriors are taking on the Knights, who are expected to be this season’s wooden spooners for the third season running. But Newcastle will hit the Warriors with everything they’ve got.
Young half Brock Lamb is excellent at driving a team, so he will be one to watch, Trent Hodkinson has played State of Origin, and outside these two is a backline featuring Dane Gagai and Ken Sio.
Up front, Josh Starling has come across from Manly along with Jamie Buhrer and these two will add steel and grunt to a pack also featuring a good, young, Kiwi hooker in Danny Levi.
While the Warriors have stars in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – who debuts as captain – Sean Johnson, Issac Luke and Simon Mannering, there is still a hint of brittleness about this side, who have a history of disappearing during games.
The pack is somewhat inexperienced, with Albert Vete and Charlie Gubb starting at prop to be supported by Sam Lisone and the one-dimensional Jacob Lillyman off the bench. The Knights should be targeting these players.
Bunty Afoa has looked like a legend in the making, but Ryan Hoffman is clearly past his best.
Young Ata Hingano will have a target on his back, while Solomona Kata remains shaky in defence – Gagai could easily get his measure given good ball.
Warriors fans are firm in the belief that this is going to be their year, and the bookies have opened the team up as raging favourites for this game, so anything other than a thumping victory will be a shock.
But unless genuine changes have been made, we could witness a very familiar scenario from the consistently disappointing Warriors.
I for one hope the Kiwi side have made the changes, and am looking forward to a fast, free-flowing and high-scoring game.
Ben Wilson
Guest
i agree with this article except the part about warrior fans firm on belief that this will be their year. its hard to have faith when you have been burnt so many times. sorting out a winning culture in a club seems to always allude this club
Jacko
Guest
Thats the problem Vincent. There is roughly 130 players available to be selected for NZ. So if the top 10% are worthy of test jumpers then that is only 13 players who are up to test quality. Then you get injuries, suspensions, unavailability etc and you are then promoting players above their ability and also above their stature in the game. Then you end up with a group of players who are "test" players but are not of the standard to be called that, yet their managers now believe they should command a better contract and the commentators etc now see player "A" as being of a higher status in the game than they should be. Also I believe that it should never be the NZ Warriors. They are not NZ and should never be referred to as such. Just the name alone infers a country rather than a club and is a massive misrepresentation.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Fair enough, I dont mind you supporting the Warriors, support who ever you want I thought you might and was curious to see if that was the case. Personally I think the warriors have a strong spine, but are slightly lacking in the forwards. The Backs are a even chance for mine, but according to a few people they have been working on their defensive structures and attitude which is the real key to the Warriors winning more games. Im not confident n their ability to make the 8 but can certainly see them making it and they will be in the fight to make it until the the sun sets on Round 26. The odds for this game are ridiculous, but so are a few for this round (Cowboys/Raiders game) but I guess its not us who have to worry about that. Can see the Warriors taking some games to click this year, especially with the impending boost of Foran. Just BTW; everyone criticises the Warriors as there seems to be a mentality that every player is a Kiwi representative and an absolute all star.
Jacko
Guest
Yes Vincent the Warriors are my main side. I shifted to Aus in 85 when no NZ team in comp and followed mainly kiwi test players, regardless of their clubs, as the test side was the only names in league we had heard. I became a Tigers fan due to Garry Freeman playing there mainly but, now since the Warriors joined I followed them, yet still tend to follow many players from different clubs. I dont understand the betting odds as the Knights at $5.50 is stupid and the Warriors at $1.16 is even dumber but thats life. As for the general consensis, well all i seem to manage to find on these pages is criticism and derision of the Warriors where every writer states that the Warriors have a fantastic roster but wont make the 8. Only one of those things can be true all the time as if the roster was so brilliant they would make the 8 all the time but they dont so that goes back to the roster being less impressive than people like to believe. I certainly understand that a team can under or over perform for many reasons but when its so consistant then it tells me the playing roster not that impressive at all.
Nostradamus
Guest
I Predict this game will be a disaster for the knights with the Warriors to win 50+
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Jacko, I stated my reasons in the other thread which you replied to so have seen, but this is a real danger game for the Warriors. They are traditionally slow starters since 2009. This game is the Warriors to lose, but I am not as confident as the bookies odds and general consensus suggest. Warriors are your side I believe?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Mad Dog! Love the bloke hes a cult icon in the making. Im not confident in a Knights win, I have tipped them, but its a real Danger game from the Warriors. The forwards are equal, the backs I would probably tip in the Knights favour and the Warriors are far better in the spine, but its a real danger game.
Jacko
Guest
I always wondered what an article would be like if someone picked a team they hate and wrote about it. Now I know. Norris, why didnt you just write about how you love the Knights and you have hope for a good season? Your article is confusing in that you say the Warriors are "chock full of international superstars" and then say how brittle and inexperienced their forward pack is and how their half has a target on his back, ( who doesnt at this level) and you rubbish the defensive capabilities of their backs, all the while stating how good all these Knights players are and why they will get the better of the Warriors players. Did I get it wrong? Were the Knights not the wooden spooners? So how much have you got on the Knights for this game Norris? The title should have read: Let me bag the Warriors while I pump up the Knights
Agent11
Guest
Round 1 vs the Warriors, despite the line up the Warriors boast this is one of the games the Knights can win.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I fully agree with this article. Although I do believe the Warriors will make great strides this season I think this match will be very close. I think the Knights actually are stronger up front and on the bench. The Warriors have a great spine that's for sure but the supporting cast looks a bit thin and I don't think everything will click from the get go. Dane Gagai was outstanding at center playing in the trials. Nathan Ross and Ken Sio aren't too shabby either out wide. Tipping a close game but Warriors to get there.