‘Our year for finals football’
They’re being written off by almost everyone, but Adam Blair says this can be the Warriors’ year.
The Warriors begin the new NRL campaign today in Newcastle when they take on the Knights.
Australian pundits have said they’ve got no chance of making the top eight and will replicate last year’s disappointing season.
But Blair believes the Warriors are a team on the rise, the culture has improved and the squad is getting more experienced.
‘‘I came [here in 2018] with Blake Green, Gerard Beale, who are leaders, and that year was really about trying to change the culture and build something for the next five years,’’ Blair told Stuff.
‘‘Everyone was riding off the back of 2018 and thinking that we can go one better in 2019, but that doesn’t always happen.’’
Blair said the team wasn’t a bad one in 2019, but admitted they had a run where they struggled and weren’t able to recover from it.
‘‘We had a patch there where we could have made it to the finals if we’d won those close games,’’ he said.
‘‘But there were games where we lost by just a few points or had a draw. If we converted those things, we could have been playing in the eight.
‘‘This year, it’s the third year, we’re continuing to build those connections, relationships and mental toughness, to be able to grind through tough games and come out the other end on top of other teams.
‘‘If there’s a year where we need to be playing finals football, it’s this year.’’
The only player who’s joined the Warriors from another NRL club is hooker Wayde Egan and there hasn’t been that marquee signing this time, like there was with Blair, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck or Tohu Harris.
‘‘Yes, we’ve got a pretty similar team to 2019 that has been through some ups and downs and some tough games, won some tough games and have also lost games where we’ve got a hiding,’’ Blair said.
‘‘But those things make you tougher for this year, so that when we get into those situations again, we can capitalise on them and hopefully win those games.
‘‘That’s why I say that if there’s a year where we can do something, it’s most probably this year.’’
Meanwhile, Tuivasa-Sheck is calling for honesty from his teammates with the new captain’s challenge.
From this season captains have one challenge where they can ask for an on-field decision to be reviewed.
But the key is that there’s only one of them and Tuivasa-Sheck doesn’t want one of his players to ask him to use that challenge on something where they know they’ve made a mistake, like knocking the ball on.
‘‘I’ve joked around with the boys that honesty is the best policy,’’ Tuivasa-Sheck said.
‘‘If you think you did it, then let us know ASAP.
‘‘Most teams over the last few weeks have left it to crucial times, like late in the game, but if there are significant moments, we’ll use it.
‘‘It’s all going to be practice with it, but we’ll see how we go.’’
Tuivasa-Sheck said there hadn’t been much discussion about the challenge with the team, but these conversations will happen.
‘‘Closer to the first game we’ll speak about it and our leadership group will come around and talk about what’s the best way to go about it,’’ he said.
‘‘Just like with games, we’ll get better the more we do it.’’
Like Blair, Tuivasa-Sheck is feeling optimistic about this season and believes the team players had a preseason that will prepare them for what lies ahead.
‘‘I’m excited,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve been happy with the way we’ve been going, with the new staff and new players coming though.
‘‘I’m itching as much as everyone is to start playing and see how all that work in November, December and January plays out for us.’’