Doesn't it feel good to merely watch a Warriors team that offers a slither of pride in your loins?

Pride and excitement are very different. We've had Warriors teams that fill us with excitement, entertainment and joy, yet pride touches the heart; I'm proud that this team/club represents me. Round one is the first step in a long journey and watching how the Australian media get their knickers in a twist about teams, or Origin selections after round one is funny, but solely based on the round one Warriors win over the Rabbitohs, I was left feeling proud.

What made me proud?

The breathing thing - open minds to different ideas and an idea that legit makes sense with the Warriors.

Players running harder, finding their bellies and swiftly playing the footy.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck leading - we know this guy is already a NRL gun and his offensive work ain't new, even that bread-basket last pass try assist that he threw ain't new as he did stuff like that for the Roosters. The try-saver and his reaction early in the game set the tone though and that's leadership, not only in terms of defensive effort but also 'let's have fun, enjoy doing this footy thing'.

Funky attacking plays and structures that produced points.

Finally Shaun Johnson can chill and do what he does best while Blake Green runs the show.
Blake Green can kick 40/20s.

I was proud to see the new recruits all do exactly what they were brought in to do, hence I was/am optimistic while others were crying about poor recruitment.

There's more leaders, there are more strong voices and leaders who lead with actions.

Aggressive edge defence - same as last year, just with a few better players and another off-season of training this (centre/wing jam up, with edge forward/half/middles wrapping in behind to cover the guys jamming).

Despite the Rabbitohs having 70 percent possession after 28 minutes, the Warriors dominated the period before half-time and after half-time. I'm proud that they are fit enough to do so, after holding the Bunnies out with lots of defence.

I'm proud that the Warriors had 79 percent completion rate, in their first game of 2018.

And that the Warriors spent the same amount of time (16:39mins for Rabs vs 16:54 for Waz) as the Rabbitohs in their opponent's 20m, but came away with more points.

The Rabbtiohs were forced to work hard coming out of their own end thanks to having two legit kicking options.

Here's some screen shots about that stuff and another funky stuff I noticed during the game...

Look how far Tuivasa-Sheck had to boost for that early try-saver:

Good numbers involved in the try-saver that followed as well:

The first try was a bomb to the left and note that Adam Blair has moved over to the left, solely to join in the kick-chase:

This gives the Warriors numbers around the contest for the bomb and guess who receives the pass from Solomone Kata, then passing to Isaiah Papalii?

People talk shit about Blair's metre-eating (8 runs/68m), but that's not specifically his job with the footy. Yes he offloads, but he gets the Warriors to spots on the field and earns a quick play the ball. Here Blair runs into the Burgess boys, in the middle of the park after a penalty on the left, Blair ain't making big metres against the Burgess boys but he plays it quickly and the Warriors roll down that right edge in the plays that follow:

One play down the right and on the next play, the Warriors run a sublime short-side play that only features their right edge players (Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris, Peta Hiku and David Fusitu'a). Harris effectively plays the role of a fullback with Hiku as the decoy runner, which is a combination of glorious play design and Harris flexing his footy ability:

In this shot below, Blair is in a position to stop an offload back in-field and he tells Solomone Kata to take the legs. That's two birds, one stone:

How about Sam Lisone's try? Play design yet again folks and Lisone runs a sublime line, drifting to the outside shoulder of Isaiah Papalii which is bloody difficult. It's the thought put into this play that really impresses me though as the line is great, but most teams would assume that Tuivasa-Sheck is going to get the footy:

Green telling Papalii what's up after Papalii made an error:

Compact defensive set up here:

And when Alex Johnston tries to cut back inside, the Warriors have worked hard on the inside to stay engaged:

Bunty Afoa flopping on his front to earn a quickie:

Shout outs to the trainer for untying Hiku's boot lace, ensuring that it was ready for Hiku. That's low key everyone chiming in to help out, beautiful:

After this Hiku break, they plow down the right and SIT BACK OFF JOHNSON AT YOUR PERIL:

Green talking some shit:

Issac Luke (who was great and earned a fab repeat set via a grubber) adding value before half-time:

It may not look like much but Johnson got the footy from broken play and threw it out to Afoa. Johnson and Afoa knew exactly what was happening and they executed a wrap-around. The instinct to do so made me feel like this was somewhat planned, like 'if Shaun throws you the footy and sprints at you, wrap that shit':

Love this! Harris goes to the line and Lisone is there on his hip - Harris steps off his left with the option of the pass:

Ken Maumalo's try start with Green and Johnson lined up together, but Green went on to throw a pass back to Tuivasa-Sheck who slid left. Borderline unstoppable attacking formation:

After Ken Maumalo's try, a commentator (can't remember who) said how Tuivasa-Sheck turned the corner to straighten up, while Johnston slides across field. All it took was Tuivasa-Sheck looking up for a jiffy and Gagai has to respect his running game, as soon as Gagai adjusts, Tuivasa-Sheck flings a bread-basket-cut-out:

This is off a tap from a penalty, Harris bursted forward as if he were taking a standard re-start hit up but puts Hiku in a hole:

Green telling the boys to chill after earning a pen:

This may appear to be silly, but Johnson rushing up at the point where the Rabbitohs have loaded up their attacking structure throws a spanner in the mix. Hiku follows and the insides eventually catch up, which is far better than Johnson and Hiku sitting back, waiting for the move, especially with Johnson's speed as he can get up quickly and recover quickly: