Decision on Gavet contract held over
The killer blow came in the 65th minute when the Raiders’ English hooker Hodgson quickly took the ball from dummy half a couple of metres from the Warriors’ line and snuck in for a decisive try.
It was a second half where there was the return of some ugly old habits around ball retention and that’s got to be the area of most concern for Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
When they needed someone to give them a lift over the final 20 minutes of the game, there wasn’t anyone who stood up to be counted.
So the Warriors remain winless away from Mt Smart Stadium this season and things won’t get any easier for them in their next fixture, an away trip to Melbourne in Anzac Day. THE Warriors will continue to monitor James Gavet before deciding on whether to offer him a new contract.
The 27-year-old prop has been the standout forward for the Warriors over the past few rounds and would have received more accolades if it wasn’t for the return of Kieran Foan.
He started just six games for the Warriors last year and began this season’s campaign on the outer, playing in the reserve grade NSW Cup team.
But some good performances with that team and a poor start for the NRL side, led to Gavet getting promotion, while Albert Vete has headed in the other direction.
Speaking before last night’s game against the Raiders, Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said he’d been impressed with Gavet.
‘‘I always had an awareness of James and what he’s capable of,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘I think he’s provided some really good energy for the group over the last three weeks.
‘‘The challenge for James is to make sure he delivers on that every week, so that my message to him every week is to continue to go down the path he’s been on.’’
One of Gavet’s strengths is that there’s a fear factor about him when he’s carrying the ball, similar to what there is with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Graham and James Tamou and he gives the Warriors an aggressive edge that isn’t necessarily there with their other front rowers.
Kearney worked with Gavet when they were both at the Broncos in 2015, although Gavet only got to play one game for the club and was given a release halfway through a two-year contract.
‘‘I have seen an improvement so I’m really pleased for him,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘He’s certainly got some real capability so I’m happy for him the way that he’s going.’’
Alcohol had continually been an issue throughout Gavet’s career, stretching back to 2012 when it resulted in his contract being terminated at the Bulldogs.
There were concerns at the Warriors about whether he had actually turned his life around since returning to Auckland and he didn’t help his case by turning late to training a couple of times this season.
However, those are minor discretions compared to the past and being home with his son and new daughter have helped him to become a reformed character. He constantly gets involved with charity and community work for the Warriors. His contract finishes at the end of the season and while the club are happy with how he’s playing, they want to continue to assess him.