Aussie pundits slam Warriors’ hopes
It’s a new year of optimism for Warriors fans but they could be set for another long season of woe if the Australian media are on the money.
One of Australia’s most respected rugby league scribes has released his 2018 NRL predictions and the Warriors are at the wrong end of his list.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil ‘‘Buzz’’ Rothfield is tipping the perennialbattlers for the wooden spoon in the 16-team competition and the negativity does not stop there.
He predicts Stephen Kearney will be under pressure to last the season and the Warriors off-season signings to have little impact.
The Kiwi club last made the top eight, way back in 2011 and in a bleak forecast for the upcoming season, Rothfield is predicting things to get worse before they get better.
A nine-game losing streak to finish the 2017 season saw the Warriors finish the year in 13th position.
With four big-name signings, a new strength and conditioning guru in Alex Corvo and a second year in charge for Kearney, many Warriors fans are confident the club could be set for a return to the finals. But not Rothfield.
He is not overly impressed by the Warriors’ major offseason signings in Adam Blair, Blake Green, Tohu Harris and Gerard Beale.
‘‘They’ll add experience but they’re not game-breakers,’’ his prediction said.
Rothfield was in no doubt as to who the most important figure in the 2018 Warriors squad is but is not expecting much from him either.
‘‘Halfback Shaun Johnson is again the key but he’s too inconsistent.’’
Rothfield even went as far as to suggest Kearney might not last the season.
‘‘Stephen Kearney has a wonderful record as an assistant but not as head coach,’’ his report said.
‘‘Don’t be surprised if Kearney is under pressure early, especially with Des Hasler and Michael Maguire waiting for an opportunity.’’
Rothfield’s opinion is shared by six out of seven Sydney Morning Herald league experts who are picking the Warriors to finish between 14th and 16th.
The seventh of those experts bucked the trend to pick the Warriors to make the top four.
In defence of the struggling Kiwi side, Rothfield said the Warriors were in for a tough start to the season because of the draw.
The Warriors will travel to Perth for their round one clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and in rounds four to eight they play the Roosters, Cowboys, Broncos and Storm.
Rothfield is picking the North Queensland Cowboys to win the 2018 premiership.
‘‘When you add halfback legend Johnathan Thurston, front-row enforcer Matt Scott and Melbourne Storm prop Jordan McLean to a team that made the grand final without them, they deserve premiership favouritism,’’ Rothfield’s report said.