The Warriors’ 2017 season was a case of deja vu. Pre-season hype over a marquee signing. Talk of finally breaking the finals drought. Disappointing early season form before a spike over Origin. A season-ending injury to Shaun Johnson and it’s onto the next season.
It would be easy to recycle articles season to season about the Warriors since 2011.
They are onto their fifth coach since their grand final appearance against the Sea Eagles and haven’t looked like making the finals in that time.
Something is rotten in Auckland, right to the core. They have had a capable roster for a lengthy period of time but can never seem to do anything with it.
If anything demonstrates just how inept the Warriors were in 2017, it was their matches against the Panthers. In Round 10 they were up by 22 points, against a Penrith team with a 2-9 record, yet somehow Stephen Kearney’s side lost. Then, in Round 19, the Warriors were given a bath by Nathan Cleary, who had three tries and two assists.
How does their squad rate?
The spine of Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the incoming Blake Green is top-eight material. Keiran Foran is gone, but Green is coming off a much better season.
They have also lost depth in the forwards after Ben Matulino, Jacob Lilyman, Ryan Hoffman and Bodene Thompson’s departures, but that’s offset by the arrival of Adam Blair, Agnatius Passi and Tohu Harris. Peta Hiku and Gerard Beale also add depth in the outside backs.
On paper, it’s a solid squad with no real deficiencies.
Ins
Gerard Beale (Sharks – 2020), Adam Blair (Broncos – 2020), Tohu Harris (Storm – 2021), Peta Hiku (Warrington – 2020), Matiu Love-Henry (Broncos – 2018), Agnatius Paasi (Titans – 2019), Leivaha Pulu (Titans – 2020), Blake Green (Sea Eagles – 2020), Anthony Gelling (Wigan – 2018)
Outs
Bureta Faraimo (Hull), Kieran Foran (Bulldogs), Charlie Gubb (Raiders), Ryan Hoffman (Storm), Jacob Lillyman (Knights), Ben Matulino (Tigers), Toafofoa Sipley (Sea Eagles), Bodene Thompson (Leigh), Manu Vatuvei (Salford), Ofahiki Ogden (Bulldogs), Matthew Allwood (released).
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Injuries
Beale suffered a leg injury in the World Cup and isn’t expected back until Round 10, but the club are equipped to cover the injury.
Key men
Green could perhaps be the best foil for Johnson since James Maloney left the club five years ago. He has a solid long-kicking game, often earning 40-20s for his side, and his short kicking-game delivers results too, especially in gaining repeat sets.
His professionalism and consistency were honed with the Melbourne Storm, being around the likes of Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk for a couple of seasons.
A great partner for Daly Cherry-Evans last year, enabling the No.7 to focus on his own game, which was a big part of why the Sea Eagles made the finals last year.
With Green in the team, Johnson should be free from the burden of tactics and game management, instead able to chime in with his lethal running game. Johnson and Tuivasa-Sheck need to be in a position of the field to play what they see and Green can hopefully provide that for the Warriors.
Where do they need to improve?
Consistency? Commitment? Attitude? Where to start for the Warriors.
It is telling when a team loses a key player and the rest of their season turns to dust. The Cowboys lost Johnathan Thurston mid-season and managed a grand final berth. The Warriors losing their last seven games is ordinary – the likes of Luke and Tuivasa-Sheck should have stepped up.
Coach Kearney promised to walk players to the gate if they weren’t committed to the club, but there’s been no evidence of that. Players who get worse or stagnate aren’t dropped from first grade.
This is a club in need of standards and accountability.
Shaun Johnson (AAP Image/David Rowland)
Top five clashes
Round 1: Rabbitohs versus Warriors, Perth Stadium, March 10
The Warriors play the Rabbitohs in the first of two matches at Perth Stadium – a city in which the Auckland side have never won – in the opening round of the season.
A victory would be a big statement.
Round 8: Storm versus Warriors, AAMI Park, April 25
Anzac Day football is a highlight of the NRL calendar, and the Warriors and Storm have established a tradition of drawing a solid crowd in Melbourne.
Kearney’s men only lost by six last year in this fixture, and will be hopeful ex-Storm five-eighth Green will lead them to a win.
Round 10: Warriors versus Roosters, Mt Smart, May 12
A Mitchell Pearce field goal put the Roosters ahead late in the corresponding game in 2017, but it wasn’t to be for the Chooks, as Johnson booted a late penalty.
It was a tight, low-scoring affair, and an example that the Warriors can win ugly and defend their way to victory. Can they get one over the premiership favourites this season?
Round 14: Sea Eagles versus Warriors, AMI Stadium, June 9
In an attempt to sign Mitchell Pearce, the Sea Eagles released Blake Green. Now a Warrior, he will be keen to show Manly the error of their ways. The Sydney side take this ‘home’ game to AMI Stadium in Christchurch, not making the fixture any easier for them.
Round 24: Warriors versus Panthers, Mt Smart, August 24
In the penultimate round of the regular season, redemption Will be on the Warriors’ minds. It is anyone’s guess where these two teams will be in the context of their season, but there is sure to be something on the line.
Stephen Kearney (Kahuroa, Wikimedia Commons)
How will they go?
The results over the past five years point to something wrong at the Warriors. They have had multiple coaches, plenty of marquee players come and go, a home ground that should be a fortress and the resources to make it work.
It is a bold call to say they are going to win the spoon, but they have conned the league for years, promising so much but delivering so little. Maybe hitting rock bottom will make them wake up to some home truths.
The Auckland-based club will come dead last in 2018, and another coach will be out the door.
Predicted finish
16th
Peter Phelps
Guest
I think that coaches are hugely influential in the game but they must have the right club processes, facilities and board backing. The right coach motivates over the longer term, is influential on top tier retention and commands respect. He motivates in a constructive way. He is someone who players look up to and is someone that no one wants to disappoint. The right coach in the right environment delivers premierships.
Peter Phelps
Guest
I have the Green Machine as my outside bet for the spoon. I do not rate Ricky as an NRL coach and I haven't seen much on the recruitment front to improve on last year. They will give the Warriors a run for this trophy.
Beastie
Roar Rookie
The Cowboys travel almost as much as them and they made the grand final after losing their 2 best players. Attitude is the Warriors' problem, travel is their excuse.
Jacko
Guest
Yes its called Travel....It sucks the life out of the players.....
Jacko
Guest
Sorry but why should they be challenging for titles every season? Look at their roster and its probably about 7-12 on the talent list...throw in the travel that no other team has and they probaly drop to 9-15 so to be above 9 on the ladder is an achievement.
Jacko
Guest
Great Fred so on his CV it says....."they played better than with other coaches but still won NOTHING" You forget that the year they lost the GF they finished 6th then went on a bit of a run....Nothing to do with Cleary....They had a bit of luck in a few games......still couldnt finish it off
Fred
Guest
And his Panthers squad was probably the most injured team in history. Have the Panthers done better without him? No. Have the Warriors done better without him? No. He took them to the GF and they've never been close to it since. And this year he'll deliver the Tigers a premiership - mark my words!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Good points Baz - the games I'm referring to where he went missing were towards the end of the season when the Warriors had fallen in to this malaise of expecting to lose. And your right - so much is expected of Johnson for the Warriors to win which is unfair for one player. I think the signing of Blake Green will prove to be very smart as all teams will be expecting Johnson to make most of the plays and Green can become another avenue of attack. This should take a bit of the pressure off Johnson.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
I suppose the thing we don't know is how Smith would have done at another club and without Bellamy. I believe players like him excel if they have a strong group of players around them in general. I believe Smith would have transformed most clubs he went to into a multi title winning outfit. The spanner in the works with my argument is the Warriors who should be challenging for the title on a regular basis. There is no excuse not to be winning most home games at the very least. Why they don't have big aggressive forwards and an attacking style of play is beyond my understanding. They didn't need to improve much from 2011 to win a crown but they've just drifted.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Fair enough but I respectfully disagree. I think you’ve hit on part of the problem...the Warriors need him to have a 10/10 game every week, but no one can do that. When Johnson doesn’t he gets blasted for going missing. There was a dour early season game against the Dogs last year. Johnson continually took the ball to the line and beat the first defender, look up and no one was running off him. Johnson would then get encircled by defenders and trying to step his way out of trouble. It looked ordinary and he got a serve after the game, but if a smart backrower was running off him they would have busted the line all night. Johnson is required to be their leader, attacking spark, general play kicker and generate pretty much all of their points...unfortunately a lot of the time he has to do it alone. A lot of people talk about 2017 as being a quiet year for Johnson but he was 4th in the comp for try assists but a clear leader in try assists per game. He led the NRL in average kick metres per game (not necessarily a reliable stat for performance but I think it shows he’s doing his job). I agree Johnson doesn’t play out of his skin every week, but no one does. Johnson is far and away their best player in terms of ability and delivery. He is a long, long way down the list of the Warriors problems.
RandyM
Guest
Yes there has been premiership winning coaches who have failed at other clubs or even at the same club they won the premiership for and there have been star studded teams who have failed to perform. The warriors fall into the second category with a spine that contains RTS, Johnson and Luke. Hard to say what the missing ingredient is... I think the Warriors should have given Mcfadden a bit more time though. I don't rate Kearney at all... The Warriors also need strong leaders on the field, however is this up to the coach to instill leadership and responsibility into those players? Did Bellamy do this with Smith and Cronk? I think he would have had something to do with it.
jimmmy
Guest
Playing for the Warriors seems to suck the lifeblood out of whoever they recruit . On paper it looks like they have recruited well but I just can’t get my head around the Warriors. Something WRONG at that club.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
How much blame can be attributed to coaches of poorly performing clubs? Clearly they must take blame but a coach who has won four titles also has had seasons with these winning % 's in his career. 25%, 27%,16%,26%,18%,29%and 41%. Michael Hagan and Steve Folkes won titles as coaches but would they have done any better than Terry Lamb at the club he was at? Look at SOO and see if there is any relationship at all to the alleged ability of the coach and the results. Many seem to think someone like Hasler would turn the Warriors around but with his aversion to risk he might send them into a tail spin towards the spoon. They seemed to have their best years playing their own style which involved risk.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Cleary's not a shmuck. He's not a Bellyache or a Tooves or a Des (despite a horror last season), but he's ok. As for the warriors; a word for the wise: just don't tip them.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Who was the last player to sign with the Warriors and enhance their reputation or even maintain it? Must be a fair while ago.
madmax
Guest
'Blake Green will show Manly the error of their ways'...........it was Blake Green that requested to leave Manly so he could take up a lucrative contract with the Warriors!! Nothing there for him to contemplate getting back at them!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Agree with a lot of the comments you make Baz but I'm not sure about your assessment of Johnson. He just goes missing far too often during a season. When he runs the ball he is dynamite but I've seen far too many games where he puts the dinner suit on and just sits back and bludges or puts in a lame chip kick rather than run the ball. You should hear the Kiwi radio and TV commentators get stuck in to him. Its tough to lay all the blame for the Warriors woes on one player but unfortunately the Warriors always need to him to fire to win matches. Blake Green may prove to be a great foil for Johnson by taking the pressure off him a bit.
RandyM
Guest
He took them to a Grand final?? He took the panthers to a top 4 finish as well.
RandyM
Guest
I don't like the Dragons but they won't go close to the spoon.
Jacko
Guest
I must have forgotton...what did Cleary achieve again??? NOTHING....USELESS...and he has gone on to be sacked by the Panthers....Such a success