General Which player needs to improve the most in 2014?

[tajhay]

Dane Nielsen came to the warriors in 2013 after winning the premiership with Melbourne. His stocks were high. After signing with the warriors, he went onto play State of Origin for Qld, and play in Melbourne's Grand Final match which they won. A noted top defender with the class to put his outside man loose, we anticipated what he could do with our wing men.

He promised a lot. Did he deliver?

I think he did just below par. He rarely looked a threat with the ball in hand. He was solid in defence, but maybe we wanted a bit more?

Of the people that have selected their Dream Team for the warriors, every single person has selected Dane in their team. He and Konrad have been picked in 100% of the sides picked. Is it because there is noone better? Is it because we want to give him another chance? Does he deserve to be a mainstay in the team?

So where did he exactly excel? His 2013 Statistics note that he was in the top 10 for 2 categories we currently measure.

Dane Nielsen ranked 10th in the team for Offloads (12)
Dane Nielsen ranked 9th in the team for Linebreaks (4)

Compare that to Ngani Laumape statistics

Ngani Laumape ranked 6th in the team for Tries Scored (6)
Ngani Laumape ranked 9th in the team for Errors (9)
Ngani Laumape ranked 6th in the team for Linebreaks (8)
Ngani Laumape ranked 9th in the team for Running Metres (1610)

Or Konrad Hurrell.

Key Indicators
Konrad Hurrell ranked 2nd in the team for Tries Scored (13)
Konrad Hurrell ranked 5th in the team for Errors (20)
Konrad Hurrell ranked 9th in the team for Offloads (13)
Konrad Hurrell ranked 2nd in the team for Linebreaks (14)
Konrad Hurrell ranked 2nd in the team for Running Metres (2323)
Konrad Hurrell ranked 4th in the team for Minutes Played (1591)

Even his individual game by game statistics is interesting that it just highlights he was below best. He had few great games in the middle of the season, but a solitary try assist, for a centre?


Here's hoping that 2014 is a great season for Dane uninterrupted by injury. He is my player that needs to improve the most in 2014. Who is yours?

 

[Kendrick]

Well if I could choose one person to play to their potential it would be Shaun Johnson

 

[ToiletDuck]

I actually think it's Konrad Hurrell, which I know won't be popular on here.

For me, he is just far too one-dimensional, and needs to show improvements in a) fitness and b) positional play/defence, if he is going to be the long-term centre we all hope he is. We simply can't survive another season knowing sides can make meters at will down his flank, purely because he's often out of position or defensively not up to it.

 

[matiunz]

Id go for Matulino and Rapira to step up and dominate packs. With the backs we have we could be something special if we were able to get consistant platform laid giving our backs front foot ball.

 

[Freddie Futler]

Which player do I think needs to improve?
I dont believe any individual needs to improve their game, I think they all need to play as a team and not a bunch of individuals.
I do not want a team of champions I want a champion team.
If you have a champion team your mates will cover for any mistakes you make and you will cover for theirs. (we all make mistakes under pressure).
In my view the team comes before individuals although you can still have individual brilliance.
Belief in the team and belief in your mates will make a winning team any day of the week.

 

[mt.wellington]

Kevin Locke - Id like to see him play with some consistency, game in game out. He needs to regain that fire. Hopefully Sammie lights a fire under his ass.

Shaun Johnson - Also needs to be consistent. Needs to take charge and control games like he should or move to 6.

Nathan Friend -. Rather see him do half the tackles he normally does but with 100% more effectiveness.

Simon Mannering - Time to take it up another gear as captain. We see he can lead by example. Now I want to hear it.

Konrad Hurrell - Defence is improved but needs to keep working on it.

Feleti Mateo - again Id like to see him be more consistent. He has at times as much weight on shoulders as the halves. Needs to step up. He's getting great money for it...

 

[Onewarrior]

Feleti Mateo in my opinion, was great in our run to the Grand Final two years ago, needs to show more of that, however I also feel he plays better
when given more time on the paddock, Tomkins will help him I believe.

 

[mt.wellington]

Feleti Mateo in my opinion, was great in our run to the Grand Final two years ago, needs to show more of that, however I also feel he plays better
when given more time on the paddock, Tomkins will help him I believe.

Biggest thing about 2011 and Mateo... Maloney!!!

 

[Lord Gnome of Howick MBE]

Tomkins - he's done nothing so far.

 

[InsideBall]

I'd have to go with Mateo too. He had a very lackluster season this year, made all the more obvious by his flashes of brilliance - when he is on, he is very, very good, and when he is not the difference becomes obvious. He has the ability to break open a game like few others and I think primarily one of the reasons he had a bad year this year is the lack of confidence in there being someone backing up his brilliant offloads. Well, hopefully that will all change with the arrival of Sam. Feleti and Jimmy had an amazing combination, but I think him and Sam could even surpass that. If that combo works, it has the potential to be absolotely devastating.

The good news is, apparently one of the other reason he was a bit off last year has been dealt with in that knee surgery he had off season:

https://www.sportal.com.au/league/n...r-file---wednesday/1nagwrf8d576c13r4cxajpo5w2

So, here's hoping he has a huge year in 2014 - it will go a long way towards helping this team succeed.

 

[lolcaeks]

i dont wanna ruin the fun

but I would like to see the team get better as a single entity (as I feel they all need to improve)

• better under pressure
• better defensive unit
• better concentration levels.

But if it is one player, its Shaun Johnson in particular his kicking game and organization skills are the things I would like to see improve

 

[Marshthedarsh]

The good news is, apparently one of the other reason he was a bit off last year has been dealt with in that knee surgery he had off season:

https://www.sportal.com.au/league/n...r-file---wednesday/1nagwrf8d576c13r4cxajpo5w2

It always sounds so horrible, "cleaning out your knee" - like they slice you open and scrape the insides out... *shudder*

 

[cro.warrior]

Shaun Johnson needs to improve a lot!!

 

[Jah]

Everyone need to play better than last year time to shine .All come's down to our forwards laying the platform we don't do that backs are screwed

 

[Sup42]

Tomkins and Johnson

Two players that hold the keys

They had average world cups by their ( in Johnson's case potential , Tomkins case club form V international form ).

I want to see from Tomkins the Wigan form , not the England form........so I want to see him dominate the Warriors campaign in the same way he does Wigan.

Johnson, go back to trying those long kicks he put on at the start of last year , I don't care if they're 40/20's as such , as long as they are territory finders.

I'm looking forward to not seeing Shaun Johnson over adulated by sky reporters. Put the kid back in the noobs profiles and talk to Mannering and Tomkins...the snrs

 

[Sebastian]

Not so much players to improve but to come of age. The Lousi brothers could be the difference between us making the top eight. Or not.

We need big impact forwards. If these brothers ever wake up and truly believe in themselves. Our prayers could be answered. Such big frames. So athletic. Just need to be confident on the inside. Show aggression on the outside.

So for mine Lousi brothers. Closely followed by Shaun. (Option taking). Then Hurrell. (Decision making in defence).

 

[surfin]

Tomkins - he's done nothing so far.

Not true, he's leading the stats in most interviews in a 48 hour period.

 

[Harlz]

Shaun Johnson!

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Shaun Johnson

or Team Culture

 

[Harlz]

Shaun Johnson

or Team Culture

Totally agree with u mate, get like manly or go home. Manly are the new storm. Difference between us n them right now is they work HARD every game not 7/24 games, if I were the warriors owners id defs throw 1.75 mill at either hasler or toovey they are the best right now followed by bellyache n bennett