Phil Gould said the New Zealand Warriors wouldn’t win more than four games this year. They’ve already won seven and with four games to go, have a reasonable run home.
They are a decent chance to play finals footy.
Gould seems happy to eat his words. He isn’t just on-board with the Warriors; he’s joined the Warriors’ board. To be fair to Gould, his prediction probably assumed Stephen Kearney would see out the season.
The Warriors’ owners had different ideas and despite a three-year contract, Kearney was gone at a reported cost of $2m. Many fans questioned the timing, as the playing and coaching group had sacrificed much to ensure the NRL continued with a full complement of teams.
However, nothing heals wounds like performance. Todd Payten has done a remarkable job with a Warriors’ team missing key personnel, relying on loan players to fill the gaps. He deserves credit.
Since Payten has taken charge the Warriors have shown a defensive steel rarely seen from the Kiwi club. He has set expectations and consequences for poor performance. It sounds simple, but not when you consider the available roster.
Warriors interim head coach Todd Payten (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
On paper, this Warriors team has no right being competitive, let alone winning.
During a hard-fought 18-12 loss to the Panthers, Lachlan Burr made an error which ultimately resulted in the Panthers’ match winner. He was pulled from the field. He didn’t return.
While Burr has been strong since, senior Kiwis and Warriors’ prop Adam Blair was publicly lashed for a lack of effort at training and hasn’t made the starting side since Round 10.
It sent a clear message to the players: If you don’t perform someone else will get their chance. It seems to be resonating.
Roger Tuivasa-Scheck has led admirably and while at times has made uncharacteristic mistakes for a player of his calibre, he has played with heart, chewed up metres like only ‘RTS’ can and made significant scoring contributions in recent weeks. All while his young family watches from New Zealand. He has given everything.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Tohu Harris has lead the Warriors engine room, which has been running and tackling with aggression. He’s averaging 44 tackles and 172m a game.
Add in strong performances from Kodi Nikorima, Jazz Tevaga, Peta Hiku and a rotating roster of reserve and loan players and it’s enough to make even the most grizzled and emotionally scarred Warriors fan smile again. You know who you are.
Is the improved performance due to a change in coach or a team galvanised against adversity? Could it be the reduced travel schedule or being based in an environment stripped of the usual distractions?
I suspect its all of those things. Whatever the reason, as a fan it has been fantastic to see the effort, week after week. Many Warriors fans may also be marveling at that new feeling during games, particularly against Newcastle: Enjoyment.
It would be just if they made finals. But sport is seldom just and seven games does not make a season. Critics will point to an all too familiar end of season form slump and ask what’s changed? They may yet be proven right.
But this team have shown a far greater determination than previous years. Will the Warriors win the competition? No. It would be nothing short of a miracle. But as Gould might attest, they’ve already won back the respect and support of many of their fans and peers.
From a Warriors fan I can tell you it’s a lot more enjoyable talking about how well we are playing than the same old disillusioned mutterings of ‘keep the faith’ and ‘next year will be our year’.
Payten is off, Nathan Brown is in, Gould is coming and I’m sure there will be more changes yet as the club cleans house. For now, let’s talk about this year and let’s talk about it now. How good is it?
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Sorry Watcher my mistake.I've only been following the warriors in recent months and assumed Murchie was loaned by Canberra, as he played there last year.Pompey a Warriors junior , I believe was given his chance when the regular wingers returned to NZ some time ago.
watcher
Guest
Murchie and Pompey are contracted Warriors players, I think you are referring to Jennings, Alvaro and Hetherington
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I have to say the old North Sydney Bears used to be my 2nd favourite team.The Warriors now fill that slot. The sacrifices and performances of this Warrior's team this season under such personal pressures not only to perform away from family and friends for such a long period ,and be such ambassadors for the game and NZ,is worthy of a decent 2021 gesture by the NRL. If ever a club was deserving of one year winning a Grand Final,it is this one. I salute you guys.
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
I guess it would need to be considered along with NZ fans and sponsors who want home games too. But I think theres definitely scope for the NRL to better manage the travel aspects. Some good suggestions in this thread.
Tony Browne
Guest
Great read Jeremy . Yeah that travel factor must take a toll. Well the NRL want another club in SE Queensland ? Warriors Aus Inc could work fed from NZ players instead of going to other Aussie NRL clubs aye
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Also Murchie n Pompey have impressed me. Many top clubs hoard a lot of talent.The Covid Warriors have allowed some fringe players from other clubs to get a run an showcase there talent .
Pickett
Roar Rookie
I agree Albo. Going back and forth from NZ can't be easy.
IanM
Guest
Without wanting to sound critical of the players who returned home to NZ to be with their families and while I can certainly understand why they would choose to do so, I wonder whether a combination of loss of morale, form or confidence also played a part in their decision to return to NZ. If that was the case, the Warriors would have been left with a squad of players that were feeling mentally strong enhanced with some loan players with a point to prove to their parent clubs which may explain the upturn in attitude and effort on the field. Maybe the situation away from home helped this season, there are rumours in NZ that if the COVID situation means the Warriors will be based in Australia again next season then RTS will switch to Super Rugby Aotearoa for a season so he can stay with his family which again while understandable would be a huge loss for the Warriors.
100% agree Albo. I said this ( travel )at the start of the isolation process and i was made to feel like my grade 3 results were fake but its coming true....No other club does the travel they do and no other club does international travel where the process takes 4 hrs ( 2 before the flight and 2 after ) longer than having the same flight domestically. Hopefully the NRL sees this and does a smart schedule for next season where the Warriors get blocks of away games so they base themselves in Aus for 4-5 weeks then block home games where they dont travel internationally. I would like to see each club that plays NZ 3 times in a year play 2 of them in NZ also.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Good article JB. I’m wondering if this could be a better model for the Warriors - basing themselves in Australia for longer stints - maybe 2 or 3 week blocks on the Central Coast, then a good few weeks of home games in NZ? I think the regular international travel, when we take into account the door to door experience, it has to take a toll as the year goes on?
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said. Cutting 7 - 8 hours travel time out of the road matches has to help. Maintaining form is certainly the challenge, particularly with more change ahead for the club and uncertainty around what next year might look like with Covid.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think the Warriors have really benefited from being domiciled as a team on the Central Coast. Like the old Kangaroo touring teams , the players bond much better together and away from the usual distractions back home. And in the Warriors case the cut down in travel time can only help. It is no surprise to me to see the improved performances compared to recent seasons . On top of that they have a couple of good additions this season in Katoa & Taunoa -Brown and some handy loan players particularly Hetherington & Faamausili who have all given the pack much more grunt. Dummy halves Lawton & Egan too have improved the functioning of the once "easy beat " Warriors pack. The improvements in the pack have allowed the likes of RTS & Nikorima more room to use their running abilities and even "rocks & diamonds" Peter Hiku is predominantly in diamonds mode this season. The key for the Warriors going forward now will be whether they can maintain this form when they go back to Auckland next season where they have failed to produce for a decade or more.
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
I was disappointed Payten declined the opportunity, which seemed a clumsy process tbh. Nathan Brown’s NRL coaching record doesn’t read well, but if you include his results while in the U.K. super league It looks much better. He built a good roster at Newcastle, but didn’t get results. They have improved since – how much of that was his influence? really hard to know, but Brown is experienced and seems a safe choice after Payten’s last minute withdrawal. Here’s hoping he can continue the improved efforts.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Jeremy, what were your thoughts when they announced Brown as coach? Has that changed since the team has shown their metal and not really a 'rebuild' side that Brown is apparently good at?
Paul
Roar Guru
A really good read Jeremy and you have every right to be proud of the efforts your boys have put in this year. They've certainly responded to Payten's coaching and you're right, it was great to see so many happy faces during and after the game last weekend against the Knights. If I was a Warriors fan, I'd be taking this week to week, both now and once the season is finished. The Club will have a mountain of issues to manage before the 2021 season kicks off, so best not to worry about that, but sit back and enjoy the success the your boys are providing now.
Tony
Roar Guru
Fark, I think you'll find that just the mere mention of Gould's future involvement would have bucked up the troops and led to their improved performances.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
I can’t believe the Great Gusto got it so wrong.Now he doesn’t need to use as much of his magic dust thanks to Todd P.Maybe TP jumped when he heard Gus was part of the package .
Tony
Roar Guru
I haven't rated the Warriors for a while now but they've certainly proved me wrong recently. It was a bit of an NRL retirement home for a while, but if the resist recruiting players like Blair, AND are able to hang on to RTS, they might be able to build something. The imminent arrival of Nathan Brown and the Gould circus is a concern though.
Jeremy Brown
Roar Pro
If they hadn’t achieved the results they have so far this year, the usual doom and gloom merchants would be calling for more hardened aussie players etc. Its been satisfying to see senior players step up and I agree the junior talent coming through is very promising. In my view Katoa has been the find of the season for the warriors Harris-Tavita has played well above his weight and with a maturity far greater than his experience. Great stuff.
watcher
Guest
Recruitment at the Warriors has been good for a while now. Harris and RTS are most featured but 'bread and butter' buys have been good, Pompey, Herbert, Hiku and Burr as instances. One player not getting the kudos in my opinion is Egan. He has players moving onto the ball from DH, the forwards are now making metres, a big problem before. Not every buy works for any club but with canny buying, good locals like Katoa and Harris-Tavita the future is promising. Instead of having to say 'next year will be our year', we are seeing the squad being built for next year. Either way we are proud of our guys this year, the 8 doesn't change that either way.