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It was, Warriors general manager of football operations Dean Bell says, a cruel way to finish the season.
A win for the Warriors against the Panthers last weekend, or even a loss by less than four points, and the conversation around the Auckland-based club would likely be very different this week.
"During the first couple of days of the week I . . . just felt terrible," Bell said.
"I'm so hard on myself but there is some positives there too. Just because you didn't make the eight - there is a lot of other teams that didn't make the eight and did a lot worse than us. We were only 13 points off having all three teams in the finals.
"It's a really difficult competition. Normally a 12 win, 12 loss record gets you in the playoffs but it didn't this year.
"Sometimes you have just got to sit back, so I went through all our fixtures and results - you know, we were the third best attacking team in the competition."
These are statements from a man trying to make sense of yet another season where New Zealand's entrant into the NRL bowed out before post-season play, disappointing legions of fans.
Bell, who was the club's captain during their inaugural year, is in charge of the club's recruitment.
He justifiably fields criticism for signings, or non-signings, but he said this season's result is hard to swallow because it could have easily gone another way.
"I have been a bit low myself this week. It was a cruel way to finish the season but if you look back, and look at all the results since [Andrew McFadden] took over (in round six), apart from the blowout against the Roosters, everything was really close.
"It was probably that blowout that ultimately cost us the eighth position. That's where the 13 points difference would have made a big difference.
"There is a fine line these days between a good season and a not-so-good season and you are disappointed, especially the way we didn't compete in that game when there was so much to play for."
All the players have this week been going through a series of lengthy reviews where they had a chance to air their thoughts on coaching and support staff and were given strict expectations for the off season including the requirement to fill out a weekly diary on a home fitness programme.
Bell said there would be changes for the 2015 season, particularly as coach McFadden, who took over from the ousted Matt Elliott, would get his first off-season and pre-season in charge.
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"He obviously inherited everything. He has been continuously reviewing it, as soon as he started in round six. Everything is reviewed with a fine tooth comb," Bell said.
That will, of course, include the playing roster.
Bell said there would be a review into how the club handled recruitment.
"No stone is left unturned, I can assure you that."
McFadden was already in talks with incoming chief executive Jim Doyle who takes over at the club in November.
Bell said the club was not satisfied with its playing roster and was looking to fill gaps with experienced players.
There have been numerous rumours about the departure of Feleti Mateo and Dane Nielsen and the possible signing of Steve Matai, all of which the club has declined to confirm.
Bell said there were "some areas we want to strengthen".
"We have got some good young kids coming through, but you can't put too much pressure on those young kids because they do take time. You look at guys like Ngani (Laumape) and Konrad (Hurrell), their training and experience is still reasonably limited . . ."
His comments suggest the Warriors are looking for a centre, a spot Matai could fill if he was released early from his Manly contract.
"We are keeping a very close eye on what's going on with other clubs at the moment and if there's an opportunity to strengthen the team we will jump at it," Bell said.
He was, however, happy with some of his signings, including marquee player Sam Tomkins who Bell says came under a lot of pressure but came up trumps.
" I am really excited that he has done so well . . . he will be twice the player in 2015.
"The players showed throughout the season that they responded to Cappy's coaching and since he took over there was a lot more determination in the way they were playing and approaching games. "There wasn't much in the games that we lost.
"While we are disappointed you certainly don't want to get too carried away and make changes just for change's sake."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10496217/Bell-reflects-on-cruel-end-to-Warriors-season
A win for the Warriors against the Panthers last weekend, or even a loss by less than four points, and the conversation around the Auckland-based club would likely be very different this week.
"During the first couple of days of the week I . . . just felt terrible," Bell said.
"I'm so hard on myself but there is some positives there too. Just because you didn't make the eight - there is a lot of other teams that didn't make the eight and did a lot worse than us. We were only 13 points off having all three teams in the finals.
"It's a really difficult competition. Normally a 12 win, 12 loss record gets you in the playoffs but it didn't this year.
"Sometimes you have just got to sit back, so I went through all our fixtures and results - you know, we were the third best attacking team in the competition."
These are statements from a man trying to make sense of yet another season where New Zealand's entrant into the NRL bowed out before post-season play, disappointing legions of fans.
Bell, who was the club's captain during their inaugural year, is in charge of the club's recruitment.
He justifiably fields criticism for signings, or non-signings, but he said this season's result is hard to swallow because it could have easily gone another way.
"I have been a bit low myself this week. It was a cruel way to finish the season but if you look back, and look at all the results since [Andrew McFadden] took over (in round six), apart from the blowout against the Roosters, everything was really close.
"It was probably that blowout that ultimately cost us the eighth position. That's where the 13 points difference would have made a big difference.
"There is a fine line these days between a good season and a not-so-good season and you are disappointed, especially the way we didn't compete in that game when there was so much to play for."
All the players have this week been going through a series of lengthy reviews where they had a chance to air their thoughts on coaching and support staff and were given strict expectations for the off season including the requirement to fill out a weekly diary on a home fitness programme.
Bell said there would be changes for the 2015 season, particularly as coach McFadden, who took over from the ousted Matt Elliott, would get his first off-season and pre-season in charge.
Ad Feedback
"He obviously inherited everything. He has been continuously reviewing it, as soon as he started in round six. Everything is reviewed with a fine tooth comb," Bell said.
That will, of course, include the playing roster.
Bell said there would be a review into how the club handled recruitment.
"No stone is left unturned, I can assure you that."
McFadden was already in talks with incoming chief executive Jim Doyle who takes over at the club in November.
Bell said the club was not satisfied with its playing roster and was looking to fill gaps with experienced players.
There have been numerous rumours about the departure of Feleti Mateo and Dane Nielsen and the possible signing of Steve Matai, all of which the club has declined to confirm.
Bell said there were "some areas we want to strengthen".
"We have got some good young kids coming through, but you can't put too much pressure on those young kids because they do take time. You look at guys like Ngani (Laumape) and Konrad (Hurrell), their training and experience is still reasonably limited . . ."
His comments suggest the Warriors are looking for a centre, a spot Matai could fill if he was released early from his Manly contract.
"We are keeping a very close eye on what's going on with other clubs at the moment and if there's an opportunity to strengthen the team we will jump at it," Bell said.
He was, however, happy with some of his signings, including marquee player Sam Tomkins who Bell says came under a lot of pressure but came up trumps.
" I am really excited that he has done so well . . . he will be twice the player in 2015.
"The players showed throughout the season that they responded to Cappy's coaching and since he took over there was a lot more determination in the way they were playing and approaching games. "There wasn't much in the games that we lost.
"While we are disappointed you certainly don't want to get too carried away and make changes just for change's sake."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10496217/Bell-reflects-on-cruel-end-to-Warriors-season
