NZ Warriors 2021 Season Review: A disappointing start to the Brown Era, but is there light at the end of the tunnel?

With the 2021 Grand Final almost upon us, I decided it was the perfect time to comb through the Warriors year and conduct my season review. 

COVID continued to play its part in the NRL landscape, which saw the Warriors spend the entire 2021 season across the ditch again.

I came into the season reasonably confident that the Warriors would return to finals football. Despite inconsistent performances, they still had a slim chance of a top-eight finish for the majority of the season, but it wasnt to be as they finished the year in 12th position.

2021 was filled to the brim with talking points, so let's just get into my review.

My Take on 2021

The Warriors ended the 2020 season in 10th place, and in my 2021 season preview, I predicted that the Warriors would finish this season in 6th place with an improved forward pack. So another incorrect prediction on my part, but after having some time to let my personal feelings on the Warriors season subside, I think 2022 will be happier times for the Warriors and the Warriors fans.

In the preseason, we were given the news that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was going to leave at the end of the year with a shift to Rugby Union; not the greatest way to start the 2021 campaign, but at least the Warriors addressed the rumours head-on so the club could focus on the season ahead. COVID protocols saw the Warriors preseason training split into two groups, with Nathan Brown and the New Zealand based players starting the season in New Zealand with the rest of the squad training in Kiama, located on the coast in New South Wales. Splitting up the squad in the preseason is not the ideal way to prepare for the upcoming season, and they weren't helped when their first preseason match against the Storm was cancelled due to a COVID outbreak in Melbourne. This meant the Warriors only got one preseason match against the Titans, which ended in a 12 all draw, with the forward pack showing signs of improvement.

The Warriors started the season with another match against the Titans, winning 19-6 but followed that up with a 30-16 loss to the Knights and a 34-31 come from behind win over the Raiders. This started the trend of the Warriors being unable to field a consistent gameday 17. In turn, their performances fluctuated, with the team unable to string wins together until a three-game winning streak in rounds 20 to 22. They also went on two large losing streaks with four losses in a row from Rounds 4 to 7 and then a horror six successive losses from rounds 14 to 19. Sprinkled between these losses were a few wins over less than stellar teams (Cowboys, Tigers twice, Sharks and Bulldogs) that didn't really build confidence in the sides playoff potential due to how poor they looked in defeat on matches they should have won. The final three rounds saw the Warriors slide out of playoff contention with a narrow loss to the Broncos (24-22) and a larger defeat to the Raiders (28-16) before ending the year with my pick for worst match of the year with a 44-0 loss to the Titans.

This saw the Warriors end their year on a sour note, and an 8 win, 16 loss record. The Warriors had a poor run of injuries that didn't help them, but to their credit, they have not made excuses and accepted that they did not play at the required level to be successful in 2021. The optimist in me hopes that the few peaks and many valleys that this season had for the Warriors has given them plenty to learn from and that they will be better prepared for 2022.

My Positives for 2021

Despite the less than stellar year, a few things brought a smile to my face this season, which leads me to my top four positives for 2020.

New signings a boost

The Warriors had plenty of signings before the season started and then made a few more as the season progressed, and for the most part, I saw promise in many of them.

Before round one, the Warriors welcomed Euan Aitken, Addin Fonua-Blake, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Bayley Sironen, Sean O'Sullivan, Marcelo Montoya and Kane Evans. Then during the season, they always picked up Reece Walsh, Matt Lodge and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

Fonua-Blake, Lodge and Walsh were the top signings in my eyes with some impressive displays throughout the year, but Montoya and DWZ surprised me; they added some much-needed speed to the backline and played a lot better than I expected; Aitken was hampered by injury and didn't have the impact I expected in the centres but found some form when he moved into the second row,

O'Sullivan was a handy backup half that had his moments, and Sironen and BMM had some solid outings but unfortunately ended their years with plenty of quiet performances. Evans, well, we will talk about him a little bit later.

Overall I think the club has brought in some good talent to boost the forward pack, round out the squad and snatched a superstar in the making; however, there are still areas in the depth chart that needs some beefing up, but Peter O'Sullivan has been making the moves which was what I was asking for in my season review last year.

Forward Pack comes to the party (for the most part)

For most of the time I have been writing about the Warriors, there has been one constant theme: the Warriors forward pack lacked the punch needed to allow the spine and backline to click into gear. The Warriors made massive strides to fix that problem this year, with their signings ending the year fourth on the post-contact metre stat ladder with 13,261 metres, thanks mainly to their new-look pack. AFB did not play as much as we would have liked, but the Warriors looked a lot better when he was on the field. What he lacked was a partner in crime which he eventually got with Lodge joined the side. These two were a handful when they were both on the pitch, and Nathan Brown needs to figure a plan to have at least one of these guys on the field at all times as this year when they would both come on the field, your saw the Warriors start to dip. Bunty Afoa was the next best in the prop rotation and was rewarded with a contract extension, and I'm sure he will go to another level in 2022. In the second row/lock department, Tohu Harris had another big year, but it was ended early with an injury, he was followed by Josh Curran, who had a great year and put his hand up for a starting role next year and Jazz Tevaga who just continues to impress me with his toughness and ability to dig deep regardless if were the Warriors make him play. The rest of the rotation was hit and miss; you saw strong games one week, then massive dropoffs the next. There is plenty of competition for the pack next year, which is excellent. Players like Eliesa Katoa, Bayley Sironen and Jack Murchie will need some massive efforts to get themselves into the gameday 17 conversation. If Lodge, AFB and Harris can get through the 2022 season without injuries or suspensions, then the Warriors should have the platform needed for their halves to work some magic.

Youngsters get much needed time at the Learning Tree

With all the Warriors' injuries this year, we got to see plenty of youngsters get some substantial game time. Walsh sits at the top of the class playing 16 games and adding plenty of excitement. However, we also got to see Rocco Berry (8 games), Ed Kosi (5 games), Taniela Otukolo (3 games), Viliami Vailea (2 games) and Jackson Frei (1 game). 

Berry really impressed me, and I think we will see him become a regular starter in 2022; he is still a bit small but showed that he was defensively sound and could find the try-line when given the chance. Otukolo, Vailea, and Frei had limited opportunities to play but did not let anyone down. Kosi had a lot of criticism thrown his way, but I think he was a bit hard done by; he was a development player that was thrown in the deep end and struggled to stay afloat. All of these players were not expected to play a match this season. I'm sure that since they got some runs on the board early this season, we will see them be more complete players when they are called upon next year (as of writing, Frei has still not been re-signed, but I think he is a relatively cheap depth option and will stay). The future looks bright with plenty of these rookies, and I'm excited to watch them develop.

RTS gone but SJ is back

Losing RTS is massive, he has been a shining light in some dark seasons and will leave a gigantic hole, but we also got the news this year that Shaun Johnson had signed to return to the club on a two-year deal. I was shocked when the signing was announced, as it looked like the damage done by his exit in 2018 was too severe to repair. When he left back then, I was upset and angry at both him and the club; it was no secret that the Warriors were not getting their money's worth out of him at the time but there wasnt a player to fill his shoes; however that decision has come and gone, and they now have him returning at a steal. He still has issues with injuries, but I think he has developed as a lead half in his time with the Sharks; he is not the same highlight reel player the Warriors had. That is a good thing, though, as the Warriors are in desperate need of a half that can direct the team and with the forward pack he now has at his disposal, he should be able to reignite the Warriors attack. We could even see the likes of David Fusitu'a return to his glory days. Plus, the thought of SJ and Walsh combining on attack just makes me excited. Once again, it's the optimist in me coming out, but it just feels right having SJ back in a Warriors jersey.

My Negatives for 2021

Unfortunately, there were plenty of issues with the 2021 season, but I have narrowed it down to my four most significant negatives to make it easier.

Missed Tackles

It should come as no surprise since I mentioned it every week, but my biggest negative from the 2021 season was missed tackles. The Warriors missed 725 tackles this season, they were not the worst in this department, making the 7th least amount of misses, but they averaged 30 missed tackles a match which is just too many if they want to succeed in the NRL. 

How do they fix this? Well, I'm not entirely sure, but I think a new defensive coach would be a good step forward, Justin Morgan hasn't made any noticeable changes to the defensive structures in his time in the role, and perhaps a change will help the club. However, in his defence, not having the same players on the pitch week in and week out did not help the defensive gameplan, so perhaps with some consistent team lists next year, we may see the defence improve with the players learning to work together and trust each other to cover their man. 

Errors

Another regular complaint from me this season was the Warriors error rate. They made 251 errors this season, which was actually the third least amount. However, my issue was that the Warriors unforced errors almost always happened early in their sets, when they were deep in the opposition RedZone or trying to get out of their own RedZone. These mistakes are called coach killers for a reason, and they need to just reign them in a little; I don't want to see the Warriors shy away from second phase football but just stop pushing passes that aren't on. It's all about finding a balance, so they don't hinder their attack.

Injuries

Injuries were a massive issue in 2021; the Warriors had no player in their squad that played all 24 matches, with the closest being Jazz Tevaga (22 games) and Kodi Nikorima (21 games). They used 33 players in total this season but losing critical players for stints throughout the season really haltered any momentum building. Key figures in the squad that played limited matches were Tohu Harris (15 games), Addin Fonua-Blake (15 games), Ben Murdoch-Masila (14 games), Chanel Harris-Tavita (11 games), Peta Hiku (10 games) and David Fusitu'a (5 games). Having to rotate your halves pairing almost weekly is a surefire way to disrupt a teams attack; the Warriors were not the only team hit with injuries, and with the increased pace of the game now, this is probably going to be a constant theme for years to come. Some injuries are not easy to prevent, but improving the squad's fitness levels could help eliminate minor injuries and setbacks, so that's probably a good place to start (plus, fitter players should also help improve the defence).

Not playing for 80

My last negative is the Warriors struggling to deliver an 80-minute performance at any point throughout the season. In most games, there was a 20-minute stretch where the Warriors did not show up; it was a consistent issue with the only thing that changed was where that 20 minutes was, sometimes it was at the start of the match, forcing the Warriors to attempt a come from behind win, or it was at the end of the game where they saw leads turn into losses (rounds 2 and 15 against the Knights, round 23 against the Broncos and round 24 against the Raiders). If the Warriors had played the entire match and kept the lead in those four matches, this season could have been different. The NRL is a tough competition, and if you take your eye off the ball for even a few moments in a match, you are doomed to defeat. It's something that can be addressed in the offseason, and I'm sure if the team is fit enough and keeps injuries to a minimum, then 80-minute performances will come.

My Top Three Warriors for the season

A few players stood up this season, with several players being selected as my Warrior of the match multiple times. Still, I have chosen the three that appeared the most as my Warriors of the season.

Tohu Harris

For the second year in a row, Tohu Harris gets the nod as my Warrior of the year; he was picked as my Warrior of the round on four occasions. With some much-needed help in the pack, Harris wasnt as heavily relied on to do all the work, but he still went above and beyond in 2021. Injuries saw him only play 15 matches, but he still finished the year with the fourth-most tackles for the club with 620 tackles at a 95.7% tackle efficiency. He also finished 10th in running metres with 1375 metres. 

I was concerned that the Warriors would lose Harris to a rival club, but the fact that he has re-signed makes me optimistic about the future, and he is a contender to take over as the Captain of the team in 2022, and if he gets the job I'm sure he will do it well. He is a leader in the pack, and if he can stay healthy in 2022, you can bet he will be in the running for the third year in a row as my Warrior of the season.

Reece Walsh

The RLPA rookie of the year also received 4 selections during his first season with the club and is a superstar in the making. He played 16 matches in 2021 and was the leading try scorer with 9 tries; he also led the team with linebreaks (14) and was second for try assists (11). Not a bad start to his career, but he still has plenty to learn, his defence needs work, and he made the third most errors (19), but you cannot question his spirit and determination. He has had some issues with aggression on the field and now a few dramas off it; however, I think the older players in the Warriors camp will take him under their wing and iron out the wrinkles. I expect big things from Walsh in 2022, and I think he is a player that the Warriors can build around as they attempt to return to the playoffs.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Again, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes my top three (unfortunately also for the last time) after being selected threes times this season. Despite announcing his exit and the end of the season and then leaving earlier than expected, you cannot accuse RTS of taking his eye off the ball as he continued to give 100%. He once again led the team in running metres (3054) and tackle-breaks (71), as well as being third with try assists (11). He added more defensive highlight reel moments with try-saving tackles, including the massive one on Jordan Rapana in round 3. I don't know what else I can say about RTS that I haven't said before; he is right up there with the likes of Stacey Jones, Steve Price and Simon Mannering in my eyes as elite Warriors. He always did his best on the field, never got involved in dramas or scandals off the field and will be a massive loss for the Warriors moving forward. Some rugby union fans like to write off League players joining their code, but the Blues and potentially the All Blacks have got themselves a winner here. Good luck Roger on your new journey, and I hope you smash it out of the park. 

My Three Warriors who need to improve

On the other hand, the players who appeared in my Warriors to improve section throughout the season were mainly the same week in and week out. Like the Warrior of the year section, I have selected the three players that appeared the most in my Warrior to improve.

Kodi Nikorima

Kodi Nikorima dominated the Warrior to improve section of my review this year with 8 selections, but it wasnt because of his stats. Stat wise he led the team in try assists (14) and points scored (100), but he also led the team in missed tackles (55). He was picked so often through the year due to his ability to disappear in matches. It's no secret that when the Nikorima is running the ball, the Warriors had a good performance, but too often, he looked listed on attack and just shuffled the ball to whoever was next to him. As the season progressed, Nikorima looked less interested in playing, and the Warriors suffered as a result. The forwards were doing their job up front, so there were no excuses for why he wouldn't run the ball, and I think his time as a half in the NRL is done. I still think he has plenty to offer as a No.14, and while he appears to not be interested in that role, I believe that the No.14 has become more critical than ever with the new rule changes. He was looking at leaving the Warriors after earlier activated his player option; at the time of writing, it seems like he will be a Warrior in 2022. I have my fingers crossed that he moves to the bench and is used to add spark out of dummy-half when the opposition is tiring.

Kane Evans

Kane Evans was picked to improve only 2 times this season, but I feel that if he wasnt suspended, that amount would have increased. When the Warriors announced Evans signing, I personally thought it was a dud, but I wanted to give him a chance to prove my initial thoughts wrong. However, unfortunately, my thoughts were correct as he offered very little to the Warriors; he played 14 games and only averaged 66 running metres a game after playing and minimal post-contact metres. He just didn't make a dent in attack or defence, and I feel that the Warriors would have got more use out of Tom Ale or Jackson Frei. His discipline was shocking; he was sin-binned three times this season and is currently suspended for 5 matches; he is simply more trouble than what he is worth. The current rumours are that the Warriors are trying to offload him to another club which I think is a wise decision, but I'm not sure if any team will pick him up. I'm sure he is a nice guy off the pitch, but the Warriors need players that add value to the squad, and I just don't see what he provides.

Wayde Egan

Wayde Egan is one of the more interesting picks here; he was selected as my Warrior to improve twice this year, but that was early on in the season, and I thought he really showed improvement as the season went on. He led the team defensively, making 715 tackles, and he also had 6 try assists and 540 running metres. The no-look passes from the ruck were still there, and he still looked to throw a few forward passes from time to time, however behind that big pack, he looked a lot better and started to snipe out of dummy-half, which is something we did not see from him in 2020. I think he will continue to grow as the Warriors starting hooker and reach a new level and hopefully will not be in the section of my season review next year.

In Summary

Another season is done, and another one with the Warriors not making the playoffs, which makes this season a fail in my books.

This season had plenty of what-if moments, and that's what makes the NRL so exciting for me; a few games go another way, and the Warriors are a playoff team, but it just wasnt to be.

However, as we look ahead to the 2022 season, I am confident that the Warriors can return to the playoffs. If they can keep all their stars on the field for the majority of the season, they have the talent to make it; it will be down to how they execute their game plan.

Signings for 2022 so far are Shaun Johnson and Aaron Pene. I've already discussed SJ, but Pene is a decent prop signing from the Storm; he is young and hasn't had a lot of first-grade experience, but from what I have seen this year from him, I think he will fill a hole in the Warriors prop rotation, I will discuss that in more detail in my 2022 season preview.

This season was tough for me personally; I think having no live games at Mount Smart for the second year in a row finally got to me; I eat and breath Warriors football, but there were times this year where my interest waned. Don't get me wrong, I never missed a game. I still wrote match reports for all Warriors games for Nothing But League and my match reviews, but it just felt like more of a grind, especially after the Warriors match against the Bulldogs in front of a sellout crowd at Mount Smart had to be cancelled. 2022 looks almost certain to be played for the most part in Australia; the Warriors have said they hope to have some games played in New Zealand towards the end of the season, but I won't get my hopes up just yet.

But other than the on-field results, 2021 was pretty good for me; with my show on New Zealand Sport Radio having a good second season, I also got to join Roo & Hammer, Warrior NRL Fanatics and Hold the Ball on their channels to talk about the Warriors. I just need to get myself on This Warriors Life and Fonzie, and then I've completed my bingo card. 

I'm not sure what 2022 will bring for my website, the match reviews will still be here, but I am thinking about possibly adding videos. Similar to what I do on The Stand-Off, but let me know if videos on Warriors news and rumours is something you guys would like to see.

While the writing will have a little break, my Facebook show will still have a few more episodes before season two ends, so come check it out at 8pm on Wednesdays.

New Zealand Sport Radio

Thank you all once again for reading my reviews this year. I know some of them were tough to read; hopefully, I have better matches to write about next year. I look forward to chatting with you guys all again real soon.

So that was my take on 2021, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

What are your thoughts on the 2021 season?
Who was your player of the year?
Which player needs to improve the most?
What realistic changes would you make for next season?
How do you see the 2022 season going?