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Some interesting articles in there today. Wiki is firmly under fire from them, and the knives are on the sharpening block for Ivan a bit as well.
Here is an interesting article from Ridge
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaynews/4466169a19773.html
A shocking horror show
Sunday News | Sunday, 06 April 2008
Don't even think about the Warriors winning the title this year warns Matthew Ridge.
That's the stunning verdict from Sunday News' league analyst the former Manly, Warriors and Kiwi legend.
Ridge echoed the thoughts of many rugby league insiders when after watching the Warriors' capitulation in Monday's 52-6 horror show at Brookvale he declared:
the Warriors seem to be devoid of attacking options
there is evidence to suggest the players' body shapes are out of whack in comparison to their rivals
the Warriors, defensively, are a major concern
there are question marks as to whether the team is being prepared properly
and Ruben Wiki at present appears to be nothing but a passenger.
Ridge who played 122 games for Manly and 37 for the Warriors said the time had come for some honest appraisal of Wiki.
"Ruben Wiki and Sam Rapira are a shocking contrast," said Ridge.
"Rapira seems to be taking on plenty of work. He's energetic and moves on both attack and defence with urgency.
"By contrast, Ruben at best seems to be laboured. Judging on Monday night's game, Ruben quite simply can't keep up with the pace anymore.
"It really pains me to say this, but there comes a time in a player's career when he needs to sit back, take stock and ask the simple question am I still cutting the mustard?
"While I have no doubt Ruben is and has been a tremendous role model for the club, the fact remains professional athletes are judged solely by their on-field performances.
"Given the frenetic pace of the modern game coupled with the reduction of 12 interchanges to 10 the majority of players these days, while still strong, are lean rather than heavyset.
"This doesn't seem to be the case with the Warriors this year and the players' lack of fitness became quite evident during Monday night's performance.
"Fitness obviously comes down to your aerobic ability but it's also a state of mind.
"The more fatigued the Warriors got, the more the mistakes compounded. This is something that's been quite obvious since round one.
"Sport at this level is not only physical but psychological as well.
"Results often come down to which side wins the mental battle out on the paddock.
"One thing always drilled into players at every team I played for was never to show the opposition you were hurt and certainly not tired.
"On Monday night the Warriors were tired and the evidence of that was on display for all to see. Too many players were caught on camera with their hands on their hips or crouching over in the middle of the field. Worse still, some were walking in back play.
"This could be forgiven, perhaps, if it was happening in the 70th minute of a match but not at the 10-minute mark.
Ridge said only a couple of players could hold their heads high after the goings-on at Brookvale.
And, as well as Wiki, Patrick Ah Van and Manu Vatuvei were outed as the worst offenders.
Said Ridge: "A big concern is that both Warriors wingers Manu Vatuvei and Patrick Ah Van keep coming in off their wings.
"That's fine if you make the right decision and stop a side from scoring in the process.
"However, more often than not, these guys come in unnecessarily, stop no one, fail to block passes and the result is usually four points to the opposition.
"Are they being told to come in or are they just doing so because they don't trust their inside men?
"I would like to know what defensive pattern the Warriors are using right now.
"Is it an up-and-slide, man-on-man, up-and-in or something else? At the moment they appear to be using bits of each and doing so rather unsuccessfully
"This is basic stuff that full-time NRL pros should not get wrong.
"The Warriors' wingers are making the wrong decisions under pressure and I can only see two possible reasons for that. A they are not good enough to be playing at this level or B they aren't being coached."
Much has been made of Manu Vatuvei's handling problems and while his inability under the high ball is worrying, Ridge says his size is more of a concern.
"As soon as Vatuvei is turned, he's out of the game. This has been a problem for a long time now and it's not getting any better.
"Yes, he's devastating with the ball in hand and hard to bring down but I would rather have a solid, nimble wing who can make the right decisions in my side any day.
"If you weigh up the pros and cons at the moment, Vatuvei's contribution is a negative."
Ridge a long-time critic of the club's halves Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli says the team has bigger issues now.
"The Warriors don't defend as a team for reasons I've already explained," he said.
"They don't communicate with one another and there's no structure on the field.
"Nothing flash is needed to beat the Warriors.
"So many of the players are too big, not fit enough and I have to question what head trainer Craig Walker is doing.
"Aerobically, these guys just aren't there and if anybody disagrees with me watch the tape.
"When you do, don't watch the ball, watch what happens off it.
"That's what good coaches do and it's always the best indicator of what sides are capable of."
Ridge also questioned why coach Ivan Cleary hadn't made wholesale changes for this afternoon's clash with the Knights.
"Since as far back as 2000 we have been told all about the club's development programme," he said.
"Even as recently as this season, there's been plenty of good vibes about the youngsters in the side's under-20s squad.
"If that's the case, why did we have to go overseas to recruit our fullback, halves, second-rowers and centres?
"It's evident the reason Ivan Cleary isn't swinging the axe to replace these guys is there's no one ready to step up. That is a massive concern.
"There is absolutely no pressure whatsoever on this current group of players.
"These guys know they will keep their place in the starting lineup regardless of whether they underperform.
"To have only two changes after a 50-point hiding is almost unheard of."
Forgotten in the aftermath of Monday's drubbing is the relatively average performance put up by Manly.
"Manly by any stretch of the imagination weren't a patch on the side we saw last year," said Ridge.
"When I played there, we had the best defence in the competition because we never walked out on the paddock.
"It was drilled into us that walking was a sin when the ball was in play.
"The only time we rested was when the ball went into touch.
"The Warriors walk, put their hands on their hips and don't move as a team on defence. It seems like it's every man for himself."
While the Warriors may blame the loss of key players Steve Price, Wade McKinnon and Jerome Ropati for last week's defeat, Ridge said that excuse didn't wash with him.
"Yes, Pricey, Wade and Jerome were missing against the Sea Eagles," he said.
"In saying that, most NRL clubs would easily find young players to step up if they were hit by the same injury problems.
"Take the Tigers for example they don't have Benji Marshall in there right now but they are still playing great footy.
"There's hardly a big name there but the players taking to the field are young, fit, well-coached and they do the basics right.
"Do we?
"A 50-point hiding in round three is unheard of and it all comes back to fitness. These guys clearly haven't done enough core fitness work in the off-season."
Ridge, said the Warriors had gone from average to okay to diabolical in their first three games.
"If they continue to make so many basic mistakes you have to ask the question, what are the Warriors doing at training?
"Where is the structure and where are the set plays?
"The coach isn't out there dropping the ball but it's about time he was held as accountable as the players."
Here is an interesting article from Ridge
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaynews/4466169a19773.html
A shocking horror show
Sunday News | Sunday, 06 April 2008
Don't even think about the Warriors winning the title this year warns Matthew Ridge.
That's the stunning verdict from Sunday News' league analyst the former Manly, Warriors and Kiwi legend.
Ridge echoed the thoughts of many rugby league insiders when after watching the Warriors' capitulation in Monday's 52-6 horror show at Brookvale he declared:
the Warriors seem to be devoid of attacking options
there is evidence to suggest the players' body shapes are out of whack in comparison to their rivals
the Warriors, defensively, are a major concern
there are question marks as to whether the team is being prepared properly
and Ruben Wiki at present appears to be nothing but a passenger.
Ridge who played 122 games for Manly and 37 for the Warriors said the time had come for some honest appraisal of Wiki.
"Ruben Wiki and Sam Rapira are a shocking contrast," said Ridge.
"Rapira seems to be taking on plenty of work. He's energetic and moves on both attack and defence with urgency.
"By contrast, Ruben at best seems to be laboured. Judging on Monday night's game, Ruben quite simply can't keep up with the pace anymore.
"It really pains me to say this, but there comes a time in a player's career when he needs to sit back, take stock and ask the simple question am I still cutting the mustard?
"While I have no doubt Ruben is and has been a tremendous role model for the club, the fact remains professional athletes are judged solely by their on-field performances.
"Given the frenetic pace of the modern game coupled with the reduction of 12 interchanges to 10 the majority of players these days, while still strong, are lean rather than heavyset.
"This doesn't seem to be the case with the Warriors this year and the players' lack of fitness became quite evident during Monday night's performance.
"Fitness obviously comes down to your aerobic ability but it's also a state of mind.
"The more fatigued the Warriors got, the more the mistakes compounded. This is something that's been quite obvious since round one.
"Sport at this level is not only physical but psychological as well.
"Results often come down to which side wins the mental battle out on the paddock.
"One thing always drilled into players at every team I played for was never to show the opposition you were hurt and certainly not tired.
"On Monday night the Warriors were tired and the evidence of that was on display for all to see. Too many players were caught on camera with their hands on their hips or crouching over in the middle of the field. Worse still, some were walking in back play.
"This could be forgiven, perhaps, if it was happening in the 70th minute of a match but not at the 10-minute mark.
Ridge said only a couple of players could hold their heads high after the goings-on at Brookvale.
And, as well as Wiki, Patrick Ah Van and Manu Vatuvei were outed as the worst offenders.
Said Ridge: "A big concern is that both Warriors wingers Manu Vatuvei and Patrick Ah Van keep coming in off their wings.
"That's fine if you make the right decision and stop a side from scoring in the process.
"However, more often than not, these guys come in unnecessarily, stop no one, fail to block passes and the result is usually four points to the opposition.
"Are they being told to come in or are they just doing so because they don't trust their inside men?
"I would like to know what defensive pattern the Warriors are using right now.
"Is it an up-and-slide, man-on-man, up-and-in or something else? At the moment they appear to be using bits of each and doing so rather unsuccessfully
"This is basic stuff that full-time NRL pros should not get wrong.
"The Warriors' wingers are making the wrong decisions under pressure and I can only see two possible reasons for that. A they are not good enough to be playing at this level or B they aren't being coached."
Much has been made of Manu Vatuvei's handling problems and while his inability under the high ball is worrying, Ridge says his size is more of a concern.
"As soon as Vatuvei is turned, he's out of the game. This has been a problem for a long time now and it's not getting any better.
"Yes, he's devastating with the ball in hand and hard to bring down but I would rather have a solid, nimble wing who can make the right decisions in my side any day.
"If you weigh up the pros and cons at the moment, Vatuvei's contribution is a negative."
Ridge a long-time critic of the club's halves Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli says the team has bigger issues now.
"The Warriors don't defend as a team for reasons I've already explained," he said.
"They don't communicate with one another and there's no structure on the field.
"Nothing flash is needed to beat the Warriors.
"So many of the players are too big, not fit enough and I have to question what head trainer Craig Walker is doing.
"Aerobically, these guys just aren't there and if anybody disagrees with me watch the tape.
"When you do, don't watch the ball, watch what happens off it.
"That's what good coaches do and it's always the best indicator of what sides are capable of."
Ridge also questioned why coach Ivan Cleary hadn't made wholesale changes for this afternoon's clash with the Knights.
"Since as far back as 2000 we have been told all about the club's development programme," he said.
"Even as recently as this season, there's been plenty of good vibes about the youngsters in the side's under-20s squad.
"If that's the case, why did we have to go overseas to recruit our fullback, halves, second-rowers and centres?
"It's evident the reason Ivan Cleary isn't swinging the axe to replace these guys is there's no one ready to step up. That is a massive concern.
"There is absolutely no pressure whatsoever on this current group of players.
"These guys know they will keep their place in the starting lineup regardless of whether they underperform.
"To have only two changes after a 50-point hiding is almost unheard of."
Forgotten in the aftermath of Monday's drubbing is the relatively average performance put up by Manly.
"Manly by any stretch of the imagination weren't a patch on the side we saw last year," said Ridge.
"When I played there, we had the best defence in the competition because we never walked out on the paddock.
"It was drilled into us that walking was a sin when the ball was in play.
"The only time we rested was when the ball went into touch.
"The Warriors walk, put their hands on their hips and don't move as a team on defence. It seems like it's every man for himself."
While the Warriors may blame the loss of key players Steve Price, Wade McKinnon and Jerome Ropati for last week's defeat, Ridge said that excuse didn't wash with him.
"Yes, Pricey, Wade and Jerome were missing against the Sea Eagles," he said.
"In saying that, most NRL clubs would easily find young players to step up if they were hit by the same injury problems.
"Take the Tigers for example they don't have Benji Marshall in there right now but they are still playing great footy.
"There's hardly a big name there but the players taking to the field are young, fit, well-coached and they do the basics right.
"Do we?
"A 50-point hiding in round three is unheard of and it all comes back to fitness. These guys clearly haven't done enough core fitness work in the off-season."
Ridge, said the Warriors had gone from average to okay to diabolical in their first three games.
"If they continue to make so many basic mistakes you have to ask the question, what are the Warriors doing at training?
"Where is the structure and where are the set plays?
"The coach isn't out there dropping the ball but it's about time he was held as accountable as the players."
