NZ Warriors Round 11 Review: Warriors lack attack against Broncos defensive masterclass

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After winning back to back games across the Tasman, the Warriors made their return to Mount Smart Stadium to face a Brisbane Broncos side buoyed from defeating the reigning premiers in Round 10.
With both sides sitting just outside of the top eight they were equally desperate to get the win, and it showed in the low scoring match where defence was the name of the game with the Broncos sneaking home with an 8-2 win.

Im in two minds with this match, on the one hand, the Warriors had plenty of chances to win this match and did only let one try in, but on the other, the Broncos didn't offer too much on attack and the Warriors barely made a dent in their defensive line.

Not having Agnatius Paasi for the match was a huge loss and against a large Broncos pack the Warriors needed another forward that could march them up the field and Adam Blair's attacking skill wasn't a suitable replacement.
The loss of Jazz Tevaga impacted the Warriors game substantially, he runs hard for a small forward, and his defence in the middle of the park saves the Warriors on many occasions if he wasn't injured he may very well have stopped Anthony Milford's match-winning try.

It was yet another game that the Warriors should have won this year and they need to start turning this near misses into wins if they are to get themselves into the top eight.
It was a frustrating game, but it wasn't all horrible, which leads me to my positives from the match.

Besides one slip up the Warriors goal line defence was strong again, holding out the Broncos when they were camped in the Warriors red zone.
With some tough encounters coming up in the next few rounds the Warriors will need to make sure that goal line defensive line stays solid.

I liked the commitment the majority of the Warriors showed in this match, with the game going down to the wire and with the errors they were making they didn't give up.
If they continue to play with that attitude while fine-tuning the basic fundamentals, they may still have a chance to turn this season around.

That was all I really had for my positives, which leads me to my negatives.

The lack of an attacking threat was a huge concern for me, the Warriors came into Round 11, leading the NRL in line breaks and did not get a single one in this match.
Yes, the Broncos defensive was massive, but it appeared to shellshock the Warriors as they resorted to one out running, followed by throwing the ball out to one edge and then kicking to the opposite corner on the last or pushing a grubber through.
The Warriors needed to earn the right to test the edges by dominating up the middle, and they failed to do that, Blake Green's last tackle options left a lot to be desired, and he needs to bring some variety into his performance if the Warriors are going to get back into the winners' circle.

The Warriors made a host of unforced errors that frustrated the home crowd when you make 15 unforced errors, you are going to struggle to defeat any side in the NRL, and that was the case here for the Warriors.
I'm not sure if they were just trying to force things after being rattled by the strong defence, but if the Warriors are to bounce back, they are going to need to show the ball more respect.

With the bye this week im confident that the Warriors can work out the kinks and come back strong in Round 13.

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My Warrior of the match was once again Ken Maumalo.
Ken had another strong game, running for over 200 metres, starting the Warriors sets strong and also defusing a lot of kicks as the Broncos targeted him on their last tackle options.
Once a liability, Ken has become Mr consistent this season, and I'm expecting more of the same from him for the remainder of the season.

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My Warriors to improve goes to Ligi Sao.
I was torn between Ligi and Adam Blair in this match but went with Ligi as his slow defensive read allowed Milford to score the matchwinner.
Ligi has been strong since his return to first grade, but in this match, he needed to step it up to fill the void left by Passi and just didn't do enough.
The Broncos were also quick to wrap him up to eliminate his offloading ability, Im hopeful that he will be given a chance to deliver a strong performance in Round 13, but he may find himself back in reserve grade if Blair retains his spot when Paasi is back.

Round 12 is a bye week for the Warriors, so they have no match to preview.
This also means that there is no game for me to review so next week I will write my midseason review, once again highlighting the good the bad and the ugly.
A week later the Warriors will be back, hosting the Melbourne Storm in what will be a tough encounter.
The Storm may make the trip minus a view players due to the State of Origin, but that does not make them any less dangerous.
The Warriors should have defeated the Storm on Anzac day but I feel that the Storm have got better since then and I see them beating the Warriors by 12

So that was a disappointing Round 11, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who was your player of the day?
Is the lack of attack and ongoing issue or was the Broncos defence too good?
Will the Warriors make the eight?
What is your score prediction for the Round 13 clash against the Storm?

NZ Warriors Round 10 Review: Warriors revival continues against miserable Panthers

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After last weeks come from behind victory, the Warriors made their way to the bottom of the Blue Mountains to face a Penrith Panthers side desperate to break a 5 game losing streak.
Despite a poor record at Panthers Stadium, the Warriors added to the Panthers woes handing them their sixth successive loss, winning 30-10.

For the first time, this season the Warriors have won games back to back, and despite not being a complete performance it was good to see the Warriors build on their Magic round performance.
The Panthers had a night to forget, dropping the ball every time they had an opportunity, the Warriors goal line defence was solid for the majority of the match, and you could see the Panthers lack of confidence was affecting their last tackle options with repeats sets on the Warriors line bearing no fruit.
The Warriors still have a lot to work on, but they got the result against a woeful team, which leads me to my positives from the match.

That Warriors defence was vital in this match, withstanding four repeat sets in the early stages of the game, set the platform for the Warriors to break the Panthers mentally.
You could see the Panthers frustration set in, and the stronger the Warriors defensive line got, the more it forced the Panthers into forcing passes and ultimately making unforced errors.
Their defence in the middle of the park still needs work, but if they can keep that goal line secure, they are going to set themselves up for more victories.

The forwards came to the party getting some quality going forward and more importantly getting a quick play the balls allowing the Warriors to play an uptempo style of play that the Panthers couldn't keep up with.
It was good to see the Warriors take advantage of the Panthers lethargic markers with several sniping runs out of dummy half from Issac Luke, Kodi Nikorima and Karl Lawton.
The spine is really starting to gel, and this only bodes well for the remainder of the 2019 season.

The interchange once again worked well, Kearney's bench has been something I have critiqued all year but Afoa, Tevaga and Sao have added starch in the middle, and Lawton adds a spark on the attack when the opposition is starting to tire.
With Paasi most likely missing this week due to being on the report, the Warriors 17 will most likely see the return of Adam Blair, but hopefully, this doesn't impact the work the Warriors have put in.

The Warriors effort wasn't perfect, however, which leads me to my negatives.
I don't have too many negatives to point out, but I did notice a couple of slight concerns.

The Warriors error rate was too high, they ended up with only one less than the Panthers, but they were at least able to convert some opportunities into points.
Against a semi-competent side, the Warriors may have been in trouble so they will need to show the ball more respect when they clash against the Broncos this weekend.

After starting the match strong, the Warriors fell out of sync at times throughout the rest of the game, never being able to really put their foot down and run away with the match.
They had done enough to get the result, but if they want to be a playoff team, they need to find that killer instinct.

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My Warrior of the match goes to Kodi Nikorima.
Once again several players could have easily picked this week, but I liked what I saw out of Nikorima.
Kodi's pace has added a new dimension to the Warriors attack, his try highlighted the threat he is, and his combination with Tuivasa-Sheck is going to lead to many more scoring chances this season.
He needs to offer more of a kicking game to take the pressure off Blake Green but Im confident that will come as he grows comfortable in his new surroundings.

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No Warrior to improve this week but I want to highlight Ken Maumalo.
Maumalo has grown so much in the last season and a half, ironing out the issues that plagued the beginning of his career.
His damaging runs at the start of the Warriors sets are crucial in getting the Warriors on the front foot.
If Maumalo can insert himself into the contest as he did in this match, then the Warriors are one step closer to victory.

Round 10 sees the Warriors return back to Mount Smart, hosting the Brisbane Broncos.
The Broncos have had a less than stellar 2019 but showed how dangerous they still are with a tightly fought win over the Roosters in Round 9.
Despite that performance, the Broncos haven't been travelling well, and the Warriors will want to keep them that way.
Nikorima will be out to make a statement against his former club, and if the Warriors forwards can bring the intensity they displayed against the Panthers, then they should be able to walk away with the win here.
I think the Warriors will be too strong here and will get their third win in a row winning by 10.

So that was my take on a good Round 10, and as usual, I will Leave you with some questions.

After two wins in a row, do you think the Warriors are still in the playoff hunt?
Who was your player of the match?
Do you have a Warrior to improve?
What is your score prediction for Round 11?

NZ Warriors Round 9 Review: Magic's in the air as Warriors topple hapless Dragons

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After last weeks less than stellar performance against the Knights, the Warriors played host to the Dragons in Brisbane for Magic round.
With their season on the line after four straight losses and the team's heart being called into question in recent weeks, the Warriors needed a strong outing, and they delivered, defeating the Dragons 26-18.

The Dragons have been a bogey side for the New Zealand side, but the tide may be changing with the Warriors now defeating the Dragons three times in a row.
It has felt like an age since I have been able to write about a Warriors victory, but with the Warriors down 18-6 at halftime, I thought they were staring down the barrel of their fifth loss in a row.
The Dragons started strong, scoring all of their points in the first 23 minutes of this match but Corey Norman's absence and an apparent lack of fitness saw them unable to hold back a Warriors side determined to return to the winners' circle.

The game wasn't perfect, but the Warriors showed a lot of improvement which leads me to my positives from the match.

Against a large pack, the Warriors forwards came to the party, when the Warriors started to claw their way into the match at around the 30-minute mark, the forwards set the platform and allowed Roache and Lawton to scoot out of dummy half, really keeping the Dragons on the backfoot.
Green directed play well, and new signing Kodi Nikorima had a solid outing showing some spark that has been missing this season.
The new spine could become quite dangerous with a few more games under their belt.

The Warriors fitness shone through in this victory, as the time was running out the Dragons looked out on their feet and the New Zealand side looked like they had more points in them.
Their conditioning is still one of their most significant assets, and as long as the Warriors can keep themselves in the contest, they are always a chance of turning a game in their favour.

After the Knights neutered the back three last week, they returned strong in Brisbane. With the Dragons not getting the best territory in the second half, they were forced to keep their kicks in the field of play more often than not, and this allowed Tuivasa-Sheck, Maumalo and Fusitu'a to start the Warriors sets off strong, and when that happens, the Warriors confidence increases tenfold.

Lastly was just the fact that after such a quick start, the Warriors were able to stop the Dragons from scoring a single point for the last 60 minutes of the match. Most of the games this season have seen the Warriors leak points in the late stages so to see the Warriors hold a team out for the entire second half instils some confidence in me for the remainder of the season.

The match wasn't flawless, however, which leads me to my negatives.

There are still too many missed tackles for my liking, 38 missed tackles is a severe issue. 14 of those came from Green and Nikorima getting run over by the large forwards, but the Warriors need to just tighten the defence in the middle up, the edge defence has improved with the addition of Patrick Herbert, and I'm confident that they can sort the middle out too.

I'm just picky now but I wasn't happy with the slow start, it may have been the occasion of the Magic round, but the Warriors seemed to be a step behind for the first 20 minutes, the Dragons got burnt out, so it worked for the Warriors. If the Warriors start slow against a stronger side, they may find themselves in strife.

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My Warrior of the match goes to Karl Lawton.
Lawton was the definition of an impact player in this matchmaking the most out of only his second appearance of the season.
With his contract expiring this season, he showed Warriors management plenty of reasons to keep him on their books.
His ability to spot lazy defenders lead to him running for 92 metres in only 20 metres, and he doesn't shy away from his defensive responsibilities.
As experienced as Issac Luke is, I would be more than happy to see the Roache, Lawton combination continue this week.

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After watching the game several times over the weekend, I couldn't highlight a player that needed to improve.
Quite a few of the players didn't play fantastic in the first half, but all the ones I would have picked bounced back in the second half so I just and going to give this section a miss this round, fingers crossed this trend continues for round 10.

 Round 10 has the Warriors stay across the ditch, heading to Panther's country to face a Penrith side that is on a 5 match losing streak.
The Warriors have had issues this year facing teams on losing streaks, and the Panthers will be desperate to put on an improved performance for their fans so this match could be a banana skin game.
I think the Warriors should keep the same 17 for this match and if they do they should walk away with another victory.
I'm picking the Warriors to win by 16 here, they will be too strong for a Panthers side that has failed to show their claws this season.

So that was a much-improved round 9, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What were your thoughts on the Magic Round?
Who were your player of the match and your player to improve?
Are there any changes you would make to the game day 17?
What is your score prediction for Round 10?

NZ Warriors Round 8 Review: Warriors outplayed by desperate Knights

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After Round 7's controversial defeat, the Warriors returned to Mount Smart to face the Newcastle Knights.
Despite the Knights ending their four-match losing streak last round, Warriors fans were confident that the home side, welcoming back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Blake Green would get the much-needed victory.
It wasn't to be as the Warriors were outplayed and outmuscled by the Knights, losing their fourth match in a row 36-18.

What a disappointing performance from the Warriors, after last weeks strong showing against the Storm I expected more from the home side, but they barely fired a shot.
The Knights were not amazing by any means, but they had a gameplan that neutered the Warriors strike weapons, and the bullied the Warriors pack with relative ease.

Kicking the ball into touch taking RTS and Maumalo's strong kick returns out of the Warriors arsenal was frustrating to watch but was a smart idea that will no doubt be replicated by other sides that face the New Zealand team for the remainder of the season.
Without those strong returns, the Warriors were consistently flat-footed and struggled to get out of their own half.

Work needs to be done by the coaching staff and the team alike if they are to have any chance of getting their season back on track if it isn't already too late.

It wasn't all doom and gloom, which leads me to my positives from the match.

I don't have really have any, to be honest, I liked to see that Patrick Herbert had another strong showing and should retain the centre position for this weeks match in Brisbane.
Although the Warriors defence was weak in this match his positioning is head and shoulders above Kata's and restricted the Knights opportunities down that edge.

One players' effort outshone the rest of the squad in my only other positive but more on him below.

That was all I could really highlight as positives this week as there was a lot more to be concerned about which leads me to my negatives.

First and foremost was the Warriors discipline, they consistently let the Knights off the hook with penalties and this lead to the Knights keeping the momentum firmly in their grasp.
If the Warriors continue to give their opposition a leg up, then it is going to be a long season.

The forward pack were bullied against a Knights side that simply wanted it more.
Bunty Afoa being ruled out with injury did not help matters, but the Warriors forwards were dominated, and this highlighted Kearney's poor bench selection once again with only Chris Satae (who got limited minutes) and Adam Blair, who does not offer anything on attack, failing to give the Warriors the punch they needed off the bench.
The Warriors need more beef in the pack sooner rather than later, Afoa, Lisone and Sao would be on the bench if I was the selector and having a hooker and small utility on the bench needs to stop now.

My last negative was the last tackle options, too many times in this match the Warriors found themselves running the ball on the last and not even attempting to put a kick through and just died with the ball in hand.
The return of Blake Green was meant to settle this side and add much-needed direction but to be honest, the Warriors looked more settled last round with Tohu in the halves.
Warriors fans will hope that this was just some ring rust after three weeks away from the field and that Green will make more of an impact against the Dragons.

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My player of the match goes to Ken Maumalo.
In a team that appeared to lack desire, Maumalo was active throughout the game, continually searching for the ball and making the hit ups that his pack were failing to do.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall snatching the ball out of his hands to score was a smear on an otherwise strong performance.
If the rest of the side can match Maumalo's effort this week, then the Warriors will have a higher chance of ending their losing streak.

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My player to improve goes to Adam Blair.
At this point, I may as well call this the Adam Blair award, but once again Blair failed to deliver for the Warriors.
Coming off the bench Blair did not offer any impact and just gave away too many penalties, there is a lot of money tied up in Blair, but the coaching staff need to make the tough call of sending him down to reserve grade for a few weeks to sort out his head.
Pulu is sitting there in the reserves, and I can guarantee that he will bring more to this Warriors side than Blair can, the Warriors need to buck their current trend and make some tough calls.

Round 9 has the Warriors face the Dragons in the Magic Round in Brisbane.
It should be an excellent weekend for league fans but could be a tough week for Warriors fans.
Despite losing to the Warriors twice last year, the Dragons still have the edge of the Warriors, and unless the Warriors forwards come to the party on Saturday, then the Warriors could well be on the well to their fifth loss in a row.

All eyes will no doubt be on the Warriors new signing Kodi Nikorima who should be playing his first game for his new club at his own stomping grounds.
Opinions on Kodi's signing have been mixed, but I am happy with the acquisition, Blake Green's body is on limited time and with Adam Keighran obviously out of favour, another half was needed in the ranks and I see Chanel learning a lot from Green and Nikorima and becoming a much better player because of it.
Unfortunately, I don't see the Warriors coming away with a win in Brisbane, struggling with the large Dragons pack and im predicting the Dragons to win by 10.

So that was a disappointing Round 8, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What are your thoughts on the Kodi signing?
How would you combat the kicking into touch ploy?
Do you have a player of the match?
What is your score prediction for Round 9?