From TVNZ
Turn It Up: Round One
Mar 13, 2006
By Dale Budge
Same story, different season. It appeared that way at least as the Warriors slid to an opening round defeat to Melbourne, citing lapses of concentration as the reason for the loss.
That, to me, is a worrying sign given that the same problems plagued the side for the entire 2005 season.
As every other NRL team copped a good old fashioned hiding at least once during the season, the Warriors were competitive in just about every match but too frequently came out on the wrong side when the fulltime siren sounded.
Coach Ivan Cleary and skipper Steve Price both said they thought the side was close to the mark but just dropped off at crucial times and while I completely agree with them on those sentiments, I worry that fixing the problem might not be as easy as they think however.
Players need to take responsibility for that themselves and it didn't happen at all in 2005.
I don't want to sound like I am bagging coach Cleary because I think he has a smart footballing brain and will form a top coaching partnership with assistant coach John Ackland but I did find a couple of his team selections bizarre.
Aside from playing Sione Faumuina at five-eighth, which I have already spoken about in the pre-season, the omission of winger Todd Byrne and dropping of Wairangi Koopu back to the bench astounded me given that the pair were the Warriors most consistent performers in 2005.
They paid the price of having a make-shift winger in place of an everyday player when Tony Martin - usually a centre - was caught out on defence in allowing the opening try to Greg Inglis.
He found life difficult a couple of other times during the game and will definitely be targeted by opposition coaches if he remains out wide.
Martin's goal-kicking keeps him in the side but I would much rather see him playing at centre.
That would open up a spot for last season's top try-scorer Byrne on the wing.
It would be hard on Jerome Ropati, who produced a strong game on Sunday, but I think his versatility could be better suited to the bench.
Ropati can play almost any back-line position, and while I would like to see him handed a position and left there for the season, he may be the best option coach Cleary has off the bench.
He covers injuries but would ideally be used as an option at dummy-half much like Grant Rovelli was used on the weekend.
Rovelli showed me enough in the time he was on the paddock that there is plenty of talent there to work with and I hope he is given a crack at stand-off alongside Nathan Fien.
Faumuina, who may find himself in judiciary trouble when charges are listed later on Monday, could well end up being out of contention for Saturday's clash with Parramatta in Hamilton.
Either way I would like to see him start in the lock position and pop up at five-eighth for periods on attack.
Koopu has to start in the pack - he is an 80 minute player and a workhorse defensively - and I would like to see Awen Guttenbeil come off the bench.
The veteran second-rower made some real impact when he came on after 20 minutes at times last year and would provide the side with the leadership qualities needed when the likes of Ruben Wiki and Steve Price take breaks.
Dale's side for Parramatta: 1. Brent Webb, 2. Todd Byrne, 3. Tony Martin, 4. Clinton Toopi, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Grant Rovelli, 7. Nathan Fien, 8. Ruben Wiki, 9. Lance Hohaia, 10. Steve Price (capt), 11. Louis Anderson, 12. Wairangi Koopu, 13. Sione Faumuina. Interchange: Evarn Tuimavave, Awen Guttenbeil, Michael Luck, Jerome Ropati.
If Faumuina is suspended, then I'd give big George Tuakura a crack in first grade.
Turn It Up: Round One
Mar 13, 2006
By Dale Budge
Same story, different season. It appeared that way at least as the Warriors slid to an opening round defeat to Melbourne, citing lapses of concentration as the reason for the loss.
That, to me, is a worrying sign given that the same problems plagued the side for the entire 2005 season.
As every other NRL team copped a good old fashioned hiding at least once during the season, the Warriors were competitive in just about every match but too frequently came out on the wrong side when the fulltime siren sounded.
Coach Ivan Cleary and skipper Steve Price both said they thought the side was close to the mark but just dropped off at crucial times and while I completely agree with them on those sentiments, I worry that fixing the problem might not be as easy as they think however.
Players need to take responsibility for that themselves and it didn't happen at all in 2005.
I don't want to sound like I am bagging coach Cleary because I think he has a smart footballing brain and will form a top coaching partnership with assistant coach John Ackland but I did find a couple of his team selections bizarre.
Aside from playing Sione Faumuina at five-eighth, which I have already spoken about in the pre-season, the omission of winger Todd Byrne and dropping of Wairangi Koopu back to the bench astounded me given that the pair were the Warriors most consistent performers in 2005.
They paid the price of having a make-shift winger in place of an everyday player when Tony Martin - usually a centre - was caught out on defence in allowing the opening try to Greg Inglis.
He found life difficult a couple of other times during the game and will definitely be targeted by opposition coaches if he remains out wide.
Martin's goal-kicking keeps him in the side but I would much rather see him playing at centre.
That would open up a spot for last season's top try-scorer Byrne on the wing.
It would be hard on Jerome Ropati, who produced a strong game on Sunday, but I think his versatility could be better suited to the bench.
Ropati can play almost any back-line position, and while I would like to see him handed a position and left there for the season, he may be the best option coach Cleary has off the bench.
He covers injuries but would ideally be used as an option at dummy-half much like Grant Rovelli was used on the weekend.
Rovelli showed me enough in the time he was on the paddock that there is plenty of talent there to work with and I hope he is given a crack at stand-off alongside Nathan Fien.
Faumuina, who may find himself in judiciary trouble when charges are listed later on Monday, could well end up being out of contention for Saturday's clash with Parramatta in Hamilton.
Either way I would like to see him start in the lock position and pop up at five-eighth for periods on attack.
Koopu has to start in the pack - he is an 80 minute player and a workhorse defensively - and I would like to see Awen Guttenbeil come off the bench.
The veteran second-rower made some real impact when he came on after 20 minutes at times last year and would provide the side with the leadership qualities needed when the likes of Ruben Wiki and Steve Price take breaks.
Dale's side for Parramatta: 1. Brent Webb, 2. Todd Byrne, 3. Tony Martin, 4. Clinton Toopi, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Grant Rovelli, 7. Nathan Fien, 8. Ruben Wiki, 9. Lance Hohaia, 10. Steve Price (capt), 11. Louis Anderson, 12. Wairangi Koopu, 13. Sione Faumuina. Interchange: Evarn Tuimavave, Awen Guttenbeil, Michael Luck, Jerome Ropati.
If Faumuina is suspended, then I'd give big George Tuakura a crack in first grade.
