Diary Of A Warriors Fan - What's The Warriors' Identity?
The question that Warriors fans around the world need to ask themselves can be found in the title above - what is the Warriors' identity?
Lost amongst the knee-jerk reaction to Billy Moore's insensitive comments was how the Warriors haven't played anything that resembles a 'coconut' style of footy. Let's not beat around the bush here: we know what Moore meant, but in all honesty it's merely a cliched approach to describing the Warriors, similar to the big forward pack myth that many 'experts' still fall back on.
In a rather troubling loss to the Sharks over the weekend, the Warriors struggled to execute whatever the fuck they were trying to execute. If passes weren't so far off the mark that they hindered any progress, the plays that they rolled through offered no potency and lacked the creativity of the NRL's best.
This was exactly how I felt earlier in the season and it's the most worrying aspect of the Warriors right now. Regardless of who's on the field, the ball-carrier never has support when running the footy, heavily structured block-plays are used and they have this unique ability to consistently run the same sort of play despite not getting any sort of result.
In the second half I saw Chad Townsend and Sam Tomkins put up three or four bombs down the right, which all came to nothing. One even resulted in a penalty to the Sharks because Solomone Kata decided to blatantly tackle Ben Barba while he was in the air, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - he was probably frustrated.
You could nit-pick a bunch of different cases where the same thing was tried over and over again with no result. One of the major issues is highlighted when you watch the Warriors play and then are able to watch another couple games soon after (or before), because you see what is capable when teams are all in on a particular style of play.
Whether it's Manly's structure which is based around creative plays or the Cowboys who, besides having the game's best player, also rely on Jake Granville and Michael Morgan who play what they see in front of them. The Warriors look a bit confused and if they aren't confused, they look to be simply not as good as the NRL's best both on the field and in the coaches box.
Without Shaun Johnson, Tuimoala Lolohea was largely left high and dry. I guess Andrew McFadden wanted to switch things up and give Chad Townsend the reigns, which is fair, but Townsend's performance only had Warriors fans hi-5ing each other that he won't be there next season. I would have loved to have seen Lolohea given the same freedom that Johnson has where he's given the ball in one-on-one situations or with a bit of space and can make stuff happen off-the-cuff.
But we got none of that.
Instead of Lolohea being shown confidence, much of the play-making duties were given to Townsend and Sam Tomkins. After this game neither Townsend or Tomkins will fill Warriors fans with confidence that they can make the eight, especially as they already have nice deals lined up for next season.
Sure, Valentine Holmes is quick...
But c'mon Koni
When have you seen the Warriors complete 32/37 sets and put in such a lacklustre attacking performance?
The fact that EVERYONE except Albert Vete, Simon Mannering and Sam Lisone missed at least one tackle also doesn't make for good reading.
We can definitely rule out the defence-first identity or culture that has showed signs of peaking through since McFadden took over. Missed tackles and poor defensive reads need desperately to be fixed ahead of the Dragons, but I'm not sure if that can be done?
Things will definitely not be helped if McFadden once again chops and changes with his line-up. I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that a rotating cast has hindered the progress of the Warriors, which obviously takes into account injuries and suspension. Guys are being dropped and brought back up to first grade with what seems to be a lack of thought given to how this might impact the team.
Whether it's Sebastine Ikahihifo being yo-yo'd or whether it's Konrad Hurrell and Solomone Kata being switched from their usual sides, shit is weird and there's only one bloke who can take responsibility there.
The last bitching point - why take two points when you can't defend your try line? The Warriors clearly weren't on point in attack, but the Sharks are also a handy defensive side who will grind it out with the best. Instead of maybe going the other direction and playing with flair, a bit of razzle dazzle, the Warriors stepped into that grind despite being an inferior defensive team. Again, a bit weird.
If the Warriors can turn things around from this point on, it will come thanks to Albert Vete, Sam Lisone and Charlie Gubb. These guys are young forwards who play with the required energy and aggression needed in the NRL - when they are on the field, you notice them.
They also play on both sides of the ball, which can't be said about fellow youngster Raymond Faitala-Mariner. He's proving to be a hefty runner, but was a liability on defence against the Sharks. However, in all four of these guys there is immense power carrying the ball and that's what I want the Warriors to recognise for the remainder of 2015.
Power and skill. That's what the Warriors' identity for 2015 can be (I'm completely ignoring 2016 intentionally) - run hard, off-load and throw the ball around ... and hope that you make your tackles.
Otherwise, I don't see much hope.