I guess we could make big sweeping changes but at the same time. A few
I know whilst the first didnt have as much playing time in his last year and Marata was suspended four(?) times during the year as well, but we are missing the hard running of Curran and Niukore. Tohu having to do more hard carrying on attack rather than playmaking, the ball being deep at centre to wing. A lot of side to side instead of straight forward. Last week was the first seven day turnaround of four i think, so im confident considering the time we have to practise.
We will get there though, there's class across the team and players dont generally go suddenly from career best form to needing to suddenly retire within six months either.
What i will say is the gameplan, grounding them down is not being implemented with any foundation as we're not completing well enough, or were being penalised or releasing the pressure through a sequential six again. That discipline and handling can be fixed. Its not systemic, theyve only lost three games in a row, not five, seven or ten.
I saw
Te Maire Martin take a bit more involvement over the weekend, not enough control but hopefully we see more and more in coming weeks to put to rest any notion that he isnt dynamic enough to help the side score points. We shall see though ive been wrong more times than im right haha. It was a damn shame to lose Metcalf so early in the season, he was looking sprightly and that shift in pace which puts him past defenders.
The bench does need a shakeup, see lots of teams do it but why carry the extra player in these situations if not to play. Spread the load a bit more.
And finally ownership, ensuring that the players and coaches take ownership of sorting it out and not just waiting for it to happen. I have faith that these guys will take ownership.
Imagine this scenario, after a period of close losses the warriors regrouped, welcomed back niukore and some of the troops before the late return of Luke Metclaf who bursts forward into superstar status with a heroic performance to help the Warriors win the grand final!