Warriors target top eight
Warriors owner Mark Robinson says the club has to be a top eight side next season with the roster it’s got.
Speaking to the media yesterday at an end of season review, Robinson said he was optimistic about next year, regarding the roster as one of the best in the long time.
Despite everything the club went through, they finished the NRL season strongly and ended up 10th on the ladder, three places higher than 2019.
With Nathan Brown coming in as head coach next year and Addin Fonua-blake, Kane Evans, Euan Aitken and Ben Murdoch-Masila all joining the team, Robinson is optimistic about what lies ahead.
‘‘I think it’s probably the best roster the club has had since Stacey Jones, Awen Guttenbeil and those boys back then when they were pushing for the finals.’’
With the squad in place, Robinson says the club’s fans can be hopeful of seeing their team play finals footy in 2021.
‘‘We all want to win, but we’ve all got to be realistic too, because we don’t want to put a lot of pressure on ourselves,’’ Robinson said. ‘‘But to be fair, it’s got to be a top eight club with that roster. We’ve got to be in the top eight next year.
‘‘If we make the top six, that’s fantastic, if we do even better than that, the turnaround and the strength of our club is amazing.
‘‘But top eight, yes, definitely expecting top eight next year.’’
Midway through this season the Warriors were a mess, but interim head coach Todd Payten turned the club around, with the players looking more determined and committed.
Payten turned down the opportunity to stay with the Warriors and will head to the Cowboys next season, but Robinson believes Brown can continue Payten’s good work.
‘‘Everyone has their own style. I’ve always got on with Nathan really well and I think the way he’s building and going about his business is going to be great,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘I think he’s going to build another dimension to our team and we have a new assistant coach too [Craig Hodges].
‘‘So I’m really looking forward to it and I think all of the team is looking forward to it. A new journey, a new start, a new culture and everyone’s working together, everyone’s talking, there’s no hierarchy and we all get on.’’
The Warriors last month signed Fonua-blake from the Sea Eagles. It’s been described as one of the biggest signings in the club’s history and Robinson said it’s a mark of what’s been put in place that the 24-year-old agreed to join the club.
‘‘That’s a credit to the whole of the Warriors organisation, that one of the best front rowers in the game wants to come to the Warriors,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘Obviously, he’s friends with a couple of guys that are there . . . but it shows that what we’ve done and how we’re a family club, that people now want to come to play for the Warriors. Because they can see our steel.’’
‘‘It’s got to be a top eight club with that roster. We’ve got to be in the top eight next year.’’
Mark Robinson
Warriors owner