Where will we finish?

[Rich102]

How confident are you?
Can Cappy get the team to fire?
Will the off-season signings prove their worth?
Will Konnie be fit?

Rate where you think the Warriors will finish season 2015.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

If our forwards hold their own we have one of the most potent back lines in the comp.

As always, defense will be the key.

I think we'll finish top 8, but not top 4.

 

[JJ]

Picking somewhere 7-12... went with 8th, but honestly not sure it will be any different - mediocre start, strong middle, then wilt under pressure...

Just sneak into the 8, or just miss it

 

[Skinner]

Went 9th....not enough change for mine

 

[Cold Roses]

If our forwards hold their own we have one of the most potent back lines in the comp.

If they stick to the new rule changes, and police them throughout the season, then we may benefit from opposition players having to release the tackled player immediately. Our smaller, and hopefully more mobile forwards may finally deliver.

 

[WithTheDawn]

We have a top 4 team, but always seem to drop a few important games and have a poor start. Even with last year missing out on the finals, we were only 3 wins away from being in the top 4 in a congested table. A good start (for once) would make a huge difference.

I'll go with 6th, really any reappearance in the finals would be great at this point, it has been far too long now.

 

[Big Marn]

If they stick to the new rule changes, and police them throughout the season, then we may benefit from opposition players having to release the tackled player immediately. Our smaller, and hopefully more mobile forwards may finally deliver.

I cant see how the new rule changes benefit us at all. We were very good at slowing the tackle down to enable our team to get onside. Having to deal with quicker play the balls will mean more penalties for offside as we fatigue (especially in Australian conditions) leading to more repeat sets against us leading to points.

We tend to leak points in games when we aren't scoring tries and getting a breather while the kicker is converting, due to NZ players (Polynesian mainly) generally having a low stamina - high power ratio (on average). Know any Polynesian long distance runners?

Now we have to contend with a faster game. Happy to be proven wrong, but I don't like this rule change at all.

 

[vvvrulz]

Voted 6th, I expect Hoffman's inclusion to make a big difference.
Townsend needs to be persevered with at 6 as well, no reason we shouldn't make the playoffs with that

 

[Cold Roses]

I cant see how the new rule changes benefit us at all. We were very good at slowing the tackle down to enable our team to get onside.

I didn't see us slowing the ball down effectively at all last year. For a period, we were very good at driving the player back in the tackle, before the refs started penalising us for it. None of that work was done on the ground in the tackle though.

And when we did have the ball in hand, we quite often got dominated ourselves in the tackle. Players like Rapira were cannon fodder for other teams last year when he ran the ball.

Having the opposition release quickly from the tackle this year can only be a benefit to more mobile packs.

That's IF the refs penalise consistently. And not just for the first five rounds.

 

[Warrior@Heart]

I voted 4th, more wishful thinking than anything else.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

We will win the minor premiership so I guess that means we finish #1

 

[Rhyno]

5th

 

[Evil_Mush]

I'm gonna go with 3rd, as that's one of the two top 8 positions (the other being 2nd) that we haven't finished the season in before (the other finishing positions we haven't had yet are 12 and 16, but that's too depressing to consider before the season has even begun!).

Extreme wishful thinking, but likeyknowwhatever.

 

[Scott]

Voted 4th

 

[Rebel]

We will win.

Duh

 

[SpaceMonkey]

After 3 rounds, I'm optimistic we can finish 5th-7th or thereabouts. Forwards have improved massively, backline is looking potent even with the injuries. Townsend and TL are improving, only JOhnson needs to fire but we know what he is capable of.

 

[vvvrulz]

I'm really pleased with the extra burst of speed Tomkins seems to have found, as well as Townsend and Leuluai in the last game. With that sort of form we should make the eight. Lolohea in the mix as well means we have a (potentially) very exciting spine.

Dunno wtf happens to Princess SJ in the early season, but hopefully he snaps out of it.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

6th for me. Tomkins is the key I think. If he plays 18+ games then we make it to 8

 

[One Warrior]

6th for me. Tomkins is the key I think. If he plays 18+ games then we make it to 8

Yes exactly, Tomkins is the key, without him we probably miss the eight, fingers crossed he's ok.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'm still picking 6-8. We're 3-6 and haven't lost to a bad team yet, which at this stage of the season is pretty good going for us, especially considering the injury carnage in our backline. If we have our cattle back come origin time we'll wreak some carnage.