Revitalised Warriors ‘can get better’
Supreme fitness. Tremendous resolve. Ice-cool composure. Could this really be the new Warriors?
Those attributes haven’t often been associated with the Auckland club in recent years but all were at the heart of the remarkable 20-19 comeback NRL win over the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday.
There was a jubilant atmosphere in the dressing room after the game – and why not?
History was made as the Warriors started an NRL season with three straight wins for the first time. And it was done in the most dramatic fashion, overcoming a 13-point second-half deficit, scoring eight points in the final four minutes, as Shaun Johnson snatched the result with two late field goals.
The victory was only their fourth in Canberra in 16 attempts and after winning just once away from home last season, they have already doubled that output in their first two road games of 2018.
But perhaps the best thing the players can take out of it is the room for improvement.
‘‘There was a bit of euphoria. I think most of the boys have experienced victories like that but they’re pretty rare,’’ assistant coach Tony Iro told Stuff.
‘‘I didn’t think we were that good, although having said that, the first 15 minutes we used up a lot of our energy defending our tryline. They hung tough, so a good lesson for us. But we can do a lot of things better.’’
Right at the top of that list will be discipline ahead of another tough away test against premiership favourites the Roosters.
The Warriors only touched the ball once in the first 12 minutes after conceding six consecutive penalties. Adam Blair was sent to the sin bin as a result and the team quickly found themselves in a 12-0 hole.
Penalties are up across the board due to the NRL’s crackdown on infringements around the ruck and a strict policing of the offside rule.
The policy has drawn fierce criticism from commentators and fans for taking the flow out of the game.
Iro said they just wanted the referees to be consistent but added that it was also up to the players to adjust.
‘‘I think the referees have to be careful in terms of what areas they’re policing and making sure it’s an even spread.
‘‘But we’ve got to be better in that area,’’ he said.
‘‘It is a little bit of an issue, 20 penalties on average per game. I’m not sure what the fans think about it but hopefully that will reduce as the players and referees get more game time under their belts.’’
Sceptics of the performance will point out that the Raiders have yet to win a game, although all three of their losses have been by two points or less.
Time will tell if the Warriors have turned the corner but this was the type of display that will have more people believing.
The result was built on a relentless scrambling defence as Canberra dominated the first 60 minutes, with skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck continuing his run of saving at least one try per week.