Warriors finally free from pre-season hype
For the first pre-season in some time, the Warriors are flying under the radar.
After the year Kiwi rugby league fans have been through, enthusiasm for the 2018 campaign over summer months was always going to be in short supply.
Anticipation was raised in recent years by a few flashy signings, but not this time. Not when they will start the new season on a nine-game losing streak, in Perth no less, where they have never won.
The Warriors have made some handy additions and we should all expect some improvement. Although, after six years out of the playoffs, and burned by the last two seasons in particular, even the most optimistic Warriors supporter would be wary of expecting too much.
The bookmakers have struggled to find much to get excited about as well, with the club well down the odds list both at home and in Australia.
The lack of hype could be a good thing. At least the players can focus on getting on with the preseason, reaching their own targets without having to answer if ‘‘this will be their year’’ before a ball has been kicked.
The last two years were an eyeopener regarding the work they have in front of them. The arrival of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Issac Luke and the now-departed Kieran Foran brought plenty of star power but the results remained the same – problems were too deeply ingrained at the club.
Coach Stephen Kearney, entering his second year in charge, has recognised that with some of his recruitment decisions.
Adam Blair may have rubbed many up the wrong way with his comments following the Kiwis’ loss to Fiji at the World Cup, but few in the NRL would question his worth ethic and professionalism.
Tohu Harris comes with the same hard-working mentality, although the classy back-rower offers much more on the field.
And journeyman five-eighth Blake Green has proven his value since returning from England in 2015. You don’t survive this long in
the NRL without a hard edge.
All three have been brought to the club as much for what they can do off the field as much as on it.
The big concern, though, is that the Warriors have not addressed the main issue that held them back in 2017 – namely, a lack of goforward up front.
That is not Blair’s strength, and with Ben Matulino gone they look to be a couple of big bodies short in the middle to share the load with James Gavet.
Gavet’s emergence as a genuine enforcer was one of the few pleasant surprises of 2017 and they will need something similar from Sam Lisone and Albert Vete or new recruits Agnatius Paasi and Leivaha Pulu.
But that’s far from the only area needing improvement. Attack has to be close to top of the list.T
Completion rates were up last season but weren’t converted into points. Their work in the red zone was far too predictable, which should not be the case with players such as Tuivasa-Sheck, Luke and, of course, Shaun Johnson.
It can’t all be left to Johnson, but the club’s marquee player and No 7 has to lead the way.
Once again he has a new halves partner in Green and they will have limited time to gel.
Green, who has spent the last two years playing alongside champion halves Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans, is a solid operator and should take some playmaking pressure off Johnson. That should be the bare minimum on the contract he is on.
The hope is that with Green by his side, Johnson, who turns 28 next year, will finally find the consistency to elevate him to a truly elite playmaker.
It’s a line we’ve heard before with Chad Townsend, Thomas Leuluai and then Foran.
The chances of that finally coming to fruition in 2018? It’s much like the Warriors’ fortunes – don’t get your hopes up.