What’s Wrong Warriors?
There has been a lot of chat these last couple of weeks on the cold side of the Tasman about the New Zealand Warriors and their recent form, or lack there of.
It has now been three and a half games since their miracle playmaker Shaun Johnson went down with a broken and dislocated ankle against the Manly Sea Eagles. Johnson, perhaps in career best form was going about his work, stepping players like rain drops before scoring a try. The only difference from weeks previous, he didn’t quite get through untouched. In fact big red, Tom Symonds caught Johnson on the line and landed on his ankle crushing it like a bug.
We all know how that ended up. Johnson is out for the season and the Warriors went from looking like a top four contender to a top eight team, to fighting for a playoff spot, to all but done. In their last four games with Johnson off the field, they have been outscored 104 – 30. Can one person really have so much impact on the game?
Johnson is the reigning Golden Boot player of the year, but while he could easily muster up 74 points on attack, he is not worth 74 points on defence. The Warriors have never been a team to struggle to score points but they have always had their difficulties on defence. But to struggle so much in both areas of the game is a real concern for Warriors fans.
The easy excuse is the injuries they have suffered this season. With a whole raft of top line players out injured, a young team has been blooded. It was always going to be a struggle without Johnson, Hoffman, Thompson (best two players of the season), Leuluai, Henry and the likes. Having said that, these guys are professionally paid athletes, there should be someone available to pick up the pieces shouldn’t there?
We often hear about defence being an attitude. It doesn’t matter if you have all the attacking power in the world, which on their day with a full squad, the Warriors do. If you can’t prevent the other team from scoring points, you have to score more.
Local radio host Tony Veitch from Veitchy on Sport managed to grab an interview with coach McFadden a couple of weeks ago. The interview was great, McFadden was open and honest. He explained that when he came to the club, under Matt Elliott the culture was terrible. Players turning up to pre-season overweight and late was a massive shock to listeners.
Has the culture and attitude changed since Cappy was given the coaching cap?
Many media outlets in New Zealand are pointing the finger and saying no. A recent TV interview with Chad Townsend would suggest not either. But I truly believe there is a change in the Warriors attitude this season.
Yes there are some players that need to work themselves a little bit harder. Konrad Hurrell seems to be the prime candidate here, but the culture McFadden is in the processing of installing in the New Zealand team is nothing short of great. Their plans to become one of the most dominant Australasian sporting clubs in history is well under way.
While it has become a common thing in New Zealand in recent times, fans must forget about the 2015 season and look forward to next year. The only difference is, this time there is genuinely something to be excited about.
How is this for a starting line-up in 2016?
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Tui Lolohea, 3. Konrad Hurrell, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Thomas Leuluai, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Isaac Luke, 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering.
They have plenty of money, a good roster, that is only going to get better in the build up to 2016 and the coach that can take them to the top for plenty of years. As much as their needs to be buy in from the players and supporting staff, there also needs to be buy in from the supporters.
It’s a matter of faith.