Warriors can't rely on big name signings for quick fix, says Ben Ikin
The game-breaking abilities of
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke won't be enough to fix the Warriors' problems, believes former Kangaroos and Queensland star Ben Ikin.
The two big Warriors signings for the new season, which starts on Thursday when the Eels host the Broncos, will certainly add to the team's attacking capabilities, but Ikin says it's not a part of their game that needed improving.
"While I've got great admiration for the two players, who are both brilliant and most well known for their attacking prowess, I don't think the ability to score points has been an issue for the Warriors in the past," said Ikin, who hosts the NRL 360 show on Sky TV.
"What needs to be embraced there is the ability to get into the grind, not just for 80 minutes of a game, but the entirety of a season.
"The upside to the Warriors has alway been so high, but the drama has been that the gap between their best and worst performances has been far too great.
"For me, the key for the Warriors to be successful, will be getting into the arm wrestle, staying in it and what they do when they haven't got the ball.
"If they can get that right then they have a strong foundation to build from."
Daryl Halligan, who'll be part of Sky's commentary game for Warriors games this season, says hype is something the club has always had to deal with before each season, but the time has come for them to win the Premiership.
"The Cowboys entered the competition in the same year as the Warriors in 1995 and they finally cracked it last year," Halligan said.
"So the Warriors are out on a precipice on their own now. But I don't think they can afford to get off to a poor start, with the weight of expectation.
"The roster is the best they've had over the last five to six years, so there's everything to look forward to."
As for who'll be in this year's grand final, Ikin and Halligan have differing opinions.
"I've gone for a Broncos v Storm final," Ikin said.
"I've got huge respect for Craig Bellamy and that organisation.
"Billy Slater is going to come back fresh and Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith have still got a lot of quality football in them.
"The Cowboys will be thereabouts and I've got them as a top-four side. But there is a bit more upside in the Broncos this year and the Cowboys were a roster ready to win under Paul Green last year.
"But with the improvement I think there will be in a number of the young Broncos' side, I can see them making it."
Ikin predicts the Sharks to be the other team in the top four.
"They're a side that's battle-hardened and potentially got the strike power to go with it," he said.
"I'm a big Andrew Fifita fan, there aren't too many front rowers since Arthur Beetson who've been able to do what he does. He's a big guy, hugely talented and has that X-factor.
"I'm loving the development of Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird, while James Maloney and
Chad Townsend will be a formidable halves pairing and of course with Paul Gallen as the middle forward, they're a pretty well-rounded team."
Halligan is going for a Bulldogs v Broncos final, with the Warriors making the top four.
"There are so many factors in this competition and there will be a couple of smokeys," he said.
"Cronulla can be an outside chance, you don't know what's going to happen with the Rabbitohs and Roosters, who've been good for the past few years.
"Manly will be interesting, they've lost a lot of players and will the new players gel?
"But I honestly don't think it would be another all Queensland grand final, I'd definitely bet against that."
Ikin also says a line can be drawn through the Knights, Titans and Tigers.
"They're the only three teams I can't make a case for to be in the top eight," he said.
"I still doubted the Eels, even with Kieran Foran, Beau Scott and Michael Gordon coming across, but the moment they picked up Michael Jennings, I thought 'wow, that's a roster.'
"If Foran plays his best footy this year, they're going to go north in a hurry."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...big-name-signings-for-quick-fix-says-ben-ikin
Mid table is pretty accurate most yeas unfortunately.
