Year of ifs, buts, Broncos
As the Warriors continue their unlikely bid to make the NRL finals, the progress of the Broncos will provoke some envy at Mt Smart.
The Auckland team have a near impossible road to September football and the most difficult of any fringe top-eight contenders.
Aside from the Roosters today (4pm NZT), the Warriors (19 points) also face two other teams in the top four and the highly-rated Sharks, and realistically have to win all four, with three on the road.
But Brisbane (23 points) are sitting pretty after Friday night’s win over the Panthers, and have the luxury of two more home games.
The Warriors and Broncos have had erratic seasons but the Queensland team have found a way to get results when it matters.
There’s not much between the two, and the Warriors probably should have won both encounters this season, guilty of failing to take their chances in the 8-2 loss at Mt Smart and 18-18 draw at Suncorp Stadium.
The Auckland team also could have done the double over the Panthers, but for a fateful late slip, and home losses to the Cowboys and Knights also hurt, as did the unlucky defeat in Melbourne.
It’s the ifs and buts that have defined the Warriors’ campaign, in
contrast to last season, when they developed the happy habit of winning many tight games.
The last rites of this season might not be far away but there have been some positives.
The ongoing brilliance and dedication of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the development of Ken Maumalo, the consistency of Peta Hiku and Leeson Ah Mau, and the emergence of Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Jazz Tevaga has also backed up his breakout 2018 season with aplomb, and showed his versatility with a strong game at hooker last Friday.
His best position is still uncertain — he was highly effective in a utility role last year and has impressed in a few appearances at lock this season — but his work ethic and attitude can’t be faulted.
“We are pretty short on hookers and I’ve had to step in there,” said Tevaga. “It’s completely different to 13 but I’ll do anything for the team, whatever Mooks [Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney] thinks is best for the squad.”
Tevaga maintains finals football is still possible.
“The boys responded well against the Sea Eagles,” said Tevaga. “We are still a chance, so we are going to have a crack. We need to win and it doesn’t matter how we do that. If we perform and defend like we did [last] weekend, we will give ourselves a good chance at winning each game.”
The Warriors have a decent away record this season. Even the defeats often saw good performances, as they emerged with credit from losses to the Rabbitohs, Storm and Eels and enjoyed victories in Newcastle, Gold Coast, Wellington, Penrith and Brisbane (along with the aforementioned draw at Suncorp.)
But the Roosters have won six successive matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground this year and showed ominous signs in their assured victory in Canberra last weekend.
“Their spine is pretty crafty and they’ll find the weaknesses in any footy team, so we have to be good across the park,” said Tevaga. “And we have to watch out for [James] Tedesco. He likes to hang around the ruck, and if the forwards get an offload, he’ll be off.
“But we need to do what we have been doing over the last two months, apart from the Raiders game: complete our sets, get them in the corner and go tit for tat with them. I’m sure, like any footy side, if you put them under pressure, you give yourselves a chance at winning.”