Will EvansSeason Preview 2009 - New Zealand Warriors
March 10th 2009 07:21
New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors' late-season rally in 2008 and subsequent charge through the finals was one of the highlights of the centenary season. From a seemingly hopeless position in the NRL cellar, the Kiwi-based side won eight of their last ten regular season games to scrape into eighth spot. They then became the first side in NRL history to beat the minor premiers in the first week of the finals, pipping reigning champs Melbourne with a thrilling last-gasp win, before backing it up with a powerful victory over the Roosters a week later. Eventual premiers Manly disposed of the Warriors comfortably in the preliminary final, but their heroics in the back half of 2008 has expectations over the Tasman at an all-time high. The pre-season drowning of rising forward Sonny Fai has devastated the club, but the tragedy has steeled the Warriors to win a maiden premiership for their lost brother. Astute buying in the off-season has New Zealand primed for an assault, with the best-equipped squad in the club's history giving them every chance to lift the trophy.
Strengths: Fantastic depth. The return of Kiwi legend Stacey Jones gives the Warriors unprecedented depth in the halves and hooker positions, to the extent where Grant Rovelli was released in the off-season, while the club are also looking to offload ace goalkicking pivot Michael Witt. Coach Cleary has a wealth of options in the outside backs, which should allow Simon Mannering to return permanently to the back-row. In new signing Denan Kemp, 2008 international winger of the year Manu Vatuvei, and game-breaking fullback Wade McKinnon, the Warriors have a back-three to rival any in the competition. New Zealand are also developing a fearsome reputation at Mt Smart Stadium.
Weaknesses: Still struggle on the road. They took until Round 12 last year to register their first away win, and despite a form reversal in the second half of 2008, the Warriors still only managed four aways victories for the year. The club's upset at the notorious graveyard of Melbourne's Olympic Park during the finals will have given confidence levels an almighty boost.
Recruitment: One of the most active clubs in the market this off-season, and appear to have bought very wisely. Kemp was signed just before he exploded into a tryscoring machine last year, and his Broncos' team-mate, utility back Joel Moon, is looking like a handy pick-up after some impressive trial form, and has the inside running to start round 1 at five-eighth. Origin forward Jacob Lillyman and under-rated former Knight Jesse Royal add to the Warriors already outstanding engine-room depth. They are in the running to sign Kiwi international Greg Eastwood if he is unable to overcome visa problems currently preventing him joining Leeds. Besides inspirational leader Ruben Wiki, all of the players that departed the club at the end of last year were expendable.
Youth brigade: The Warriors have a clutch of outstanding youngsters demanding NRL selection, particularly in the forward ranks. Russel Packer, Sam Rapira and Ben Matulino are destined to become integral members of the club's pack in 2009, while several players from the club's 2008 Toyota Cup squad that reached the preliminary finals are waiting in the wings for an opportunity.
Rep drain: At least six Warriors can expect to be selected for the Kiwis in the Anzac Test, while Steve Price and Brent Tate are incumbent Kangaroos. But a bye on the Test weekend means the impact of a large representation will be muted. Price and Tate are Queensland certainties, while Kemp and Michael Luck are on the cusp of Maroons' selection, with Lillyman an outside chance. Given Brett Stewart's recent troubles, Wade McKinnon could storm into contention for the NSW fullback spot.
X-factor: While the players are using the memory of Sonny Fai to ride a wave of controlled emotion to the grand final, the tragedy has the potential to derail the Warriors year. When Penrith won the 1991 premiership, the club appeared to be on the brink of a dynasty. But the death young utility Ben Alexander - younger brother of skipper and future foundation Warrior Greg - in a car accident saw the club disintegrate over the course of the following few seasons. But few clubs are as tight-knit as the Warriors, and with a professional culture that has been built up by Cleary and co., Steve Price and his charges should be able to honour Fai's memory with their best-ever year.
Under pressure: McKinnon is one of the Warriors strike weapons from fullback, but owes his club a big year after a wretched 2008. A serious knee injury kept him out of action for most of the season, before a (incredibly lenient) suspension for spitting at a referee after only a couple of games back left him sidelined until the preliminary final. Lillyman has his hands full claiming a spot in the Warriors top-17, and desperately needs to reproduce the form that saw him earn his Origin spurs after only 14 first grade appearances, or risk spending the year in the NSW Cup with the Auckland Vulcans.
Ready to explode: Denan Kemp is primed for a massive year playing outside gun centre Brent Tate after his breakthrough season in 2008. He crossed for 19 tries last year, including a match-winning four-try haul against Parramatta just days after he signed for the Warriors, and crossed for brilliant touchdowns in consecutive finals against Sydney and Melbourne. Although small in stature, the junior soccer star has superb strength, great positional sense, and a polished defensive game. Will slot seamlessly into fullback if McKinnon goes on another spitting rampage.
Predictions: The Warriors have the most well-balanced side in their history, and deserve their place on the third line of betting amongst the favourites for the 2009 premiership. With Stacey Jones back at the helm of one of the NRL's most impressive backlines and warhorse captain Steve Price leading a skillful and hungry forward pack, New Zealand have every right to set their sights on a premiership. Only a bad run of injuries or an inability to cure their road woes seem likely to stop the Warriors from being among the top contenders this season.
2nd and beaten preliminary finallists
The Warriors' late-season rally in 2008 and subsequent charge through the finals was one of the highlights of the centenary season. From a seemingly hopeless position in the NRL cellar, the Kiwi-based side won eight of their last ten regular season games to scrape into eighth spot. They then became the first side in NRL history to beat the minor premiers in the first week of the finals, pipping reigning champs Melbourne with a thrilling last-gasp win, before backing it up with a powerful victory over the Roosters a week later. Eventual premiers Manly disposed of the Warriors comfortably in the preliminary final, but their heroics in the back half of 2008 has expectations over the Tasman at an all-time high. The pre-season drowning of rising forward Sonny Fai has devastated the club, but the tragedy has steeled the Warriors to win a maiden premiership for their lost brother. Astute buying in the off-season has New Zealand primed for an assault, with the best-equipped squad in the club's history giving them every chance to lift the trophy.
Strengths: Fantastic depth. The return of Kiwi legend Stacey Jones gives the Warriors unprecedented depth in the halves and hooker positions, to the extent where Grant Rovelli was released in the off-season, while the club are also looking to offload ace goalkicking pivot Michael Witt. Coach Cleary has a wealth of options in the outside backs, which should allow Simon Mannering to return permanently to the back-row. In new signing Denan Kemp, 2008 international winger of the year Manu Vatuvei, and game-breaking fullback Wade McKinnon, the Warriors have a back-three to rival any in the competition. New Zealand are also developing a fearsome reputation at Mt Smart Stadium.
Weaknesses: Still struggle on the road. They took until Round 12 last year to register their first away win, and despite a form reversal in the second half of 2008, the Warriors still only managed four aways victories for the year. The club's upset at the notorious graveyard of Melbourne's Olympic Park during the finals will have given confidence levels an almighty boost.
Recruitment: One of the most active clubs in the market this off-season, and appear to have bought very wisely. Kemp was signed just before he exploded into a tryscoring machine last year, and his Broncos' team-mate, utility back Joel Moon, is looking like a handy pick-up after some impressive trial form, and has the inside running to start round 1 at five-eighth. Origin forward Jacob Lillyman and under-rated former Knight Jesse Royal add to the Warriors already outstanding engine-room depth. They are in the running to sign Kiwi international Greg Eastwood if he is unable to overcome visa problems currently preventing him joining Leeds. Besides inspirational leader Ruben Wiki, all of the players that departed the club at the end of last year were expendable.
Youth brigade: The Warriors have a clutch of outstanding youngsters demanding NRL selection, particularly in the forward ranks. Russel Packer, Sam Rapira and Ben Matulino are destined to become integral members of the club's pack in 2009, while several players from the club's 2008 Toyota Cup squad that reached the preliminary finals are waiting in the wings for an opportunity.
Rep drain: At least six Warriors can expect to be selected for the Kiwis in the Anzac Test, while Steve Price and Brent Tate are incumbent Kangaroos. But a bye on the Test weekend means the impact of a large representation will be muted. Price and Tate are Queensland certainties, while Kemp and Michael Luck are on the cusp of Maroons' selection, with Lillyman an outside chance. Given Brett Stewart's recent troubles, Wade McKinnon could storm into contention for the NSW fullback spot.
X-factor: While the players are using the memory of Sonny Fai to ride a wave of controlled emotion to the grand final, the tragedy has the potential to derail the Warriors year. When Penrith won the 1991 premiership, the club appeared to be on the brink of a dynasty. But the death young utility Ben Alexander - younger brother of skipper and future foundation Warrior Greg - in a car accident saw the club disintegrate over the course of the following few seasons. But few clubs are as tight-knit as the Warriors, and with a professional culture that has been built up by Cleary and co., Steve Price and his charges should be able to honour Fai's memory with their best-ever year.
Under pressure: McKinnon is one of the Warriors strike weapons from fullback, but owes his club a big year after a wretched 2008. A serious knee injury kept him out of action for most of the season, before a (incredibly lenient) suspension for spitting at a referee after only a couple of games back left him sidelined until the preliminary final. Lillyman has his hands full claiming a spot in the Warriors top-17, and desperately needs to reproduce the form that saw him earn his Origin spurs after only 14 first grade appearances, or risk spending the year in the NSW Cup with the Auckland Vulcans.
Ready to explode: Denan Kemp is primed for a massive year playing outside gun centre Brent Tate after his breakthrough season in 2008. He crossed for 19 tries last year, including a match-winning four-try haul against Parramatta just days after he signed for the Warriors, and crossed for brilliant touchdowns in consecutive finals against Sydney and Melbourne. Although small in stature, the junior soccer star has superb strength, great positional sense, and a polished defensive game. Will slot seamlessly into fullback if McKinnon goes on another spitting rampage.
Predictions: The Warriors have the most well-balanced side in their history, and deserve their place on the third line of betting amongst the favourites for the 2009 premiership. With Stacey Jones back at the helm of one of the NRL's most impressive backlines and warhorse captain Steve Price leading a skillful and hungry forward pack, New Zealand have every right to set their sights on a premiership. Only a bad run of injuries or an inability to cure their road woes seem likely to stop the Warriors from being among the top contenders this season.
2nd and beaten preliminary finallists
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