Phil Gould has made a career from his inspirational talks and now the Warriors are hoping he’ll make their NRL season one to remember.
The New Zealand side is based in camp in Tamworth as they prepare for the NRL season, with hopes a bubble will be opened between the two countries by April.
It has created a ‘super camp’ of sorts – an intense pre-season that is hoped will foster success the club has been starved of since entering the competition in 1995.
To add inspiration to the group, new coach Nathan Brown called on club consultant Gould to deliver a few choice words to the team last week.
As well as not having won a premiership yet, the Warriors have finished 10th on average over the last decade.
Gould reminded the group of this harsh reality and the chance they have to fix it in 2021.
“He gave us an inspirational talk about the opportunity we have and how we have all this time and how we should take it,” said new recruit Kane Evans.
“He was actually talking about the club too, about how we can take the organisation from being mediocre to being up there with the best and to keep it up there for the next 10-20 years.
“Everyone had that fire in their belly after his speech.
“Some boys were emotional but some were just fired up to do their best.
“Hearing stats like that and his inspirational talk after, it was exciting and that’s why I can’t wait to play.”
Evans was part of the Australian-based group that was training in Kiama with support staff prior to the entire squad assembling in Tamworth earlier this month.
The Warriors will then move to the Central Coast, where they spent the majority of the 2020 season while unable to fly home.
Their first two home games in the opening rounds of this season have been moved from Mt Smart Stadium to Central Coast Stadium.
They will then play two away games in Canberra and Sydney before hopefully returning to New Zealand to play out the rest of the year.
But for now, the building blocks will be formed at their Tamworth camp.
“Coach has explained how important it is and what a blessing it is at the same time,” Evans said.
“Most teams won’t be able to have all of this time together so he’s definitely making use of it with late-night video sessions and extra training sessions that other teams wouldn’t be able to do.
“There’s really no excuse for us not to have a good year and go where we want to go.”
Micko
Roar Rookie
Even here now, both Collingwood & GWS have branched out into netball. Carlton had a soccer team in the NSL in the 90's.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Surprisingly it can happen. Big euro soccer clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid & Bayern Munich actually cover multiple other sports like basketball, volleyball, handball etc.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
What you mean sport in general? Like other sports? Long jump? Netball? BMX? I don’t follow
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
No mate, its in reply to Melstorm who like quite a few Melbourne fans refuses to believe that yes it actually was a close game. My comment like yours references Smith and the fact that he was worried they would lose if it went on longer. The better team won imo , but there wasn’t a lot in it.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
No mate its in reply to Melstorm who like quite a few Melbourne fans refuse to believe that yes it actually was a close game. My comment like yours references Smith and the fact that he was worried they woukd lose if it when on longer. The better team won imo , but there wasn't a lot in it.
Does seem that way
Tony
Roar Guru
He won't know
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If you’re talking to me jimmmy don’t take my word for it, google the wwos after game interview with Freddy..it’s verbatim.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Not what Cameron Smith said but ill take your word for it.
WHY?
Chuck Duck
Guest
Best. Comment. Ever!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If the Panthers were able to get a play the ball on what would be the last tackle of the game they were a great chance to score because the Storm were scattered. They were in the game.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Thanks Phil, he sounds like one of those punters who reads the comments for years and finally reaches a point where he blows a fuse and then comes on and says nothing. I doubt he has anything original to say.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Gould clearly has many faults and I agree with your sentiment largely. My point rests mainly on when he says something that is entirely reasonable and the pitchforks emerge anyway. I find it ridiculous. Similar thing happened to Howard. That's the only comparison I'm drawing. In the GF he jokingly described the Fox as the fastest man on the planet and they all went to town on that. It's pathetic.
Parasite
Roar Rookie
The Warriors should be a powerhouse not just in the NRL, but in sport in general. They need a good kick in the backside.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
The best motivational speech Gus could give me would be “the more you win, the less I talk.”
Phil
Roar Rookie
Bill, reading your posts today you appear to have problems with other peoples' opinions on Rugby League. It's a public forum mate, a place to express your thoughts on our game without derogatory comments. Forty Twenty is a regular here who is well received and doesn't deserve to be told that the dumbest of all would be the only ones wanting to hear him. Join in by all means and add your voice about the game, not criticising others you don't agree with. Your comments today suggest you have nothing to contribute other than a whinge. Let's see some constructive comment, it makes for better reading.
Melstorm
Guest
Seriously. Thats completwly wrong. If vunivalu held on the kick it was to be storm by 30 to nil woth the kick to come. Pemrith were never in it.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
True, we probably could have done without the ‘oh,no’s’ and ‘Panther fans hold your breath’ as we waited verdicts on the Olam and Smith tries..but personally find that tragically humorous, especially when it goes against him..as again later in ‘they (bunker) don’t know the rules’ and a Joey echo of same elsewhere in the game. That was laugh out loud stuff.
mushi
Roar Guru
His blue print was sound and simple. No need to get creative in the NRL when your opposition seems to have a gun pointed at their feet. But he did seem to get in the way of its simplicity at the back end.