For me there are some massive positives out of the last three games. It's almost like the best result for us was the one in Vegas though. The nature and size of the defeat caused such a massive reaction and reflection that I just don't think a scrappy 22-16 loss would have done. I have very mixed feelings with where we are currently sitting though. On the one hand, obviously all Warriors fans would have been over the moon if they were told after five round we would be 3/4 and on 8 points. I legitimately could see us going winless for the first six rounds and we very much could have had it not been for that harsh shock of round one and a bit of luck going our way for a change. The other piece for me is the nature of our wins and the fairly obvious limitations in some of our play. I think the last three results have papered over the cracks somewhat. Are we building and can improve from here or is what we are seeing currently about where our level is. The pleasing aspect is that we fought hard for our wins, something we didn't really see for a large number of games last season.
My quick take on the players
CNK - looks to me like an old race horse trying to get up for one last big race. The last couple of games he has been great, even bringing back a step and elusiveness with his running. Can he maintain this form for the season?
TT - hasn't put a foot wrong IMO. Small but has that something about him that surely makes him hard to leave out of the team now.
Ali - I hope he stays injury free. Showing how good he can be and the big bit is I think he believes it now too.
Pompey - Mr Dependable. Gets some poor comments at times on here which I don't think he deserves.
RTS - wing is the best place for him for the team and looks more at home there than he did all of last season.
CHT - close to the player of the first 4 rounds. Is probably playing close to his ceiling and carrying the halves combo IMO
LM - is delivering basically what he did at 6 previously. I don't see this changing in any great hurry. We will get the odd very good game and the in-between ones will be average at best.
The forward pack is what has been keeping us in games and putting us in positions to be able to compete and win.
JFH - has been enormous for us. His runs don't have the same impact as
AFB but his all round game is much better. Has added much needed starch to our defense.
Egan - seems to have taken on the main responsibility in the spine and is having season leading form. I worry about not spelling him for a period in games, though that may come.
Barney - continues on from last season. No nonsense and has a very good partner in crime now too.
Capewell and
Niukore - our weakest part of the team IMO with the least amount of upside. A bit like
CNK but without getting up for their last race. If they can hit somewhere near their best consistently then all good, but I don't know that they can.
Clark - has to be 13 and has to be leading the buy of the season award. With our two props provides a formidable triumvirate that not many teams can match.
Ford - found his niche with high energy 30-40 minutes off the bench. Has dropped the errors and penalties too
Leka - nothing more I can say that hasn't been already. Needs at least 30 minutes a game and should be pushing for a lot more on the edge by mid season
Demetric - a bit overshadowed by
Leka at the minute but still strong. Again, needs at least 30 minutes per game.
Those are the main ones who have played most of the games. I think our forward pack makes us competitive for most games, our outside backs are solid enough but lacking a little in pace, our halves just haven't clicked much yet and that may well come, particularly against the lower teams - they are who we are going with though. They need to engage the line more and straighten up the attack in the opposition 20. The highlight for me so far has been the introduction of
JFH and
Clark to the team as well as
Ali,
Leka,
Demetric,
TT showing that there is progression and performance coming up from cup which can only inspire the rest of our youth.
The next two games are going to give us a very good indication of where we are at against two potentially top 4 sides. I hope we can build from here but I can't help but feel we are close to playing to our potential now. I think we are fighting it out for that 6-10 spot currently. That's a big improvement on 2024.