NRL: NZ Warriors keep steady ship against Brisbane Broncos, despite record-equalling defeat
25/06/2024NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster has refrained from wielding the axe on his embarrassed team, as they try to bounce back from a record-equalling defeat to face Brisbane Broncos at soldout Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
The Auckland NRL side were ambushed by bottom-of-the-table Gold Coast Titans, as they stumbled to a 66-6 loss that has jeopardised their hopes of returning to the playoffs.
Webster has responded by naming a line-up featuring potentially five changes from last week.
"After the game, I got asked what would I do for selection this week," he reflected. "If I kept every single player accountable, we'd have a whole new 17, because I don't think one player was happy with their performance on the weekend - some were a lot worse than others.
"I don't think there was one player proud of what they produced. There were some tough conversations and some hard vision they had to watch back."
Webster warned there would be natural changes, with winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returning from suspension, and State-of-Origin forwards Kurt Capewell and Mitch Barnett also named to back up three days later. Injured half Shaun Johnson has been ruled out at least a month.
Centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, half Te Maire Martin and second-rower Maratah Niukore were all placed on report for dangerous tackles against the Titans, but all were punishable by fines.
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"If there's anyone I don't feel formwise, I'm happy to make that decision," said Webster. "Right now, I think there will be natural changes anyway."
Chanel Harris-Tavita returns to the starting side to replace Johnson, with back-up hooker Freddy Lussick added to the interchange.
Webster admits the result represents the lowest point of his young head-coaching career so far.
"We haven't dished that up... we haven't even looked like dishing that up the whole time," he said. "I knew one day in my career this moment would come, unless I'm one of the greatest coaches of alltime, like Craig Bellamy.
"He's probably never faced a day like that, but I think every coach does and I want to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"It was hard to watch and hard to take, but it's also not about me. It's not about how I feel, my job is to make the players better and I have to take ownership around that."
Last year's beaten finalists, Brisbane sit three points ahead of the Warriors on the competition table, just inside the top-eight playoff contenders.
Warriors: 1-Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2-Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7-Te Maire Martin, 8-Addin Fonua-Blake, 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Jackson Ford, 11-Marata Niukore, 12-Mitch Barnett, 13-Tohua Harris
Interchange: 14-Freddy Lussick, 15-Dylan Walker, 16-Jazz Tevaga, 17-Kurt Capewell, 18-Tom Ale, 20-Jacob Laban, 21-Ed Kosi, 22-Taine Tuaupiki, 23-Moala Graham-Taufa
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'Natural changes': Warriors keep steady ship against Broncos, despite record defeat
Coach Andrew Webster has refrained from wielding the axe on his embarrassed team.
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