I promised myself I wouldn’t take them back; they’ll only hurt you again.
After so much pain, heartache, tears, jeers and lonely beers they had the nerve to tell me to ‘keep the faith’. Friends said I was crazy, family didn’t understand.
Workmates were the worst, they laughed at me. My mates understood, of course. They could see it in my eyes, as I could in theirs.
When the familiar pre-NRL season excitement started to build, I suppressed it as best I could. Surely, I have too much self-respect to get sucked in by the Warriors again?
It turns out that I don’t. Because I don’t know if you’ve heard, but this is our year.
I know we’re only three games into the season and it looks like the teams we played may have a long year ahead. I also acknowledge my love is really cheap and I get far too excited for my own good.
But Warriors’ fans haven’t had much to cheer about of late, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is excited. Why wouldn’t we be?
Last year we finished the season on a nine-match losing streak. It was painful, dreadful stuff to watch. The much-hyped all-Kiwi spine fired less shots than the English cricketers at Eden park on Thursday (58! Ha!).
The Warriors, known for their flair and unpredictability, sadly packed the offloads away for the winter and focused on ‘the grind’.
Kearney was trying to turn the Warriors into Melbourne. They just didn’t have the personnel, the culture, or the money to buy either one. But then who does; apparently not even Melbourne sometimes.
The players looked tired, flat. Issac Luke looked something that sounds like flat. They struggled. Even by the Warriors standards, they struggled.
Then the cruel twist of the knife for New Zealand league fans, that final slipper to the kidneys while we were curled in a ball, thumb in mouth: “The key is the we.”
David Kidwell, what were you thinking? Half the Kiwi squad eloped to Tonga, which in hindsight seemed a smart decision as we were promptly rolled by Samoa and lost a soccer match to Fiji.
It almost broke me. If I’m being honest, for a while I feel out of love with the game, such was my frustration.
So, it was with a little trepidation I greeted the new NRL season. There was no mention of the Warriors hopes, predictions centred around when Kearney would be axed as coach.
Then we beat Souths in Perth. We hadn’t won in Perth in nine attempts and in one game we broke two unwanted streaks. The Warriors looked good too. Really good.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Then they repeated the effort against the Titans.
The offloads are back, Johnson is stepping, Luke looks lean, mean and is running well. Most impressive is the scrambling defence, which showed real heart.
The improved defensive effort has been without Simon Mannering’s 40 tackles either. Instead Tohu Harris stepped up, offering a similar work rate, but bigger body and more options on attack.
Roger Tuivasa-Scheck looks more comfortable as captain, has been class under the high ball and has made a number of try-saving, if not match-saving tackles.
Tuivasa-Scheck is best known for his fast feet and prodigious metres. I think he would accept defensive desperation is not something he has really shown Warriors’ fans while at the club. It’s great to see him playing with confidence.
It’s great to see them all playing with confidence.
Blake Green is the glue. His calm control is the foil to Johnson’s running game. He looks the Warriors player I hoped Kieran Foran would be.
Any lingering pangs of guilt I felt while secretly watching the first two Warriors games are gone after the performance against Canberra.
The Warriors were immense. They looked good with ball in hand, and the scrambling defence was excellent; especially considering they conceded four penalties in five minutes followed by Adam Blair rightly being binned for a cheap shot on Aidan Sezer.
Trailing by seven with four minutes to play. This is usually when the Warriors choke, the opposition score, possibly twice, blow out the numbers and fans are left with weak excuses about the officiating.
Instead; the Warriors rallied, Luke scored next to the posts and Johnson calmly potted not one, but two drop goals to steal victory, leaving the whinging to Canberra coach, Ricky ‘Sticky’ Stuart.
‘Sticky’ was a great player who I loved watching, but as a coach makes Donald Trump look gracious. His post-match comments bristled with aggression and predictably deflected responsibility for the loss to the officials.
“We were the best team. The best team on the day, and we got beaten… things just aren’t going our way.”
Sorry Sticky, you weren’t the best team.
You might feel a bit salty about an obstruction call in the second half, but the Raiders had an extra man for ten minutes, five consecutive penalties, plenty of the 50/50 calls and were leading by seven with four minutes to play. The best teams close those matches out.
Game after game, year after year, it is the official’s fault. Perhaps you could take a look at the way the Warriors dealt with tough calls during the game.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Wow, I never thought I would ever get to say that.
The players and coach have little to say about their best ever season start; ‘there is a long way to go’. They are right. A successful season isn’t won or lost in the first three weeks. Playing well is nice but winning at the end of the year is what matters.
If the Warriors make the top eight they will have surpassed most pundit’s predictions. Unlike the players, I can’t control my emotions and against my own advice, I am not just hopeful for the season ahead, but genuinely excited.
I’m even going to say it. Yes, I am. Let’s gone Warriors!
Oto shark
Guest
He's stuck with them , doesn't sound like jump on the bandwagon follower to me. I can understand some ex fans frustrations ,but the author has stayed true and since they're winning ,he can enjoy it . I know its early but why not celebrate , live now. Some of your comments were funny though,haha.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
So far so good.This team now conditioned by Corvo,not only have the inherent class, but now the ability to sustain themselves for 80 minutes, and endure decent periods defending their line. The latter two attributes sadly lacking over prior years. With Johnson now allowed to express himself,given the extra leeway provided by Green,the addition of Blair .teh strengthened attacking ability of Tohu Harris,they are one hell of a unit now.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
First time in club's history they have won in Perth, won after coming home from Perth and then won their opening 3 games of a season. You can only play what is in front of you and coming off a 9 game losing streak why wouldn't Warrior fans be upbeat after most pundits wrote them off before a ball had been kicked. Even most mutual fans have seen a massive change in attitude, fitness, resilience and belief. Words that have not been associated with this club for a long time. Competitions or semi final spots aren't decide in March but they have a better shout of making the 8 than most sides currently sitting outside the 8. I suggest you stay off the bandwagon and allow people like Jeremy to embrace an improvement in the Warriors fortunes. They have worked hard to re-build what was a soft underbelly and are showing signs of coming off life support, which they have been on since 2011. The forwards they have bought in are showing more commitment individually each week than Hoffman, Thompson, Lillyman & Matulino showed combined. Leadership from Tohu, Blair and Green is rubbing off on the promising Lisone, Afoa and Co. Signs are good, albeit premature but they deserve the accolades after being a punching bag when things go to sh*t. I read before a ball was kicked, the Warriors have the toughest start to the season and could be 0-8. Sure the next 5 games are tougher than the first 3 but winning builds confidence not the opposite. They win 2 or 3 of those next 5 games and they will be in a good position leading up to the Origin period. Good article Jeremy ;) #LetsGoneWarriors
Frank E
Guest
Like I always have said "they will be judged at the end of the season"......
Steel Panther
Roar Rookie
From the article you can see that Jeremy's obviously bought one of those tickets so that's one less up for grabs. Most teams have good and bad days but the Warriors have good days and bad decades. That's the difference. Three wins against lowly opposition doesn't even start to beg forgiveness for the years of watching the same horror movie.
Oto shark
Guest
Well done to you for sticking with your team, most teams have good and bad days. Watch the tickets for the bandwagon sell out now in Nz.
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
Knowing that you jumped on the Melbourne bandwagon late, after years of disappointment following the Warriors, I’ll take your comment for what it is: a cry for help. Let it out Steel Panther. Let it out. You’re right, the litmus test will be when they play the teams you mentioned and the season could still go pear shaped. But after nine consecutive losses and disappointing season after disappointing season, it’s awesome to see them offloading and showing some defensive steel. Last year they didn’t do either, even against the lesser lights. So I’ll enjoy it while it lasts and maybe we’ll see you swap allegiances again when it suits you later in the year.
Steel Panther
Roar Rookie
I've had a lot of respect for some of your articles Jeremy but this one is pathetic. It's only Round 3 and the Warriors have beaten three teams that will struggle to make the eight. Come on. I'd say most NRL teams regularly win three on the trot. Look at the games ahead Cowboys, Brisbane, Melbourne, Roosters all in the mix. These are the teams that are the true measure of how the Warriors will shape up for season 2018. After years of under achieving, the jury is still out for me.
Sylvester
Guest
Same. I thought the binning was fair enough. However, it's not going to be ruled this way consistently so I was annoyed the Warriors have been made a target.
Sylvester
Guest
I thought the Warriors were the better team throughout. They were let down by discipline but defended well and looked more threatening on attack.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
As a warriors supporter I had little problem with the calls yesterday. We had already been warned of committing too many penalties and then Blair does his typical late no arms tackle on a smaller player, I wish he would get that out of his game, it’s not a brave play at all. Thought the reffing yesterday was really good, line speed was good and while you could say the raiders looked the better side for a lot of the match, they still lost that last fifteen minutes where we were on top. Stickys also sooking about our first field goal when times blown on.
Jacko
Guest
Only outplayed for 77 mins geo
Jacko
Guest
Geo I agree it was a dumb move as there was no way someone was going to stop him from where he got the ball. I saw the ruling as a bit different to the usual "did he receive the ball on the inside or outside shoulder" type of thing. The runner was so far behind the dummy runner the pass receiving position was not relevant. It was the fact that the dummy runner grabbed the defender and stopped him...momentarily...from the possibility of making a tackle. Mind you we also saw a BLOCKER ruling on a high kick chase against the Warriors and we never see them. Also what is this 10 in the bin BS that has not been around before...As the commentators said....Put it on report but why does he have to go to the bin when others dont?... Also the Tigers were totally ripped off by terrible reffing the night before....A long season ahead with refs again being a massive issue
Geo
Guest
As a proud Raider supporter, the obstruction yesterday was as clear an obstruction as you can get. The sad thing about it was that the blocker (Bateman) didn't need to be there - he stopped the try being awarded. If one or even two guys can stop Junior from 1 metre out, he isn't trying. I can't bring myself to listen to the Presser, but I'd understand Ricky a little if the point he was making was that last week our (very poor) defensive line was disrupted by a blocker, yet the try was allowed.
Geo
Guest
The Warriors were totally outplayed; just because they won has more to do with who they played.
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
You may well be right Paul, but they have already shown more bottle in three games than all of 2017. Last year was so frustrating, not just for the losses, but the way they lost matches and with talent in key positions. For now I'll just celebrate the wins (prematurely or not) and enjoy the fact they look vastly improved from previous efforts.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good on ya Jeremy, sing it loud brother. Even if it's only short lived with the next few weeks getting tougher in opposition they have been fun to watch. I had Souths in Rd 1 but that effort saw me on the bandwagon since.
Paul
Roar Guru
This article was written 2 weeks too early. They have to play the Rosters and Cowboys and if the win one of these games, they'll be doing well. If they can win another game after that against the Broncos, Dragons and Storm and not get a hiding in the others, then sure, they might have a good year. If however they revert to playing their 2017 football over the next 5 rounds, it could be another long year.
Forty Twenty
Guest
Great to see the Warriors back in town. I've said a few times that they haven't had any excuses for their dismal run over the last few years and I was told that travel was the or a main reason. I didn't believe that reason then and I don't believe it now. I saw Toovey on the Sunday Footy show last week and he looked happy. Could be time for Ricky to have a break, enforced or otherwise.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great read Jeremy! Its definitely "Lets go Warriors" time. I'm pretty happy with the way they've gone so far. Harris, Green and even Blair have made a big difference.. Was really sad to see Harris leave the Storm but glad to see him doing so well for the Warriors. The biggest difference though is their fitness which is down to their new conditioning coach and I also think Kearney really knuckled down in the pre-season and made them work their butts off. They've got belief in themselves and their abilities and that win against Canberra was just outstanding.. Its also an indication how lowly rated they were when on the first Footy Show Billy Slater picked them to be the most improved team this year and was laughed at by the rest of the panel and the audience. I'm sure a lot of them are not laughing now..