NZ Warriors 2024 Round 3 Review: Warriors First Win in the Books after Scratchy Showing vs Raiders

After their heartbreaking defeat in Melbourne, the Warriors returned to New Zealand, heading down to Christchurch in a sold-out Apollo Projects Stadium to host a Raiders team that has surprised many with their 2-0 start.

The Warriors started strong, but errors and missed opportunities saw the Raiders get back into the contest before a quick flurry of tries saw the Warriors come back to secure their first win of 2024, 18-10.

What Went Down

After trading errors in the opening stages, the Warriors were the first to show their attacking threat after Shaun Johnson put Jackson Ford into open space; he opted to hold onto the ball instead of putting away an unmarked Luke Metcalf, a Jordan Rapana conceded penalty keep the Warriors in control and moments later the Warriors were on the board after Johnson put Addin Fonua-Blake over untouched in the eighth minute. The big prop almost had his second in the 18th minute when Rocco Berry caught a Johnson kick and put him into space, but he wasnt fast enough, and the Raiders scrambled well to bring him down metres from the try line. Berry was involved again 5 minutes later when the Warriors unleashed their right edge attack, but his decision to hold on to the ball instead of feeding Dallin Watene-Zelezniak saw the Warriors miss another scoring chance.

The sides traded errors and penalties until the Raiders looked to have scored in the 30th minute when Ethan Strange powered his way over the try line; however, his try was denied by the Bunker, a Freddy Lussick error handed the ball back to the Raiders, and this time, they would not be denied when Matt Timoko barged towards the line breaking the tackles of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Marcelo Montoya, Jamal Fogarty's conversion attempt missed the mark to see the Warriors cling onto a 2 point lead. In the dying stages of the first half, the Raiders tried to out on one last big play, but that was put to rest when DWZ made a bone-rattling tackle on Albert Hopoate in the last big play of the half, seeing the Warriors go into the sheds with a 6-4 lead.

The second half continued the trend of both sides swapping errors, with neither really finding their feet. The only highlight in the first ten minutes after the break was a Tom Ale line break; he tried to put Mitchell Barnett away, only for him to be run down. The Warriors then shifted left, but Montoya was bundled over the sideline.

After that let-off, the Raiders started stringing some attacks together and took their first lead of the match moments later when Fogarty made a nice pass to Timoko. Timoko then passed the ball to Nick Cotric, who dove over the line basically untouched due to an ill-timed Montoya rush in.

The Warriors, under pressure, kept their composure and kept plugging away and, in the 61st minute, would regain their lead when the Warriors shifted the ball to the right to DWZ, who then ran back towards the middle of the pitch before getting the ball to Metcalf who made easy work of the scrambling defence to cross under the dot.

A few minutes later, the Warriors were over again when Cotric dropped a Metcalf kick. The Warriors went to the right quickly, and Tuivasa-Sheck broke two tackles to cross for his first try since his return from Union. With time running out, it was edge-of-your-seat stuff for Warriors fans who remembered last week's ending. The Warriors were under a lot of pressure, but the Raiders panicked, making some simple errors to hand the Warriors a much-needed 18-10 win, sending the sellout crowd home happy.

My Thoughts

Well, this was an interesting game, the first win of the year, but for me, it was their worst performance this season. That's not a knock on them; they had to win ugly, and despite those losses in the first two rounds, they didn't drop their heads and hung on to the bitter end, turning on the pressure with their defence, which saw the Raiders wilt.

The Raiders have proven to be a tough, gritty team this season, so this wasn't going to be an easy game. However, if the Warriors had completed some of their missed opportunities, this could have been a comfortable victory. As I have said in each review this season, there is a lot to work on, but the pieces are there, and once they all click into place, this side will be a tough team to face.

This game had it all: beautiful attacking plays, bone-rattling defence, a few hair-pulling moments, and one hell of a crowd. So, as nerve-racking as it was to watch, it was an enjoyable contest and, hopefully, the start of a run for the Warriors with some favourable matchups on the horizon.

It wasn't their best performance, but there were a few things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The forwards continue to impress me this season, with 5 running for over 100 metres.

Jackson Ford (164m), Addin Fonua-Blake (159m), Mitchell Barnett (150m), Tohu Harris (130m) and Jazz Tevaga (101m). There is still a drop-off when Barnett and AFB leave the pitch, but the replacement middles are improving; Tevaga got through plenty of work, Tom Ale added some impact, and Bunty Afoa added some defensive starch to the middle of the field. Still work to do, of course, but if they can keep improving on getting that go forward, we should see the backs create many more attacking opportunities.

It's a week closer to getting the full-strength side back: Waye Egan, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marata Niukore, Dylan Walker, and now Taine Tuaupiki are all out. I commended the squad's depth in the preseason, and it has been tested. I think the players who have had to step up have done a decent job, but I can't wait to see what the full-strength 17 can do when on the pitch together.

The club has spoken a lot about being 0-2, not affecting them, but as a player, it does sit in the back of your mind a little, so getting that win just takes some pressure off. Playing well but still losing can just suck all the air out of the room, so this was a perfectly timed confidence boost.

They have runs on the board now and can focus on stringing together some victories.

However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

The Warrior's errors jumped into double digits for the first time this season, with 13 made.

I'm not sure if their desperate pursuit of that first win made them push things a little, but to face the top dogs in this competition, you cannot give away this many free sets, as they will put you to the sword. They have shown in patches that they can play attacking football with limited errors, so I want to see those patches extend to the entire contest.

Flowing on from the errors, the missed opportunities were true coachkillers, Ford going alone instead of putting Metcalf away, and Berry not passing to DWZ are the two that spring to mind. You can let these go in a victory, but if the Warriors lose this you know these moments would be brought up countless times. They are little things, but they will improve with a bit more confidence and communication; they are split-second decisions that need to be made, but with a bit more time together, I am sure that these opportunites will be taken.

The right edge attack looks to be getting back to its 2023 form slowly, which is great; however, the left edge attack still needs work; the majority of the time that it looked dangerous was when Shaun Johnson shifted that way, Metcalf is growing each and every work, but I want to see his distribution skills go up another level to really unleash RTS and Montoya. That edge just screams points, so once they get to a point where both sides are deadly, then the opposition's defence is just going to open up.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Tohu Harris.

The skipper delivers week in and week out, but because he always plays well, he sometimes gets overlooked in this section (a bit like Simon Mannering used to). He led the side with 50 tackles, ran for 130m, and was more involved in the playmaking with some excellent passing plays. He is a true legend of this club; despite the constant injury concerns that cloud Harris, he continuously churns through the work and is a great role model for the young forwards developing at the Warriors.

Warrior to Improve

I actually have no player to improve this week, Jackson Ford and Marcelo Montoya were close, but I think by the end of 80 minutes, their negatives were balanced out by their positives, a statement that would have been different if the Warriors lost this much, I am sure.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 4 sees the Warriors remain on home soil, returning to Go Media Stadium to face the Newcastle Knights, who defeated the Storm 14-12 in Round 3.

Regarding the team I would pick, we know Taine Tuaupiki is out. If Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is ready to go, I would bring him straight back in. If he is not ready, then Tuivasa-Sheck moves to fullback, and I would bring Ali Leiataua into the centres. If Wayde Egan and Dylan Walker are also fit, I would bring them back, with Chanel Harris-Tavita and Jazz Tevaga dropping out.

The Knights haven't had the greatest start to the 2024 season but showed a lot of improvement in their first win of the year against Melbourne. You know they will be looking for some revenge after the Warriors ended their 2023 season in this venue in a dominant fashion, so I'm expecting a tough contest. 

It's almost rinse and repeat from last week. If the Warriors can reduce those errors and play a consistent 80 minutes, a win is definitely on the cards, I'm confident that they will be up for this so I am picking the Warriors to win by 8.

So, that was a relieving Round 3, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Do you have a player to improve?

Who would you bring in at centre if CNK is unavailable for Round 4 and RTS plays fullback?

Which Warrior has surprised you the most so far this season?

What is your score prediction against the Knights?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 2 Review: Coates Magic Breaks Warriors Hearts In Unbelievable Finish

After their disappointing defeat in Round One, the Warriors made their first trip across the ditch to face the Melbourne Storm.

The Storm started strong with the match looking to be heading to another big blowout; however, the Warriors fought back with a great second-half effort only to leave the door open for the Storm to steal the victory 30-26 in the final seconds with a try that will feature in NRL highlight reels for years to come.

What Went Down

The Storm took advantage of an early Warriors error and penalty to score via Will Warbrick just before the 4-minute mark. The Storm looked to have the edge in the early stages, with the Warriors continuing to give away penalties. The Warriors then strung some attack together and sent Dallin Watene-Zelezniak over in the corner to level the scores in the 12th minute.

The Storm responded moments later when a timely offload saw Jahrome Hughes sprint down the field before putting Nick Meaney away.

More errors and penalties from the Warriors extended their lead to 18-6, with a Meaney penalty and a try to Ryan Papenhuyzen in the 21st minute.

The game started to balance out, with the Warriors slowing down the Storm onslaught with both sides trading errors.

In the 32nd minute, Marcelo Montoya looked to have scored a much-needed try for the Warriors. However, the bunker overturned the onfield decision. A few sets later, the bunker was involved again when the Warriors unsuccessfully used their captain's challenge, claiming that Jackson Ford did not obstruct Jahrome Hughes in the last big play of the first half.

The Storm started the second half just like the Warriors did in the first, making several errors and penalties, which allowed the Warriors to take control, with DWZ scoring in the second at the 44th-minute mark with one of his trademark corner dives. Four minutes later, the Warriors were over again when the bunker confirmed that Jackson Ford had done enough to ground the ball.

The Storms' lack of discipline allowed the Warriors to level the scores in the 56th minute when Luke Metcalf kicked a penalty. Moments later, an error from Xavier Coates allowed the Warriors to strike again, with Montoya crossing in the corner after a nice left-edge shift.

The teams went set for set for the next ten minutes before Harry Grant gave away a silly penalty, which saw Metcalf extend the Warrior's lead to 24-18 with a penalty.

Papenhuyzen caught the Grant bug and gave away a penalty in the 71st minute, which saw the Warriors add another 2 points to their lead via Metcalf and set up a very tense final 10 minutes.

The Storm started to build some pressure and finally broke the Warriors' line with an excellent play when Eliesa Katoa passed the ball back inside to Papenhuyzen for his second try of the night.

Time was running out for the Storm, and it all looked over when Jonah Pezet's 2-point field goal was charged down; however, the charge down allowed the tackle count to restart, and with less than a minute remaining, the Storm shifted quickly to the left and got the ball to Coates who defied gravity to touchdown in the corner for the match winner, extending the Storms winning streak over the Warriors to 15 with a 30-26 victory. 

My Thoughts

Well, this one hurt. 

I came into this match predicting a Storm win, but I still hoped the Warriors could break their losing streak. When the Storm started strong and looked to be cutting the Warriors to shreds, I feared we would witness another massive loss at AAMI Park. However, the Warriors hung on and then turned the momentum in their favour, but when playing teams like Melbourne, a victory is only in the bag once that whistle blows, and that's what happened here. It took an amazing try for the Storm to get the win, but they never gave up, to their credit. 

Of course, there were a few what-if moments; what if Montoya's first try was allowed? What if the field goal charge down was regathered by the Warriors? If those things happened, we could be discussing the Warrior's first win this season, but that's just not how the NRL works.

Despite now being 0-2, I remain optimistic that the Warriors will remain playoff contenders this season. While this performance had positive aspects, there is still plenty to work on. 

In a few weeks, the team will welcome back Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Wayde Egan, and Marata Niukore, and then we will see the team move up a level, so I don't see any need to throw the baby out with the bath water just yet.

It was another disappointing loss, but there were a few things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positives

The team fought back; they were dominated for much of the first half, and the game could have quickly become a training run for the Storm. However, the Warriors reduced their errors and stuck to the basics, which made them a tough team to stop last year. That right edge attack still has the ability to score at will, but the left edge started to show how much that has improved this season; Metcalf is improving with his distribution game, and the Warriors got Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in space a few times to cause some havoc. Add CNK back into the mix, and this side will score plenty of points.

Just like last week, the Warriors pack were doing plenty of heavy lifting with the ball in hand; four forwards cracked the triple-figure mark, the same four that did it last week, Addin Fonua-Blake (155m), Tohu Harris (154m), Dylan Walker (134m) and Mitchell Barnett (119m). Jackson Ford and Bunty Afoa were close to hitting those figures, too, and if the Warriors pack can hit these numbers consistently, then it makes the back's job easier. We didn't get to see the quick ruck play we saw last week, but that comes down to no Egan and the Storms' ability to slow the ruck without getting in trouble with the officials.

It was good to see Chanel Harris-Tavita make his return, and while he only got 8 minutes, I thought he showed that he could be a handy option on the bench; I would have liked to see him get more minutes at Hooker here and could even be tempted to see him take Lussicks spot on the bench when Egan returns.

However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

We have watched the Warriors not play a consistent 80 minutes for the second week in a row. In Round 1, it was a great first half and a poor second; this week, it was the opposite. Seeing this as a fan is frustrating, and I can only imagine how it's making the staff in the coach's box feel. Sorting this out has to be a top priority as the side prepares for Round 3.

I can't explain why this side is playing the cliche game of two halves right now, but if it continues, they may struggle to climb the ladder.

The Storm made going up the middle of the pitch look easy; the Warrior's defence there just wasnt stopping the Storm middles; they were falling off the tackles, not wrapping the arms up to prevent offloads, and just giving Melbourne a free pass.

This did improve as the game developed, and when Bunty Afoa entered the game, he filled a massive gap there defensively, which is a huge credit to his tackling ability. It just reminded me of that Broncos finals defeat where they terrorised the Warriors up the middle and utilised that second-phase football; the Warriors need to work on this, as it is a massive chink in their armour.

The Warrior's errors did come down from round 1, with only 8 errors made this match. However, I want to see them reduce even more, and it is more around when and where the errors happened. Against top sides, you just can't give them free sets.

We want to see this side build momentum and punish teams, not build momentum and let the opposition off the hook.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

It was a big night out for DWZ. He led the match in running metres with 196m, had two linebreaks, and scored a double. Always runs the ball hard and gives his all with the ball in hand. Hard to fault him for preventing Coates from scoring the match-winner, but if I had to nitpick, I would say if he had a bit more trust that Rocco Berry had the inside covered, then he may have been over more to stop Coates, but given the situation, I thought he did all he could. Always a threat close to the line, though, and I'm sure we will see plenty of tries in his corner this season.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Tom Ale.

Hard to judge, with Ale only getting 14 minutes to show his worth here, but I expected more than his 5 runs for 63m and 4 tackles. It is hard to get a lot of work done in that short period of time. Still, if he wants more minutes, he needs to make a more significant impact, I had him on my bench instead of Afoa, but after this match, I think Afoa has the edge to keep his spot when Marata Niukore returns from injury with Ale being the forward dropped.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

In Round 3, the Warriors return to New Zealand, heading to Christchurch to face the Canberra Raiders. The Raiders remain undefeated after beating the Wests Tigers 32-12 in Round 2.

Regarding the team, I would keep it the same unless Wayde Egan is fit; if he can play, then I would bring him back and have Chanel Harris-Tevita as my 14.

The Warriors faced and defeated the Raiders twice last season, the first 36-14 and the second 21-20. Over their history, they've actually been even with 23 wins each.

Many had written the Raiders off this season, but they have shown that when it matters, they are a gritty team that will give 100% for the entire 80.

If the Warriors can play for the entire 80 consistently, reduce the errors and earn the right to attack the edges by winning the middle, then they are well on their way to earning their first win in 2024.

I think the Warriors are desperate for a win and will do more than enough to get the job done, so I am picking the Warriors to win by 12.

So, that was a heartbreaking Round 2, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who was your Player of the Day?

If Egan is back, who is your 14, CHT or Lussick?

How would you fix the Warrior's game of two-half performances?

What is your score prediction against the Raiders?

NZ Warriors 2024 Round 1 Review: Plenty to work on for Clunky Warriors after Sharks Defeat

With the preseason officially behind us, the NRL is back, and Round 1 saw the Warriors start their campaign hosting the Sharks on home soil at Go Media Stadium.

The Warriors started strong in front of a sellout crowd but began to unravel as the match progressed, going down 16-12.

What Went Down

The Warriors showed their intent in the early stages, with quick ruck speed allowing them to march up the field easily. With the Sharks backpeddling, the Warriors crossed the line first in the 7th minute thanks to a bargeover from future Shark Addin Fonua-Blake. 

A few sets later, off the back of a Sharks error, the Warriors were over again, thanks to a piece of individual brilliance from Luke Metcalf when he cut back inside before evading five tacklers to score under the posts. 

The Warriors kept the pressure on, with Jackson Ford, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and Kurt Capewell all almost scoring. After that, the game started to get into a grind, with both sides trading errors and penalties before the Sharks finally got on the scoreboard when Jesse Ramien sniped over from the dummy half in the 34th minute. This was the last play of note in the first half, with the Warriors going into the sheds with a 12-6 lead.

The Warriors started the second half in the worst way possible, making an error in their first set, which the Sharks punished them for when Ronaldo Mulitalo scored in the corner. Nicholas Hynes missed the conversion, which saw his side remain two points behind.

The sides went set for set, with errors again featuring heavily for both teams before Siosifa Talakai broke the line and attempted to send Mulitalo over for his second. The Warriors stopped him but not his offload, which went back to Talakai to dive across the line, handing the Sharks the lead.

The Warriors started to mount pressure in the final 20 minutes, earning themselves repeat sets after repeat sets. However, they could not convert that pressure into points as the Sharks defended their goal valiantly and held on for a deserved 16-12 victory.

My Thoughts

Well, it's fair to say that wasn't how I expected Round 1 to go for the Warriors.

They looked great for the first 20 minutes, and then things started to unravel; I can't put my finger on why there was a drop-off, but I know Andrew Webster and his team will be working on that this week, so we won't see it become a pattern with the club.

Was it the best performance? No, but I thought there were still some positive aspects of what we saw, and while it's not the best platform to kick the season off, it's definitely not the worst.

It's early in the season, and there is no reason to panic. If they iron out some of the kinks, they will be back in the Winners Circle once again.

Before I move on, it was great to be back in a packed-out stadium again. Hopefully, we will get more sellouts in the future in Auckland; I know Christchurch is already sold out, but I expect the big crowds to continue to make their way to Penrose.

The Warrior's entrance is incredible to watch (although I prefer it when they run out to Ru Ana Te Whenua by Alien Weaponry instead of Welcome to the Jungle, as it was more unique to the Warriors, in my opinion).

And also I'm not a fan of the new game announcer who kind of killed the crowd, I'm not sure if he is the new man going forward, but if he is, hopefully, he will pick his game up.

It wasn't the best start to the season, but there were a few things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.

Match Positive

The forwards put in a massive effort with five of them running over 100 metres, Tohu Harris (237m), Addin Fonua-Blake (220m), Mitchell Barnett (174m), Dylan Walker (159m) and Jackson Ford (110m). The pack also ensured they had quick play the balls, which allowed the Warriors to play a faster style, which the Sharks struggled to contain. It needs to be something they can do for 80 minutes instead of 20, although Egan's exit didn't help matters.

The Warriors' defence was good, with only 19 misses. It is still something they can improve on, as a few lapses allowed the Sharks across the line, but they defused a lot of what the Sharks threw at them. It's early days, and with some new combinations still working things out, I expect the defensive game to become a key aspect of their climbing the ladder.

They played great for 20 minutes and then poor for 60 but were still in the fight right up to the final whistle; this is a good reflection of this side's character; when things started to go wrong, they didn't give up and kept trying. When they work out those things that went wrong, then they are going to win plenty of games, and in those tense games, when the result is on the edge of a knife, we know that they won't give up on the match or each other, which is championship team material.

However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.

Match Negatives

The team's attack was a bit stilted. There were moments when they looked electric, but there were plenty of moments when the team looked a little off. I am putting that down to the combinations that still need time to get in sync. It may take a few games, but when they click, they will be hard to stop, and the points will start to flow.

The team only made 9 errors, which isn't bad, as my target is single-digit errors, so they just squeezed in.

However, it was the locations and times the errors were made that were the issue; building momentum and then making an error just sucked the life out of the Warrior's attack, but just like above, I believe this will improve when the team gets used to the new combinations.

The exit of Wayde Egan was crushing, he came off around the 30th minute, and I'm still not sure if that was for a niggle or part of the gameplan, but the Warriors missed him out there, and the service out of the ruck just wasnt as quick when Lussick came out. Egans return to the match was shortlived, lasting only a tad over a minute when he injured his elbow. There still isn't an update on how bad it is; however, the Warriors could find themselves in some strife if he is out long-term, so I have my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

The injury to Egan and Kurt Capewell also threw the interchange plan out the window, resulting in Tom Ale not getting any minutes. Webster commented on it in the post-match interview, saying that the plan for Ale was to give him the final 15 minutes, but with one interchange left and Egan and Capewell gone, he had to make a choice, and with the game on the line, he choose to bring Addin Fonua-Blake back on which was the right decision. Sucks for Ale, but hopefully, he gets a chance to get on the pitch this week.

Warrior of the Match

My Warrior of the Match goes to Addin Fonua-Blake.

The news that AFB was leaving the Warriors early was disheartening, and his performance here truly showed how much the Warriors will miss him in 2025.

He played fewer minutes than we are used to, but it did not reduce his effort. In the 56 minutes he was on the pitch, he ran for 220 metres, had 63 post-contact minutes, and led the match with 2 linebreaks. He also made 23 tackles with no misses.

AFB is the cornerstone of the Warriors pack, and he will always be one of the top contributors every week. I expect that to continue until his last game with the club.

I want to see some of the younger boys in the pack try to get closer to his level, which is no easy feat.

Warrior to Improve

My Warrior to improve is Jackson Ford.

He delivered more than enough to avoid this section normally; he had 14 runs for 110 metres, led the Warriors in tackles with 38 and was giving his all.

However, he made three coach-killing errors, which halted all the pressure the Warriors had created. I like Ford and think he is a solid contributor to this side, but he is prone to errors and giving away silly penalties. Competition for spots is tight at the Warriors, so if he wants to keep his spot, he needs to decrease the number of turnovers he gives away.

Next Round Thoughts and Prediction

Round 2 sees the Warriors head across the ditch for the first time in 2024 to face the Melbourne Storm, who defeated the Penrith Panthers 8-0 in Round 1. 

Regarding the team I would pick, I would keep the same 17 if everyone is fit; there are still question marks around Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell being able to play.

If Egan is out, I would bring Chanel Harris-Tavita in to play hooker, either starting with Lussick on the bench or the other way around. If Capewell can't play, I would move Barnett to the 2nd row and Afoa to the starting row, with Jacob Laban coming onto the bench.

The Warriors have struggled against the Storm for a long time, with their last victory in Melbourne being in 2014. They were close to getting the job done last season and have the ability to end their Melbourne losing streak. If they can play with the same ruck speed they showed in the first 20 minutes against the Sharks and reduce those errors, they have a massive shot, especially against a Storm team that is still a bit rusty. Unfortunately, I think the Storm will be too strong at home, so I'm picking them to win by 8, but I hope I'm wrong.

So, that was a deflating Round 1, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.

Who was your player of the day?

How would your team look if Egan and Capewell are ruled out?

Has this loss changed your preseason thoughts?

What is your score prediction against the Storm?

NZ Warriors 2024 Season Preview: After 2023 do we Dare to Dream that this is the Year?

We are finally here. The NRL is back, and the Warriors Round 1 Match is now just days away.

This also means it's time for me to dust off the keyboard and get back into writing, so I will start the season with my prediction on how I see the Warriors going in 2024. As I did last year, I will break down my preview into sections outlining my views on the preseason and trial results, my key signing, the 2024 squad and my Gameday 17 before rounding it up with my 2024 ladder prediction.

As always, these are just my thoughts and opinions, and I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, too, so let me know what you think, and let's chat some footy.

Preseason News: The Weight of Expectation

After several years of coming into the season with less-than-optimistic thoughts, the 2024 season feels different. 

After an outstanding 2023 season that exceeded my expectations, the Warriors were just one game away from the Grand Final. They showed that they had improved tenfold but still needed some fine-tuning to be considered a premiership contender. Now, the Warriors come into 2024 with only a few changes on and off the pitch, which provides a steady platform for Andrew Webster's second year at the helm.

Off the field, the Warriors have been busy; with the exit of Assistant Coach Justin Morgan, they announced the promotion of Slade Griffin. Replacing Griffin as NSW Cup coach is David Tangata-Toa. They also officially launched their pathways with teams now involved in the Harold Matthews Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup, and the already-running SG Ball and NSW Cup sides. Shows that the Warriors are preparing for the future, which is essential for continued success, which is what we all want as Warriors fans. 

It is early days, of course, but with the development of some of the players from SG Ball last year, I am excited to see the new names that grow through the ranks.

The fan support was incredible last year and has not slowed down; the Warriors won the Halberg Award for New Zealand's favourite sporting moment of 2023 with their comeback win over the Sharks; this was an award decided by the public and further showed the support this club has gathered. We saw more proof of that with crowds of 14,000 and more at both trials and news of sellout games in Christchurch and Go Media stadium for the early rounds of the season weeks before the season starts.

We also saw the release of the Warriors 2023 Heritage Jersey, which proved popular as it sold out in 18 minutes.

The team has to get results on the pitch, of course, but if the fans show their support and get to the stadiums, it will make for an intimidating arena for the opposition, and I'm looking forward to being part of that atmosphere.

The roster hasn't changed as much as last year, but there have been some notable additions. I will keep that for my 2024 squad section below, however.

Lastly, let's talk about the trials.

The first preseason outing saw the Warriors travel to Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, where they went down 18-16 against the West Tigers.

This was a good hit out; plenty of the young players had a chance to shine, and the forwards had a challenge against a near full-strength Tigers. Losing Zyon Maiu'u at the 20-minute mark via a red card saw the Warriors play the remaining hour with only 12 men, which didn't help with assessing the team, but I liked the fight and defensive structure while being a man down. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck impressed with a solid outing with some nice runs and big defensive stops.

They kept their errors down and showed some nice moments with the ball in hand, almost stealing a win in the dying stages. 

Despite the loss, it was a good match, highlighting the talent in the young players just waiting for a chance to crack in first grade.

The final trial saw the Warriors return home to Go Media Stadium, where they defeated the Dolphins 34-22.

With almost all the big names back, this was our best chance to see how all the pieces would link together, and there was a lot to like; the inclusion of RTS on the left has increased the attacking potency on that edge, which means with the massive threat still existing on the right, the Warriors will keep plenty of defences guessing which is precisely what they need to do.

The pack were busy creating the platform for Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf to put players into space, there will still a few moments of mistimes passes but after few games together I am sure that cohesion will come. However, the Warriors still looked lethal, even with a few errors, attacking almost at will.

Defensively, they were sound, only missing 11, but there is always room for improvement.

Overall, it was an excellent way for the Warriors to end the preseason. The 2023 players still looked to be in the same form as last season, and Capewell and RTS have slotted in like they have always been there; Webster has already proven to know how to get these players performing, so I am expecting another step up from everyone in the roster which will make them a must-watch team.

Key Signing: Kurt Capewell

With the return of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, he looked like the surefire selection for this section, but then the Warriors announced the signing of Kurt Capewell.

We all know RTS will crush it, but the addition of Capewell could be just what the Warriors need.

He brings plenty of experience from his past four seasons at the Panthers and Broncos, including appearing in three Grand Finals. In 2023, he averaged 84 metres and 30 tackles a game, which may not be the most prolific statistics, but as we got to see in the second trial, a lot of Capewell's upside comes from what he is doing on the field when he is not holding the ball, he always manages to be exactly where the team needs him, which should prove to be a tremendous benefit to the Warriors 2024 campaign.
He is a bonafide winner and is exactly the type of player the Warriors need to help guide the young forwards within the club as they prepare for their first-grade opportunities. He is an excellent addition to the club, and I look forward to watching him help make this team a serious contender.

2024 Squad: Return of the Hot Stepper

The Warriors saw five players exit after the 2023 season, with Josh Curran, Bayley Sironen, Viliami Vailea. Brayden Wiliame and Ronald Volkman all leave. With a relatively balanced roster, the Warriors only added three players, Kurt Capewell and the returning Chanel Harris-Tavita and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The Warrior's depth is at an all-time high, with several seasoned players likely to miss out on regular first-grade football, and if the trials were anything to go by, quite a few youngsters are banging on the door for a spot in first grade. This is an excellent problem to have, as this competition for spots should lead to better individual performances.

I would still like to see another front rower added to the mix, especially with Addin Fonua-Blake exiting at the end of the year, I believe Marata Niukore could become a key figure in filling that hold, but I think another experienced prop can help while the young props get some much-needed time in reserve grade to prepare for the step up.

The backs look deadly on paper, and with RTS coming in at centre, the Warriors may have sorted their issue on the left edge as he is a dangerous attacking weapon and a sound defender. It is a new position for him, but from what I have seen in the trials, he will take to it like a duck to water.

Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey and Ali Leiataua will all be fighting for the other centre spot, and while Berry will get the honours early on, I expect Ali to get his chance and never look back.

Luke Metcalf has shown improvements in the aspect of his game that I had issues with last season, and this could be his year to shine alongside Shaun Johnson, who hopefully will continue his fine form in what could possibly be his final season.

For my Round One 17, trying to get all the pieces to fit was a struggle.

With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad out with injury, I have gone with Taine Tuaupiki at fullback, joined by last year's wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Marcelo Montoya. My centres are Rocco Berry and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. My halves pairing is Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf, who won me over in the trials.

In the forwards, I essentially went with last year's pack. My starting front row is Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan and Mitchell Barnett. My second row is Jackson Ford and Kurt Capewell, and that is based on Andrew Webster's comments about Ford being a better starter than a bench option. Then my lock is Tohu Harris because, of course.

The bench was a doozy, with so many options to choose from, but I have gone with the bald brothers Dylan Walker and Jazz Tevaga. I then selected Marata Niukore and Tom Ale as my additional props. It was a coin toss between Ale and Bunty Afoa, who both did well in the first trial, but I didn't get to see enough of them in the second, so I went with Ale, who has more upside.

It all depends on what Webster plans to do with Egan; if he wants to give him some time off the field each week to keep him healthy, I will bring Freddy Lussick in to replace Tevaga.

My 2024 Prediction

Continuing my season preview trend, I was wrong with my prediction last season when I said the Warriors would finish tenth.

It's a mixed bag across the ditch with the NRL Pundits; some have high hopes for the Warriors, while others are predicting a big slide, claiming last year's meteoric rise was a flash-in-the-pan fluke.

With that settled squad, RTS and Capewell added, and plenty of self-belief earned after last season's effort, I go into 2024 more confident than I have in some time.

Looking over the Warriors 2024 draw, It seems more favourable than 2023, but in the first 11 rounds, they face every other 2023 top-eight sides (Knights twice, Sharks, Storm, Raiders, Roosters and Panthers). From Round 12 to Round 27 they face top eight sides four times (Storm, Broncos, Raiders and Sharks) and have thier three byes, including having thier last bye in the final round which depending on thier ladder position could prove be a perfect time to rest up the squad before finals.

I don't want to seem dismissive of the Sharks, but the Round 2 match against the Storm will be the true measuring stick for the Warriors' potential early on; it has been an age since the Warriors have beaten the Storm, especially in Melbourne so a win here would really turn some heads.

Leading into the Round 11 Magic Round match against the Panthers, the Warriors could find themselves in a good spot with a potential 8-2 or 7-3 win-loss record; then, with an on-paper easier run home, we want to see the Warriors turn up the intensity as opposed to what happened last year where they kind of plateaued against the lower level teams in the runs to the finals.

If they can start the season strong, stay injury-free, and string some wins together throughout the origin period and at the back end of the season, then staying in the top four for the second year in a row is a real possibility.

The roster has improved, the team is confident and has self-belief, and the fans are all aboard the hype train, so all signs are pointing to a good season. My prediction is that the Warriors will end the regular season in 4th place, and I believe that they will reach their third-ever Grand Final.

What I want to see out of this side is for them to go to the next level, they showed that they could compete with the teams sitting below them on the ladder, this year I want to see them go toe to toe with the Panthers, Broncos and Storm.

So, let's bring on the new season. The Warriors have a great opportunity to make history this year, and it all starts at home, so I will be there in what should be another fantastic atmosphere for what should be a great match and, hopefully, a win against the Sharks.

Once again, I will be writing game reviews every week, releasing them every Monday throughout the season. I will also be looking at writing match previews, which will come out either Tuesday night or Wednesday. So we get to discuss more footy than usual this season; I will also be going to all the Warriors games being played in New Zealand, so if you are at the game, come say hi.

I'm also continuing to host my show, The Stand-Off, on New Zealand Sport Radio with my good friend Richie every Wednesday night at 8pm NZ time, so come join us there as we discuss everything going on in League and answer your questions live. I am sure that I will still be joining several other podcasts that work on Warriors content throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye or ear out for me on all platforms.

If you like what I do here, please share my blog with your friends and comment on how you think the season is going.

So that's my take on the Warriors' upcoming season, and I just can't wait for Round One. As usual, I will leave you with some questions.

How do you think RTS will go as a centre?
Which player do you think will be the standout performer?
Who would be in your gameday 17?
Where do you think the Warriors will finish in 2024?