Watchout for the Warriors

[stevesonthebay]

I have been listening to the Wahs weekly on NRL fantasy and I must say they love the Wahs. So it got me thinking whats happening with the Warriors, a team with so much potential but they keep missing out. With this year not making the top 8.

You could liken the Warriors to the Broncos for potential talent within their catchment. If you remember the Broncos when they first came in, when they were a one team State they dominated. They had talent everywhere. But even today you see how they can lose players and produce others like Haas, Carrigan, Tino and Fafita. Their excess players become stars of other clubs like Deardon, Isaako and Ben Hunt.

But the Warriors are the same and in fact have a bigger talent pool and yet have not achieved the same level of success. That got me thinking how far off are they from that success because when it happens I think we are going to see a domination like we have not seen for some time over the NRL by a team.

If you use the same logic as the Broncos and Panthers and to some extent the Storm as they also have access to Qld talent and their own backyard. Those clubs with big talent pools who are dominating then the Warriors should be the next big thing. Its only a matter of getting the systems and standards in place.

I think thre getting close and Webster has done a great job in stalling some structure and discipline. Recruiting more NRL level players like Barnett, Capewell and now Fisher Harris also helps. When you look at their sides they have talent galore. Even their juniors are the next AFB, Shrek and Johnson coming along. They have a whole nation to tap into as well as many established Kiwis that are playing for oher sides who may want to come back home.

Thank God for the salary cap as I think its going to be needed when the Warriors get their act together and begin to dominate.

 

[Raysie]

They been saying that for 30 years mate.

 

[BELMORE]

When they stop whinging maybe they will see success (they will never stop whinging)

 

[Dogzof95]

They under achieved this year, they had a top 4 roster.

 

[Moey91]

Yawn… hope they never win a title. Praising webster for wahs success, he slotted into a club that already had a first grade team.

Hope we get revenge on them injuring Mann

 

[Moedogg]

Fuck them. They were everyone's 2nd team including mine until I discovered their forum....Wahs fans hate the dogs so fuck them and hope they never win a title.

 

[Alan79]

They habitually have issues with backing up good years. I don't know if it's an ingrained thing with kiwi sports in general or just the club. But the warrior's tend to only have isolated periods when they seem driven. At times they've recruited outside talent that has provided that leadership for a few seasons. I recall a few good seasons after they picked up Steve Price and the Canberra forward who's name I can't recall in the one year (edit possibly Ruben Wiki). They bought through a lot of good youngsters together, had two good seasons culminating in a GF loss. Then they dropped off again. Might've been when Cleary was coaching there.

But sustained success tends to be beyond the club. If they ever manage to ingrain the right attitude I think they could have a golden era. But how they get that attitude right long term is anyone's guess. I know enough kiwis to think they're generally pretty laid back. But the Panthers have maintained their success through good juniors and a great attitude. Ciraldo has bought that attitude to our club and Webster got a good year from them last year. So they've got the template there. Maybe they need to implement it from their Jersey Flegg roster and ensure that every player they bring through for the next 5 years knows that one good year doesn't give them two years of coasting.

 

[ASSASSIN]

Yeah, I'll watch them miss the 8 again next year.

 

[B-Train]

I'd love to see the Warriors be a contender but they're a long way off despite all of their junior talent.

 

[Benno Bulldog]

Nzed need another team so that they might stop undermining each other…

 

[Raysie]

We're also talking about a club that willingly let Ivan Cleary and a future immortal leave because they didn't see Ivan winning a Premiership...

 

[Kelpie03]

They habitually have issues with backing up good years. I don't know if it's an ingrained thing with kiwi sports in general or just the club. But the warrior's tend to only have isolated periods when they seem driven. At times they've recruited outside talent that has provided that leadership for a few seasons. I recall a few good seasons after they picked up Steve Price and the Canberra forward who's name I can't recall in the one year (edit possibly Ruben Wiki). They bought through a lot of good youngsters together, had two good seasons culminating in a GF loss. Then they dropped off again. Might've been when Cleary was coaching there.

But sustained success tends to be beyond the club. If they ever manage to ingrain the right attitude I think they could have a golden era. But how they get that attitude right long term is anyone's guess. I know enough kiwis to think they're generally pretty laid back. But the Panthers have maintained their success through good juniors and a great attitude. Ciraldo has bought that attitude to our club and Webster got a good year from them last year. So they've got the template there. Maybe they need to implement it from their Jersey Flegg roster and ensure that every player they bring through for the next 5 years knows that one good year doesn't give them two years of coasting.

It seems that Islanders once they achieve a bit of succes they get lazy, They have tried to address the problem by introducing 1 or 2 "whites" from Australia to lead the way, but probably not enough.

 

[Chris Harding]

Union is the big thing over there, and every kid wants to be an All Black .
NRL is a poor second.

They'd have more luck recruiting expats living in Australia, but most of them will want to play for the Storm or Brisbane.

 

[Bulldog Brower]

It's interesting that in the 2024 RLPA Players' Dream Team, Addin Fonua-Blake and Mitch Barnett were named as props.
With all the discussion about the Dogs needing props, the Warriors with two of the best props in the comp couldn't make the finals.
I think with both, or even one of those two props, we would have made the top 4.

 

[BELMORE]

It's interesting that in the 2024 RLPA Players' Dream Team, Addin Fonua-Blake and Mitch Barnett were named as props.
With all the discussion about the Dogs needing props, the Warriors with two of the best props in the comp couldn't make the finals.
I think with both, or even one of those two props, we would have made the top 4.

AFB is glitter and sparkles… he would go good next to Barnett though, that blokes a battler. Hope he gets homesick in the off-season

 

[Moedogg]

I think they're at their best when they play that island style of football which we saw in 2002 when they finished first. A lot of ad-lib play and off loads but it suits the skills that they grew up with and its hard to defend against.

 

[Brendan7]

They under achieved this year, they had a top 4 roster.

No they didn’t. Most overrated roster in the comp. Brisbane did they didn’t. Take out AFB who is their best player and no JFH isn’t on AFB’s level.

They relied on the one season in history Shaun Johnson didn’t break down to do anything he’s not there anymore. Bottom 6 roster

 

[Brendan7]

Yeah, I'll watch them miss the 8 again next year.

Lock it in Eddie. Honestly take Johnson out who puts their points on?