The first two rounds of this year’s NRL season have seen plenty of upsets, but there is one team that is making me look a right fool at the moment and that’s the New Zealand Warriors.
It’s way too early to declare that the predictions I made at the start of the season were incorrect, but should the Warriors continue with the form that has so far seen them defeat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-20 in Round 1 and the Gold Coast Titans 20-8 in Round 2, then placing them at the bottom of the ladder will prove to be a significant error on my part.
In commentary about the Warriors first two victories, there has been plenty of focus on a couple of players.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been a standout. Last weekend against the Rabbitohs, he had two try assists and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. He also made a try-saving tackle on Alex Johnston and bundled him into touch, which Stephen Kearney called out in particular as a moment of inspiration for his squad.
Against the Titans, Tuivasa-Sheck scored another try, saved another and almost made 200 metres.
David Fusitu’a is also running in tries for fun. He scored a double against the Rabbitohs and bagged another double against the Titans. ‘The Fus’ is certainly an entertainer and after his World Cup appearance for Tonga last year, footy fans are coming to expect athletic finishes from the 23-year-old.
And then there is Shaun Johnson. Last weekend the loss for the Bunnies was played down because ‘when Shaun Johnson is in one of those moods, there’s very little you can do about it’. In Round 1, he finished the game with two linebreaks and two try assists, but most pleasing of all was the return of his running game, which the star halfback is known for. Then against the Titans that continued with another two try assists and two linebreaks.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
But these players are not new to the Warriors. It doesn’t make sense to me that all of a sudden these players all find themselves to be in exquisite form. So what’s changed?
There have been two differences.
As a rugby league fan, I don’t have an expectation that my team will win every weekend. I do have an expectation, though, that the players will try their best each week and that the players are fit.
The men on the field are paid as professional athletes and it is completely unacceptable when I see a team that is clearly fat and unfit.
Fat and unfit are two words that I have used to describe the Warriors in years gone past, particularly the last two years where, despite having one of the most talented rosters in the NRL, the squad has finished towards the bottom end of the ladder.
I cannot make this accusation this year.
Plenty of that credit can belong to the new head of high performance, Alex Corvo, who comes to the Warriors having also done stints at the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm. He is a man with a reputation as a hard trainer, so much so that Adam Blair knew plenty of his Warriors teammates would get a ‘rude shock’ in pre-season.
For the first time in a long time, the Warriors look fit.
The errors that have been a feature of their game in years gone by have not disappeared – in fact, against the Rabbitohs they made ten errors and completed at under 70 per cent. But being fit means they are able to stay in it for the entire contest and produce performances that see the squad make 24 offloads.
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The player that seems to have benefited the most from this new fitness regime is Issac Luke, who is beginning to show signs that he is returning to the form which saw him as a stand-out player for Souths. At 88 kilograms, Luke dropped six kilos over the off-season, making him the leanest he has been since 2015. And it shows.
The second difference is Blake Green – a rugby league journeyman by any stretch of the imagination.
I underestimated what a positive influence he would be for the Warriors, but since his arrival, he has demonstrated he’s the perfect foil for Shaun Johnson. Green’s skill set allows him to help steer the Warriors allowing Johnson to play his natural game – a game which features plenty of attacking flair.
Many Warriors have also spoken about his professionalism, maturity and the impact he has had on other players. He has been called a leader – this also shows on the field.
It makes me extremely uncomfortable to say this, because I know I have been burned in the past… but the Warriors could be the real deal in 2018.
And even if they disappoint like they have in the past, they are playing attacking footy which I just can’t help getting around.
Kiwijack
Guest
The arrival of Blake Green may work out to be a masterstoke for the warriors. His experience has so far been just what they need. His combination with Johnson is far superiour to last year when they had Foran/Johnson. They look fit and maybe tha'ts all they needed fitness and someone with experience to streer them around the paddock. On another note Benji to replace Foran in the Kiwi's.
Watcher
Guest
Warriors are fit. They recruited well an appear to play for each other. Their brand of play is exciting. Defence is their bigget improvement. This comp is pretty even anyone can beat anyone on their day. The Warriors are 8 material but a lot can happen. Like the Spoon I think injuries will play a key role this year for every teams success or otherwise.
Noel
Guest
So, after berating MK for tipping the Warriors for 16th, even when she's admitting she's been impressed by early season form that she acknowledges casts some doubt on her assessment, FT asks you who your tip for the spoon is, and you don't name anyone? Or did you name everyone? Do I infer Titans? Tigers? Raiders? Why didn't you just say 'I don't know' or 'I'm unwilling to say'? Fair dinkum mate. At least MK is putting it out there and not shying away from her predictions, even when not going to plan.
Jacko
Guest
Forty twenty I think its probably the usual candidates. Storm, Cows, Brisbane and after that it comes down to a bit of luck with the Roosters, St George and maybe penrith. i see sides like Bulldogs , Souths Warriors, Sharks fighting out the top 8 possies and some surprise guys like Newcastle and Parra in with a chance.
Sylvester
Guest
I agree that so far Hiku, Green, Harris and Blair (although a loose canon at the Broncs still) appear to have added a level of hard edge and professionalism not seen by certain members of recent Warriors squads. An ovation too for the often maligned defence. The Titans, although lacking in direction without Taylor, had quite a few sets on the Warriors line without success.
Aem
Guest
Skill position stars are great and all, but how often do teams have success without a quality group of middle forwards? Some of the younger guys look to be continuing their progress (Afoa showing leg speed not seen since his 20s days), but gee... it's thin on the ground at the Warriors.
Forty Twenty
Guest
It's not worth getting too excited about the dreaded spoon Jacko, it was often repeated that the Knights weren't going to get it last year at this stage. Some believed the Warriors are possible candidates for the spoon based on their dismal record for a long time with good or great rosters. It's not completely daft to think that trend could continue. I have the Tigers as spooners and some may consider that daft but I don't care. Who are you tipping Jacko?
Jacko
Guest
Haha clearly hit a nerve with you too but please explain HOW you came to the conclusion that the Warriors would be wooden spooners in the first place as that is why I wrote what I wrote.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Wow. Ok. Clearly hit a nerve. For your information, I actually did write about the Eels just yesterday. https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/03/19/whats-matter-parramatta/ Thanks for your time.
Forty Twenty
Guest
I've looked into the issue before Yardsy and players who Manly let go have very rarely come back to bite us on the ankle. The closest one is king Gutho but injured players don't bite. Remarkably the only player I can recall in many years who left a hole in our ranks was JWH who was sorely missed. Unlike Green we didn't let him go by choice. Heaps of players have faded away after leaving the Northern beaches .
Stu
Guest
Ive said it previously but the warriors did more travel in round 1 than the roosters will do in the entire season
Jacko
Guest
Really interesting topic for you Mary on a weekend where it is best to clearly stay away from writing an article about your team eh? Firstly if you believed that the Warriors were going to finish last then you are no judge of a league team. They didnt finish last, last year and they improved their roster so where were they going backwards from last year? Where did you have the Eels finishing? 50+ points against is a MASSIVE embarrassment for any team and perhaps you should write how the Ells are going to finish with the wooden spoon and how the Hayne Plane, Train, crane,Dane,Lane, gain,cane etc has massively stuffed your team and taken it from a probable top4 to a probable bottom 4 in 1 off season. You clearly forgot that the Warriors were heading for the top 8 last year before fading off with 8 or 9 losses to finish the season( which is common given their travel requirements for the year) and you clearly UNDERESTIMATED their recruits. I dont understand how anyone could have put the Warriors as 16th place finishers when all facts were concsdered. I do however constantly see that many underestimate Kiwi recruits and a guys like Blair and Harris are contributing massively at training and in the game.
Jacko
Guest
And the Warriers do a "trip across the ditch" 10-12 times a season but no one thinks the travel affects the Warriors but is is a constant excuse for teams going over to NZ when they lose
Aem
Guest
They've played Souths & the Titans - not very good teams at all, one of which was missing their halfback, the other's halfback was playing on one leg. I'll reserve judgement for another month... That said, they do look significantly more fit (wow, Carl Jennings really matched that reputation he arrived at the Warriors from the Panthers with years ago - awful) and Green looks to be a useful addition. Those points are dead on - I just strongly suspect that the magnitude of their effect is being overplayed right now due to an easy couple of games (and perhaps? another one this weekend). It's still Stephen Kearney in charge, and he's still not picking his best team available (though he has seemingly learned from last year and is allowing his players to offload again - fun fact, in the last game alone the Warriors matched 15% of last year's full-season offload count - in one game!!), so I expect they'll get found out a little bit in the coming months.
Planko
Guest
1) Blake Green. 2) it was a matter of time before such talented team performed well. I am not saying they will win it but when you put a team on the park this good every year on paper it should work occasionally.
Joe
Roar Rookie
My two outsiders for the eight this year were the Warriors and Bulldogs. One of them is 2-0 and the other 0-2.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more Ron . Using 'Warriors' and 'resilience' in the same sentence is something I haven't seen in sometime ! There are quite a few new faces and combinations for the Warriors so the good start is a real positive . The additions have made a noticeable impact already . There is no reason to expect the improvements won't continue as they play together more . To see SJ and RTS running the ball is awesome . The only worry out of last weeks game was that they really should have been out of sight by halftime . They squandered good opportunities . Hopefully they can learn to be a bit more ruthless when they have teams on the back foot . Just keep the pressure on until the points come . They still have Mannering to return as well . Without him in that pack last season they might not have won a game . It will be interesting to see what they bring against some of the heavyweights over the next month . Can they really compete for the full 80 when under pressure ? At least they look fit enough to give that a crack in 2018 .
Christov
Guest
Let’s wait until they com up against some good teams. Most have titans near last and Souths safely out of the 8. Titans also didn’t have their number 1 half which hurts (only 8 points instead of 30). The wins are impressive in that they are the warriors and they are winning well.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Come on mate - every season at some stage they go on a run of wins and everyone jumps on board. It may have happened a bit earlier this year but I’m not ready to call them based on two wins against Souths and the Titans
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I'm an Eels fan - I'll believe anything!! :P