‘‘Egan needs to be more productive otherwise Kodi Nikorima could find himself as the starting hooker and that’s an outcome neither player wants.’’
The wait is almost over. The Warriors will return to action against the Dragons on Saturday, over two months since they last played a game.
There has been plenty written about the club since they lost to the Raiders 20-6 on March 21, with most of it around the issues they’ve faced to stay in this year’s NRL competition.
But now it’s time to focus on the footy again – so what exactly does the team need to do to be competitive?
Don’t think about the sacrifices
The Warriors became the second-favourite team for everyone in Australia because the players were willing to be away from their families for up to five months, just so the NRL season could continue as a 16-team competition and fulfil broadcasting requirements.
But thoughts inside the team of those sacrifices must end. The Warriors have got a readymade excuse if they have a dreadful season and no matter how badly they do, coach Stephen Kearney won’t get sacked.
However, making up the numbers shouldn’t be enough and the determination to win should be as high as it always is.
Forget about their dreadful start to the season
If it wasn’t for being stranded in Australia before the NRL season was suspended, the Warriors would have copped a heap of criticism for how they played in their back-to-back losses to the Knights and Raiders.
With no big signings over the off-season, there wasn’t a heap of optimism about how this campaign would play out and after those defeats it was already looking like being a tough season. But the enforced break and time in camp in Tamworth should have given the players time to reset and an opportunity for the coaches to work out what’s not working.
Be more direct up front
Stuff reported back in February that the Warriors were after Jack Murchie from the Raiders and his arrival at the club should give the forward pack more aggression. They have unearthed a gem in Eliesa Katoa, who’s still a novice to league, but they are low on props with Leeson Ah Mau the latest out injured.
Agnatius Paasi will be a key figure, but they’ll need senior players like Adam Blair and Tohu Harris to be at their best if the Warriors are going to win forward battles.
Get Wayde Egan up to speed
The former Panthers hooker didn’t get off to a great start at the Warriors before the campaign was suspended, and given that he was the club’s only signing of note over the offseason, that’s a disappointment.
He missed six tackles against the Raiders, and only ran the ball for two metres against the Knights. It’s still early days, but he needs to be more productive, otherwise halfback Kodi Nikorima could find himself as the starting hooker and that’s an outcome neither player wants.
Don’t leave it all to Roger
No Warriors player has scored a try this season and their execution has been severely lacking when they’ve got close to the opposition’s line. The other backs can’t keep leaving it to the brilliant Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to make something happen.
He needs the other players around him to step up.