Webster’s work lifts Warriors
It might be too early to invent the term ‘Webbyball’ but the Warriors have shown enough signs to show they’re a different type of team under new coach Andrew Webster.
Their 20-12 win over the Dragons in Wellington on Friday night was built on the no-nonsense attitude Webster has brought to the club, where they’re no longer the team expected to lose when things get tight.
They could have easily folded after failing to score from seven sets in a row close to the Knights line in the second half and in previous years, that’s exactly what would have happened.
But they went on to defend eight sets in a row on their line, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Ed Kosi both making incredible trysaving tackles and eventually came away with the two NRL points.
‘‘When Webby (Webster) came, he spoke about wanting to play for the jersey and the jersey meaning something to the individual that puts it on,’’ Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya said.
‘‘This is a proud club and the boys showed that. Under the adversity we put ourselves under, we got out of it.
‘‘. . . we’ll enjoy this win, but we’ve got to get ready for next week.’’
That pride in the Warriors jersey did need to be instilled again. Through no fault of the club, their three years based in Australia resulted in players representing them who felt no affinity to the Warriors and what they’re about.
But being back in New Zealand, they have recruited players who want to be Warriors and under Webster they’re already showing, after just one game, that they’re a team with spirit.
Two of the new players who made their mark in Wellington were NicollKlokstad and Jackson Ford.
Second-rower Ford only played five games for the Dragons last year and spent most of the past four seasons playing NSW Cup footy. But both were outstanding, with fullback Nicoll-Klokstad making a match-saving tackle.