WARRIORS
HOW THEY HAVE FARED
The Warriors claimed a tough 14-13 win over the Roosters on Sunday to give them their first genuine big scalp of the season. New coach Stephen Kearney has overseen his side steadily build into 2017, with Kieran Foran’s arrival in round 5 sparking the Warriors after an early slump in form.
LEADING LIGHT
As ever, Simon Mannering leads the way for the Warriors in typically tireless fashion. Running for 110 metres and averaging 40 tackles per game, the workhorse lock has been the pick of the pack.
Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is getting better every week. After missing most of his first season with the Warriors through a serious knee injury, Tuivasa-Sheck continues to improve and had just about his best game in the win over the Roosters.
NEEDS TO LIFT
Shaun Johnson has had a decent start to 2017, but the Warriors need more than decent from their superstar halfback. Foran’s presence has taken some of the pressure off Johnson, but if the Kiwi outfit is to truly launch from pretenders to contenders then he needs to be regularly hitting the kind of form that saw him with the Golden Boot as the world’s best player in 2014. The signs are there — Johnson showed what his combination with Foran can produce when scored a try and laid on three others in the round 5 win over Gold Coast. More of those dominant performances can catapult the Warriors up the ladder.
Foran’s renewal has been huge for the Kiwi club. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
NEW BLOOD
Foran was the big “in” for the Warriors in the off-season and he’s delivered in big fashion, scoring a try in a man-of-the-match performance on club debut against the Titans, and steering the side to victory the following week against the Eels. The more time he can get to work with Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck and hooker Issac Luke, the better the Warriors will be.
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Tui Lolohea was dropped to reserve grade after a disappointing start to the season, but there is life in the livewire yet. He scored a double in a win over North Sydney last weekend and more good NSW Cup form could catapult him back into the NRL.
REPORT CARD
C+: Four wins from nine is barely a pass, but Kearney appears to be making his mark on the Warriors. Their defence the past two matches — in Sunday’s win over the Roosters, after a narrow loss to the Storm — has been excellent, and if they can continue to build their attack more wins will come.
— Dominic Burke
HOW THEY HAVE FARED
The Warriors claimed a tough 14-13 win over the Roosters on Sunday to give them their first genuine big scalp of the season. New coach Stephen Kearney has overseen his side steadily build into 2017, with Kieran Foran’s arrival in round 5 sparking the Warriors after an early slump in form.
LEADING LIGHT
As ever, Simon Mannering leads the way for the Warriors in typically tireless fashion. Running for 110 metres and averaging 40 tackles per game, the workhorse lock has been the pick of the pack.
Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is getting better every week. After missing most of his first season with the Warriors through a serious knee injury, Tuivasa-Sheck continues to improve and had just about his best game in the win over the Roosters.
NEEDS TO LIFT
Shaun Johnson has had a decent start to 2017, but the Warriors need more than decent from their superstar halfback. Foran’s presence has taken some of the pressure off Johnson, but if the Kiwi outfit is to truly launch from pretenders to contenders then he needs to be regularly hitting the kind of form that saw him with the Golden Boot as the world’s best player in 2014. The signs are there — Johnson showed what his combination with Foran can produce when scored a try and laid on three others in the round 5 win over Gold Coast. More of those dominant performances can catapult the Warriors up the ladder.
Foran’s renewal has been huge for the Kiwi club. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
NEW BLOOD
Foran was the big “in” for the Warriors in the off-season and he’s delivered in big fashion, scoring a try in a man-of-the-match performance on club debut against the Titans, and steering the side to victory the following week against the Eels. The more time he can get to work with Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck and hooker Issac Luke, the better the Warriors will be.
WHO’S LURKING ON THE EDGE?
Tui Lolohea was dropped to reserve grade after a disappointing start to the season, but there is life in the livewire yet. He scored a double in a win over North Sydney last weekend and more good NSW Cup form could catapult him back into the NRL.
REPORT CARD
C+: Four wins from nine is barely a pass, but Kearney appears to be making his mark on the Warriors. Their defence the past two matches — in Sunday’s win over the Roosters, after a narrow loss to the Storm — has been excellent, and if they can continue to build their attack more wins will come.
— Dominic Burke