Diary of a Warriors fan
The Bulldogs aye? They kinda epitomise how we all want the Warriors to play - tough, hard nosed but with plenty of skill and execution.
It's not surprise that twice in a few months we've been beaten by the Dogs, despite me feeling pretty happy after the loss. A win, albeit a rather undeserved win was within our grasp until a super duper tackle from Josh Morris on Shaun Johnson and we would have been celebrating the fact that the Warriors won one of those matches that you shouldn't win, but you somehow do.
Not against the Bulldogs though. When you make that many errors and don't match up physically, it's always going to be tough but the lads hung in there and almost when back up the Waikato river with a few points in the bag.
The return of Sam Rapira can't come soon enough. We saw that the Warriors were a bit light, which was only highlighted by the Bulldogs size and aggressive nature. With Jacob Lillyman in probably the form of his life, definitely worthy of an Queensland call up, Rapira is needed. He's needed to A) replace Lillyman or B) join him. A team with Rapira and Lillyman starting, Suaia Matagi off the bench and Ben Matulino on the edge is decent.
I love Ben Matulino on the edge.
Anyway, he's injured. It was a great opportunity for Sebastine Ikaahihifo to step up and continue his rise, but he didn't. Neither did Sione Lousi. Better games from those two and we might have emerged the victor.
Another interesting thing is that the Warriors seem to be the bullied, not the bully far too often. The Dogs are the best bully team, I mean even their smallest bloke plays a perfect bully - Josy Reynolds. We seemed bullied throughout the game, both physically and in terms of game control.
I've reserved judgment on Feleti Mateo for a while now, I feel like he has so much to offer the Warriors BUT, when the second rotation goes in there isn't much go forward. Mateo is a part of that. I hope we start to see him impact the game how I want him to - provide variety, options and skillful execution of plays, but with the bench they had, the Warriors simply needed muscle. We've seen time and again that that's not Mateo does.
It's still all good. The lads defended their hearts out and did their best. In the end they were just outplayed and out-coached.
Hats off to Warriors management for re-signing Nathan Friend as well. Many don't see the purpose of Friend, but he's the man. It's a common sense signing. We have a fine young dummy half in Siliva Havili who has plenty to learn and we have a smart, tough, utter professional in Friend. Credit where it's due.