Warning signs for the Warriors
The early season woes of the Wellington Phoenix do not bode well for the Warriors. Just six games into the new A-League season, the Phoenix are showing signs that a second campaign stuck across the Tasman is a bridge too far.
The Phoenix share bottom spot on the ladder, having lost four of their six games, and there have been scant indications that coach Ufuk Talay and his band of workmanlike players can make major improvements in the coming months.
Instead, there are alarms blaring to indicate a second dose of playing top-level sport during a worldwide pandemic and all that encompasses is taking a major toll. Ill-discipline has wounded the side in recent weeks, the limited ability of a thin squad hurt by injuries has been exposed and Talay has come under fire for inflexibility over tactics.
Last season, in unprecedented circumstances, a galvanised squad may have been able to develop a team spirit with a ‘backs against the wall’ mentality. But that can only last for so long.
That’s worrying for new Warriors coach Nathan Brown and his troops as they prepare in Australia for the start of their campaign on March 13.
Winger Ken Maumalo, who returned home during last year’s campaign when it became clear that families without Australian connections wouldn’t be able to make it over, acknowledged last week the situation is still a strain for the organisation. And that’s just during pre-season training.
On top of that, the players know their captain and best player is leaving at the end of the season.
The parallels between the Nix and New Zealand’s only NRL side are many.
Both clubs rightly received hearty plaudits for the efforts last season when they became marooned across the Tasman due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
Little was expected from the
Phoenix in Talay’s first season in charge after Mark Rudan flew the coop and several high-profile players also departed.
Yet Talay coaxed a side of lesserlights to the playoffs, despite losing the advantage of playing half their games at home and being handed the onerous disadvantage of having to spend months in Australia away from family and friends.
The Warriors made a coaching change mid-season, which was heavily criticised given the circumstances Stephen Kearney was handed to work with, but that rapidly faded as Todd Payten got a string of stirring displays from a side chiefly featuring unheralded players.
Neither franchise’s management spend heavily (even allowing for the salary cap) and star power is rarely seen – ensuring the expectations of fans is usually one of self-mocking optimism.
The honeymoon period for Talay is well over after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Central Coast Mariners.
Brown’s period of grace could be a short one – but the season may be lengthy and painful.