‘Dumb as’: Warriors players slam NRL, clubs over NZ games
Senior Warriors players Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris are angry and disappointed at the NRL and other clubs over the empty promises they were given about extra games in New Zealand next year.
The Warriors have confirmed there will be only nine games at Mt Smart Stadium next season, with the club taking one home game to Napier, one to Wellington and another home fixture swallowed up by Magic Round in Brisbane. understands the Warriors were keen to take a game to Christchurch, to help give league a boost in the South Island. However, Christchurch NZ, the city’s development and profile agency, declined to enter negotiations.
Shaun Johnson
There had been plenty of talk out of Australia over the past three seasons about the sacrifices the Warriors made to keep the NRL going by basing themselves across the Tasman and splitting up families.
The NRL top brass and other clubs praised the Warriors for what they’d done and regularly opposition teams would visit their changing shed after games to personally thank them.
There was hope that for 2023, the Warriors’ sacrifices would be recognised with a number of extra games being played around New Zealand. But it’s all come to nothing, with no club willing to move their home game against the Warriors to New Zealand, with the NRL also sitting on its hands.
At the Warriors’ captain’s run yesterday, ahead of today’s game against the Titans, Johnson and Harris spoke about how they felt the club had been let down.
‘‘Dumb as, I don’t get it,’’ Johnson fumed. ‘‘How can everyone come out and say you want to repay the Warriors and then you give us nine home games?
‘‘Just don’t come out and say any
So this season wasn’t the Warriors’ year after all.
The curtain comes down on another Warriors campaign today, when they play the Titans at Mt Smart Stadium, a match they need to win to avoid finishing 15th on the ladder.
A defeat would make this the club’s worst season since 2004, when they placed 14th in the then 15-team league.
However, as all Warriors fans know, there’s next year to be excited about, because it might just be their year this time. But before we farewell the Warriors’ 2022 season, tradition has it that we reveal end-ofseason Warriors awards.
Our awards may not be the most prestigious, but by crikey they’re announced first.
Sadly, it was decided to skip the black-tie event for fear of any Will Smith-type incidents, so instead we’ll just publish our winners. So here goes. The envelope please ...
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Wayde Egan
It’s been a season where there hasn’t been a standout player but it’s Egan’s consistency that sets him apart.
The hooker, who also spent a brief time at five-eighth, was regularly one of the Warriors’ top three players each week, strong in defence and also sniping away with runs from dummy half.
Tohu Harris obviously had a strong year, but missed the first nine games of the season with injury, which counts against him.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ronald Volkman
The young five-eighth wins this award by default. Incredibly, he’s the only Warriors player to make his NRL debut this season.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Edward Kosi
Last year Kosi looked ordinary in his five games and over his first four appearances this season, you’d be forgiven for wondering why the club had given him an NRL contract.
thing, you know what I mean? Just sit there, don’t put the social media videos up thanking the club for everything they’ve done, then when push comes to shove you don’t put
But in his last half dozen appearances it’s finally clicked for him and the Warriors got the big, powerful winger they needed.
BEST GAME OF THE YEAR
Warriors 25 Cowboys 24
At the time, this round-five win was seen as just a handy victory for the Warriors against a team that could be battling for the wooden spoon this year. However, with the benefit of hindsight we now see that the Cowboys are one of the best teams in the competition and just how impressive that win was.
your hand up to offer anything.
‘‘I can’t believe it. It’s out of our control, but don’t speak up and say how grateful you are and how you thank the Warriors for everything
TRY OF THE YEAR
Shaun Johnson v Bulldogs Johnson hasn’t had the impact most fans would have hoped for in 2022, but like most players he’s found it tough being separated from his family.
But late in the impressive 42-18 win over the Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium Johnson wound back the clock with a 40m solo try where he twice beat defenders with dummy passes and sped away to score.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
‘‘We’ve got more jerseys than
they’ve done. Just stay quiet.’’
Johnson spent most of this year in Redcliffe, while his wife, Kayla Johnson and their young daughter Millah, were in Auckland. He admits he trophies,’’ Jazz Tevaga.
If there’s one Warriors player who you can rely on to call it like it is, it’s Tevaga. Speaking on Sky TV after the 24-16 loss to the Knights in May, Tevaga was asked by the panel back at the Sky TV studio what he thought of the jersey the team was wearing for the Indigenous Round.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER
Reece Walsh
Yes, it’s harsh to single out someone who’s only just turned 20. But that doesn’t change the fact that he has
struggled being away from them and having to see his young girl grow up on FaceTime, but he did what he needed to do for the Warriors.
Likewise, Harris has spent part of been disappointing this year.
He has scored just two tries in 21 games this year, compared to nine from 16 games in 2021. He has also made less line breaks and try assists and missed more tackles.
WORST GAME OF THE YEAR
Storm 70 Warriors 10
The Warrior have lost six games by at least 40 points this season so there’s plenty of options. However, nothing compares with the 70-10 loss to the Storm in Melbourne on Anzac Day. the last three years away from his family. He also feels the club has been let down.
‘‘We had a number of clubs and different people ask us if there was
At a glance
What: NRL, Warriors v Titans Where, when: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland; 5pm today
Reece Walsh, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jesse Arthars, Viliami Vailea, Edward Kosi, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Shaun Johnson; Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Tohu Harris (c), Euan Aitken, Josh Curran, Bunty Afoa. Interchange: Freddy Lussick, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Eliesa Katoa, Tom Ale. Reserves: Jack Murchie, Daejarn Asi, Jackson Frei, Taniela Otukolo.
Jayden Campbell, Greg Marzhew, Jojo Fifita, Philip Sami, Corey Thompson, Alexander Brimson, Tanah Boyd; Moeaki Fotuaika, Sam McIntyre, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Beau Fermor, Isaac Liu. Interchange: Paul Turner, Herman Ese’ese, Jaimin Jolliffe, Kese Haas. Reserves: Jarrod Wallace, Tony Francis, Toby Sexton, Jamayne Isaako, Sam Lisone.
anything they could do to help the situation or repay us,’’ the Warriors captain said. ‘‘You got excited and thought there was a possibility that they could do something, but at the moment they’re just words and to know we’ve only got nine games in Auckland and have had to take three of our games to different places is extremely disheartening.
‘‘You get feelings of anger, disappointment, a whole lot of different feelings coming to the surface.’’
Harris says it’s like all the sacrifices the Warriors players and staff have made have been forgotten about.
‘‘Going through those three years, it was extremely difficult and the longer it went, the harder it became. But you always held hope that the 2023 season would make it worth it.
‘‘But it’s played out the way it has and you get angry about the different words that were spoken, people coming into our changing rooms and saying things.
‘‘I’m very disappointed in how it’s all transpired.’’
Taking NRL games around New Zealand would have been a way to promote the code again, something that needs to happen if the 18th club is based in New Zealand, but that opportunity appears to be missed.
‘‘New Zealand hadn’t had a game in three seasons, up until that Kiwis v Tonga test,’’ Harris said. ‘‘So they missed out on a lot of development, a lot of exposure for young kids, so it was a way to help grow the game again in New Zealand.’’
‘‘How can everyone come out and say you want to repay the Warriors and then you give us nine home games?’’