Once were written off, now they’re real contenders
Wake me up in September, I’d written. And with good reason. Empty words have been a staple of the New Zealand Warriors’ history with the players particularly adept at proclaiming, ultimately, false dawns.
The more lessons they said they’d learned, the sooner you could write off their season.
This year began like so many others, full of absurd levels of optimism and a certainty the club had recruited better than ever before. The only difference this time was the continual references to trainer Alex Corvo. He’d got the team fit, apparently, so look out.
In reality, fitness is the bare minimum you should expect from professional athletes. In the case of the Warriors, the emphasis on conditioning and hope that it would dramatically improve the team’s fortunes, smacked of desperation.
It all looked a bit pathetic but, before completely condemning all involved, it seemed fair to give them till September. If they’d missed the top-eight playoffs for the seventh year running, then you could demand mass resignations with confidence. In the unlikely event the Warriors were finals bound, then it would be time for hearty congratulations.
Well, it’s September 1 and the Warriors have made the playoffs. What’s more, they’re as wellequipped as any team to kick on and become premiers. ❚ Lost 36-12 v Titans (Gold Coast) – won 18-12 v Dragons (Sydney).
Players such as Adam Blair and Blake Green have brought a massive amount to the side. Hooker Issac Luke has returned to careerbest form, halfback Shaun Johnson has regularly delivered on his immense talent and David Fusitu’a has been superb on the wing.
The support cast have been good, and then there’s captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. It was hard not to feel for the guy and what he’d been lumbered with in Auckland. Yes, he was getting well paid, but he left behind a perennial finals side at the Roosters and, for his sake, you almost hoped he’d taken up the rumoured contract in rugby.
After all, his career was never going to scale any heights with these woeful Warriors.
Now the fullback is not only recognised as one of the finest players in the competition, he’s on the verge of guiding the team on a lengthy finals run.
Minor premiers, the Melbourne Storm, look decent again, although age, and years at the top, appear to be taking a physical toll on one or two of their stars.
The Roosters have their admirers, but will have to overcome the impediment of halfback Cooper Cronk. An all-time great for Queensland and the Storm, Cronk has been a pretty ordinary Rooster so far.
Cronulla might prove to be the hardest team to beat. They’re an ornery side, who know how to win and are probably the favourites. Brisbane are the other member of the top eight who loom as legitimate title contenders.
However things pan out for the Warriors, they deserve credit. Another failed season might’ve put paid to coach Stephen Kearney’s career and sent the sport into an almost terminal decline in this country.
Rugby league, thanks to Warriors such as Blair and Johnson, was in bad shape following last year’s World Cup. As embarrassing as the Kiwis’ performances were, the posttournament comments made by Johnson and Blair were even worse.
It’s been heartening, then, to see the way both men rehabilitated their reputations, and that of the code, this season.