A
fter 12 years of dithering around, the NZ
Warriors are finally a menace in the Australian rugby league competition.
The side has come alive under new coach Nathan Brown, four wins from eight matches putting them in the top eight.
Brown, a flamboyant guy, has instilled pride and a hard work ethic into the players, and the feeling of giving up, which was so evident in past sides, has gone. We now have a team, even when they are down, fighting on the paddock for the whole 80 minutes.
Sure there are tough matches ahead, but Brown is so confident that his side will spring a number of surprise wins. With the Covid barrier between New Zealand and Australia broken, the Warriors will be back at Mt Smart Stadium later in the season. Just imagine the sell-out crowds.
And what about the NRL’s enthusiasm for having another New Zealand side in the competition next year, taking it to 18 teams? League boss Andrew Abdo said, “Having two teams from New Zealand creates a tribalism and a new rivalry in New Zealand.”
With league very strong in the Wellington area, it’s likely that the new side will be formed there.
What about All Black and Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara, who is about to switch to league? Currently playing with the Red Hurricanes in Japan, where his contract ends next month, he’s now having discussions with the Sydney City Roosters.
Then you have former All Black Sonny Bill Williams, with former Australian league greats brothers Matthew and Andrew Johns, linking up to coach Samoa ahead of this year’s Rugby League World
Cup in Great Britain. The incredible point here is that all three want to do it for not a cent. They have the goal of beating Australia in two years. Ding dong battle
It was a real battle at Ahipara on Friday night with Awanui just pipping Te Rarawa 25-24. It was a real ding dong affair in front of a large, vocal crowd that had Awanui rattled.
“It was our discipline and composure that got us there,” Awanui coach Pops Arona