Inruin’s Completely Unbiased Thoughts, Questions and Concerns
By the end of 2021 I was pretty much done with Rugby League and The Warriors. I had gone from a diehard fan, watching every game of every round, Rugby League Week and Big-League magazines used to be my bibles before the interweb took over, regularly buying collector cards and merchandise – to being done. It’s difficult to pinpoint where it all changed. I would probably say it started from the 2012 season and the decisions the club had made since. A slow erosion over a decade or so to a point of apathy. Sure, there were blips of hope through those years, but even the Kearney 2018 year of making the finals was a boring style of play and a complete lack of emotional attachment. It was frustrating watching a team, my team, playing like they were, without an apparent pride in the jersey or a willingness to put the effort in and compete for 80 minutes. It just made me angry and I didn’t find it enjoyable. It wasn’t a fun experience anymore. I know the Covid years were tough, but I was at a point where I had better things to invest my time, energy and money in. I still checked the results, watched the odd highlights. Like it or not, agree with it or not, that’s where I was at and unfortunately, I know plenty of people were feeling the same.
So, the end of the 2022 season came and all it really did was reinforce what I had thought. We just avoided our first wooden spoon finishing 15th with the worst defensive record in the competition, an only slightly better attacking record, RTS had left to try Union the season before,
Reece Walsh got ‘home sick’ and was released, Lodge getting kicked out by the ‘Alpha’ owner,
Nathan Brown resigning and
Stacey Jones taking over for the last 11 rounds making comments after games “It was tough. Too many guys just didn't turn up tonight. We didn't have enough players that wanted to play for the jersey” and “We probably had eight or nine blokes on the field that had a poor attitude, and it showed what can happen. You get some blokes that have a dig, but you need 13 blokes on the field to work together”. Damning words from an absolute legend of the club.
Hardly inspiring stuff to get me invested again.
But then something happened. Or rather, a number of things happened.
Our recruitment interested me initially. Charnze coming back home. I wasn’t overly fussed that he left us but seeing how he lifted his game playing for the Raiders you knew we would have a very solid fullback who would compete for everything.
Dylan Walker, another hard-nosed competitor who I thought might fill a centre spot for us.
TMM, versatile but handy for the halves and I had seen what he could do there for the Kiwis and for previous clubs.
Niukore and
Barnett, OK, OK. Strengthening up our forward pack, I get it.
Jackson Ford? Who? Depth is needed I guess. Competitors. I liked it. A lot.
Andrew Mcfadden coming back! I actually rated him as a coach with his first stint with us so I’m happy with that. He’s not going to be the coach? General manager of recruitment, development and pathways? Interesting… He has been here before, knows the club and the country, obviously wants to be here. Junior teams and pathways being reintroduced by the club. Cappy. Good option. I like it. Actually, I like it a lot.
So… who is this guy,
Andrew Webster? The club kept that very quiet, and his signing was pretty much out of the blue for me. Knew he had been here before but I’m going to have to get Mr Google to help me out a bit filling in the blanks. Hmm, seems like he has done the hard yards. Didn’t sign previously because he didn’t feel the time was right… not just going to jump at whatever gig is offered up. Interesting. There is something about this guy that I like, has been here before with Cappy and he wants to be here long term. Hearing him speak about getting our identity, working hard and effort, resilience, accountability… I’m loving that… actions have to back up the words though mate…. Resilience. Hmmm. I don’t like that, I love it. I love it a lot.
Still lots of question marks for me but I’m intrigued enough now to see what happens. Can’t hurt to give him until Bluey’s round, can it? What would I like to see….. effort, commitment, competing for everything, some actual structure to our play would be great. Obviously want the results, but as long as I can see improvement and we look like we are heading in the right direction then its all good. And if we can finish the season competing for maybe a 6th – 10th spot on the ladder, that would be awesome,
IF all that other stuff is there behind it. I mean, the squad is ok but there are obvious issues in a number of positions.
Bluey’s round has come and gone. 4 wins, 2 losses including a magical comeback win away against the Sharks. Still lots to work on, but man, for the most part I like what I’m seeing. Tough run of games coming up. That will be very testing and a proper indication of where we are at.
Anzac Day. The traditional game against Melbourne. Usually an embarrassing thrashing. I’m not expecting a win but I’m hoping we are competitive and make a contest out of it. Jesus, what have I just watched? We almost out Melbourned Melbourne in Melbourne! For years I have been frustrated watching other teams like the Storm run in tries against us with their wingers untouched and when we try it, we are bundled in to touch by two or three players. The Storm are lucky to get away with that game. Shots Fired! I’m convinced now we have something happening this year.
Coming in to Round 15 we are 6th on the table and a positive points differential with the Raiders up next. In Canberra. Crockers 300th game. A first half of absorbing everything Canberra could throw at us. We go in at halftime down 8-6 thanks to an unlucky ricochet try to Jack Wighton. Webster has been talking about resilience all year. How much has that first half taken out of us? Bang, bang, bang, bang. 4 tries in 19 minutes answers everyone’s questions. The Raiders look like George Foreman up against Ali. They threw everything and were out on their feet. We took it all, then showed them how to play. It was a thing of beauty watching a side move from plan A to plan B, right through to plan F and having no answers, being helpless as we clinically put them away. Wow! Just WOW!
We come out of the bye and put on some big scores in 3 out of our next 4 games including a dismantling of the Sharks. The Raiders almost get their revenge the following round after we were in control for the majority of the game. We squeak home in golden point. I wonder how much of an effect that had on the team heading in to the bye. We finish off the season after this in fairly unconvincing fashion but still winning the majority of our games.
We finish the regular season in 4th with 16 wins, 8 losses, positive points differential of 124, exceeding all expectations. We are in the finals, guaranteed two games and one of those at home! Seriously unbelievable stuff. The swell of support is well deserved. We have a team we can be proud of win lose or draw. A team that is showing pride and effort in their performance and are playing to a plan, playing to a structure.
The first final is a disappointing performance. The Panthers are far too strong and clinical. It highlights not only the gap between perhaps the top 2 teams and the rest, but also the influence SJ has on this team. We don’t really fire a shot and to me looks like we revert to individuals doing their own thing rather than trusting in the structure. Still, its good to get a taste of finals football again and we get a second go at it back at Mt Smart.
The poor Knights take the full force of an SJ led Warriors side with one of the best crowd atmospheres seen, or rather heard, for a long time. It felt like Newcastle were struggling after having to play what was basically sudden death football for 10 or 11 games and we were brutally efficient at putting them away. After the last few rounds of the season and the game against the Panthers, questions were being asked about whether we could get back to our style of play from earlier in the season. Answered emphatically, with an explanation mark.
The Broncos are almost a bridge to far. We have our moments, but really, we were out played by a better team. The game for me highlights the issues we have had for the season but have managed to largely overcome through effort, resilience and team-work. We deserve to be in the 8 and playing finals football. We were consistent enough through the season to land in the top 4. There is clearly a gap between the top two teams and the following pack which we need to close up.
An amazing season after years of mediocrity. It wasn’t Warrior ball from days gone past, but I’ll take this new style any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Loved some of the trick shots we did and would love to see them utilised in games more consistently. A number of players have had career best seasons. SJ, Egan, CNK, AFB, and the list goes on. They have already and will receive more well deserved recognition from their peers. The club has found its identity and re-engaged with the community, had record crowd numbers, sold out Mt Smart, sold out merchandise and we have a stable head office with football at the front of mind. A massive turnaround from where the focus seemed to be more on making as many different jerseys as we possibly can. We are selling more jerseys now than ever and the focus has been on getting the club and the team right, the merchandise sales have followed on from that.
Andrew Webster. The right man, at the right time and in the right place. We are so lucky to have secured him and I just love everything about his approach. He doesn’t make excuses. I love that he refuses to blame the refs for any of our results. They are human, they make mistakes. But keeping the focus on what we can control is clearly the best way forward. Player accountability and not excuses. For too long the mantra seemed to be sack the coach or the refs are against us. Webster has in one season single handedly changed the culture. He has removed any player power, and excuses, and the further on we have gone the better we got. Resilience. I fucking love that.
An absolutely incredible year but I guess there are still some concerns and questions heading in to the next season. Some things that I have begun to ponder over the last week or so.
We didn’t beat any of the other top 4 sides this year at all. We are 0 for 5. Depending on the draw next season we may end up playing these teams more than once in the regular season. That’s a very real concern and will obviously affect where we finish on the ladder.
A number of players had career best seasons. Can they lift again and reproduce that? It takes time for that to be bedded in and become the norm. Some need to improve even further. For example, DWZ has been amazing with his finishing but it’s no surprise that the good teams are running attacking plays his way. Can he develop his defensive side of his game to take him to where every player needs to be?
Was this season a one hit wonder or will everyone buy in to the process and structures next season as well? I don’t think Webster will let them slip, but we have already heard him say that in some games players have gone away from what we have been trying to do. Another off season to build on where we are at may just take us another step or two forward.
We are heavily reliant on SJ to organise, kick, create and everything else he does. He managed to play all but 2 games this season which has been brilliant and his form destroyed my preseason thoughts on how he was going to go this year. Two things that have been highlighted this year is 1) when he is out we don’t look good at all and 2) we lack genuine gamebreakers that can create to take the pressure off him. If you look at the Broncos they have Reynolds controlling things and still have Walsh, Stagg, Farnworth, Cobbo as genuine threats with speed and tackle breaking ability. RTS may help address this to a degree.
On RTS, I’m hoping he slots in to centre easily. I think he is professional enough and driven enough to give it a really good shot. He will be having to make more decisions and tackles in defence than he probably has ever had too. Can he draw and pass and create for his winger? Will he provide the extra Xfactor that we need or be more misses than hits? Which side will he play and who will be his centre partner? Pompey? Berry? Leiataua? Montoya?
TMM versus
Metcalf versus someone else? You just need a solid 6 to work with a 90% playmaker half in SJ. For me this is a no brainer and it’s
TMM at 6. He only managed a few games to start the season and to finish it, and for the most part against very high quality opposition. He is strong in defence and our outside backs look better with him there distributing – it’s no surprise to me that Montoya seemed back to his best once he started to get good early ball again. I will be shocked if
TMM isn’t starting at 6 in round 1 next season. Our left edge for the season had a 22% try contribution, the lowest in the NRL which is not surprising given
Metcalf and Walker played 6 for the majority of the season there. It will be interesting to see where
Metcalf fits in to the first grade team next season, if at all. Personally, I think he has all the playing characteristics of a winger or fullback. Not completely convinced his speed is as good as some make out and also not sold on whether he has the ticker.
Our forward pack and bench is an interesting dilemma. Websters selections threw up a lot of WTF moments initially but for the most part our smaller, faster bench proved to be effective. Against bigger teams in slow conditions we did get found out though. I think we lack a genuine propping partner for AFB, he has a lot to carry on his shoulders.
Barnett for me is a good 15, kind of stuck between being too big as a second rower but not really a prop either.
Niukore has had some great games but also been invisible for long periods. Curran brings lots of energy and is too good to be only playing 25 – 30 minutes. Ford has been the big surprise for me this year. Didn’t know anything about him but his motor impresses me. He should be better for the experience this season and he is still quite young. How long can Tohu go on for? I love him but he can’t play 80 minutes every game. Egan is awesome and the service he delivers is a big part of our success this season. I worry that he is getting smacked around too much and I think he needs a 20 minute spell each game. Walker was superb coming off the bench. Our attack just came alive when he came on. I never had him playing off the bench and in the middle of the field but he is indispensable there. Jazz seems to be in favour but I honestly am not sure where he fits now. We definitely miss an impact player that can put defenders on their ass with strong runs and break open the game. So for me a bench of Walker,
Barnett or
Barnett to start and impact forward on bench (not Jazz) , Curran and maybe CHT as a utility to cover Egan for 20 minutes a game is how the bench could be made up.
Which of our local youth are ready to take the next step up and who do they replace in the 17? It’s been truly exciting to see Webster’s next man up philosophy in action. We have gone from a who do we pick type scenario to having good depth in the squad. The Volkman non selection for the Panthers game being the rare exception to the rule.
Who joins us in the next month or so? Or, is who we have now the squad we will be going with?
Is next year our shot at the title? The window is small IMO. SJ only has next season or maybe another assuming he remains injury free. For me, next year is everything or we rebuild over the next 3 – 4 years to challenge for the title some time then.
My last hope is that everyone still gets behind the team and supports them and Webster. There are going to be inevitable bad times or results, whether through injuries, form or whatever. We have the coach we have been seeking for a long time. But he isn’t a miracle worker. Well maybe he is
I really dislike the ‘Up the Wahs’ but it’s certainly taken off and captured the imagination of the public. You can’t deny that in a union dominated country in the middle of the world cup campaign The Warriors are all anyone is talking about. That is amazing in itself. But I guess it’s hardly surprising when….
We are the power
We are the speed
We are the skills
That’s all we’re gonna need
Get up and shout, say it ‘til the end
We are the Warriors 100 per cent!
How can the All blacks compete with that?
