I doubt the Cowboys who brought an NRL team to the Nines are as stressed about missing out on winning as the host side, I seriously doubt they are making regular season forecasts based on their nines outcomes.
Still, there are longstanding issues at the Warriors, these points from Iron Lion are well made. Just for the hell of it Iron Lion here's the other side.
1) Shaun Johnson for all the talent in the world has still not learned how to run a football team. Robson looks steady but Shaun draws so much attention from the opposition that he needs to be pulled aside by Stacey Jones/McFadden/Andrew Johns/any bloody ex half and told/taught to play at the line more often. by doing so we will have more running play options and more flow in our attack. Our plays are all predictable behind the line stuff backing on explosive line impact rather than skill!
I strongly suspect Johnson was encouraged to limit playing at the Line because of the ankle and what he is worth to the team, letting him play nines was a calculated gamble by the Warriors. He played in a dinner suit somewhat (especially in defence) I think the gamble was worth it (for his confidence). Johnson will always 'overplay' his hand in nines footy, he is at home, team captain, and he has the most individual talent of any player in that format to show case.
In general I agree he is not a great organizer, however...Johnson has improved in some areas where people assumed he never would (tackling, 2015 his defensive stats were up there with the other halves in the NRL).
Tackling is a learned skill, so is the 'in goal kicks' for repeat sets that Johnson has added to his game (his 'default' last play Kick option used to be that Bomb of his) so like I say he is well capable of learning, and that imo includes improving his organizing skills/ playing at the line more often.
Having Isaac luke in the spine will improve the structure and thereby platform for play makers like Johnson, the team will achieve that flow you talk about when Robo/SJ/Luke/ and RTS get more game time together.
Robo's signing is a master stroke, he uses the ball to do the work, if it took Kieran Foran and SJ so long to click for the Kiwis, it will likely take quarter/half a season for Robo and SJ to gel.
It must be difficult to learn to play with someone like Johnson (Foran is no dummy, but his own game looked off till he sussed out how to play with SJ).
The NZ league scene does not promote organization like Australia, so our halves will always be at a skill deficit if they are home grown.
A lot of people berate McFadden, but as a former organizing half himself....I think the longer he and Johnson have and association the better.
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2) Justin Morgan has made a big impact. Our defense already looks more improved from last season. The boys are more aggressive and look in general to be reading the players more effectively on attack. Still way to much shirt grabbing going on but that hopefully will be corrected as the season goes on.
Some of the worst shirt grabs were from SJ (read above, he was playing in a dinner suit) Johnsons appointed minder in Hoffman had an off tournament at times, that happens.
I'm sure Morgan is doing a good job, part of the improvement also includes having tacklers like Robo in that side, after some initial hiccups Ayshford also got a feel for his read of the edge issues with his team mates, he looked ok.
The big surprise for me was the clean up work Nathaniel Roach did in the middle and the footy intelligence shown by young Henare Wells, the latter has a lot of potential, his lack of size however will be an issue (correctable).
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3) Our last and 2nd to last tackle plays are still absolutely awful. How many times last season I banged my head against the wall in frustration that lillyman or Gubb is thrown the ball for a hit up on tackle 5 on what is an absolute gimme for the opposition defense. We need more variety and options on attack in the danger zone and we need the right people having the ball in their hand on these plays. This for me is an ongoing concern in our attacking set up.
Isaac Luke.
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4) Ryan Hoffman is not fitting in the the Warriors DNA. I thought Hofffman struggled to find his way with the Warriors balance and style last season and during the nines he decided he was a playmaker! which did not work out so well for us! - Mannering and Hoffman should be a dream workhorse combination. I am still going to back Morgan to have these two guys as rocks in a defensive line for the Warriors but i have concerns they may choke us a little on attack by virtue of trying to hard and forcing their limited athletic ability. This is also a reflection of having halves who cant steer a team around the park.
Hoffman hits a ball off a play maker beautifully when the teams structures are in place. He is one of the leading try scoring forwards in NRL history.
Thompson succeeded in being Johnsons hole runner last year where Jason Bukuya failed in seasons past....I doubt we need worry about these guys killing off the attack when we have a world class dummy half sending the ball to the right people consistently from now on.Even Mannering improved as an attacking hole runner last season.
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5) The Warriors lack footy intelligence. I means this in the most respectful way possible. I have spent a bit of time around a few of the boys and they are honestly an amazing bunch of guys who are genuine good soughts. Here is the issue though, they lack real footy intelligence, knowing how to read the field, read the opposition, take higher percentage plays, when those plays are on and not etc, and most of all - how to stay composed under fire - its missing in this club. Shaun Johnson for example is an instinct player - have an off day and he wouldnt know what percentage plays to make to get he warriors on the front foot. Intellect cant be taught but percentage acknowledgement can be. Id enlist all the warriors in a statistics course over a season, you would see huge rewards come the business end of the season.
Intellect can be taught, there's a whole branch of learning called Philosophy on the subject (not having a go Iron Lion, just indulging myself here with your most excellent discussion).
The Pom for all his faults, had great vision and ball passing, unfortunately he hid away at fullback thereby consigning his halves / organisational skills to out the back plays (with great affect I might add) we will miss that.
Can you teach players to think like coaches ? (your stats idea) can you teach these players to think like that ?
In a default kind of way they are fed the basics of Statistical analysis every week (all players at the Warriors understand completions and Missed tackle stats and how they translate to their win loss ratio).
I think they could be easily taught any fundamentals, but how do you make them embrace them when the heart is pounding in their throats and they can't hear their own thoughts for the roar of the crowd when the ball lands in their hands......?
Experience and some patience from their coaching staff. Get them to buy into very simple goals for each play. Remember the systems many of them have come from, give poor preparation for professional sport.
It is not the School boy Rugby Union machine. It's crowds of fifty people on muddy dilapidated paddocks where only twenty four thousand men women and kids play the game across all grades. Only three and a half thousand are adults....obviously a chunk of that lot are women....
