General Warriors Preseason 2020

[Vancent]

Incidentally, I heard from a contact a couple of months back that Justin Morgan had been brought into the Warriors set-up directly by Cameron George and is likely the back-up plan should Kearney get flicked early during the 2020 season.

Was that before or after Brown surfaced?

 

[Raw Power]

If anyone feels reassured or has taken any positives from what we've seen over the offseason, then you've got far rosier glasses than I have. A dismal performance in the 9s, followed up by two trial losses - including a decent spanking by a club most likely to finish in the bottom half of the ladder - and none of the so-called emerging stars (Perham, Chanel Harris-Tavita, and co) looked threatening. Anyone remember how lethal a young Konnie was when he burst into first grade? Or Shaun Johnson? They were devastating. I haven't seen much about this new crop that suggests they'll be anything other than very average first graders.

After last year's debacle, what Kearney, George and co. needed more than anything was a pre-season full of wins - from a PR perspective particularly. With Smith and Corvo gone, just two signings - none of note - and apparently a new-found desire to play positive footy, this was the perfect opportunity to showcase the touted 'changes'. I don't know about anyone else, but it looked to me like it was just more of the same. The players didn't look any fitter, the style didn't look any more adventurous, and the positional changes didn't do much to inspire confidence.

Yes, I get that I'm invariably negative about the current state of the club. I wish I wasn't. I've followed the Warriors since 95 and I've been fortunate to have some great connections within the club along the way that have at times filled me with hope, and at others, with despair. But I think until SK is gone, and a wide sweep is made through the coaching team, everything is just window dressing. The flaws start at the top, and no amount of spin can hide the fact that Kearney is a very poor coach, with an equally poor record.

Seriously, how would anyone expect players to buy into the coaching philosophy of someone with a winning record of 35.7%? To put that into context, even the perpetually maligned Paul McGregor wins nearly half of all games he coaches

While Kearney is in charge, I struggle to find any reasons to be optimistic about the direction the club is going down.

summed it up for me Robbie M... since 95 and even before then, following the Footy... I have never been so disillusioned and not looked forward to a season as much as now! Thank God for Kiwi test matches you can now watch with pride!

 

[Weno]

Till the lights go out.

I'm ALL IN.

 

[Raw Power]

Till the lights go out.

I'm ALL IN.

All good Weno, respect that... but the lights are on and nobody seems to be home

 

[Geoff Public]

And yet Brandon Smith could be a top 5 hooker tomorrow if he were put there.

Jerome Hughes excels regardless of whether he's in the halves or fullback.

Our guys seem to hit a point where they just flatten out and don't improve. Whether it's poor development or something with the player, so many of our guys continually fail to make the leap to first grade and when they do they're solid at best.

I don't think your examples are entirely fair. The NRL is littered with players who have not improved after leaving the Storm. They do a great job compared to most clubs.
However like you I'd like to see more of our young fellas kick on. I'm really hoping Kearneys long career as a player and coach has shown him the best way to bring young players through

 

[Poihakena]

I’ve probably missed the boat a bit as I’ve been basically in bed sick all week so just catching up on news, but have we ever had so many injuries in pre season before and so many in the one trial game?

 

[Noitall]

I’ve probably missed the boat a bit as I’ve been basically in bed sick all week so just catching up on news, but have we ever had so many injuries in pre season before and so many in the one trial game?

Sounds like Paasi and Curran out for round 1 and sweating on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to be ready.

 

[Rick O'Shay]

To succeed as a youngster in the NRL I believe you need to have a bit of ego, aggro and swagger to set the platform before you get it knocked out of you or coached out. Don't see it in many of our juniors.

Paul Turner seems to have it and possibly Setu Tu

 

[warriors55]

Incidentally, I heard from a contact a couple of months back that Justin Morgan had been brought into the Warriors set-up directly by Cameron George and is likely the back-up plan should Kearney get flicked early during the 2020 season.

Why does that not surprise me. I would really like to see the back of CG sooner rather than later and he can take the rest of the coaching team with him (apart from Brown).

 

[Mr Brownstone]

summed it up for me Robbie M... since 95 and even before then, following the Footy... I have never been so disillusioned and not looked forward to a season as much as now! Thank God for Kiwi test matches you can now watch with pride!

If you haven’t already, then my advice is to play fantasy football - my vice is NRL Supercoach. Keeps me sane during this torturously horrible Warriors period where there is zero hope in sight.

 

[snake77]

Morgan did well with Hull KR in the Super League, from memory they were an unfancied side that punched above their weight. I think they may have reached the Challenge Cup final.

He was here before in 2016 as an assistant under McFadden. Why was he let go?
To accomadate McFadden in his new role or to accomadate McNamara?
There were posts on here about him ranting and raving at players. If the messages isn't getting through that's fine the question would be was it too much.

He might be a decent coach but I'd prefer we go to the market instead of just hiring from within. If we sack Kearney, Morgan or Brown can take over for the remainder of the season and use that to make a case for the top job. But they should still need to apply if we have cap space and are looking to reshape our squad the appointment is critical. Can they attract players, what areas do they want to strengthen, who to let go, can they get more out of those who remain.

 

[Kestrel84]

It really is at a point now that I don't care who replaces Kearney... Him getting the sack is the only thing I'm looking forward to.

P.S. happy for the Warriors to come out and prove me wrong and actually SK is secretly (so secret) a master coach. I can't see it, hence my pessimism, but I do want them to succeed. Proof is in the pudding however, and the pudding looks shithouse.

 

[Blindside]

It has always amazed me how successive owners of the Warriors have ignored the advice available and ploughed their own furrow; admirable if the club was doing well but not so good now.
Some recent examples:
They ignore the experienced league administrators available in Australia and appoint Boy George from a horse racing background. I bet his contacts are coming in real useful?
They shun experienced league gurus in Australia in favour of an end-of-year review by club old boys. ( Yeah, what would the Johns brothers or Anthony Griffin know?)
They appoint coaches on the cheap and pay through the nose in lost membership potential. (And likely to do it again.)
They axe Brian Smith and Alex Corvo, the two guys who made the most sense to me, and hire a trainer with no league or NRL background. (How has that worked out?)

I want to see the Warriors succeed. I want to see Mark Robinson's faith in the Warriors repaid. I want to see the Warriors fill Mt Smart and succeed in the NRL. Most of all I want to see the Warriors play attractive football.

Am I confident? Not at this stage.
I resigned my membership because I want to let the club know I am not happy with their efforts. (I seriously considered renewing but decided they would see this as my support of their actions and I want changes, from the top down.)

When an NRL club makes a PR exercise of announcing that they have bought a bus, whilst not being able to use it to drive to away games, I am bemused.
With a clown running the circus from the comfort of his tracksuit whilst fielding a red-hot phone I realise we are well off the pace.

Please let future decisions be made on the basis of "what's best for the club" and not on "what's cheapest or easiest".
Profit will follow success.

 

[Weno]

All good Weno, respect that... but the lights are on and nobody seems to be home

Cant be all there when your a Warrior brother.😁
Were a box of chocolates like Forests Gumps mama said.

 

[Fonzies Tram Line]

To succeed as a youngster in the NRL I believe you need to have a bit of ego, aggro and swagger to set the platform before you get it knocked out of you or coached out. Don't see it in many of our juniors.

Paul Turner seems to have it and possibly Setu Tu

A thousand times THIS.

Nothing to lose, REALLY go all in.

 

[Run_it_str8]

Well some Positives are ,
Width of the pass from the ruck
Lots of nice long attacking shifts
Actual shape out the back
Lots of ball movement.
Herbert looked good on the Wing
Fusitua has the potential to be a mad centre
Tohus back.
Other things... I'm sure

All good things.
I just need to see an increase in:

Fundamentals
Skill
Commitment

 

[gREVUS]

i see the sharks are over the salary cap again, still, like always. Anyone from there that would be worth poaching and no Shaun Johnson is not coming home.

 

[wizards rage]

i see the sharks are over the salary cap again, still, like always. Anyone from there that would be worth poaching and no Shaun Johnson is not coming home.

Chad Townsend 🤔

 

[warriors55]

Chad Townsend 🤔

Hard pass on Townsend. Wouldn't mind some of their forwards though.

 

[wizards rage]

Hard pass on Townsend. Wouldn't mind some of their forwards though.

Was waiting for people to laugh at my comment 😂

We are going nowhere this season with Green as our dominant half