If you speak to Australian rugby union fans, the general consensus seems to be that the sport is in trouble.
Australia has not won the Bledisloe Cup in 15 years. Headlines like ‘how do we fix Australian rugby’, ‘Australian rugby greats call for crisis summit to fix rotten system’ and ‘Waratahs explore the bottom of the barrel’ have become commonplace.
The solution? It depends who you ask.
Suggestions have included sacking Daryl Gibson as the coach of the Waratahs (although I’m not sure how this fixes Australian rugby other than perhaps helping the Tahs), getting rid of one of the Australian franchises (at the moment it looks like the Melbourne Rebels are on the chopping block), reconfiguring the way the Super Rugby conference is structured, and some suggestions as extreme as overthrowing the ARU board.
After watching the Warriors on the weekend, I couldn’t help but wonder whether rugby league in New Zealand is going through a similar slump – though perhaps the situation is not as dire.
You know that old saying ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’? When it comes to the Warriors, I’ve been guilty of being fooled more than twice. In fact, I am fooled season after season into thinking that they will turn a corner.
But ahead of season 2017 who could blame me for thinking that the Warriors were a shoo-in for the top eight?
‘Problem coach’ Andrew McFadden was removed in 2016 and Stephen Kearney – who apparently ‘understands’ the Warriors’ style of play and the characters in the team – was installed as coach. With one of the most naturally gifted teams in the competition, featuring players like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, David Fusitua, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke and Ben Mautalino, I had high hopes.
But the Warriors continue to disappoint and after watching them play the Penrith Panthers on the weekend, I solemnly swear that I will never tip them again.
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To use one of my favourite footy clichés, it was a game of two halves.
The first half was the Warriors at their attacking best.
Foran reminded us he was once among the best halves in the game, scoring the opening try after just five minutes.
This was the first of five tries that the Panthers conceded in the first half. Two of those tries came in ten minutes during which Waqa Blake was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.
The final try came just on the stroke of halftime, courtesy of Fusitua, who intercepted a Nathan Cleary pass and ran 80 metres to score and put the Kiwis in front 28-6 at the break.
So dominant were the Warriors that Panthers fans booed their team off the field at the end of the first 40 minutes. Those boos would turn to cheers of jubilation in just 40 minutes.
The second half saw the Warriors collapse spectacularly.
Penrith’s performances over the last couple of weeks have been extremely disappointing, particularly for a team that was tipped to be a premiership contender this year.
The Panthers scored 30 unanswered points in the second half, with four tries coming in the opening 12 minutes.
Bryce Cartwright set up two tries, Isaah Yeo made Johnson look like a speed hump when he strolled over for four points, and Matt Moylan made Foran and Tuivasa-Sheck’s defence look flimsy as he weaved through for a try.
Of course, all teams have off days (I’m looking at the Parramatta Eels after the weekend), but collapsing into a heap is something we have come to expect from the Warriors. The fact that very few fans expressed surprise after this game speaks volumes.
This is a team that has run out of excuses. They have the squad and apparently have the coach – or simply cannot use the coach as an excuse, because they have changed coach several times. It is simply unacceptable that this team has not played finals football since 2011 and has such a poor record on the road, which has seen them only manage to win seven games in Australia since 2015.
AAP Image/David Rowland
Consistency in performance is not just an issue that the Warriors face though.
New Zealand’s 30-12 loss to the Australian Kangaroos last weekend was the Kiwis’ 17th loss in 18 mid-season Tests. The last five times these two teams have met, the Kangaroos have won 120-34 collectively. New coach David Kidwell has only managed one win out of six games since replacing Kearney last year.
What was staggering about this particular performance though was that going into the game, many commentators called this Kiwis team one of the strongest ever, featuring players like Tuivasa-Sheck, Jesse Bromwich, Johnson, Jordan Rapana, Foran, Kevin Proctor, Jason Taumalolo and Martin Taupau.
The reality was that, despite such a strong squad, the Kiwis were unable to match it with the Kangaroos. In fact, I would go so far as to say the scoreline flattered New Zealand since all their points were scored in the second half when the game was well and truly out of reach.
With the news that Bromwich and Proctor will both be unavailable for selection for the Rugby League World Cup at the end of the year, things are not going to get any easier for New Zealand. They need a significant change in fortune to even challenge Australia at the end of the year.
Rugby league in New Zealand is in a slump and it’s going to take a monumental change in attitude to fix it. And, for the moment, this rugby league fan is definitely going to stop tipping the Warriors.
tim
Guest
"They have tried compliant refs, putting the NSW game at home first even when it is Qlds turn for 2 home games (one transferred) etc" "Compliant refs" is a blatant fabrication. And they always try to give Qld game 3 because it will sell out regardless of whether the series is still alive. It gives Qld an incredible advantage going into a decider. And count the amount of games NSW and Qld have respectively hosted in Origin history and you should realize where the bias lies in that regard .
Republican
Guest
........I have been told that a growing number of NRL clubs are scouting Kiwis over Australian GR players which can't be good for the code here. Yes, NZ should be encouraged to create their own domestic league as they are clearly on a par with Australia while it is moot as to whether their presence strengthens the code in this country. I say that including NZ in any of our domestic leagues is counter productive, especially when it is at the expedience of viable domestic options while undermining respective codes grass roots. NZ is not a state of Australia, they are apparently a sovereign nation and our greatest sporting adversary and this is why they will never reciprocate in respect of inviting us to join their coveted NPC. Whats good for the goose.........
Republican
Guest
.......this is not a domestic comp it is can international one and as such is a poor analogy. The NPC is the benchmark in provincial Rugby around the world and akin to our NRL, so in that respect, inviting an Australian presence would only enhance the quality of the code here as has been the case for NZ League.
Realist1975
Guest
Its amazing how people have a go at the warriors even though they are just a good win or two from the 8. Given all the negativity you would think they r coming last. If they had a fair shake rwith the officials they would be in the top 8. Look, the 1st half score vs Panthers was misleading as a couple of tries came from intercepts. Plus the Panthers had a player sinbinned. Last try was off a forward pass. Graham Lowe was right though. Anyone notice how nearly every player recruited lately is Maori. NZ has always done well with a good mix of polynesians, maoris and pakehas. Looking at that last test game certain poly players dont want to play for the coach. Never seen Taupau play worse or Taumalolo. Warriors erred massively selecting a failed nrl coach in Kearney. Toovey was easily a better choice. Losing NZs version of Aaron Woods in Bronwich and always miss a crucial tackle in Proctor will actually strengthen the kiwis imo. Anyways have to head off to work.
duecer
Guest
I really don't know if being afforded membership in our domestic comp. is really helping RL in NZ. It sure is helping RL in Australia - without this influx of Polynesian players the game may be going the way it is in England and France, 2 former countries that were strong until the waves of immigration helped Football to be even more dominant. In the long run it may have been better if NZ developed their own comp. and kept players in the country propelling grass roots in NZ and not Australia. From a small base NZ has done very well, but has always punched above it's weight in sporting matters.
Agent11
Guest
The warriors just love to hire clueless coaches. I know Kearney has had some success with the kiwi's but didn't he get 2 wooden spoons with the Eels? Before him is was Mcfadden another untested coach, then there was super coach Matt Elliot (lol), i'm sure there was someone else before him and then Cleary, who was their only decent coach in the last 10 years.
G Len n
Guest
For me, this isn't about the current Wallabies or the current Warriors or Kiwis. Both codes are a poor second cousin to the dominant code I. Their respective countries. Stat's are very similar in contests head to head. Kangaroos have won 100 tests against the Kiwis 32 wins over circa 110 years All Blacks have won 109 tests against the Wallabies 42 wins in the same time period. Even if the numbers are slightly wrong, the percentages are very similar over an equal period of time.
Go warriors
Guest
John a lot of the best school boy rugby talent do go to league. A lot of them get picked up for the u20s and do really well but struggle to progress from there. I think the NRL is too big of a step for them.
john williams
Guest
I watched a game off rugby between crusaders and highlanders three or four weeks ago it looked twice as fast as origin and the skills were unreal if they could get some of those guys playing league they would be more than competitive
League fan
Guest
I wouldn't say fair. More like over exaggerated but being a RL hater I wouldn't expect anything different from you.
woodart
Guest
aussie teams are playing kiwi teams in the super rugby comp. hows that working out?
clipper
Guest
Yes, I know you don't like it when it's not all positive, but Mary is a fair writer.
woodart
Guest
think you are confusing a club side that regulaly changes its players, coaches and jerseys, with the national side which has over 100 years of winning tradition. even if the warriors won the next three premeirships, the All Blacks would still be #1
Jimmy
Guest
Yep another great contribution from our good mate clipper.
League fan
Guest
Thanks clipper for yet another one of your great contributions. More of a complete over exaggeration than a realistic article. It was less than two years ago the Kiwis were the number 1 ranked side in the world and because of a couple of poor performances they are now compared to the Wallabies who have been a complete failure for 15 years.
clipper
Guest
About sums it up glee - good to get an opinion from someone over there. Good, realistic article Mary.
Rod
Guest
Look the whole "winning isn't everything" is a cop out. If you are a pro athlete who is getting paid by the fans.The fans expect you to go out to win and coming second is not an option. If you are prepared to take the cash. You should no what your responsibilities are, end of story
Stu
Guest
The performance of the U20's is not an issue. The best under 20's are playing in NSW Cup which the Warriors are currently sitting in 2nd. They've moved away from big bodies who dominate the league to actually using it as a development team with younger players. Prior to the last 2 seasons they would dominate U20's but that never translated into a winning senior side so they have now changed tack. In terms of the Kiwis, the Kangaroo team they played have Cronk, Smith and Thurston. 3 of the games greatest ever players. A team with these players should never expect to lose. Mary also forgot to mention that the majority of League internationals are never played in NZ thanks to Channel 9 and the NRL. The Kiwis have won the last 2 of 3 at home against the Kangaroos.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
There seems to be no apparent reason for the Warriors under perfrormance . As one comment suggested , even top line Kiwi's that are smashing it in the NRL , return to NZ and disappear into the vacuum that is the Warriors . I know Lowe's " bro culture " comments were met with much outrage but he may well have been right on the mark . A lot of parents from varying cultures raise their children with the idea that " winning isn't everything " . I know it may be considered old fashioned , but it's a beautiful idea and I am sure the western world would benefit from a refresher course on the concept . Maybe the Kiwi's can't develop the disconnect required for a " win at all costs " attitude . I think this is what Lowe was getting at with his comments . That being said I always enjoy a Warriors game ! With the Panthers , I think plenty of people under estimated the effect all the pre season Cartwright stuff would have on a young squad . It was a divisive issue and may have well have tested the idea of " I support my teammate ..... no matter what " . I am not making any judgements on anyone on this issue , but surely their comes a point when you can't offer unconditional support for a teammate . The Panthers may have turned the corner on all of that but I expect a buoyant Knights to be well up for revenge this week after getting whipped last time around .
Akari
Roar Rookie
Perhaps, making the Warriors is the pinnacle for some of the Kiwi players and then they get found out when they reach the top and can't hack it. Unlike their union brethren, they appear to be physically and mentally deficient when stamina and hard work is required. It seems that the recruiters have a knack of picking or retaining the dregs while letting better players leave. A recent example is Matagi.