Warriors bring back offloads
After a season of trying to beat the Aussies at their own game, the Warriors forwards are going back to what they know best.
Offloads were down significantly in 2017 under Stephen Kearney’s conservative game plan. And while the Warriors finished the season with the highest completion rate in the NRL, it did not translate to the win column as they consistently struggled to score points.
A lack of go-forward was often cited as one of the Warriors’ biggest shortcomings last year and prop James Gavet admitted they fell into the trap of being too ‘‘robotic’’ and not playing to their strengths.
Kearney has conceded that they need to ask more questions of opposition defences and the forwards have been working hard at introducing more ball-play into their attack.
You have to earn the right to offload and Gavet will not be veering too far away from the ‘‘crash and bash’’ during Saturday’s season-opener against South Sydney in Perth.
But he feels the addition of Ligi Sao, who has been named to start at lock after two impressive trial performances, and bench forward Leivaha Pulu will help the Warriors pack play a style fans are much more accustomed to.
‘‘We just want to play our brand of footy rather than trying to beat the Aussies at being Aussie,’’ Gavet said.
‘‘If we think back to when the Kiwis and Warriors have played really good footy in the past it’s always been how we grew up playing - in the back yard flicking the ball around, offloading and being really strong with everything.
‘‘Don’t get me wrong, there’s still structure around it. There will be a lot of improv, but within reason.’’
The players are well aware they cannot go overboard with the offloads. A big part of their preseason has centred around making the right decisions to avoid putting the team under unnecessary pressure.
They key for the Auckland club has always been about finding the right balance, and Kearney emphasised a measured approach.
‘‘There’s a number of players in the group who have the ability to get an offload away. It’s just making sure we manage that with how effective they are,’’ the coach said.
‘‘Our style is geared around building momentum and trying to get ourselves on the front foot. When you do that, stuff like that tends to flow off the back of it.’’
Gavet, meanwhile, has become one of the Warriors’ key forwards following the departures of props Ben Matulino and Jacob Lillyman.
The 28-year-old, coming off his most consistent season in the NRL which saw him rewarded with a new two-year deal, knows he has to step up but that is a feeling mirrored right throughout the forwards.
‘‘We’ve turned it around and made it that if I’ve got a chink in my armour today, a team-mate will check me and tell me what I need to work on, and vice versa.’’