Truly a lot to be excited about being a Warriors supporter these days. The club looks to be exceptional health with the pathways delivering genuine talent.
What must be considered a considerable omen for most NRL clubs is that the Warriors now are taking average players, or good players in slumps and turning them into standout elite performers. This is what has kept the Panthers and the Storm humming along for years... superstars mixing with ++Value over performers
Case in point - Mitch Barnett, Jackson Ford and Tanah Boyd. It takes them roughly 18 - 24 months to hit that sweet spot and then its only up from there. I put that down to Webster's immense understanding that boring wins titles. Boring means repetitive completion on absolutely EVERYTHING individually and as a team. For a half that may mean, you pass 1000 times a week, same arc, same body position until it is regimented into your being. Now repeat across all the other aspects of your game. Hence 18-24 months to build the PEAK player.
The next group is likely to see Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sam Healey and Morgan Gannon stocks rise as their time drilling each week and then experiencing first grade increases. And that is also not touching on the next tier of young prodigal talent coming through of which is no shortage. The warriors will lose a lot of talent but the ones they keep will be outstanding contributors to this football team.
Something massive has happened the last two weeks. A player by the name of Tanah Boyd has finally gained confidence from discipline regiment and is taking games by the scruff of the neck. Roosters and the knights have suffered because of it and not being able to live with the Warriors. You literally see the souls leaving their bodies and they get systematically crush by the Warriors obsession with boring repetitive ruthlessness.
For those in the know Tanah Boyd has been one of most disappointing NRL talents to emerge out of Queensland in recent years. To say Tanah was highly rated as a junior is an understatement. Wally Lewis said Tanah had the best kicking game he has ever seen a junior player have. He actually rated his kicking game the best in the NRL. Last night Tanah's kicking game wasn't A or even A+... is was S-TIER.
The Warriors have never had a player in the history of the club who can kick like this. Very few clubs have a player who can win a game on the basis of his kicking game. The Warriors have that currently. Yes he lacks polish when kicking goals but that will come. If you think what is potentially on the way with Wil Warbrick, Mellars and hypothetically Bishop Neale and Verhoeven... A elite NRL kicker like this #1.
Last night the Warriors witnessed something they clearly hadn't planned for because they had no choice. When CHT went down, Boyd took over complete control of the kicking and running/attacking game. He also touched the ball and directed the shape more times than I have seen a half do at the Warriors for many years. Honestly it was not at the same level but it did remind me of Jonathan Thurston demanding the ball in hands every single tackle/play and choosing who got it and when, including props and second rowers... causing all sorts of headaches for defensive lines because they couldn't get the exact read on the play.
So now the Warriors have a problem. A Tanah Boyd who can play like this week in/week out... this guy will likely win NRL titles. His team will win way more than they lose. They will play finals regulary.
You have to think with Webster's track record, Tanah will remain at this level and probably has another 20 - 30% growth in him.
A guy like CHT is 100% what you want at your NRL club. He is dedicated, he is team first and he is rock solid. Does most things good without being a leader in any category. I mean this respectfully. CHT is not elite. He will not lead you to titles but he is a competitor who inspires his fellow players to raise their level and he has plenty to contribute to any club. His will to fight is un-coachable.
Tanah Boyd playing like this week in week out will make the Warriors feared. We have never had this before. Is this his new standard now? Have the Warriors clicked he needs to be dominant and hold the ball and run the shape.
I hope the Warriors make a smart choice as does Tanah. The Warriors are 100% the club who can make him great but likely pay him less.
I want him to want to stay here and become 'The guy'.
