NZ Warriors will leave no stone unturned in review of dismal NRL season
DAVID LONG
Last updated 05:00, September 6 2015
The New Zealand Warriors will embark on a complete review of what's happened this season, with boss Jim Doyle calling on everyone to be open and frank.
Doyle admits the results this season, particularly the past seven weeks, have been unacceptable and every single member of the playing roster and off-field staff will get their chance to have a say.
And Doyle says to take the club forward it's vital that people don't hold back.
"It's critical that when we do reviews and get feedback from all areas of the business, that we have a good honest discussion, so that we can improve," Doyle said.
"That's really important because this year's performances aren't acceptable and we've got to make sure we don't put ourselves in the same position again.
"From a club point of view, we'll do a complete season review and look at everything we've done across the whole organisation. We'll look at what needs to improve and how we do that."
Doyle says they will examine the players' statistics for the season and continue to bolster their roster for next year.
"We're in the market right now to recruit in people in regards to recruitment and development, as well as physios and strength and conditioning.
"So we'll finalise all of that and then put together our budget and plans for next year."
The players will be the first to have reviews and each one will be given instructions on what they need to do over the off-season to keep themselves in good shape.
The first batch of players for the Kiwis tour to England will be named early this week, with players whose clubs didn't make the top eight being announced.
Those players will be given a three-week break before they start training again and it's possible that only Simon Mannering and Ben Matulino will make it from the Warriors.
Despite the disappointment, the players will still have a Mad Monday, although Mannering says it will be a low-key affair.
"We'll have a get together, I don't think it will be too mad," the Warriors skipper said.
"It'll be quiet, you do need to have a get together, so you're all with each other for the final time as a team and then have a rest."
The player who has been most openly critical of what's happened at the end of the season has been Ryan Hoffman. He was used to much higher standards of player accountability and professionalism at the Storm and wanted to see the same at his new club.
"Certainly it's not a stab at individuals and we're all encompassing as a team," Hoffman said of his comments.
"Everyone's on the boat here and we all contribute to a win or a loss.
"It's an honest assessment of where we need to get to as a club.
"I know all of the players recognise that as well and being honest is just a part of us becoming the team we should be."
The Warriors recently announced that they are looking at a mentor for Andrew McFadden next year. It's something that John Hart did with Ivan Cleary when he was at the club.
However, the former All Blacks coach says he not looking at making a return.
"I think highly of Andrew McFadden and Jim Doyle," Hart said.
"They've got a very good combination and they'll work out what they need in due course, but the club is in pretty good hands.
"It's obviously been a difficult ride over the last seven weeks and there have been a combination of factors, injuries and losing top players and a lot of young players being exposed. But I've got a lot of confidence in what they've got and I'm sure they'll bring it right."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...stone-unturned-in-review-of-dismal-nrl-season
