Cleary calls for more flair from Warriors
https://www.stuff.co.nz/4063124a1823.html
For years the Warriors have been criticised for being too adventurous in their rugby league. Now their coach is blaming himself for making them too structured.
Coach Ivan Cleary says the Warriors have been guilty of being too structured and waiting for things to happen in their last two National Rugby League matches and hopes they can show more flair against the Wests Tigers in Auckland on Sunday.
He says the over-patterned strategy played a part in the team's defeat to the Cronulla Sharks in an error-ridden match two weeks ago and a loss to the Newcastle Knights last Saturday after leading by 12 points with 13 minutes to play.
"In the last couple of weeks we've been relying too much on structure, and that's my fault," he said.
"It certainly wasn't the intention but it's been lost in translation there somewhere. Maybe because we had a good start to the year we thought that if we just took care of the basics - and we did talk about it a bit - the rest would take care of itself.
"It's probably been a bit of a lesson for us - on the weekend we just played survival mode and they were just climbing all over us and in the end fortune favoured the brave and they got up."
A lack of adventure had also resulted in a less than successful kicking game and a high defensive workload.
"We made something like 420 tackles against the Sharks... and we've probably only got ourselves to blame because of the way we've played. It's a long enough season as it is and if you're going to do that every week it becomes longer," he said.
"I think the kicking game's probably been a result of some other things as well. If you're not moving the defence around enough, the kicking is tough."
The losses have prompted Cleary to drop halfback Grant Rovelli, who has played the past 23 games for the Warriors, and replace him with five-eighth Michael Witt, who returns from suspension this week.
"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was going to be successful but I just think we just need a little bit of a change, that's all," Cleary said.
"It's a long year and we've worked hard to get a little bit of depth. I guess in the back of my mind I've always wanted to look at this half and five-eighth combination (Witt and Jerome Ropati) and now is as good a time as any to try it."
Though he expected Rovelli to return later this season, Cleary said it was also up to the team not to put too much pressure on the halves.
"I think a lot of halves have gone backwards in the game where too much has been put on them too early and I suppose Michael Witt might be an example of that at past clubs."
Also out of the team this week is captain Steven Price, who has been selected for the Queensland State of Origin team.
The Warriors had a good record last season in matches Price missed due to Origin commitments but Cleary said the skipper would be missed.
"He's a huge loss. You can't say he's not," he said.
"But sometimes you can get a little bit comfortable when you've got a leader like Pricey who's playing so well, sometimes it's just easier to hang in his wake a little bit.
"Him not being there means everyone else has got to step up that little bit more and maybe that's a positive for us."
