Warriors coach Stephen Kearney revealed he was tempted to drop more players but conceded there were no better options to choose from the club’s reserve grade Intrust Super Premiership side.
The ISP side will be the only team from the struggling club to play finals football in 2017.
“If I thought there were better options I’d certainly make those changes, so there’s a couple of lads that are lucky,” he said.
The comments from Kearney will strike a massive blow to the club culture and morale, with several ISP players obviously aiming to take the step up to first grade to further their rugby league careers.
It now seems, despite contributing to a successful season, any such member of the ISP squad will have to look for their opportunities at other NRL clubs in Australia or further afield in the English Super League.
This is a crushing blow as the first grade side continues to perform below NRL standard.
The previously successful under 20s side is also at the bottom of the Holden Cup ladder.
These are tough times for the club, especially after a new dawn was promised with major signings this season and the addition of former New Zeland coach Kearney.
With four games remaining and nothing to play for but pride and respect, the Warriors are in grave danger of not registering another win.
Kearney was quizzed on whether star halfback Shaun Johnson could return before the season’s end. Cryptically he offered this to the surrounding media:
“I’m not going to say [if he’s been running]. He’s close. He’ll be back sooner rather than later.”
(AAP Image/David Rowland)
Despite the form and results, Kearney continues to believe in his ‘process’ but having lost five straight matches the Warriors do find themselves in that very dark place.
Kearney went on to further state:
“As I have said all along, if I think there’s an opportunity where someone can do a job, which I think is going to be better this week, then I’ll make necessary changes.”
The Warriors will have to be a great deal better this week as they prepare to face Ricky Stuart’s revived Raiders.
Determined to claim a place in the top eight, the Raiders will offer a very tough opposition as they comprehensively beat the reigning premiers Cronulla last week.
That win against the Sharks came on the same day the Warriors had no answers for the 16th-placed Newcastle Knights.
If the Raiders are to continue their late season surge and account for the Warriors, more answers will be needed from Kearney, not only to the fans but most probably club owner Eric Watson as well.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
Yeah you would think he would have learnt after trying to implement the Melbourne game plan with Hayne as your star player...if it failed miserably then it sure wasn't going to work at the Warriors.
Bloody R Bull
Roar Rookie
Poor Old Steve. Been a hopeless coach from day one, it's time to realise coaching isn't your domain. Try another job cuzzy bro, please !!!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Too much money spent on guys at the end of their careers - Like, Mannering, Hoffman. They need 3 or 4 forwards that will just run the ball up hard all day and tackle all day. Then have one or two forwards that can play "warriors football". Johnson needs a steady head in halves with him, someone one can take control and calm them down.
Larry1950
Guest
Well every time a kiwi player goes on the market or is given permission to explore options (e.g. Adam Blair) we hear of huge contract offers from the Warriors. As a bronco supporter, I get sick of hearing "how can they acquire/retain that player" but nothing is mentioned about the Warriors. Already have half a team of kiwi internationals plus the odd aging Aussie state of origin player yet apparently they can put $600k a season on the table for Blair. Maybe they have the bigger supply of the so called brown paper bags. My view is they've got too many players with that Pacific Islander style, lacking discipline & work ethic. Kearney is not their problem, player attitude is. Dave Taylor would fit in well over there, Bennett always said he didn't have a conscience and some Warriors appear the same. Half their problem is the continued success of their under 20 team over the years, that comp has always been bereft of defensive application with regular scores like 46-34, no basis for the rigours of NRL.
Sean
Guest
Hes got somewhere to turn to allright. The bottle.. ?
Bunney
Roar Rookie
fair enough. Sorry about the multiple post...
Gus Paella
Guest
I think the Warriors spine is massively overrated. Foran is above average, when he plays. SJ is inconsistent at best. RTS is a gun on the day that the forwards are winning the battle in the middle and Isaac Luke is somewhere in between. I think that Newcastle and Tigers lists, while poor, don't suffer from the hype surrounding the Warriors. Just my thoughts.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
You reckon the Warriors have the worst list in the comp?? I don't think so. Wests Tigers list is clearly inferior IMO. So too the knights. Based on list talent, the Warriors should be mid-table. Talented spine, a bit short on props (how is that possible with all the big boppers in NZ??), decent outside backs. Kearney is too conservative. He's shelved the off-load, and tried to copy Melbourne and Brisbane's attacking patterns. Shows he's short on creativity.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
You reckon the Warriors have the worst list in the comp?? I don't think so. Wests Tigers list is clearly inferior IMO. So too the knights. Based on list talent, the Warriors should be mid-table. Talented spine, a bit short on props (how is that possible with all the big boppers in NZ??), decent outside backs. Kearney is too conservative. He's shelved the off-load, and tried to copy Melbourne and Brisbane's attacking patterns. Shows he's short on creativity.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
You reckon the Warriors have the worst list in the comp?? I don't think so. Wests Tigers list is clearly inferior IMO. So too the knights. Based on list talent, the Warriors should be mid-table. Talented spine, a bit short on props (how is that possible with all the big boppers in NZ??), decent outside backs. Kearney is too conservative. He's shelved the off-load, and tried to copy Melbourne and Brisbane's attacking patterns. Shows he's short on creativity.
Birdy
Guest
A lot of questions have been asked about the Warriors over the years and especially post origin. 17 is no different. # is the bro culture dominant and destructive. # is being based in Auckland a major distraction. # too many cooks in the front office. # no local derby # rule out travel. Look at rugby. We keep asking the same questions and more every year with no answers. When the Warriors came into the comp my first thought was good for them but with a feeling that NZ needed 2 teams or none.without local competition they would be too complacent for the weekly grind of the NRL. With a local derby they could learn off each other . The talent is there for 2 teams no problem there. If a NZ team won the comp the game would grow faster than cricket grew in popularity after the underarm bowling incident..
Jacko
Guest
Its funny how last week after the Warriors loss to the Knights they were the worst team in the world and should be dropped from the NRL yet this week when the Eels lose to the Knights...Nothing....... Anyone who believes Kearney is the answer to their coaching woes is not so clever...He cant coach and has nothing...When will we see them have a go..Why is it always 4 dummy half runs then a double pass to the left........
Gus Paella
Guest
I don't think Kearney is writing off the ISP side. There is obviously a difference in game style that he is going for. He has probably the worst list in the comp and all the other options are just carbon copies of the guys he wants to replace.