Another year has passed, and another blemish on the NRL that is the New Zealand Warriors.
For years I’ve been struggling to figure why it is that the Warriors continue to disappoint and underperform during the NRL season. It’s been six long years since their last trip to the NRL Finals, where rookie Shaun Johnson led his side all the way to the grand final with his dazzling feet, only to fall short to perennial rugby league powerhouse, the Manly Warringah Sea-Eagles.
From there, the future seemed bright. A team led by a talented rookie on the field, and a former player off the field in Ivan Cleary. But since the heroics of the 2011 season, the Warriors have failed to deliver on their promised potential.
Like many pundits this year, I tipped the Warriors to make the finals and break their drought. I even tipped them to make the Top 4 (I know, how foolish of me). But how couldn’t you tip them based on that side?
A fit and firing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returning from injury with the captain’s armband on, it seemed hope was alive. I mean, look at that spine. RTS, Foran, Johnson and Issac Luke. How could you bet against that? With all of his troubles in the past, I thought a Kieran Foran away from Sydney could guide the Warriors to a finals berth.
Oh how naive I was.
Left disappointed week in and week out, I struggle to find the underlying problem of this underachieving club.
(AAP Image/David Rowland)
Journalist Paul Kent said the obvious problem with the Warriors is simply that there are too many New Zealanders in the side, with there soft development program hindering their performance, unable for them to tough it out in an 80-minute match.
“The fundamental problem, and this will sound absurd, but there are too many Kiwis in the side”, Kent said on Fox Sports NRL 360 earlier this year.
Leading New Zealand Herald columnist Dale Budge, enhanced Kent’s view and stated that it is through the poor development of their junior system that impacts their performance when they get to first grade.
“Problem is the development has been terrible and that is the key reason why the Warriors haven’t enjoyed more success in recent years. The Warriors have been a development club that simply hasn’t spat out NRL-ready first graders, which is the key way to balance your roster and manage your salary cap.”
However, this failing influx of recruiting and developing Kiwi players doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Already, the Warriors have signed Kiwi captain Adam Blair on a lucrative four-year, $2.4 million deal, while they have also signed Gerald Beale, Tohu Harris and Leivaha Pulu.
With these signings, I just hope they do not fall into the same trend of former players who have gone to the Warriors and actually got worse.
Matty Johns said this earlier this year on Triple M’s NRL Grill Team when asked what problems the Warriors face, “The worst rap a club can have is that when players go there, they get worse.”
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was one of the most damaging ball runners in the game at the end of 2015, winning the Dally M Fullback of the Year, and is now struggling to average 200m a game, where he did it with ease at the Roosters.
Issac Luke was a force in the NRL, before his tenure at the Warriors left him being axed from the Kiwi side, while Ryan Hoffman was dropped from the NSW Blues team in 2016 after only spending a year at the Warriors.
For the sake of the NRL and rugby league in general, we need the Warriors to become a consistent and challenging team, fighting for the Premiership. If we want the game to grow in New Zealand and compete with the All Blacks and rugby union, the Warriors need to lead the way and inspire the next generation of Kiwi superstars.
What do you think Roarers?
Nat
Roar Guru
Not a bad idea. Won't happen anytime soon but a good rivalry lifts standards and a little less travel may not hurt either.
Peter Phelps
Guest
"The all-blacks in the rugby union. The NZ Warriors can and will never be able to compete with that". Totally disagree Rugby League is a better product and NZ will follow anything successful with an NZ badge in front of it. If the Warriors sorted out their business culture and produced a period of success a la Melbourne then we would have a very different scenario in NZ. Just take a look at the Storm following over there, its almost as big as the Warriors themselves.
Peter Phelps
Guest
I don't think its a Bellamy / Bennett type of problem. Its more a leadership issue in my view. Need a real good leader in there who looks at the Warriors as a business and not as some sort of NZ 'bikie' club
Peter Phelps
Guest
Auckland should be a gold mine for Rugby League. The fact that it isn't speaks much to the Warriors failings. It may be the culture (I suspect that it is) but what ever, the NRL needs to use its considerable influence accross the ditch before they become a serious basket case.
Wayne Turner
Guest
Cleary was good enough to take them to a GF,alot better than the coaches the Warriors had after,and plenty before. Remember the Warriors never sacked Cleary,he bolted to Penrith for more money. Being great in the Under 20's means crap all,as you pointed out the gap between under 20's to first grade is huge,the NRL thought so highly of the Under 20's they dumped it.Plus,plenty of the players that were good for the Warriors under 20's that have gone on to develop to be good players left the Warriors. Finally,the NZ rugby union has way better juniors than the NZ Warriors have had.Also,many good to great league NZ league players have never playered for the Warriors either egs: Benji Marshall,JT,,etc...
Go warriors
Guest
Wayne do you really call Ivan Cleary a good coach. He took them to one grand final in seven years. He had a winning percentage of 52%. To me that is very average and I can understand the club sacking him as they should have higher standards than that. Any other club with a bit of pride wouldn't stand for a 52% winning ratio. Your comment about NZ juniors is also well of the mark. For the majority of the u20s comp the Warriors were the most dominant side and had some of the best 1st 15 rugby talent in the country. They probably had the best junior players in the country from either code playing for them. The problem is there is a massive difference in standard between the u20s and the NRL.
Wayne Turner
Guest
They have a cultural problem that can't and won't change:- The best NZ juniors growing up all dream about playing for..... The all-blacks in the rugby union. The NZ Warriors can and will never be able to compete with that. Plus,the NZ rugby league juniors that are good (Still NOT as good as the union players.),many leave the Warriors,for various reasons egs: More money,poor scouting,etc... While someone like Shaun Johnson only plays great once a month.And yes I realise he can't do it all. Also,to attract players from others clubs ie: Players from Australia.They most often have to pay way overs.Either just to get Aussie players past their best,average Aussie players,to NZ players past it. Add to that when they found a gem in James Maloney,on bargain money,he got home sick and left. Finally,they have NOT had a good coach since Ivan Cleary.And their current coach ONLY got the job cause he's a Kiwi.Kearney is a shocking coach,only good as an assistant.Failed at Parra,failing at Warriors,and only suceeded at NZ National team coaching when Bennett was really coaching them.
Pickett
Guest
Agree
Peter Phelps
Guest
As he is no longer at the warriors, I doubt that question would help them.
Sylvester
Guest
Skin colour didn't seem to be an issue in the two grand finals the Warriors made. As pointed out above, the forward pack is second rate (Mannering excluded). Lack of depth/experience in the halves was exposed when Johnson was injured. RTS was good this year but I think struggled with the added burden of captaincy.
Mike Julz
Guest
Haven't you heard of the 'bro culture' they have?. And Kent was right, too much kiwis in it, especially islanders. They need smarts around the flyhalfs and leadership on both the forwards and the backs. I think someone like Bellamy or Bennett as a coach can completely turn this Warriors into a winning team.
Sports Prophet
Roar Pro
Yeah, Auckland and the Gold Coast. Two destinations any self respecting and ambitious, mid-late 20s, peak aged footballer of any code would never go to. Auckland Warriors have a Bro-fessional culture that even Graham Henry could assist with as a Warriors consultant. They come across as a comedy sideshow compared to the All Blacks.
republican
Guest
......seriously, how many variations on this particular heading do Roarers have to bare? NZ should never have been gifted a place in our 'domestic' NRL, along with all other domestic leagues they have been afforded membership of. NZ will not reciprocate in terms of Union and for very good reasons, yet we continue to pander to them in this respect. Just a gentle reminder to those who support NZ exploiting our misguided benevolence; they are NOT part of Australia and for every Kiwi side integral to our domestic sporting culture, potential heartlands are being neglected. This ultimately compromises respective codes grassroots. NZ are more than capable of running there own domestic comps as a very affluent developed nation, while their sporting pedigree internationally, is far more impressive than ours considering their population, so they do not require support from us, unlike say PNG..........
Dan
Guest
Spot on. Like the PNG Hunters in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, who played very lose with a you score I'll score more than you and win attitude. When I watch the Hunters now, I see them really thinking about getting the percentages. Kicking to the sides, slowly being coached out of them is the attacking from inside their own 10m zone. In the end the thinking as opposed to playing naturally snuffle's out the islanders game. The coach must find a balance as you point out for the team to be successful.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
I agree with Pilferer - Auckland itself seems to be bad for footy players of any code right now. In some ways, I think the best thing for them would be if there were another New Zealand team added to the NRL - preferably a South Island side. That would serve as a point of contrast and create a great rivalry
Oto shark
Guest
That's what i also think, as they would then have a genuine rivalry for the whole club, not just players. They would naturally try to better each other and put pressure on everyone running the club to be the best in Nz.
Stu
Guest
1st question for Hoffman would be when did you forget how to tackle?
Boz
Guest
Sometimes I think having a second NZ team in the NRL would actually help the Warriors. For too long they've been the only show in town, and they seem to rest on their laurels a bit.
Craig Jamieson
Roar Rookie
It's clearly an anatomical issue, small hearts and big heads.
Thomas Costigan
Roar Pro
Hey Nat, yeh that is true. I feel like Mannering has been carrying this team and the forward pack on his own. The problem is that they need some grunt and brut force up front like they had with Ruben Wiki. Also, I love Shaun Johnson as a player, but ever since James Maloney left he hasn't had a quality half by his side for a consistent amount of time. Thomas Leuluai was good but didn't really help Johnson's development that much. Whereas, guys like Jeff Robson, Lolohea and Hingano have either been too young or too old to steer the team around the park. I thought Foran would be the perfect fit for Johnson but looks like his physical and mental health caught up with him again.