Diary of a Warriors fan
Frustration isn't a new word in the vocabulary of any Warriors fan. It's a word that features all too heavily.
It is good however that against the Dragons, the Warriors displayed some defensive fortitude, some effort to hold the Dragons out especially limiting the impact of Gareth Widdop.
It looked like Andrew McFadden had said "you guys are competing for spots, the guys who make the squad will be the guys who put actual (not even 100% just some sort of effort) effort in to the little things - line speed, kick pressure, running hard etc. And well it was good to see the likes of Shaun Johnson using his speed to make a quick 15m, it was good to see Sebastine Ikahihifo ripping in like a mad man and it was good to see Dominque Peyroux ensuring that the Dragons kickers didn't have an easy pass.
There looked to be a genuine response to the coach. Cool, yey and awesome.
It's a chicken and the egg situation though. Do you lay the foundation of basic effort, attitude and 1%ers or do you rely on the skill, flair and excitement to get you in games then the 1%ers to win them? I dunno but if you're playing the Warriors, you're not too fussed about what they're going to offer at the moment. They threw plenty of shots at the Dragons, or did they? Every time the got down their end a bomb to the corner would be the result. Fair enough when you have two very real aerial threats in Manu Vatuvei and David Fusitua. But all the best teams will either offer variety with their threats or atleast run the ball and then kick ... and even then you're kicking to two of the most solid wingers in the game - Jason Nightingale and Brett Morris.
That is just one example of the frustration. Others include not being able to execute plays, consistent poor defensive reads and a reliance on individual brilliance like Manu's effort and Sam Tomkins' try.
And Dane Nielsen, I've had your back for a while but shit son.
I feel like it's ok though. I think the Cowboys are similar ... it just isn't clicking at the moment. Well against the Dragons nothing clicked. We're still searching for our best line up, our identity and our style.
For what it's worth, here's my line up moving forward.
Sam Tomkins, David Fusitua (until the return of Kevin Locke), Ngani Laumape, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Jacob Lillyman, Jayson Bukuya, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering.
Suaia Matagi, Thomas Leuluai, Charlie Gubb, Sione Lousi/Ben Henry.
The Warriors simply need as many weapons as they can out on the field. It will take a dramatic shift for them to be able hold teams to 10 points a game, but if they can score 20+ then they'll win their fair share.
The time for experimentation is drawing to an end. Time waits for no man and they need to establish a top line up asap, then work around that.