NZ Warriors 2020 Round 19 Review: Strong start not enough as Raiders overcome spirited Warriors

After lasts weeks heartbreaking loss to the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, the Warriors travelled to GIO Stadium to face the Canberra Raiders.

The Raiders were looking for a strong win to get themselves closer to the top four but were rocked by a Warriors team that was still determined to compete well above their ladder position. Despite a strong start from the Warriors, the Raiders got the job done, winning 26-14. 

Well, I got my prediction correct this week with the Raiders winning by 12, but the Warriors looked to be on the way to an upset victory in Canberra for the second year in a row after a strong start against a Raiders team lacking in discipline.

The Warriors looked the better team with the ball in hand in the first half and had a chance to put the foot on the throat of Canberra when Jack Wighton was sent to the bin, but the Raiders bounced back and actually scored two tries while having only 12 men on the park. Admittingly the first try was a lucky break with Semi Valemei scooping up a wayward Warriors offload to run the left of the field.

Now, if that try hadn't happened and the Warriors had scored there, it may well have been a different outcome, but the Warriors were unlucky to go into the sheds at the break trailing 16-14.

I was worried about how the team would go in the second half, knowing that Ricky Stuart would have given the Raiders a right bollocking before running out and while they were the better side in the second half. It showed the difference in class between the two sides, but the Warriors could hold their heads high; they stayed in the contest for most of the match and looked ten times better than the Warriors side that faced the Raiders start of the season.

Having to reshuffle the side after the injury to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck took hindered the Warriors attack a bit, but I liked what I saw from most of the side. The Warriors have got a good base now, and with the named additions to the roster for 2021, I think the Warriors have the ability to reach the playoffs; the key for them is going to be keeping the tough attitude they have developed this season.

Despite the result, some aspect of the match made me smile, which leads me to my positives from the game.

The Warriors have been criticized for slow start in the past couple of rounds, so it was pleasing to see them start the match strong; they just need to find the right balance between starting strong and keeping the pressure going for the entire match. The Raiders are no slouches, but if the Warriors want to be a playoff-contending side, then they need to get that balance right and, more importantly, keep it week in and week out.

The forwards went missing last week, but they bounced back here and appeared to rattle the Raiders pack, which may also be why the Raiders were so undisciplined in the early stages of the match.

5 of the forwards ran for over 100 metres, and they were solid defensively, reducing the Raiders opportunities in the middle.

One forward I want to praise here is Lachlan Burr; now, full disclosure here I am a big fan of Burr, but he hasn't had the best season, and I am not surprised that the Warriors have elected to not extend his stay with the club. However, he had one of his best performance here; it appeared that he was given the task of putting pressure on Josh Papalii, and I think he did a great job; every time Papalii got the ball Burr was right in his face and reduced the impact the superstar prop had on this match.

Burr is fighting for a contract somewhere, and if he can deliver another strong outing in Round 20, then I think he has a shot picking up a deal at another NRL club looking for a cheap forward option. 

The Warriors played with intensity, with a chance to make the playoffs gone. Many pundits across the ditch claimed that the Warriors would now have their sights set on going home and would go back to the heavy defeats we saw earlier in the year. But this Warriors side gets themselves into the battle and makes sides earn their victories.

One thing that has been highlighted on social media after this match was the Raiders runaway try, Valemei was scorching up the field, and the Warriors had 8 players chasing him all the way to the end. Yes, they couldn't stop him but the heart and desire the Warriors showed in that one play make me proud of how far this side has come this season.

Unfortunately, I had some issues with the performance too, which leads me to my negatives.

I always need to bring up the missed tackles; the Warriors ended the match with 29 missed tackles. Their scrambling defence saved them on many occasions, but their first-up tackling needs to be worked on in the upcoming offseason, fix that, and the Warriors will be a harder opponent to defeat.

The Warriors were guilty of forcing passes a little too much in this match; two of the Raiders tries came off wayward Warriors offloads. It's the high risk, high reward style of play that makes the Warriors exciting to watch when they get into "Warriors Football" mode. However, there were several times when the Warriors didn't need to throw a 50/50 pass in this match. It's a bit of a contradiction, but I just want to see them reign the 50/50's just a little bit without going all the way back to the stifled attack of the Kearney era.

Lastly, the Warriors gave away too many penalties; they only had 8 penalties in this match, but 7 of them were in the second half, and it really hurt the Warriors momentum.

The ref didn't have the best night, to be fair, but the Warriors flirted with the rules a little too much and lost out. It is no secret that the Warriors seldom get the rub of the green when it comes to the man with the whistle, so they need to ensure that they are extra squeaky clean. 

Copyright Photo: Getty Images

My Warrior of the match goes to Peta Hiku.

I almost gave this to Burr this week, but I think Hiku had a great night out. He scored the Warriors only tries in this match and almost had himself a hat-trick. Hiku still needs to work on his defence (he missed 4 tackles in this match), but you cannot question his impact on the Warriors attack; for the past two seasons, Hiku has been the centre feeding the Warriors leading try scorer and in 2020 he is the leading try-scorer for the Warriors.

Defenders know that he is always ready to flick the ball to his winger, so I think this creates chances for him to throw a dummy and go himself. Perhaps it is something he can try to incorporate into his gameplan moving forward. He only got a one-year extension with the Warriors, but I expect him to go from strength to strength in 2021 and get himself a longer contract.

Copyright Photo: Getty Images

I don't have a Warrior to improve this week, so I just want to give a shout out to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in what was his last performance for the Warriors in 2020.

When RTS limped to the sideline, my heart sank. It is well documented how tough RTS had it in 2020, and he did not deserve to see his season end in this way.

He is the heart and soul of this team, and he has really shown why the Warriors picked him to be their leader.

Roger, thank you for all the sacrifices you have made, and I hope you truly enjoy your much deserved time with your family in the upcoming weeks.

I know there are rumours that he may leave the club if they are forced to stay in Oz for all of 2021, but I'm hopeful that with the extra time to plan for a 2021 season spent abroad, the Warriors will be able to ensure that all the players have their families join them across the Tasman.

Obviously, I would prefer the Warriors to play in NZ (I miss going to Mt Smart), but with COVID still running rampant, I don't see it happening.

Round 20 sees the Warriors return to Central Coast Stadium for their final match against the Sea Eagles.

Normally I cringe when the Warriors face Manly, but they have not had the best season, and both sides will most likely be without their superstar fullback, with Tom Trbovich likely to miss this encounter after getting injured in his return match last week.

Both sides will be looking at ended their season on a high, but I think the Warriors will have the edge here. I think the Warriors will move Hiku to fullback, but I'm not sure who they will bring into the centres, but Paul Turner could find himself back in the 17 (he also could come in at fullback). I'm predicting it will be a tight contest, but I'm going with a Warriors win by 14.

There are rumours that the Warriors are chasing Addin Fonua-Blake and Jack Hetherington for 2021; I think both would be welcomed additions to the Warriors squad and give them one hell of a pack. I will be covering my thoughts on this news in my online show The Stand-Off on New Zealand Sport Radio on Wednesday night so if you want to hear more about that, tune in at 8pm on Wednesday (the show airs on my Facebook page love).

So that was an unfortunate Round 19, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who would you play at fullback in RTS absence?
Do you think the Warriors can reach the playoffs in 2021?
Who was your player of the day?
What is your score prediction for the Sea Eagles clash?