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2014 club review

Diesel

Referee
Messages
26,138
Anyone know who this years review is being conducted by? Internal like years gone by or now Wayne is leaving we're going to get a proper external audit and does anyone expect this to be released to the fans?

Slightly OT but to do with the review, should the Warriors have back to back games in Australia to cut down on travel/fatigue or is it not financially feasible to do so, ie accommodation/buying a place in Sydney to stay at and organising training. The Warriors would lose 1 1/2 to 2 days a week in preparation when travelling to away games which would be better served recovering, training or relaxing and the trade off for spending 9 or so days straight in Australia would be 12-14 days straight in NZ... Or some how convince more teams to play away games in NZ
 

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,910
I believe it is an internal audit and will likely be signed off by M Mouse.
 

oikee

Juniors
Messages
1,973
They dont need a review. I was on here earlier in the year and got bullied and beaten down by stating the obvious.
Keep the faith we hear, keep the faith again.
Forget all that b.s , faith dont win you games.

Ask yourself one question, only one, and the answer becomes clear.
What has Mannering ever won as Captain, ?
Answer, nothing.
Same as the Broncos making Thaiday captain. It nearly burnt him out.
The Warriors need to allow Mannering to worry about his own game. Make Shaun Johnson captain and watch him and the team shine.
Until that happens, reviews will be your only talking points.
Then again, you have the Nines to look forward , if the good warriors turn up.
 

vvvrulz

Coach
Messages
13,838
I was on here earlier in the year and got bullied and beaten down by stating the obvious.

Yeah I remember you. You were the bright spark that informed us that the drums are beating louder and Hurrell is gone.

Among various other random crap
 

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,910
Put it in here.


Coach Andrew McFadden has some big decisions after a stuttering end to another season that had its highlights.
With the Warriors producing yet another season of mediocrity questions remain over the direction the club will take through the off-season and what improvements can be made for 2015.
Doubt hangs over the futures of some squad members and moves to recruit new players are sure to occur in the wake of the club's annual review process.
Questions remain over coach Andrew McFadden's ability to plot a course to grand final day and under his guidance the Warriors failed to lift their standards much above what his predecessor Matt Elliott achieved in 2013.
But to find out where the Warriors are heading we must first examine where they have been throughout a rollercoaster 2014 season. After a 26 round ride the Warriors stuttered to a halt in ninth position on the NRL ladder.

Rounds 1-5: The Elliott enigma
The Warriors opened the year by absorbing a 36-16 thrashing at Parramatta before hosting St George-Illawarra in the first of three Eden Park excursions.
After leading 12-6 at the break the Warriors capitulated in the second-half with nine errors, poor last-tackle plays and bad finishing - themes which would continue throughout the season - helping the Dragons to a 31-12 win.

A hard-fought 20-16 round three away win over the Cowboys gave coach Matt Elliott some breathing space before a dominant 42-18 victory over Wests Tigers in Wellington indicated the Warriors were back on track. However, a humiliating 37-6 defeat at Cronulla had alarm bells ringing, and within 24 hours Elliott was told to pack his bags. An ugly public spat ensued between the club's two owners, Eric Watson and Owen Glenn, and chief executive Wayne Scurrah volunteered to resign should the club miss the playoffs.

Rounds 6-18: Hope springs eternal

Andrew McFadden's appointment saw the side given a selection shake-up with Feleti Mateo and Chad Townsend swiftly dropped to NSW Cup, while a new harder edge quickly defined team trainings. Twin defeats to the Bulldogs and Dragons implied nothing new, but a stunning 16-10 Anzac Day upset over the Storm in Melbourne heralded a new dawn. Playing an attractive style that blended power and poise, the Warriors went on to win seven of their next nine games to bolt into top eight discussions. Two byes assisted their rise up the ladder while the Warriors also benefited from playing a depleted Broncos team and an Eels side missing Jarryd Hayne during the State of Origin period.
Thomas Leuluai's groin injury allowed Townsend and Shaun Johnson to forge a solid halves pairing, while Konrad Hurrell's form blossomed after a stint in reserve grade helped him overcome weight and fitness concerns. His resurgence and Ngani Laumape's rise saw Dane Nielsen on the outer but the club's outside backs stocks began to be tested with a shoulder injury ruining Glen Fisiiahi's season, an injury-ravaged Jerome Ropati announcing his retirement, and Kevin Locke heading for Salford.

Rounds 19 on: Once Were Warriors
With a top four berth beckoning the Warriors blew their return clash with Brisbane 28-22 before a groin injury robbed them of Johnson's class for a three-week spell heading into their round 20 defeat to Manly. A big 54-18 away win over Canberra enhanced their reputation as flat-track bullies and worrying signs littered their patchy 16-12 win over Cronulla. The Sharks' 19 offloads exposed the Warriors' defensive vulnerability to second-phase play and the Knights followed suit the next week, with 15 offloads aiding them in a tight 28-22 victory.
The signs were ominous but no one could predict the Warriors' 46-12 capitulation to the Roosters, their worst performance of the season and the fifth time they conceded more than 30 points.
An emphatic 42-0 bounce-back win over the Titans set up a final-round showdown with Penrith, but with top eight glory awaiting them, the Warriors turned in another meek and submissive display to see their season dissolve in a 22-6 defeat.
Those two six-point losses to Brisbane and Newcastle proved crucial to their end fate, and leaking three late tries against the Raiders ultimately allowed the eighth-placed Broncos to edge them on points differential.

Who comes, who goes?
Two names - Dane Nielsen and Feleti Mateo - have been at the forefront of speculation about which players the Warriors will look to offload after both spent time in reserve grade because of inconsistent form. You could add Jayson Bukuya to that list, after an underwhelming first season in which he failed to produce the same from six seasons at Cronulla, while the reputations of several others remain under question.
Sacking staff is all good and well if there are players on the market to replace them, and that needs to be considered when evaluating how to strengthen key positions in the front-row, halves and midfield.
Whether Ben Matulino remains a second-row option could impact on whether the club looks to find another reliable prop to compliment Jacob Lillyman.
Do they persist with Nathan Friend at hooker and look to give Siliva Havili more game time, or can Chad Townsend force his way into five-eighth to leave Thomas Leuluai to fill a utility role?
Plenty of potential exists among the young outside backs but fans have been screaming for a hardened and experienced midfielder for years but in many ways the club are damned if they do, damned if they don't in terms of their recruitment.
Shelling out big coin for Sam Tomkins was met with howls of protest, and although it took the England international time to find his feet, he proved himself a more rounded and disciplined player than Locke.
Similarly, the signing of Storm and NSW star Ryan Hoffman was met with misguided cynicism while the possible poaching of Manly enforcer Steve Matai has drawn mixed opinions.
The counter argument that there is no shortage of talented back-rowers or up and coming centres-wingers at the club loses weight when inexperience rears its head in crucial moments and big games.
What additions can be made to the playing group remains to be seen but the general feeling is the Warriors lack at least one or two more experienced players needed to take them to the next level.

Big decisions
McFadden has some big decisions to make around the development of his younger squad members, with 16 players used this season all having fewer than 50 games of first grade experience.
The likes of Sione Lousi and Sebastine Ikahihifo showed glimpses of what is needed up front, but injuries and the fact they are still learning their trade saw them found out at different times through the year.
Tuimoala Lolohea looks to be a diamond that will polish up well in the halves in the coming years, and wider out Ngani Laumape and David Fusitu'a remain first graders of immense potential.
Having a full offseason will allow McFadden to instil and refine his own doctrines and methods and allow him time to work on improving individuals' games.
He should also expect his key playmakers - Johnson, Leuluai, and Tomkins - to have improved combinations and will demand they raise their levels of consistency and execution.
Improving a diabolical away record that saw them win just four of 12 games on the road would go a long way to assisting their aims.
The potential of the club has never been doubted as they look ahead to their 21st season, but reality all too often falls short of expectation.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11322911
 

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,910
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden has warned there will be more major changes as the club continues to dissect another disappointing season that failed to meet expectations.

In front of over 800 guests at the club's annual awards dinner in Auckland last night McFadden boldly stated his ambition to transform the underachieving club by "demanding a new level of professional standards."

McFadden informed assistants Adam Mogg and Ricky Henry in July that they did not figure in future plans and last night said that he would go to "all lengths to build a team that will support me in driving that professionalism."

The Warriors have set their sights firmly on Wests Tigers assistant Todd Payten but are forced to wait for the result of his bid to replace outgoing head coach Mick Potter.

The Tigers have set October 27 as the deadline to appoint a replacement.

Meanwhile, Warriors players have undergone performance reviews and a number of changes are expected to be made to the squad which missed out on a playoff spot after losing three of its last five games.

Despite strong speculation, Feleti Mateo will remain in Warriors colours in 2015.

It's understood the club had attempted to release the erratic back-rower from the final two years on his contract but both parties have since come to a mutual agreement.

"He's contracted. It's business as usual," said Warriors director of football Dean Bell.

Captain Simon Mannering received his fourth Player of the Year award at the dinner at the Sky City convention centre and poured water on rumours that he would step down as the team's leader.

"Not that I know of," he said when asked about the rumoured change. "It's probably just the media more than anything."

It's also understood that the club is set to overhaul its strength and conditioning programme after the Warriors again struggled with fitness despite millions of dollars being spent on a new gym, training equipment and specialist staff.

Players who are not involved in the coming Four Nations tournament are required to undergo a six-week training programme that will begin just two weeks after their season-ending defeat against the Panthers and ends shortly before pre-season training in December.

"The truth is that if we want to move forward, we have to get a clear picture of where we are," McFadden said. "From there we can make changes and already I've begun to make changes internally and will continue to do so over the next few months before we get into our pre-season.

"My vision is to build a really strong culture. On the field that means we are going to be consistent like everyone wants us to be. What that means is we need tough players that will perform from week to week.

"To do that off the field, we need more detail in our preparation and we need to demand a new level of professionalism here."

http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-league-news/mateo-staying-put-warriors-eye-changes-6083666
 

vvvrulz

Coach
Messages
13,838
Alan Mac on Radio Sport reckoned that McFadden sounded a bit timid and unconvincing on the night.
To go with his usual Mannering love
 

Izz

Bench
Messages
4,416
Alan Mac on Radio Sport reckoned that McFadden sounded a bit timid and unconvincing on the night.
Maybe it was the whole public speaking in front of 800 people aspect of it all?

On a side note: i used to really like Alan Mac. Not so much anymore. Listening to/watching interviews he's involved in over teh last few years, and the guy is always putting words in mouths, trying to sound like he has all the answers (he answers some of his own questions sometimes), and generally talking over the top of everybody.
 
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tangalife

Juniors
Messages
530
We've been in rebuilding ever since 2012, when we were left in ruin. We've had to endure losing key people to the club, shit coaches, player power, and shit results. We've been gradually improving and I think we did okay this year considering we went through the rigmarole of having to start again with a new coach a few games in. We just need some time now to develop and improve what we currently have.

Good signs:

1. Big vision from the men up top.
"Best sporting franchise in Australasia" is a good vision and goal to work towards. It's not going to happen overnight, but its a bold statement to make. Immediately upgrading facilities, sacking a poor coach and attempting to sign one of the best coaches demonstrated the vision being put to work.

2. Making traction in the free agency market.
Transitioning from development club to a team wanting to sign the best available is a good move. Signing the player with the best reputation in the UK and attempts at getting big names like Bellamy, Carney, Matai etc even though failed, at least show we're on the right track.

3. Removing player power
Gave Locke and Packer, two players taking the piss, the chop.
 

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,910
League immortal Andrew Johns says the Warriors are "perennial under-achievers" and says it is up to halfback Shaun Johnson to find consistency and take the team to the next level.

The former Newcastle Knights great is a huge fan of Johnson's ability, but is waiting for him to reach the standards of the game's best playmakers and inspire his teammates.

"They're the perennial under- achievers for the squad they have," Johns explained during his visit to New Zealand promoting the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines.

"They should have made the semis and it was disappointing the way they finished. There's just so much talent there.

"The way Andrew McFadden is going about things it looks like he can get the best out of the guys but the key is Shaun Johnson.



"Shaun can be the best player in the world and he's just got to find consistency. If he can do that week-in, week-out and he can drive the team and get the best out of the players around him they would make the top eight every year. But the responsibility is on Shaun."

Johns acknowledged that the 24-year-old Kiwi had improved and developed his game over the past 12 months, but says he still has a tendency to go missing at key stages.

For Johnson to fulfil his potential, Johns says he must show a greater ability to control a game, particularly in the final quarter when the result is hanging in the balance.

"I do see progression in his game. I see him do things which no one else can do but then I see him have quiet games. He's still only very young and he's still learning his trade," he says.

"You look at Johnathan Thurston and you look at what Darren Lockyer used to do, they own the game. Especially that last 15 minutes and that's what Shaun has to do.

"I'd say he knows that and Andrew McFadden knows that. It's all about the learning curve for Shaun."

After a glittering career in which he played 249 games for the Knights, 23 State of Origin matches for New South Wales, and 24 tests for Australia, Johns is widely accepted as the leading authority on the modern game.

The two-time Golden Boot winner and three-time Daly M medallist is frustrated with the generic and overly structured style of play that has crept into the NRL in recent years but believes the game is in another transitional phase.

"I think it's about to go back to a more ad-lib style. The last three years it's been really frustrating watching how structured a lot of the plays are. The over-reliance on the set play has been stifling halfbacks. Some teams have become like American football where they just work to one point of the field and they have the same play."

Johns longs for a return of the wide-sweeping backline plays employed by the likes of the old Canberra and Brisbane sides of the early to mid-90s and says the long cut-out pass is under- used in the modern era.

"We're in another transition around the way the game is being played and I think that sort of stuff is coming back into the game. All that second man play can be effective but I think teams have worked that out and are going away from that now. Everything old is new again and gets reinvented, so I think teams will definitely look at that sort of play."

With defensive lines so well-drilled and quickly up in the face of attacking teams, Johns says a simplified game plan can provide the time and space for more expansive football. The Warriors are well suited to such patterns but he concedes getting the balance right is difficult.

"Definitely [it can be achieved]. Just through power running and offloads and playing off the cuff. But it's a fine line and if you go over it and go too expansive you can get errors. But that's when the Warriors are at their best, when they can find that fine line where they can play that ad-lib football where they get in offload mode there is no way to defend it. When they're playing that style they are so enigmatic because it can work or it can be horrible. When it works they can blow teams away; they've just got to find that fine line."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11331563
 

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