Pessimism not sha
Gerard Beale tells David Long he’s seen signs of why 2020 will be a good season for the Warriors. Inside your the 2020 N Premiership Warriors te interviews Warriors’ ne Mark Robin head coach Kearney as the full draw movement the 16 NRL into how w
Talk to your average Warriors fan and there’s not much optimism about what lies ahead this season. There’s been just one signing from another NRL club in hooker Wayde Egan, a horrendous injury toll already, and defeats at the Perth Nines then trial games against the Storm and Tigers.
And NRL fans will get their first look at how the Warriors are travelling next Saturday, when they take on the Newcastle Knights in Australia to open the season.
The TAB has them at $36 to win the premiership, with only perennial strugglers, the Titans, bigger outsiders. But inside the club there’s a steely determination to the challenges they face.
Centre Gerard Beale, who’s close to recovering from splitting his kneecap in a gruesome injury in August last year, says he can understand why fans are feeling how they are, but there’s plenty to feel positive about. ‘‘People care about the club and want to see us do well, but the preseason games are hard to get a read on,’’ Beale said.
‘‘The first half of the trial against the Tigers was probably our strongest 13, then after halftime (when the score was 6-6) we saw a lot of changes and other guys got opportunities.
‘‘But I think we’re on the right track, the nines probably deflated us as a group because we had a lot of young boys who had been awesome in training through the preseason and that was their opportunity.
‘‘They took a bit learning out of that, the nines was a big opportunity and they let that slip.
‘‘It has been hard to get a read on how we’re really travelling, but we’ll soon find out, because there’s only one week left until round one. I’m seeing the boys train and we’re doing some good things, it’s a matter of bringing that out there on the field.’’
In previous years the hype around the Warriors going into a new season has been over the top.
When the team failed to live up to those lofty heights the knives were out from some in the news media. So perhaps it’s good that this year they’re not being seen as one of the favourites.
‘‘When I was at other clubs and playing against the Warriors, I always knew they had the talent and you had to be on when you’re playing them,’’ Beale said.
‘‘I believe in the team we have now, keeping everyone on the field is going to be a big thing and maybe going under the radar might be a good thing.’’
For Beale, he’s excited about the prospect of
Gerard Beale
playing again and hopes to be back by around week four.
‘‘In two weeks’ time I have one more box to tick, which is to get the clearance, so hopefully I’ll get that and that will allow me to do contact stuff.
‘‘I’ve been pretty lucky, I can do everything else except for that. I’d say there will probably be a couple of weeks of that, so I’m definitely getting close.’’
The 29-year-old Beale is recovering from his second serious injury while on the Warriors’ books.
At the 2017 World Cup he broke his leg in the game against Samoa and missed the first part of his maiden season for the club.
‘‘When I do it, I go big!’’ Beale joked about his injuries.
‘‘For me, it’s been frustrating because off the field I’ve been enjoying my time here, I know there are special things for the club just around the corner, so hopefully this is it for my injuries.
‘‘I’m really keen to make sure I’m healthy and then get back out there.’’
Beale is one of a dozen Warriors players in the
‘‘I’m seeing the boys train and we’re doing some good things, it’s a matter of bringing that out there on the field.’’