New Zealand Warriors NRL 2018 season preview

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• Author: Mick Gannon
  Feb 28, 2018 04:41 AM
• AAP

Once were Warriors - now Pretenders

Key gains: Adam Blair (Broncos), Tohu Harris (Storm), Blake Green (Manly), Peta Hiku (Warrington), Gerard Beale (Sharks)

Key losses: Kieran Foran (Bulldogs), Ryan Hoffman (Storm), Jacob Lillyman (Knights), Ben Matulino (Tigers), Charlie Gubb (Raiders), Bodene Thompson (Leigh), Manu Vatuvei (Salford, mid-2017)

Overview

Last season was a story of same old, same old for the Warriors. Big off-season hype around some marquee signings, rumours that the coaching staff had been shaken-up and claims that the side were about to set the competition alight. Then the whistle sounded for their season opener and the inevitable disappointment and reality sunk in, leaving disheartened Warriors fans wondering what had changed.

New signing Kieran Foran struggled to get on the paddock, Shaun Johnson suffered a season ending knee injury in July and inconsistent performances, which have become common place over the ditch, left the side slumped at 13^th place on the ladder. Unsurprisingly, the lead up to this season has had much the same flavour.

Coach Stephen Kearney, who is now in his second year at the helm of the rockiest ship in the NRL, has shown the door to 10 players since round 24 last season. The most concerning of these departures is Ryan Hoffman, who signed for the New Zealand side in 2015. Hoffman was viewed as the fix for the Warriors' losing culture, having spent seven years at one of the NRL’s most successful franchises, the Storm. The fact that the club is in no better shape now than when he arrived three years ago suggests that there is a systemic flaw within the Warriors’ set-up, perhaps beyond repair.

Ex-Storm assistant coach Kearney has stuck true to his Melbourne connections in a hope to overhaul the club, bringing in the likes of Adam Blair, Tohu Harris and Blake Green, all graduates from the Craig Bellamy school of discipline.

Despite the new faces, how can we expect anything but more of the same from this Warriors side? Do yourself a favour this season Kiwis- set your expectations low to avoid yet another year of disappointment.

Player to watch: Nathaniel Roache was the Warriors’ 2016 rookie of the year and has been touted as New Zealand’s future number nine. The 21-year-old has made 20 first grade appearances for the club and puts serious pressure on Isaac Luke to retain his position as hooker following an average 2017 for the Kiwi veteran.

Key player: Last year was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s first full season on the field for the Warriors, having spent his debut year on the sidelines nursing a knee injury. It was an underwhelming year for the flying fullback’s lofty standards, despite being the club’s second leading try scorer (10). It shapes as a big season for him as the club’s new captain, as he desperately tries to recapture the form he produced at the Roosters. 

Outside backs rating: 3/10

David Fusitu’a will be the key attacking weapon out wide for the Warriors this year, having now cemented his position in the side. The winger was the club’s leading try scorer last year (12) and is determined to fill the the void left by club legend Manu Vatuvei, who moved to the English Super League at the back end of last year. Wrecking ball Solomone Kata will be sure to bust through more tackles this season however he is defensively frail having missed more tackles than any Warriors back in 2017. Although experienced, new recruits Gerard Beale and Peta Hiku are hardly a handful for opposition defenders and lack the punch needed to break games open.

Forward Pack rating: 6/10

The Kiwis have lost some key cattle up front with Ben Matulino and Jacob Lillyman heading over the ditch, whilst the departures of Bodene Thompson and Hoffman will leave a hole in their backrow. The talented Tohu Harris is a good signing whilst Adam Blair will bring plenty of experience with him to Auckland, however this Warriors pack looks much thinner than it did last season.

Spine rating: 8/10      

The spine of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Fullback), Blake Green (Five-eighth), Shaun Johnson (Halfback) and Isaac Luke (Hooker) is undoubtedly top-eight material. They are the key to unlocking the ample amounts of potential at the club and must stay injury free to ensure they play finals football. Shaun Johnson, who has recovered from his injury lay-off, will relish the opportunity to play alongside a stable half in Green. Veteran hooker Isaac Luke has trimmed down in the off-season as he enters the final year of his contract at the club, in what has been a disappointing two-year stint since his arrival from Souths.