Another Warriors’ season to forget
After their stunning return to the finals last season, fans expected far more than a 13th spot finish from the Warriors in 2019.
Saturday’s NRL win in Canberra will make the off-season a little easier to stomach, but ultimately this year was another Warriors rollercoaster filled with more lows than highs – and the sprinkling of a few refereeing controversies to boot.
Turning point – bye bye SJ There are more reasons you could point to for the Warriors’ dismal season, but to my mind it came before a ball was even kicked.
When the club agreed to part ways with mercurial halfback Shaun Johnson, things were always going to go one of two ways. Either we would all realise that Johnson was indeed the problem, or letting the former golden boot winner go would prove to be a big mistake.
It is looking like the latter. The Warriors gambled and lost.
Electing not to replace Johnson with another marquee playmaker and instead rolling with young guns Adam Keighran and Chanel Harris-Tavita did not work. By the time Kodi Nikorima arrived, it was already too late.
MVP – captain courageous The Warriors had two shining lights in a pretty dark season overall, but the skipper again led the charge.
Ken Maumalo and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were among the NRL’s most consistent performers and dominated the competition’s attacking statistics.
The big winger’s development in particular should give fans hope moving forward, but
Tuivasa-Sheck continues to go from strength to strength.
Off the back of his Dally M Medal winning 2018, TuivasaSheck somehow managed to be better this season. He ended it with a man-of-the-match performance against the Raiders. It is a scary thought wondering where the club would be without him.
Biggest concern – middle third
Despite their back three racking up plenty of metres, the Warriors forwards were dominated throughout the year. The club is cashed up and will hit the offseason on the hunt for a prop to help stiffen up the middle third.
The development of Bunty Afoa and Agnatius Paasi has stalled, while Leeson Ah Mau did not live up to the hype that came over with him from the Dragons.
Expectations for 2020 – more of the same
There are few signs that would suggest next season will be any different to what we just saw.
With virtually the same playing group returning, with the same coach and the same front office staff, it is hard to see the club taking any great leaps forward.
The Warriors have three roster spots to fill before round one next season. Chief executive Cameron George is confident three of the right pieces will be enough to put this side over the top.
Everyone hopes he is right. But there is no denying 2019 has tested the faith.