NRL SEASON PREVIEW:
5 questions for the Warriors
1. Is Roger Tuivasa-Sheck the right choice as the club’s captain?
David Long: As a ‘follow me by example’ type skipper, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be excellent. He is not only one of the Warriors’ best players, he’s also the ultimate professional who’ll be the first to arrive at training every day. It’s a smart move to make Simon Mannering as vice captain because he pass on plenty of advice. The only concern would be with how Tuivasa-Sheck deals with any players who step out of line. Will he be able to get stuck into a senior player who is slacking off?
Marvin France: Yes but, once he decided to move on from Ryan Hoffman it is not as though Stephen Kearney was flush with options. Of the leading candidates Simon Mannering, is happy playing a background role; Shaun Johnson has enough to deal with at halfback; and Issac Luke doesn’t handle the off-field duties as well as Tuivasa-Sheck. Sure, his appointment has come a year or two too early and there is bound to be some growing pains, but ‘RTS’ has the professionalism, work ethic and respect of his teammates to flourish in the role. Oh yeah, he’s a pretty handy fullback too.
2. Can Stephen Kearney be given a honeymoon year as the new coach or does he have to deliver straight away?
DL: Unfortunately for Kearney, he’s going to have to deliver in his first season. There won’t be time for him to find his feet and get the squad built up for a strong 2018 season. The club’s long-suffering fans have had their hopes built up too many times, without the team delivering. The squad is good enough to be a top four team but making it into the top eight will be acceptable. It would take a catastrophic campaign for Kearney get the axe after one year, but he does carry the weight of his predecessors’ failings.
MF: All coaches need time to implement their own ideas. Yet, with the addition of Kieran Foran, Kearney has inherited a squad capable of matching it with anyone in the NRL. In Foran, Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck and Luke, he may never have a better spine during his time at Mt Smart. Scoring points has never been the Warriors’ problem, though. Sorting out the defence is obviously the top priority. The forwards, particularly the prop rotation, also need a marked improvement on last year. I’m not suggesting he has to make the top four but address those concerns and there is no reason why Kearney cannot make an instant impact.
3. Ryan Hoffman will get the chop at the end of the year, who else is in danger?
DL: There could be a big clearout coming. Charlie Gubb is almost certain to leave for a better contract, while Jacob Lillyman may also think it’s time to move on. Ligi Sao was only a fringe player last season and needs more game time this season if he’s going to prove his worth. It’s also a pivotal year in the career of James Gavet. Of course, Shaun Johnson is the big one coming off contract, but there’s no way the Warriors would let him go. MF: Given the amount of players off-contract in 2017, this could be a long list. Of the regular first-graders, it must be asked how long Jacob Lillyman has left at Mt Smart? The ex-Queensland forward turns 33 next month and with Ben Matulino, Albert Vete, Toafofoa Sipley and Charlie Gubb also off-contract the club may invest elsewhere. Matulino is an interesting case. It was only a couple of years ago that even the idea of letting him walk would have been unthinkable. But the 28-yearold is coming off a disappointing campaign and will miss the opening rounds with a knee injury. Matulino will still be in demand, though, and if he cannot rediscover his form it may be a change of scenery is best for both parties.
4. How much of a difference will Kieran Foran make?
DL: Potentially he could be the final piece of the jigsaw that makes this a successful team. His combination the halves with Shaun Johnson has been a great one when they’ve played together for the Kiwis as their style of play compliments each other. However, it will be over 10 months between games when Foran returns in round three and one can only guess about how rusty he’ll be or whether he’s been able to move on from his off-field dramas. But once he gets a few games under his belt, Foran can make the Warriors unstoppable. MF: There is no doubting the impact Foran can have on this club. Not only are the Warriors acquiring one of the game’s elite halves, he also holds the key to helping Johnson find some much-needed consistency. But if the Warriors are to finally click in 2017, it has to be a true team effort. And any transformation has to start in defence. You only have to look at where they ranked in points allowed since 2012 (14th, 13th, ninth, 14th and 14th) to see why they haven’t made the finals. Defence generally comes down to attitude and Foran will surely help Kearney drive change in that department, but the rest of the squad has to buy in.
5. Will they finish in the top eight for the first time since 2011?
DL: Yes. That should be the minimum requirement for them this year. If Foran plays, they have one of the best squads in the NRL, they also have an outstanding coaching staff and if we were talking about a different club, you could say they could win the Premiership. A question mark will be over how their props go attacking up the middle of the field and if their defending on the edges has improved. Given everything though, this should be a season where Warriors fans can have a smile on their collective faces again. MF: Making predictions with this team is always a dangerous game but here goes ... the Warriors will break their finals drought in 2017. Away from the senior players, look for props Sam Lisone and Albert Vete to step up in their third season of first-grade to help beef up the pack. David Fusitu’a is another youngster poised to come of age and become a major weapon at right centre. But (and sorry to bang on) it has to come back to their work without the ball. And from what Kearney showed with the Kiwis and his experience under Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy, he will make enough improvements to push for the top six.