tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86593093241472509512024-03-06T10:59:16.433+11:00New Zealand Warriors Faither Supporters Faither: "It's not just a slogan, it's a movement"Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-37369021034070658602018-05-05T17:10:00.001+10:002018-05-05T17:10:31.061+10:00Player Profile - Francis Meli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Name:</b> Francis Meli</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Date of Birth:</b> 27/04/79</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Place of Birth</b>: Apia, Samoa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Height:</b> 188cm</span><br />
<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Weight:</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 100kg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Nationality:</b> Samoa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Warriors #:</b> 65</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Warriors Debut: </b>2nd May 1999 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Junior Club: </b>Avondale Wolves/Marist Saints</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Signed From: </b>Marist Saints</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Position: </b>Wing/Centre</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Born in Apia, Samoa on 27 April 1979, Meli grew up in the Auckland suburb of Titirangi, Meli began his rugby league career at the age of 9 when he joined the Avondale Wolves. He eventually joined City Marist and played for the Marist Saints in the Auckland Rugby League.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playing Career</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NRL - </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meli was then signed by the Auckland Warriors, and made his NRL début against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on 2 May 1999. Due to a feeder arrangement with the Warriors, Meli also played several games for Brisbane Souths in the Queensland Cup. Meli played for Samoa in the 2000 World Cup. In 2001 he then switched allegiance to New Zealand, playing in 14 test matches between 2001 and 2004. He played for the Warriors on the wing in their 2002 NRL Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters. In the post-season Meli was selected to go on the 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France. He was played on the wing in five test matches and scored 4 tries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meli scored a club record 23 tries for the Warriors in the 2003 NRL season. He scored 5 of those tries in a single finals game against the Canterbury Bulldogs, a feat still unbeaten in the finals. He played his 50th match for the club on 6 April 2003 and his 100th match against the Wests Tigers on 9 April 2005. He was named the 2003 New Zealand Warriors’ Player of the Year. Meli was selected to play on the wing for New Zealand in the 2004 Anzac Test against Australia in Newcastle, New South Wales, the Kiwis losing to the Kangaroos 10-37. At the end of the season he was also selected to play for New Zealand on the wing in all four of their matches at the 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Super League - </b>At the start of 2006 Meli joined St. Helens. He played for St Helens on the wing in their 2006 Challenge Cup Final victory against the Huddersfield Giants. St Helens reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against Hull F.C., and Meli played on the wing, scoring a try in Saints' 26-4 victory. As 2006 Super League champions, St Helens faced 2006 NRL Premiers the Brisbane Broncos in the 2007 World Club Challenge. Meli played on the wing in the Saints' 18-14 victory. In his first three years at the club he acquired three Challenge Cup winning medals, a World Club Challenge winning medal and a Grand Final winning ring. He also played in 2008's Super League XIII Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos. In 2008 Meli played for Samoa in the World Cup. Visa issues due to the United Kingdoms new requirements curtailed the start of his 2009 campaign, however these issues were suffered by many imports that season. He arrived back in the country five rounds late and was forced to start his season in the reserves. Meli was named in the Samoan squad for the 2009 Pacific Cup. At the start of 2010 Meli was granted compassionate leave to briefly return to New Zealand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meli was selected to play for the Exiles by coach Brian McLennan. He started the game on the wing against England, and scored a try in the 16-12 Exiles win. Francis was selected again to represent the Exiles by new coach Daniel Anderson, Meli started Game 1 on the wing and scored a try in the 18-10 loss to England. Meli also featured on the wing for Game 2 and was instrumental in helping the Exiles to a 32-20 win by scoring 2 tries and helping the Exiles retain the International Origin trophy. Meli played for Super League side Salford Red Devils for the 2014 season after signing a one-year contract at the club. Meli retired at the conclusion of the 2014 season after failing to be offered a new contract.</span><br />
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<i 15.4px="" 21.56px="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" line-height:="" pen="" quot="" sans="">Faither: "It's not just a slogan, it's a movement"</i> </div>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-7627801780375727312017-09-01T02:27:00.001+10:002017-09-01T02:29:08.499+10:002017 - What's Gone Wrong?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As with any sports team, the buck stops with the head coach. If the desired results are not forthcoming then it is the coach who is first to fall on his sword, if the results are the desired ones the club is chasing then the coach is the one to reap the rewards. That is, plain and simple, the nature of the beast for coaches in a professional sports team.<br />
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No doubt many of you will be quick to dismiss this opinion by suggesting we cannot get rid of yet another coach, you'll argue we've already seen too many come and go. My question is, why can't we get rid of Kearney after what will go down as one of the worst seasons in the clubs history? "Because we've had too many coaching changes already" is not an answer that is likely to improve the situation the club currently finds itself in. That answer does nothing more than breed an acceptance of mediocrity, you're waving the white flag and accepting defeat and allowing the same outcomes to be repeated over and over again.<br />
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Think of it in a hypothetical sense. Say, for example, since 2011 we only had the 1 coach until this season where Kearney took over the reigns. If we were successful during that period of time with the one coach, would we all be keen to keep Kearney on for 2018 after this season? You can guarantee that 99% of the fans would be calling for his head!<br />
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So why do we throw support behind a coach after 6 dismal seasons with multiple coaches but would presumably call for his head after (hypothetically) enjoying success under 1 coach for 5 season before being faced with the same results in 2017. Why do we want him sacked in one scenario and not the other? Regardless of the past seasons the simple truth is he did not deliver this year and has the club finishing so far away from their expected finish it is almost comedic. Have the fans and club subconsciously accepted failure? We are all well aware you can't polish a turd yet here you all are rolling the fucker in glitter.<br />
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Much has been said about the "all star" spine and the excuses have rolled in blaming their ineffectiveness on the forward pack for not making the metres. Currently the Warriors sit in 8th for metres made and average just 30m per game less than the Melbourne Storm. With a forward pack being led by a bloke (Gavet) proving his worth to the club by playing for a contract and averaging 112m a game while being surrounded by plenty of experience and talent in Hoffman (99m - Caps: NSW 14 - Aust 6), Lillyman (127m - QLD 14), Mannering (129m - NZ 42), Matulino (119m - NZ 23) then it's fair to say that if they're lacking in performance it's down to the instructions being given by the coaches because the talent and experience is certainly there within that pack to match it with any club.<br />
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That takes us back to the spine, they just have not performed. Kearney has come to the club seemingly under the illusion that having spent time under Bellamy and Bennett he can become the next super coach. Since his arrival the only major improvement within the team worth noting has been the lower error rate. There is a very clear reason as to why that error count has seemed to improve, it's due to Kearney coaching the natural flair out of the team, the offloads have gone, the ad-lib footy is nowhere to be seen. We've been left with a watered down version of a Melbourne Storm outfit that misses one major key to it's success, player-led accountability.<br />
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It's easy to see the players are clearly lacking confidence within themselves and those around them. When a player lacks confidence they focus on making good contact in defense, holding/throwing a pass or retrieving a kick cleanly, this leaves their minds half a second slower due to being consumed on focusing on the very basics of rugby league. With confidence plumetting in a player they become swamped with fear, afraid to make a tackle, take the hit up or throw a pass.<br />
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A successful coach transmits positivity to his players that reassures them. Everything from body language, behaviour and attitude exudes belief in their players, something Kearney does not do. <br />
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In such a competitive competition you cannot afford to have a coach who does not inspire his players, a coach who fails to get a roster full of talent to perform, a coach who imitates a style of play not suited to the team he is in charge of, a coach that uses the same "process" over and over again or a coach who holds no players acountable and continues to reward poor performances with 1st grade selection.<br />
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At the end of the day one fact remains constant, a coach must get results to hold onto his job or at least have the club looking like turning a corner, not heading backwards. Coaching is a results based job and with Kearneys lack of those i cannot see how he deserves to hold onto his position, a position that in 3 seasons has seen him never be able to have his team within the top 8 after round 1. Sorry Mooks, it's time to go. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.<br />
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-78634625983602586412017-08-19T01:50:00.000+10:002018-05-05T16:10:02.768+10:00Shoulder Surgery Ends Season for Mannering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the NZ Warriors limp toward the end of the season, the club will now need to face the reality of playing their remaining games without the services of their best player in Simon Mannering. The untimely injury is also a massive blow to the Kiwis World Cup campaign at season end.<br />
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"It (shoulder) has been something we've been monitoring closely since the beginning of the season" said Kearney.<br />
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"He's had trouble with both his shoulders over the last few seasons and unfortunately it has come to a point where his long term health becomes a priority and without the surgery now, if he cops a knock in the wrong area it could spell the end of his career"</div>
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With the news sure to make Warriors fans wonder if their season could get any worse, Mannering was quick to point out "having surgery now will likely add at least another season to my career and the extra break over the off season will leave me in awesome shape for the 2018 season".<br />
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It's understood that the Kiwi veteran was playing in "excruciating pain" over the course of the season and at times wasn't able to lift either arm for the best part of the week following a game. You can easily be forgiven for not being aware of what Mannering was putting himself through each and every game due to how impressive his on-field performances have been. </div>
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"The injury has more or less just come about through over use. I guess the shoulders eventually give out when you are forced to carry 16 of your team mates every single week but i guess that's the process" said Mannering.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 15.4px;">**Important disclaimer**</span><br /><br style="font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">This article is 100% satire. In these articles we may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictional ways. All articles contained in the "satire" page are fiction and presumably fake news.</span><br /><br style="font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental, except for all references to staff and/or players, in which case they are based on real people, but still based almost entirely in fiction</span></div>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-67841163555209435982017-07-27T19:31:00.000+10:002018-05-05T16:10:02.745+10:00Rugby League Live 4: Gamers Heed Warning and Demand Refunds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjt2ZIC7cBKznPoY8WN6YSFfFOaS5AitKnGDLMAPZznkF-dxmbC1KE6JSDgRYHkKqeNkY1UVva2VmQTf98rERk5XV-Tvxnp227DU1B5IQFh4Yf1POMMB_DCpN15T6ePaDn5BM2hL0Ooc/s1600/rugbyleaguelive4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjt2ZIC7cBKznPoY8WN6YSFfFOaS5AitKnGDLMAPZznkF-dxmbC1KE6JSDgRYHkKqeNkY1UVva2VmQTf98rERk5XV-Tvxnp227DU1B5IQFh4Yf1POMMB_DCpN15T6ePaDn5BM2hL0Ooc/s320/rugbyleaguelive4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The gamers within the Rugby League community have been eagerly awaiting the release of the new Rugby League Live video game since the announcement of its impending release earlier in the year. The wait is finally over for those who got in early and secured their pre order copies with the likes of EB Games and JB HiFi being swamped with couch coaches nation wide eager to use their wealth of knowledge they have for the game and lead their teams to virtual glory. <br />
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In an unexpected twist, as quickly as the pre ordered copies were snapped up they were being returned in record numbers with staff from various outlets, gaming professionals and programmers alike confirming that what is being witnessed is unprecedented within the gaming community and is cause for concern over the future of Sports Video Games.<br />
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The release of the studies that have recently been concluded by V.A.G.I.N.A (Video Audio Gaming International Network of Affairs) could not have been timed any worse for the developers of the new Rugby League game and there are growing fears among insiders that the results from these studies could be the death knell for not only sporting games but video games in general. <br />
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The in depth studies that were conducted came back with conclusions that are impossible to ignore. A decade long process that saw researchers travel America, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand and interviewing every inmate and professional sports star throughout those countries ended with some shocking discoveries. </div>
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Since the very first release of Grand Theft Auto in 1997, 100% of inmates that have been incarcerated following that release date and currently serving time for murder, drug use and car theft have played the video game "religiously" at some stage during their lives. Across 4 nations, not a single criminal convicted of those crimes was able to admit to researchers that they had never played GTA. </div>
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With studies showing that there is no doubt violent criminals and crime are directly associated to video games the V.A.G.I.N.A crew wanted to explore just how deeply rooted this phenomenon could possibly be and expanded their research to sporting games.</div>
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After a grueling process spent interviewing those who played at a professional level and in a sport that had a minimum of 5 video game releases, the results were just as damning as their previous studies had found. Every single player, in every single code across every country visited had copies of video games in the sport they professionally play, thus making it clear that playing your favorite sporting game will without a shadow of doubt result in the gamer playing that sport in real life. FACT!<br />
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As these damning results started to filter through various online forums and social media platforms in what was almost perfect unison with the release of Rugby League 4, the know it all online footy experts went into panic mode as mass hysteria hit them as they feared they would have to actually remove themselves from the comfort of their own homes and actually play the game they claim to know so much about. </div>
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#Faither reporter William Turner put his personal safety at risk as he dove straight into the thick of the action outside a local EB Games store that was being inundated with online Rugby League experts being dropped off by their mums as they desperately rushed to return the game with the fear it was too late for them and they would have to lace up the boots.</div>
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William Turner managed to get a moment with Max Wang, a pimply, middle aged nerd who was crying hysterically over the thought of having to do physical activity.</div>
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"Ive heard the over sensitive type talk about the violence in video games having a direct affect on personal lives and turning the most placid gamer into a crazed lunatic".</div>
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"There's no fucking way I want to end up like that. Actually playing a sport in real life is the last thing I want to do. Fuck that. Have a go at me. I'm 45 years old, weigh 250 kg's, live in my mums basement while paying no rent, have the old girl cook for me and clean after me, constantly jerk off into her soiled panties and occasionally dress up in them and try to seduce my father, haven't had a job in almost 2 decades and haven't ever been laid. Mind you i jerk off more often than is necessary but I have to kill time some how".</div>
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"On top of all that, i'm very fucking vocal on all the Rugby League supporters Groups. If I started playing real sport I wouldn't have time to give everyone my opinions that they crave from day to day."<br />
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"I'm not exactly an athlete as you can see for yourself. So for me to play a sport would leave me exposed to everyone online and they would see just how much of a pathetic, uncoordinated piece of shit I really am".</div>
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As if it were clock work, Max Wang promptly jumped onto his scooter with his fat people dress flailing about behind him like some sort of super hero that eats his way out of danger and lined up at the Chinese restaurant that has an all you can eat deal for $5. Here's hoping those poor bastards are prepared.<br />
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Whether the study into the link between gaming and reality is legit or not is questionable but as a bloke who talks the talk I am far too lazy to walk the walk. Where does one buy a yoyo from these days? And where the fuck is the "any" key?<br />
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<span style="font-size: 15.4px;">**Important disclaimer**</span><br />
<br style="font-size: 15.4px;" />
<span style="font-size: 15.4px;">This article is 100% satire. In these articles we may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictional ways. All articles contained in the "satire" page are fiction and presumably fake news.</span><br />
<br style="font-size: 15.4px;" />
<span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental, except for all references to staff and/or players, in which case they are based on real people, but still based almost entirely in fiction</span></div>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-23307326906602872252017-07-22T08:05:00.001+10:002018-05-05T16:10:02.697+10:00Kearney Reveals the Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If it wasn't bad enough for the long suffering fans of the NZ Warriors having to deal with the clubs tired and old slogan of "Keep the Faith", which let's face it, is nothing more than a phrase that breeds an acceptance of mediocrity within the establishment, Mr 24% decides to bring his own catch phrase to the table, "Trust the Process".<br />
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Let's not forget about the "Above the Line" slogan he also brought with him. Now i'm not sure where this line sits in the big scheme of things so i can only assume it doesn't actually have anything to do with the team and the players individual performances as previously thought. Unless of course it was intended to be forwarded on to Kidwell and used as a motivation tool for the Kiwis. In which case it has worked as hoped judging by Bromwich, Proctor and SKD being over the line for the first time in their lives. I guess they didn't get the memo about not actually snorting the line they were above. <br />
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From the outside looking in this seems to be the move of a man who is lacking confidence in his ability to perform at an elite standard in the role he has recently taken over, a move that seems to have been put in place by Mooks to cover his arse should results not go his way and in doing so giving himself a safety net or safe space if you will, away from the inevitable criticism that shall follow.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong here, I'm all for shiny new things, so long as they're an improvement on its predecessor. Sadly, in this case, Kearneys new words of wisdom are nothing more than a sideways move away from the big bag of unnecessary that is Keep the Faith. Coincidentally, Kearneys appointment as head coach was nothing more than a sideways move in replacing Cappy but that's a story for another time.<br />
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The other important thing to remember when claiming to bring fresh and new ideas to your new place of employment is to ensure that they are in fact fresh and new ideas and not stolen from somebody else, which unfortunately is another example of where Kearney has failed again.<br />
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Exactly where Stephen came up with his motto regarding the process is up for debate, here are a couple of the more popular opinions as to where it came from;<br />
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<li>John Taylor (Duran Duran Bass Player). After the split of 80's New Wave band Duran Duran, Taylor embarked on a solo career. One of the absolutely stunning tracks he released as a solo artist was called "Trust the Process". Let's face it, this number has some inspiring lyrics; <span style="color: magenta;">"<i>Days of innocence are left behind, All i've left is my adult life, Lots of time left - left to move up, Trust the ceiling, Trust the process". </i> </span></li>
<li>Sam Hinkie. (Former General Manager and President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers). The architect of the master plan that was the original Trust the Process. A plan that was to purposely lose for 3 years which would see them not only become the worst team but at the same time earn themselves the highest draft picks. </li>
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When pressed about whether losing was in fact part of the process as it was with Hinkie in the NBA, Kearney replied by saying "being able to process the processes process is the first process to processing the process".<br />
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An unusually rushed and hurried Kearney then quickly turned to head back into the sheds when unexpectedly a gimp mask fell from his bag and onto the Mt Smart Turf..<br />
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"I suppose you are going to want to know why i am carrying around a gimp mask? Look, i am a grown man, i really am a big boy and as a big boy i have desires and needs."<br />
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It was at this stage where I was looking for an escape before being caught in conversation with Mooks and his fetishes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-d6sQNQ0L9ms50qVd9mWWkQfGfoQ52DGdsaAc7PwH-jJAhtxPtAVB-c-mpM876OUqj-2nKJeqT_rS7Rm65kcHp6VibRwATsIPIm2PlLPI1sEU3Vf4qwdaKjmSamLgmqO8AsWE2sYxt4/s1600/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="140" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-d6sQNQ0L9ms50qVd9mWWkQfGfoQ52DGdsaAc7PwH-jJAhtxPtAVB-c-mpM876OUqj-2nKJeqT_rS7Rm65kcHp6VibRwATsIPIm2PlLPI1sEU3Vf4qwdaKjmSamLgmqO8AsWE2sYxt4/s200/image.png" width="131" /></a>"It's been my fantasy for as long as i can remember to spank all the lads with a wooden spoon when they are being naughty naughty boys, so why not go out and try win the wooden spoon as a team. I'm hoping the bondage bonding session can help bring the squad close together as a unit and have us all cum together as one."<br />
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"It's going to be really positive for the club moving forward and the best part is i get to play one of my favourite games from when i was a kid. Without giving too much away let's just say that Ligi is yet to be made aware that by the end of the bonding session he will be one very soggy sao"<br />
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<span style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">**Important disclaimer**</span><br style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;" /><br style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">This article is 100% satire. In these articles we may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictional ways. All articles contained in the "satire" page are fiction and presumably fake news.</span><br style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;" /><br style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;">Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental, except for all references to staff and/or players, in which case they are based on real people, but still based almost entirely in fiction</span></div>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-51587266737534611362017-07-20T19:41:00.000+10:002017-07-20T19:42:48.256+10:002000: Financial Collapse and Reinvention <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In National Rugby League season 2000 the Warriors could only finish second last. This season included the Warriors' largest ever loss in their history to date, 54–0 to the Dragons in Wollongong. Alarmingly, the problems off-field overshadowed the on-field problems. The majority shareholders were under intense financial pressure, and the club's future was looking bleak at best. The key assets of the club were purchased by business tycoon Eric Watson. This did not include player contracts, and many players were released and had to fight to get the money they had been promised. Ultimately only 10 players from the 2000 season were retained.<br />
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The club was re-branded as the New Zealand Warriors, with new colours of black and grey – resembling the national sporting colours. New coach Daniel Anderson and CEO Mick Watson focused on signing unknown New Zealand talent. There were only six Australians in the 2001 squad, and only three foundation players – Monty Betham, Stacey Jones and Logan Swann.<br />
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<b><u>Milestones</u></b><br />
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<li>20 February - Round 3: Nigel Vagana played in his 50th match for the club.</li>
<li>1 April - Round 9: Joe Vagana played in his 100th match for the club.</li>
<li>8 April - Round 10: Lee Oudenryn played in his 50th match for the club.</li>
<li>6 May - Round 14: The Warriors lost 0-54 to the St. George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium. This result stands as the Warriors largest defeat to date.</li>
<li>18 June - Round 20: Jerry Seuseu played in his 50th match for the club.</li>
<li>October–November: 20 players from the club participated in the World Cup: Stacey Jones, Ali Lauitiiti, Logan Swann, Joe Vagana, Nigel Vagana (New Zealand), Peter Lewis (Cook Islands), Talite Liava'a (Tonga), Monty Betham, Henry Fa'afili, Joe Galuvao, Vae Kololo, Francis Meli, Jerry Seuseu (Samoa), Terry Hermansson, Wairangi Koopu, Odell Manuel, Boycie Nelson, Henry Perenara, Clinton Toopi, Paul Whatuira (Aotearoa Māori).</li>
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The Warriors finished the 2000 season in 13th position (2nd last) on 18 points. (8 wins, 2 draws, 16 losses). Mark Graham was the coach of the side with John Simon the club captain. The average attendance for their home games was 12,246. Nigel Vagana was the leading try scored with 12 tries while John Simon was the leading point scored with 54. Robbie Mears won Player of the Year but was forced to move on with new management not honoring his contract. </div>
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<i>Faither: It's not just a slogan, it's a movement</i></div>
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<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-52439704308695878852017-07-16T12:35:00.000+10:002018-05-05T16:10:02.721+10:00Iro Explains Warriors Recruitment Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One could be forgiven for thinking that the powers that be within the Warriors establishment haven't quite mastered the important and on-going task that is player recruitment and retention. As the 2017 campaign enters the final stages of the season, it's not only hard to stay focused on the number of players leaving at seasons end but the quality of player whom won't be returning in 2018.<br />
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As to where the recruitment situation currently stands it is proving to be difficult to get a gauge on how we should be reacting. Do we continue to grow increasingly concerned or do we just carry on and "Keep the Faith" and believe in the process.<br />
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If there is one man capable of providing us with some answers regarding the clubs intended direction with recruitment, it would be Tony Iro, the 2017 Vodafone Warriors Recruitment and Development manager.<br />
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"People are often on my case about the work i do for the club and whether or not i am the right person for the job. I think those pesky #Haters need to look at just how far and wide my recruitment strategies actually reach before they form negative opinions about me without knowing all the facts"<br />
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"In this day and age, time is money and we all must endeavor to not only utilize our time efficiently but also get the right balance with work and personal life."<br />
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"It's all to common for businessmen and women alike to lose focus on the important things in life and let work begin to take complete control of our day to day living while neglecting not only family but those important all expenses paid weekends away and golf trips that our sponsors constantly offer us"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMjapNPeZdVps2N1RJiP5jrNxPir5A6zywUfKczq-rBZIPqwY3K5uQ8zD9H4pHG3U4hxOu3omxjBMhkhMcAq_yq40K0Pj67ylIASuizy2ODXGdhJbHkdFh7KrtQ9sQg0V9o6HMcYsJfA/s1600/irogolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMjapNPeZdVps2N1RJiP5jrNxPir5A6zywUfKczq-rBZIPqwY3K5uQ8zD9H4pHG3U4hxOu3omxjBMhkhMcAq_yq40K0Pj67ylIASuizy2ODXGdhJbHkdFh7KrtQ9sQg0V9o6HMcYsJfA/s320/irogolf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"If it wasn't for me taking the initiative and coming up with my very own process on how i approach my job then there is no way i would be able to find the time to enjoy the finer things in life....which is 100% paid for by our sponsors. Have i mentioned that already?"<br />
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"Instead of putting myself out there and doing the hard yards i now simply ask the players and those around the club if they have any friends that have either played the game, enjoy the sport or have a desire to try something new and whether or not they would be interested in playing for the Warriors"<br />
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"This literally frees up my entire calendar and not only can i now make all those events that our sponsors invite us to i now have the time to approach those sponsors and request to get even more free shit from them. I do absolutely no work these days and it is fantastic. Sure, we might not be getting the results but we now have hundreds of new players turning up for open trials and you cannot tell me that isn't a good thing. If we aren't getting results you need to blame the coaches and i have no problem stabbing a bloke in the back if required. Eventually the club will offer me the head coaching role which i deserve, mark my words".<br />
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While hearing this explanation from Iro on how he goes about player recruitment there was a long and awkward period of silence that left us speechless while Iro stood in front of us with one of the smuggest looks imaginable plastered across his face. Just when it seemed as though the interview would end with nothing more left to say from either party Iro stepped up to the plate with some parting words.<br />
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"I call it the "pIROmid scheme"".<br />
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**Important disclaimer**<br />
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This article is 100% satire. In these articles we may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictional ways. All articles contained in the "satire" page are fiction and presumably fake news.<br />
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Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental, except for all references to staff and/or players, in which case they are based on real people, but still based almost entirely in fiction<br />
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<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-38586759897029836932017-06-08T15:24:00.002+10:002017-06-08T15:31:33.142+10:00Faither Interview: Robbie Mears - Warrior #68<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3nDFYhRer5ywj6pgbKSS3W7BpwFgSIAAJSHODRTRarPK0a5uLMS5eG2KhQunmcAs89NLstfa8y01OhuAriowDZ3IIu8xkOyDkghfujr_rPCPN8JPuV1LnaVWbdkFljrnFxqGbXYQJ8M/s1600/Robbie+Mears+1999+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3nDFYhRer5ywj6pgbKSS3W7BpwFgSIAAJSHODRTRarPK0a5uLMS5eG2KhQunmcAs89NLstfa8y01OhuAriowDZ3IIu8xkOyDkghfujr_rPCPN8JPuV1LnaVWbdkFljrnFxqGbXYQJ8M/s320/Robbie+Mears+1999+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Born in Liverpool, NSW, Robbie played 160 First Grade games spanning 12 seasons and 6 clubs both in the NRL and Super League.<br />
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Mears' early years saw him playing for Ingleburn Bulldogs, Eaglevale St Andrews, Campbelltown City Kangaroos and Austral Rams in the Western Suburbs District Junior League. While attending Campbelltown's St. Gregory's College, Mears played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1992.<br />
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Mears joined the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1994 and made his first grade debut in Round 14, coming off the bench against the Cronulla Sharks. However over the next three seasons Mears was only used sporadically by the club and he made just nine more appearances for the Roosters.<br />
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Looking for more first grade opportunities, Mears joined the Canterbury Bulldogs in 1997. He started in reserve grade but got an opportunity to play first grade when Jason Hetherington went down injured. In 1998 he was a regular in the reserve grade team and played in the side that defeated the Parramatta Eels's in the Grand Final.<br />
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Not wanted by the Bulldogs for 1999, Mears moved into the bush and played for the Ourimbah Magpies in the Country Rugby League Central Coast Division. His form was good enough to make the Country Firsts team for the curtain raiser to the ANZAC Test, where his performance got him noticed by several NRL clubs.<br />
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He was signed by the Auckland Warriors after injuries to both Syd Eru and Jason Death and made his debut for the club in Round 11. He went on to play 40 first grade games for the club over the next two seasons and was a fan favourite. However, with the purchase of the club, but not the players contracts, by Eric Watson at the end of the 2000 season, Mears was left looking for another club.<br />
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Today the NZ Warriors #Faither Group have been lucky enough to have a few moments of Robbies time where he has been kind enough to answer a few questions so we can find out a little more of one of the most loved Warriors players to pull on the jersey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh2aP3il1o6oNx3R2B5224-evrKvbi5oCpP71cAnimTd3xImuBC1cboXcdK_v8w5h9uhP6uxTD3DdO4pXA4K7xw-rBRVReBqbSXZIBveidUdsXlYG4fltQl3B3MJKSp1WBsS7N0dxpUQ/s1600/Robbie+Mears+1999+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="1000" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh2aP3il1o6oNx3R2B5224-evrKvbi5oCpP71cAnimTd3xImuBC1cboXcdK_v8w5h9uhP6uxTD3DdO4pXA4K7xw-rBRVReBqbSXZIBveidUdsXlYG4fltQl3B3MJKSp1WBsS7N0dxpUQ/s320/Robbie+Mears+1999+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">#Faithers: Where did it all begin for you as a Rugby League player?</span><br />
Robbie Mears: Footy started for me from an early age. I was about 5 years old. It started to get serious about u/15s where I started to make a few rep teams. In 1992 I made the Australian School boys team which toured New Zealand and I signed with the Roosters from there.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: If Rugby League didn't work out, where do you think your career and life path would have taken you?</span><br />
RM: I not really sure what may of happened if I never made it to first grade. Being a Police officer was something I always wanted to do. So maybe would have just fast tracked that career.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What team did you support growing up as a kid and who was your favourite player?</span><br />
RM: I was a Parramatta Eels supporter growing up and Peter Sterling was my favourite player.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Did you play any other sports as a kid? If so, what did you play and were you any good?</span><br />
RM: Apart from footy growing up I use to be a swimmer.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What nicknames have you had over the years?</span><br />
RM: Nicknames, Paps, Mearsy, Robbie.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: After only recently arriving at the club (Warriors), while being interviewed, a cheeky Joe Vagana was busy taking the mickey by squirting water from his drink bottle at you from behind the cameras. Was Joe often a larrikin and who would be the biggest joker you've had the pleasure, or displeasure, to call a team mate?</span><br />
RM: Joe was always good for a laugh. It would be hard to say who the biggest joker was. The sides I played in would have a couple of blokes that like to play jokes. Joel Caine was pretty quick witted.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Did getting a second chance at your dream of playing First Grade footy inspire you to play better when the Warriors signed you from the Ourimbah Magpies?</span><br />
RM: Playing first grade always meant the same. Playing for the Warriors always seemed special though every time I took the field.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What is your fondest memory of your time at the Warriors?</span><br />
RM: I have a lot of great memories playing at the Warriors. It would be hard to single anything out. The players I played with, the supporters/people I met and each week not only felt like playing for the warriors but was like representing New Zealand.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Did you find the it difficult adjusting to New Zealand? Was there a culture shock?</span><br />
RM: Fitting into the life style was really easy for me. The life style was great.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Was it easier adjusting to the Warriors/NZ or Leeds/England?</span><br />
RM:Both were very similar adjusting to. I found the weather colder in England. Family was closer when I was living in New Zealand which was nice.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: You win Warriors Player of the Year then you're unceremoniously dumped from the teams roster when you refuse to sign a new contract under the new owners. How disappointing was that?</span><br />
RM: To be truthful I regret not resigning with the Warriors. The thought of not re-signing always comes back every now and then.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Without going into the dirty details that surrounded the end of the season, you claimed the Leeds Rhinos Supporters Player of the Year award in 2001, making it two fairly prestigious awards in 2 seasons at two clubs on the opposite side of the world. At the time, was there one that meant more to you? If so, what were the reasons?</span><br />
RM:I could not single out which “Supporters player of the year” award meant more, they mean the exact same to me. To be voted that award by the supporters was a great honour.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Over the course of you career, did you ever go an entire season without scoring a try and end up having to do a nudie run as a result? If so, where did the run take place?</span><br />
RM:In 2005 I was playing for Leigh in Super League. I came out of retirement and played the last 16 games. I never scored but didn’t have to do the nudie run.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What pre-game rituals did you used to have? And what was a normal Robbie Mears routine on the day in the lead up to a game?</span><br />
RM: I had a few game day rituals. Game day was always the same. Food was always the same for breakfast lunch and snacks. I did like having Coco pops for breakfast (probably not recommended these days). Go for a walk/sleep. Always got dressed the same for the game and wore the same Speedos.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Are you still working as a police officer?</span><br />
RM: Yes. At the end of January I will have been in the job 10 years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh04yX8Guq8whkbrqihvTuNzWuROqo1HBeJZ0Php0Cq8X0yyJGGQnP9uRapwYaq-Bb64GwomJ9Pg6I613jcSTRcYNJKoRcpKMs72EjUBcqiPE6riX9VH3LRI6Z0fI8LmfDFA6zis6ElGA/s1600/2012Mears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh04yX8Guq8whkbrqihvTuNzWuROqo1HBeJZ0Php0Cq8X0yyJGGQnP9uRapwYaq-Bb64GwomJ9Pg6I613jcSTRcYNJKoRcpKMs72EjUBcqiPE6riX9VH3LRI6Z0fI8LmfDFA6zis6ElGA/s320/2012Mears.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: orange;">#F: Are you still playing for the NSW Police league team?</span><br />
RM: Not anymore. I finished playing police footy in 2015.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: You played in an era before Fantasy Football. Be honest, how do you think your scores would look if they had Fantasy Football when you were playing?</span><br />
RM: Not really sure. Depend I would say if you were playing a full game or half. Hookers always seem to be toping tackle counts. So that would help to add to your score.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: Who, in your opinion, was the best player you had the pleasure to play alongside and why?</span><br />
RM: Stacey Jones. Good friend and roommate. I also got to play with Brad Clyde and Brad Fittler.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">#F: Is there a player you wished you could have had the chance to play alongside but were never able to?</span><br />
RM: Darren Lockyer<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">#F How is the body holding up from all the injuries over the years? Is any injury in particular causing you grief still?</span><br />
RM: I have permanent nerve damage on part of may face when my jaw was broken. Otherwise the body is pretty good.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">#F: Do you sing in the shower? If yes, what's your go to song?</span><br />
RM: No never sing in the shower. Terrible voice.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What sort of music do you enjoy? (favourite band/song/artist?)</span><br />
RM: I listen to a variety of music.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteEbJQ80WA6mZfhEe2dP2P6hC2EE9hdOVgbjgiA_StrCqo5H2hh_RFqX3776nsP5mgSYSqjMOctbJl6S5cp-jgQLxRPn31Ivntx_ygRlnb906KvRlnvnzFSZyRYNIgPiwyI2jpYEQj2w/s1600/Robbie+Mears+2000+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteEbJQ80WA6mZfhEe2dP2P6hC2EE9hdOVgbjgiA_StrCqo5H2hh_RFqX3776nsP5mgSYSqjMOctbJl6S5cp-jgQLxRPn31Ivntx_ygRlnb906KvRlnvnzFSZyRYNIgPiwyI2jpYEQj2w/s320/Robbie+Mears+2000+23.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="color: orange;">#F: What's your favourite food?</span><br />
RM: Ribeye on the bone or a baked dinner. Lamb roast with potatoes and veg.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What sort of a kid were you like in school? And what were you favourite/hated subjects?</span><br />
RM: In school was just a kid that liked to play sport. Best subjects were P.E. Arts, English. Did not like Economics.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">#F: What was your favourite video game to play as a kid?</span><br />
RM: Galaga and 1942.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;">#F: Is there something you can share with us that the fans might not know about you? (Hobbies, secret talents, how to escape parking tickets etc etc haha)</span><br />
RM: I train Crossfit most days. I enjoy going to the movies and card tricks. I’d say being polite is your best chance with tickets.<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">#F: Finally, what does the future have in store for Robbie Mears?</span><br />
Rm: Try to be a good dad for my boys and raise them into being good men. Also I would like to get back into coaching league but with my work I can’t do that at the moment. Would like to get to the Crossfit Games that would be a little goal for me.<br />
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-55342377848531821782017-05-28T09:29:00.000+10:002017-05-28T09:39:43.103+10:00Warriors Get The Job Done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a couple of back to back performances that were nothing short of embarrassing from the Warriors, the NZ based outfit turned up and put on a show for the fans at Mt Smart, albeit to an under strength Broncos outfit. That being said, you can only play the team that's put in front of you and it was crucial that they got the job done. Anything short of a victory would have put serious pressure on the club and no doubt would have completely stripped away any confidence the players may have still had left within them. As the Origin period roles around for another year, the Warriors find themselves in an all too familiar position. Yet ANOTHER slow start to the season leaving them behind the pack and desperate to string some wins together.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Some interesting stats to take a look at are the Warriors winning record for different parts of the season between 2012-2016. Pre Origin, on average are a 14th placed side with a winning record of 40.4%. Post Origin they're even worse, ranked on average a 16th placed side with a winning record of just 21.2%. During the Origin period though they're a different kind of beast and are ranked the best team during that time of year with a winning record of 70%.<br />
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That winning record during the Origin period is all well and good but does it really count for that much? History and common sense says no as we've failed to make the 8 throughout the seasons those stats are taken from and not only that, if you can only win against heavily depleted sides, what chance are you of really having a crack in the finals if you do happen to sneak in?<br />
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As i mentioned earlier, you can only play against the team that is in front of you, depleted or not, and it was refreshing to see the Warriors come out against the Broncos with plenty of enthusiasm and hunger.<br />
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<b><u>#Faither Five</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b><u>1. Running Metres</u></b><br />
<br />
A massive improvement was made in this area and an improvement that was desperately needed. Last week against the Dragons the Warriors only managed to make 1417m in total. Fast forward to last nights effort and the starting 13 alone managed to better than effort with 1555m between them. Add the effort from the bench and the total for the match was 1851m.<br />
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When you're making as many metres as that, you're putting the opposition defence under plenty of stress and in doing so opening up opportunities for the all star spine at your disposal to weave their magic which was well and truly on display last night.<br />
<br />
11 of the 17 players in Warriors colours last night managed to crack 100 plus metres, another 2 fell just short with 91m and RTS going past the 200m mark.<br />
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<b><u>2. The Spine</u></b><br />
<br />
What a difference a team going forward can make to your spine. With the opposition on the back foot, the extra space that was opened up for the all star quartet was there for all to see.<br />
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All the razzle dazzle aside, what i like seeing even more is the halves being tackled on occasion instead of just standing at 1st or 2nd receiver and shoveling the ball out toward the outside backs. This adds doubt to the opposition defensive line and puts them in two minds about what decision they need to make defensively. This is putting stress on your opposition, with stress comes cracks in the line and when those cracks begin to appear the fire power at the Warriors disposal is more than enough to start cutting them to pieces and piling on the points.<br />
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<b><u>3. Our "Average Joes"</u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8b-B2pLLm7EOv7qE4ObahIl4WmOEAKm1jiBYcq89kkm0LNURgL_MKsGIVyGHJ5LncCNKHsMqaCP4PIwoezYUerxCQPymKk7W1xJM4g9ImMFv1LgdqZ6m-uNnaWPWY0sVmYAvZBHNrcc/s1600/1431751680532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8b-B2pLLm7EOv7qE4ObahIl4WmOEAKm1jiBYcq89kkm0LNURgL_MKsGIVyGHJ5LncCNKHsMqaCP4PIwoezYUerxCQPymKk7W1xJM4g9ImMFv1LgdqZ6m-uNnaWPWY0sVmYAvZBHNrcc/s320/1431751680532.jpg" width="320" /></a>Quite often it's only the big name players who get all the accolades but to be honest, our most consistent players this season week in and week out are those without the "Super Star" tag next to their name. James Gavet, Blake Ayshford and Ken Maumalo.<br />
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Gavet has been huge for us this season and been more or less fighting the battle in the middle of the field on his own.<br />
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Why Ayshford cops so much criticism from fans is beyond me. He isn't a superstar and he never will be but he gets the job done. The difference between his poor games and good games are very little which shows consistency and an ability to play at his best, or very close to it, on a regular basis. If our "superstars" were able to play with the same consistency Blake manages to churn out we would be a Top 4 side without doubt.<br />
<br />
Another who cops plenty of heat, Ken Maumalo. Not sure about anyone else but i'm happy to take the 1696m he has made this season so far at an average of 154m per game. What exactly is the problem with Ken? Seems to me he is doing a Manu like job.<br />
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<b><u>4. Missed Tackles</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
Vs Dragons - 57<br />
Vs Broncos - 25<br />
<br />
Not much more to say other than it makes life a lot easier when you aren't missing 50 plus a game.<br />
<br />
<b><u>5. Minimising Errors</u></b><br />
<br />
With both sides having 37 sets each the big difference between the two teams was the completion rates. The Warriors completion rate finishing at 86% with 32 completed sets. Yes, you did read that right, Warriors completion rate at 86%.<br />
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Add to that the Kiwi outfit only conceded 2 penalties. Almost unheard of. When you make your tackles and complete your sets you're always going to be hard to beat.<br />
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<span 13.2px="" 18.48px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="" tahoma=""><i>Faither: "It's not just a slogan, it's a movement"</i></span></div>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-61426103300224689042017-05-14T02:37:00.000+10:002017-05-14T03:47:17.893+10:002nd Half Assault at Pepper Stadium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the opening 10 Rounds of the Season now behind us, let's take a look at just how well the Warriors are travelling in 2017. Before we delve into the important stats and figures, let's touch base on the game that has left plenty of Warriors fans feeling rather salty after the Pepper Stadium second half shocker!<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Some serious questions must now be asked of not only the players within this Warriors squad but also the coaching staff and their ability to be regularly "Above the Line". How a side can go into the break 22 points up, only to come out and be held scoreless in the 2nd Half while their opposition puts 30 on you almost beggars belief. I guess we will never know exactly what was said in the sheds at halftime but all we can do is hope that those words are never repeated.<br />
<br />
As if to rub salt into the wounds, the 22 point deficit that the Panthers were forced to chase down was done in only 12 minutes on the back of 4 tries. The 30 unanswered points Penrith managed to put on in the Second Half was their second biggest come from behind victory. In what is seemingly becoming some sort of a cruel joke, it was again a Warriors side that helped their opposition snap out of a losing streak.<br />
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This time around it was the Panthers staring down the barrel of their 6th straight defeat heading into the game as well as having the possibility of being the first Penrith side since 2002 to lose 6 games on the trot. It doesn't stop there for the visitors either, with the 8 point loss officially becoming their biggest come from behind defeat in their history.<br />
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The Warriors record on the road is becoming increasingly worrying, with an 0-4 record this season and only 7 victories in Australia since 2015. The club needs to get past the travel factor somehow and start getting results across the ditch otherwise it'll be curtains early for 2017 and yet another season without Finals Footy.<br />
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Even the most dedicated fan would agree that being a Warriors Supporter is a bit like being a pube in the toilet, sooner or later you're going to get pissed off. It goes without saying that the Warriors were that bad in the 2nd Half that i would rather get myself a handjob from Edward Scissor Hands than have to sit through that again. Let's hope that Kearney can turn things around because i for one am growing tired of the Warriors changing coaches and their positions more often than a porn star with a bad back.<br />
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<br />
<b><u>THE FIRST 10 GAMES: 2011-2017</u></b><br />
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It's hard to believe it has been 6 long seasons since we've tasted Finals footy. Trying to comprehend how a side can go from making the Grand Final in one season to then go on and be nowhere to be seen year after year since is a bitter pill to swallow.<br />
<br />
With 4 wins and 6 losses, Kearney is in a very similar position to that of many a coach before him at this stage of the season. Only once in the last 7 years have the Warriors had a winning record after their opening 10 games, coincidentally it was the year they made the Grand Final in 2011.<br />
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Looking at the points for and against, 2017 has proven to be their 2nd worst effort as far as attack is concerned, averaging only 17 points a game, while defensively they aren't much better off, leaking on average a total of 22 points a game. As for the win/loss record after 10 games, only Elliott in 2013 has a worse record.<br />
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<b><u>Win/Loss Record</u></b><br />
<br />
2017 - Kearney - 4 Wins, 6 Losses<br />
2016 - Cappy - 4 Wins, 6 Losses<br />
2015 - Cappy - 5 Wins, 5 Losses<br />
2014 - Cappy - 2 Wins, 3 Losses<br />
2014 - Elliott - 2 Wins, 3 Losses<br />
2013 - Elliott - 2 Wins, 8 Losses<br />
2012 - McClennan - 5 Wins, 5 Losses<br />
2011 - Cleary - 6 Wins, 4 Losses<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Average Score in First 10 Games</u></b><br />
<br />
2017 - Warriors 17 - 22. (174/219)<br />
2016 - Warriors 20 - 26. (200/260)<br />
2015 - Warriors 21 - 21. (210/210)<br />
2014 - Warriors 20 - 21. (200/210)<br />
2013 - Warriors 15 - 28. (150/280)<br />
2012 - Warriors 25 - 22. (250/220)<br />
2011 - Warriors 20 - 18. (200/180)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIZ9DFQxvlLrKd6_T-9h492KRVWPgk6p4PzBRF0CPVkaEqcA4VcUNVpSwf4u9OwdReuygB5H7HL3GBr9zKQv_ANG9Stx0bxcr78XI4JxG5jqxJ_1fs4p5wso1ZukR_rSTYy1vcwTOAeU/s1600/14993b6d44a94b72157e74046acbf9b2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIZ9DFQxvlLrKd6_T-9h492KRVWPgk6p4PzBRF0CPVkaEqcA4VcUNVpSwf4u9OwdReuygB5H7HL3GBr9zKQv_ANG9Stx0bxcr78XI4JxG5jqxJ_1fs4p5wso1ZukR_rSTYy1vcwTOAeU/s320/14993b6d44a94b72157e74046acbf9b2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
In another worrying trend, the Warriors have only once had a positive For and Against since 2011 come seasons end, that year being 2014. That particular season, Cappy took over from what was an absolute shambles left behind from Elliott, just 5 games into the season.<br />
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There has only been the one season since our last Grand Final visit that we've managed to keep our "against" under 400, again, no surprise with it being in 2011. Cappy's first year of coach in 2014 saw us with our best return in the "for" column, racking up 571 points for the year. A quick run down of our For/Against over those seasons can be found below.<br />
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<b><u>Year: For/Against</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
2017: 174/219<br />
2016: 513/601<br />
2015: 445/588<br />
2014: 571/491<br />
2013: 495/554<br />
2012: 497/609<br />
2011: 504/393<br />
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<b><u>Debutants and Player Gains/Losses</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
While i am unaware of an average number for club debutants during any particular season, i find the number the Warriors have gone through on occasion to be alarmingly high. Injuries and suspensions are ofcourse always going to play their part.<br />
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Over the 2016 and 2015 season the Warriors had a staggering 22 players make their club debuts, whereas between 2011-2014 they only had 30.<br />
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<u>Club Debuts</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
2011: 7<br />
2012: 8<br />
2013: 7<br />
2014: 8<br />
2015: 10<br />
2016: 12<br />
2017: 4*<br />
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<u>Gains/Losses</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
While nobody can ever really be certain what the player scouts are doing within the Warriors, the number of players leaving the club for various reasons compared to those arriving is insanely lopsided.<br />
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Since 2015 we've seen a staggering 33 players leave the club with only 16 new arrivals. With those figures in mind we get whispers from within the club that 2017 will be another big clean out. The "player cleanout" seems to be an enjoyable post season exercise for the club. I hope that someone reminds them they need to replace or have replacement ready for those shown the door. Far too often we see a Warriors side forced to field players who aren't quite ready for 1st Grade, yet due to the clubs borderline horrendous recruitment abilities it is an all too common occurrence.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ki6_YkfVGLaKxj9CxFInEGwYLWbJjbWt0NLvBZVHv-XWi9jdQxytxaYckS0eraR_wXPCkgvf23WmWROz-46xGWDjZC7Bs0lf79lE_Lp5YZLYJAeJlKvASyuFndOG3TPpKJCUdSbqht8/s1600/10503694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ki6_YkfVGLaKxj9CxFInEGwYLWbJjbWt0NLvBZVHv-XWi9jdQxytxaYckS0eraR_wXPCkgvf23WmWROz-46xGWDjZC7Bs0lf79lE_Lp5YZLYJAeJlKvASyuFndOG3TPpKJCUdSbqht8/s1600/10503694.jpg" /></a></div>
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Funnily enough, those younger players who are being thrown into the deep end a little earlier than desired, have the same person overseeing their development that also oversees the clubs recruitment, Tony Iro, how he has held onto his job is beyond me.<br />
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The club must look beyond their playing roster when it comes time for the clean out. The likes of Iro, Wiki, Becht, Mayhew, Henry and Seu Seu, to name a few, have all been filling a particular role at the club since 2011 and have been able to keep their jobs regardless of on-field results.<br />
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While the broom is sweeping the place out, not only do they need to get rid of some of these ex-players from taking up roles within the club, they need to keep them out permanently.<br />
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I understand the club wishes to keep these blokes around by offering them different positions, and that's all well and good if you're not interested in hiring the best person for the job, but there comes a time where someone needs to understand that as far as employees are concerned, their are better options than that of a retired footy player.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOTSbqjuNT0XiAIiUSxHtonU4s_A_SMbXnVdES3I9Liyj5pW_1F8A-_XmS-r-Vk3W6k1Rd1yw2lsjHPYTLIecHE_jCHp_qXwJIKe_y_gWy8Emgt4hWg0RR4KOvm_fdAcNH7Ayup3d7nw/s1600/Ruben%252BWiki%252BlaFfYJBivLmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOTSbqjuNT0XiAIiUSxHtonU4s_A_SMbXnVdES3I9Liyj5pW_1F8A-_XmS-r-Vk3W6k1Rd1yw2lsjHPYTLIecHE_jCHp_qXwJIKe_y_gWy8Emgt4hWg0RR4KOvm_fdAcNH7Ayup3d7nw/s320/Ruben%252BWiki%252BlaFfYJBivLmm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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People, for instance, who have gone straight from school to study their profession, someone who has been fullfilling a similar role during their entire working and adult life, someone with experience and knowledge. We can't continue to offer blokes positions within this club just because we feel we owe them or think "it would be nice to have them around" after they retire. You need to set up for success, that begins from work experience kid to the CEO and everyone in between.<br />
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<span 13.2px="" 18.48px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="" tahoma=""><i>Faither: "It's not just a slogan, it's a movement"</i></span></div>
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<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-31828612219981549492017-04-13T19:35:00.000+10:002017-04-13T19:35:48.603+10:00Round 7 vs Raiders - #Faither 5: Pre Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU_GoBoT67lgFwKBnnyscHL1sEXhjS5cCsJP_iJzjFGS01rgwSk_x87v0ju672oWDXS9YYqhE52fTqfIG1d51qHD2DEaeobYxAVrlL0tv7a9siV367Ydid1noeoVDnod9dCLB2GAmss4/s1600/1468905837440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU_GoBoT67lgFwKBnnyscHL1sEXhjS5cCsJP_iJzjFGS01rgwSk_x87v0ju672oWDXS9YYqhE52fTqfIG1d51qHD2DEaeobYxAVrlL0tv7a9siV367Ydid1noeoVDnod9dCLB2GAmss4/s320/1468905837440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Rd 7 match vs the Raiders in Canberra this weekend looms as what could potentially be a season defining game for the Warriors. Although the NZ based side has come away with 5 wins from their previous 10 clashes against the Green Machine, alarmingly their record in Australia's National Capital is less than to be desired, with only 2 victories from their previous 5. Looking back further, the Warriors have struggled to adapt to the conditions at the Raiders home stadium where they went 13 years without a victory, stretching from 2001-2014.<br />
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With both teams sitting on 6 points to start the 2017 season after 6 Rounds, a victory for the Warriors against a more highly fancied team would be a massive boost to the confidence heading forward and put to rest suggestions they're only a mid table team at best with victories only coming against sides struggling below them on the ladder. </div>
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<b><u>Faither 5 Pre-Game vs Raiders</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgBN9cnGfZgz1NGU33kFlY39WD8B73oXSoiMMut8AtVMb41pnCz4zy3RtFOR2DSeRuz1kiM0cB2SFXaQ-84n_btNJWlGLFyj-SnAtXU0ZX3ZdjZg_5IfR18T80_MhGVkt7ggvb31b3rY/s1600/20ceb3b81008ab77576670a6f99dc20f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgBN9cnGfZgz1NGU33kFlY39WD8B73oXSoiMMut8AtVMb41pnCz4zy3RtFOR2DSeRuz1kiM0cB2SFXaQ-84n_btNJWlGLFyj-SnAtXU0ZX3ZdjZg_5IfR18T80_MhGVkt7ggvb31b3rY/s320/20ceb3b81008ab77576670a6f99dc20f.jpeg" width="320" /></a><u style="font-weight: bold;">1. Solomone Kata:</u></div>
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After having a breakthrough year in 2015, Kata enjoyed what was no doubt his best season to date in 2016 and seemingly missed out on the dreaded "2nd Year Syndrome". In the first 2 seasons since his 1st Grade Debut, Kata has been the leading try scored for the Warriors scoring 12 and 15 tries respectively. With the ability to break the line open at will, a knack of finding the white line on a regular basis and the ability to roll the sleeves up and do the hard yards getting his team out of trouble, it is imperative that Kata find the form Warriors fans are accustomed to. <br /><b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<b><u>2. James Gavet:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Srh4n2Tvn088RoaFFUaUiThK1V_8Rfcn5AFTrOuy0sec7O0b0w9AkS3fRamZTp2NjZ7yRKA2pY9ArhOYsS1ggSyz5_csH00csB6N37u91PUjAo_jP-IK98JEPJ8O_2VPmHkPlZ30nEM/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Srh4n2Tvn088RoaFFUaUiThK1V_8Rfcn5AFTrOuy0sec7O0b0w9AkS3fRamZTp2NjZ7yRKA2pY9ArhOYsS1ggSyz5_csH00csB6N37u91PUjAo_jP-IK98JEPJ8O_2VPmHkPlZ30nEM/s320/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png" width="320" /></a>One of the true feel good stories in Rugby League. Gavet is a bloke who certainly has plenty of life experience and has been in and out of different clubs during his career while battling plenty of injuries along the way. The Warriors picked him up at a bargain price and has played well above his pay bracket. It was personally a surprise to see him used as little as he was last season as he showed plenty of what he is capable of with his few shorts stints in First Grade. Come 2017 and he's gone to another level with his game. A true enforcer within the Warriors pack which is something the team has been screaming for. If his form continues along a similar path to the early rounds of 2017, Gavet may well become a more important cog in the Warriors machine than the big names playing in the spine. </div>
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<br /><u style="font-weight: bold;">3. Spine Clicking:</u></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
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Much has been said about the Warriors spine of 2017 and for good reason. Like all new combinations it takes time to gel and with the spine in particular, if blokes around them aren't doing their job then it makes it difficult for them to do their own. If the forwards can manage to win the arm wrestle through the middle on a regular basis then the spine will be able to show just what they are capable of and dreams of a Warriors side going deep into the finals come September should become a reality. </div>
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<br /><u style="font-weight: bold;">4. Maumalo vs Rapana</u></div>
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Ken has a massive job to contain Rapana this weekend. Maumalo is a bloke who burst onto the scene and competed in everything at 200% but seems to have lost some of that youthful enthusiasm he once carried with him. While he hasn't be playing overally poorly he'll need to find another level against the Raiders this weekend otherwise Rapana might give him a wingers Rugby League lesson. </div>
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<br /><u style="font-weight: bold;">5. Completion Rate</u></div>
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<u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></div>
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It is not uncommon for a Warriors side to finish a match with a hideous looking completion rate. A telling stat that frequently shows where a game was lost is with the boys coughing up far too much ball and basically inviting the opposition side attacking opportunities deep in their own territory. The last 2 weeks where they have come away with victory has been on the back of a high completion rate where they have been able to starve the opposition of good field position and build pressure on their opponents own try line. The Warriors must control the ball this week against Canberra this week otherwise the Raiders potent attack will pile on the points and the NZ based side will walk away empty handed with a bruised ego. </div>
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<span 13.2px="" 18.48px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="" tahoma=""><i>Faither: "It's not just a slogan, it's a movement"</i></span></div>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-59876672844416293422017-04-13T16:02:00.000+10:002017-04-13T16:02:42.372+10:00Player Profile - Vinnie Anderson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPXEdDjOMNmxBunYyA0GQGtlUKgONK46hOHQ6NuuFkoQLQaDOTc4U3r7aFZV21SCci8LVPeQCziA13wMt178U6diB0LhnOMQaPqvQaExF2ZZlIAEHQZdfJJz4pyyIrnEpjI7Mc0CS8sg/s1600/Vinnie+Anderson+2003+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPXEdDjOMNmxBunYyA0GQGtlUKgONK46hOHQ6NuuFkoQLQaDOTc4U3r7aFZV21SCci8LVPeQCziA13wMt178U6diB0LhnOMQaPqvQaExF2ZZlIAEHQZdfJJz4pyyIrnEpjI7Mc0CS8sg/s320/Vinnie+Anderson+2003+7.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Name:</b> Vincent Manase Mohenoa Anderson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nickname:</b> Vinnie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Date of Birth:</b> 02/02/79</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Place of Birth</b>: Auckland, New Zealand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Height:</b> 186cm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Weight:</b> 89 kg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nationality:</b> New Zealand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Warriors #:</b> 100</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warriors Debut (Date and Match Details): 7th July 2002 vs Cronulla Sharks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Junior Club: Northcote Tigers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Signed From: Mt Albert</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Position: Centre/Five Eighth/Lock</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr1iS7tkTNaVblJX49T1G9hnGrOXZN6r6dIY_hmK1TeW09q6ZPdlgbVjPQnCAy_kQfAM4wdp16NWIdpDlmJb1syR8MLcf3BZhDe5cB7sE1O7mFoHov5mfcfpOtQfJqjABnTeS4abkmxQ/s1600/Vinnie+Anderson+2003+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlr1iS7tkTNaVblJX49T1G9hnGrOXZN6r6dIY_hmK1TeW09q6ZPdlgbVjPQnCAy_kQfAM4wdp16NWIdpDlmJb1syR8MLcf3BZhDe5cB7sE1O7mFoHov5mfcfpOtQfJqjABnTeS4abkmxQ/s200/Vinnie+Anderson+2003+4.jpg" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Auckland centre, the older brother of Louis and Fraser. Anderson played for Northcote Tigers and Mount Albert Lions in the Auckland Rugby League competition before transferring to East Coast Bays Barracudas to play alongside his father Warrick. His father later coached the Barracudas to the 2003 Fox Memorial title. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anderson debuted for New Zealand Warriors in Round 17 of the 2002 National Rugby League, playing against Cronulla Sharksat Toyota Park on 7 July 2002. That year the Warriors went on to the 2002 NRL Grand Final, which they lost 30-8 to Sydney City Roosters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2003 he played centre as New Zealand Warriors fell one victory short of a consecutive Grand Final appearance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He scored two tries in his Test debut in the 30-16 win against Australia in October 2003. Anderson shifted to five-eighth and played with his younger brother Louis in four Test matches at the end of 2004 – including the 16-all draw against Australia and losses to Australia and Great Britain in England.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJCXHl6u_y44pVlDVESF9bAyxnep1-vJmNICrburwiHNrwtt9Fgbl2yjOrLq1V3lTdb9xQKkWcm2Rgg68faUsKYmLon_rLgPNpdlIElctSEsAOnHg-CW_rJUWd2CNWbJ0M2ydmMyySlA/s1600/21573-838a52ace4ada4fb3cf57764136881e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJCXHl6u_y44pVlDVESF9bAyxnep1-vJmNICrburwiHNrwtt9Fgbl2yjOrLq1V3lTdb9xQKkWcm2Rgg68faUsKYmLon_rLgPNpdlIElctSEsAOnHg-CW_rJUWd2CNWbJ0M2ydmMyySlA/s1600/21573-838a52ace4ada4fb3cf57764136881e3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He would play a couple seasons with Wigan before linking up with brother Louis at the Wolves and finishing his career at Salford.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2002–04 NZ Warriors</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2003–2006 New Zealand Kiwis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2005 Tri Nations Champions with the Kiwis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2005–06 St Helens</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2007–10 Warrington Wolves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2009 Challenge Cup final winners with the Wolves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2010 Challenge Cup final winners with the Wolves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2011–12 Salford Reds</span><br />
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-78640318943637431022016-12-14T20:46:00.000+11:002018-05-05T16:22:44.086+10:001995 Home Jersey<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jersey Name: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1995 Home Jersey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Year/s Jersey Active: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1995</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jersey Type: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First Grade Home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jersey Debut: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10th March 1995</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jersey Supplier: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Canterbury of NZ CCC</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Main Jersey Sponsor: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DB Bitter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sleeve Sponsor: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ansett NZ</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDpyozoHruzjz1NyUCzrKrk2bud5TefcMd_u2FGqRuWCoyiGhX4KMKvfSwT6RGa2GORayFER9r5KKsBrQoD5x0AoDPiryD9OvEYJ2tZpianWGt-FdNh6Dq7zj7OUFp3zfxQ0D-MpRvbEh/s1600/1995+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDpyozoHruzjz1NyUCzrKrk2bud5TefcMd_u2FGqRuWCoyiGhX4KMKvfSwT6RGa2GORayFER9r5KKsBrQoD5x0AoDPiryD9OvEYJ2tZpianWGt-FdNh6Dq7zj7OUFp3zfxQ0D-MpRvbEh/s320/1995+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original jersey. This would be the Warriors inaugural jersey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original logo was designed by Francis Allan from the Advertising company Colenso and was released in August 1992. The first tekoteko featured a straight tongue however Warriors CEO at the time, Ian Robson, and Marketing Manager ,Liz Dawson, decided that a curved tongue looked more striking. Unbeknown to both the curved tongue was actually a sign of femininity and showed a lack of courage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The colours of blue, white, green and red were a cross of the Auckland Rugby League's traditional colours and the colours of major sponsor DB Bitter. DB Breweries paying close to $1.5 million a year for the rights (some early reports suggested $4 million!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In May 1993 Ansett was announced as the official Airline to the Warriors and the sleeve sponsor on the jersey. Although at the time they weren't yet flying Trans-Tasman the offer they bid far surpassed that of Air NZ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main difference between the 1995 jersey and the ones preceding it was the use of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) badge. The ARL having been established that very year.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSIKUbbJQGhxoEQHiQA2yOTAiZXU4Z3GfV0WY2xpmD1ejE9qOUlFZq-Da8OYdItVFiWHxlQFk-j6cV5w26dhNIDHjyzHyMY2J7ZSYmELIKA3_XDGaPQG-5Ovo48pNhVmClecPnsx7ZUkg/s1600/1995+home1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSIKUbbJQGhxoEQHiQA2yOTAiZXU4Z3GfV0WY2xpmD1ejE9qOUlFZq-Da8OYdItVFiWHxlQFk-j6cV5w26dhNIDHjyzHyMY2J7ZSYmELIKA3_XDGaPQG-5Ovo48pNhVmClecPnsx7ZUkg/s320/1995+home1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>OFFICIAL REPLICA</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Official supplier was CCC. Despite being the official replica the Canterbury version wasn't as widely available as other suppliers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This jersey isnt all that common and a one in good condition is very hard to find.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzTyD7VZtt91BNHGvtxUxUArThMyqo_NfWFeK5SMVeveoQtth43bPOq2Ji7tNo3Rt16lBBeadqDa616dkZUfbvRihzqQtgu6Cb5QPC1RpWmPffxQuZZptnsL3i81k_75AWy0CqaX_F5qW/s1600/1995+home+logos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzTyD7VZtt91BNHGvtxUxUArThMyqo_NfWFeK5SMVeveoQtth43bPOq2Ji7tNo3Rt16lBBeadqDa616dkZUfbvRihzqQtgu6Cb5QPC1RpWmPffxQuZZptnsL3i81k_75AWy0CqaX_F5qW/s320/1995+home+logos.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>REPLICA VARIATIONS</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up until 1999 the ARL/NRL owned the manufacturing rights to teams jerseys and would sell licences to producers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By far the most common version of the original jersey that was made was produced by Lenco. Some 90% of all 1995 jerseys that come up for sale on online auction sites will be of this variety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other makers included Sport M, Peerless, Peerless New Zealand, Oddfellows, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These jerseys are always coming up for sale and arent particularly rare.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KYx6JWIKmQSTH5MmJpnOTyF1BFiHuVaVomIO5GWM59KyfBaQ9oRWkhtYbegjdHAdMbt57ngQvNsZASju3IrhGMf5I264mXcvliCMvlMuyXtHHPQxjW2hrQT6RVcCmu4gbu0IluivUAeD/s1600/Andy+Platt+1995.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KYx6JWIKmQSTH5MmJpnOTyF1BFiHuVaVomIO5GWM59KyfBaQ9oRWkhtYbegjdHAdMbt57ngQvNsZASju3IrhGMf5I264mXcvliCMvlMuyXtHHPQxjW2hrQT6RVcCmu4gbu0IluivUAeD/s320/Andy+Platt+1995.PNG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>PLAYERS JERSEY</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Warriors used a couple different jerseys and its really hard to tell the real from the fake. Some were exactly like the replicas but with shorter sleeves while the main type had the CCC logo in blue and on the white area around the neck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Numbers were sometimes just plain white, had the CCC logo at the base or a mixture of both.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs61q1vtOHdbdm_hLOhNWWWoDpFu8hJFKdhXMB1EL2jBxDvU_ky5udMRQntdoqv4inG-3pkN9wuY0udeXQZuW2mAc512M2B2V_rhFLpZtQKqBE6B3nkMW-nNOL6VPRzg1Nzn9O3XvGfqNM/s1600/Number+95+combo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs61q1vtOHdbdm_hLOhNWWWoDpFu8hJFKdhXMB1EL2jBxDvU_ky5udMRQntdoqv4inG-3pkN9wuY0udeXQZuW2mAc512M2B2V_rhFLpZtQKqBE6B3nkMW-nNOL6VPRzg1Nzn9O3XvGfqNM/s320/Number+95+combo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its hard to tell the real from the fake but my best advice would be to buy from someone you trust</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29tCRkrTwu6Lt2a-X-1W5ZjJcOmBWWlVBUKYw1vH11Soko4T7R2nsPZY_eKK1RK0lFHE3ht5lQ5g-A3uFW5QEEPuLDVLbHpAqsr8Po6k5MUssQc8w-HL8Z-CFF03RYASje1_4l4RLwxZn/s1600/Greg+Alexander+1995+Home+jersey.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29tCRkrTwu6Lt2a-X-1W5ZjJcOmBWWlVBUKYw1vH11Soko4T7R2nsPZY_eKK1RK0lFHE3ht5lQ5g-A3uFW5QEEPuLDVLbHpAqsr8Po6k5MUssQc8w-HL8Z-CFF03RYASje1_4l4RLwxZn/s320/Greg+Alexander+1995+Home+jersey.PNG" width="275" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...Charlie Raass</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-44945855228684263642016-12-04T20:55:00.002+11:002018-05-05T16:22:44.062+10:001994 Home Jersey<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jersey Name: 1994 Home Jersey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Year/s Jersey Active: 1994</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jersey Type: First Grade Home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jersey Supplier: CCC</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Main Jersey Sponsor: DB Bitter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sleeve Sponsor: No sponsor</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVUy076eOOuMMLabD_Dj4Tc8O-ygzJd5F6lUet2ex715j2b6cK5_8pny1NHQ6_XopY_FjFgn1i7Uo9eupIqoCrWukvY9lmVEtgbDuk37Ixvn6cNcGQziorypvFhXLJ8J2XqwXBZNvQDya/s1600/10336774_1519355474946992_3706964407177849198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVUy076eOOuMMLabD_Dj4Tc8O-ygzJd5F6lUet2ex715j2b6cK5_8pny1NHQ6_XopY_FjFgn1i7Uo9eupIqoCrWukvY9lmVEtgbDuk37Ixvn6cNcGQziorypvFhXLJ8J2XqwXBZNvQDya/s320/10336774_1519355474946992_3706964407177849198_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1994 jersey was released in anticipation of the Warriors joining the ARL competition the following year. Because the competition was still being run by New South Wales Rugby League these jerseys would feature their badges on the right breast. This is the only difference between the 1994 and 1995 jerseys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>OFFICIAL REPLICA</b> - Made by Canterbury Clothing CCC. Everyting on the jersey was sublimated on polyester with only the collar being made of cotton. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI8wTm0Ly0ITtPlCSlDirF_Sf-mkawnb-zzAjdfJ1c_jwaJu9XQL_pLhRzDH5z4iQUUuFScCYg43scC9_QpIuNsN-oq3yGdhs2JGhdJX_AAiKChYptwLNzNapGN3RU5v6T1WPOqt7w03J/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI8wTm0Ly0ITtPlCSlDirF_Sf-mkawnb-zzAjdfJ1c_jwaJu9XQL_pLhRzDH5z4iQUUuFScCYg43scC9_QpIuNsN-oq3yGdhs2JGhdJX_AAiKChYptwLNzNapGN3RU5v6T1WPOqt7w03J/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The key difference between the 1993 and 1994 jersey was the CCC logo was placed under the NSWRL badge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was no sleeve sponsor as ANSETT hadnt been announced as a sponsor when these jerseys were being made. Some may exist though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will see this jersey on internet auction sites now and then and they dont usually get more interest then the 1995 jersey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>REPLICA VARIATIONS</b> - Up until 1999 the ARL/NRL owned the manufacturing rights to teams jerseys and would sell licences to producers. Only variation Im aware of is made by Lenco. They would have their logo on top of the NSWRL badge as well as on the sleeves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rarity and value is no different to the official replica</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Charlie Raass</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-85638470375145423292016-11-19T03:38:00.000+11:002016-11-19T05:55:16.544+11:002017 - Looking into the Crystal Ball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the 4 Nations drawing to its conclusion, many a supporters focus will begin to drift toward the upcoming 2017 season with dreams of it finally being the Warriors year. With a new coach taking charge of the side brings new hope but will that hope turn into success or will it be another season of high expectations that slowly wither away and turn into despair and frustration for long suffering fans? To kick off proceedings, let's take a look at the 17 i predict to take the field come Round 1.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">RD 1 TEAM PREDICTION</span></b><br />
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1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck<br />
2. David Fusitua<br />
3. Blake Ayshford<br />
4. Solomone Kata<br />
5. Manu Vatuvei<br />
6. Kieran Foran<br />
7. Shaun Johnson<br />
8. Albert Vete<br />
9. Isaac Luke<br />
10. Ben Matulino<br />
11. Bodene Thompson<br />
12. Ryan Hoffman<br />
13. Simon Mannering<br />
14. Tuimoala Lolohea<br />
15. Jacob Lillyman<br />
16. Sam Lisone<br />
17. Charlie Gubb<br />
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With RTS returning from injury he will no doubt slip straight back into the #1 role. Although his return does open the opportunity to play either Fusitua or Lolohea at FB and shifting RTS to the wing. This may be an option but i would be very surprised to see Kearney making that call for RD 1.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6W6HtC4O_and0RVwxcwbMQ1mTzN4WVFf-ELXZ7bTDEERCznwUqxxDAwowQ6fo_6heU8Zd3HswMne6ww7zt6McmI-p3vMDOVeaoHT3IDRKPUM_mNx2lwIf8ORs3tnkz8c7JYPODj01Zw/s1600/eight_col_ayshford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6W6HtC4O_and0RVwxcwbMQ1mTzN4WVFf-ELXZ7bTDEERCznwUqxxDAwowQ6fo_6heU8Zd3HswMne6ww7zt6McmI-p3vMDOVeaoHT3IDRKPUM_mNx2lwIf8ORs3tnkz8c7JYPODj01Zw/s320/eight_col_ayshford.jpg" width="320" /></a>Ayshford holds his position at centre albeit to the disappointment of plenty of fans. For a large portion of the 2016 season, Ayshford was one of the best performers in the side and his dip in form at the back end of the season can be put down to a back injury he picked up coupled with the teams poor performances as a whole. Plenty of unfair and unwarranted criticism has been directed at him throughout the majority of the year which sadly seems to be the case for any player who lacks that so called "x-factor".<br />
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What fans tend to overlook are aspects of Ayshfords game that don't make the highlight reels. Upon Ayshfords arrival at the club the defence of his centre partner improved out of sight. With all the natural blessings he possesses in attack, Kata showed signs of frailty with his defence during his rookie season yet managed to turn that around spectacularly during the off-season and over the course of 2016.<br />
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One of the clubs fan favourites, Tuimoala Lolohea, played his best footy of the season while on the wing outside Ayshford. It wasn't just Tui that reaped the rewards of playing outside Ayshford, Fusitua was also the beneficiary of having an experienced campaigner on his inside. Fusitua has been known for his lapses in defense throughout his career but looked comfortable for the best part of his time on the field in 2016.<br />
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It's no doubt that Ayshford instilled confidence in these two young players while also managing to allow them to stress less about what was happening on their inside and focus on their own game. Trusting your inside man on the edge is a crucial factor in forming a stiff line of defense, without trust players are dragged out of position feeling as if they need to lend a hand and this was almost non-existent with the Lolo/Ayshford and Fusi/Ayshford combinations. For an edge that was so fragile during the 2015 season, the inclusion of Ayshford certainly helped steady the ship in that regard.<br />
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David Fusitua, Solomone Kata, Bodene Thompson and Simon Mannering are probably the only others who will demand automatic selection. The likes of Foran will no doubt be included without much thought pending NRL investigation and registration while big name players such as Johnson, Vatuvei, Luke, Matulino and Lillyman will certainly be added to the list of automatic selection for RD 1 despite coming off a disappointing season for their standards. Even with selection come RD 1, surely those players will be put on high alert for a drastic improvement with their performances because another season of under performing cannot be tolerated, especially with plenty of young talent nipping at their heels.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">EXPECT A BIG SEASON FROM</span></b><br />
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<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Ben Matulino</span> - </b>Since 2011 there has been 6 Warriors' Player of the Year awards handed out, to two players - Simon Mannering with 4 (2011, 2013, 2014, 2016) and Ben Matulino with 2 (2012, 2015). By the time 2017 kicks off, Ben will be 28, an age which is highly regarded as when props begin to play their best footy. With 2 of the clubs most prestigious awards already under his belt, nearing 200 First Grade Games and with experts in the game calling him one of, if not the best prop in the competition at different times over the course of his career, it's time for Ben Matulino to stand up and make his presence felt. A successful Warriors season is heavily reliant on Matulino becoming the enforcer in the pack and although 2016 might be a season both himself and fans would rather forget i believe it'll serve as motivation for the upcoming year and we'll see a ferocious Matulino leading the Warriors pack. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Albert Vete</span> - </b>Apart from an off-field error in judgment on Prince Alberts behalf earlier in the season there is plenty to like about this bloke. While still in the early days of his career and with plenty of footy left for him in the future the signs are already there that Vete has plenty of what it takes to propel him to the top of the NRL props pecking order. It's not just the things he does on a footy field for all to see and ultimately end up being recorded as stats, it's the stuff you notice off the ball. On numerous occasions already over Vetes career i've witnessed him show determination and pride no matter how glum the current scenario may be. There have been games that were toward the back end of the 2nd half with no hope of coming away with a victory and with plenty of his team mates already with their minds in the showers and Vete has just kept on ripping in regardless of the situation. Between himself and Matulino we may very well see 2 of the comps form props in Warriors colours for 2017.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Roger Tuivasa-Sheck</span> - </b>RTS will no doubt be itching to get back onto the field after a long lay off with injury. With this man in peak form and fitness the Warriors all of a sudden become a much more dangerous outfit. Sitting on the sidelines watching powerlessly as the Warriors season unraveled in 2016 will no doubt serve as extra incentive for RTS to make a mark at his new home at Mt Smart. </li>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">YOUNG GUNS TO WATCH</span></b></div>
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<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Ata Hingano</span> - </b>Plenty of talk has surrounded Tui and his prospects as the long term option at 5/8 for the Warriors but i believe this is the future right here. If you don't catch many of the lower grade games then chances are you haven't seen much of this young bloke, but with his limited opportunities in 1st Grade during 2016 he looked to have plenty of class and composure. In those limited minutes Hingano played in the top team he looked to do plenty more at 5/8 than the popular alternative. Should injuries strike this season look for this bloke to light up the field and become a familiar name within Rugby League loving households. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Bunty Afoa</span> - </b>With prop being his position of choice i think Bunty will eventually find a home in the 2nd row. Currently the starting back row combination of the Warriors are more or less locked in but one must wonder, if Hoffman didn't have the C next to his name, how safe would his position be? And if his position isn't safe with without the C, do we have the right captain? Should any of the starting back row become unavailable then Bunty will slot straight in and offer a bit more youthful energy with a sharper edge to his attack than the current crop. A star of the future no doubt and will likely play plenty of 1st Grade next season.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad</span> - </b>I personally believe Charnze was unlucky not to get any game time in first grade last season. He is a genuine utility player who can fill in anywhere in the backline and with a big off-season in front of a new coach he may well be a bolter for the utility position on the bench. Failing that, he surely gets the nod should injuries strike over the course of the year instead of languishing in reserves. </li>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">PLAYERS WHO NEED TO LIFT</span></b></div>
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<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Manu Vatuvei</span> - </b>While there is no denying this man has done plenty of brilliant things for club and country over the years, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that successful teams do not select players based on what they did 2,3 or 4 seasons ago, they select players worthy of selection right now! With an increasing amount of time being in the papers for the wrong reasons, fans have every reason to feel let down by a man who is old enough and experienced enough to know much better. With injuries seemingly creeping into his game, handling skills that leave you on edge every time the ball is near him, his ability to turn slower than milk and the one thing that leveled all those negative aspects of his game out, tries, or lack thereof. There comes a time in professional sport when the best of them lose that edge and start to be shown up by younger blokes and that seems to be Manus time right now. Let's hope 2016 was just one of those years for him and he bounces back to The Beast we all know and love, unfortunately i cannot see that happening. And NO!!! Moving him into the forwards IS NOT THE ANSWER!!!!</li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Shaun Johnson</span> - </b>Arguably the most naturally gifted footy player currently in the NRL. There are things SJ can do on a field that no other player would even attempt and those freakish abilities have managed to get us out of trouble on plenty of occasions. The problem is, they are too few and far between. It's hard to believe that after 6 seasons in First Grade he's shown very little improvement in his ability to control a game. The frustrating thing is he'll show glimpes of it, a game here, a game there, 10 mins here, 20 mins there. Just like the rest of his game, inconsistent. Plenty argue that he is not a "controlling half" yet he shows glimpes of his ability to do exactly that. Plenty argue he is just a "running half" yet we see that as regularly as we see his ability to control a game. If SJ cannot control a game then why are so many fans screaming for Lolohea to play 5/8? Are you kidding? If Foran does indeed get the green light to play in 2017 and takes over as the controlling half and we see more of the same from SJ, what's the excuse then? "Oh Foran gets too much ball now, let SJ control the game sometimes". Excuses are running out, as is patience and SJ needs to fire in 2017. His price tag is far too high for such inconsistency. I hope more than anything SJ tears the comp apart consistently next season. But has he got that in him? Or will the outside noise continue to be his major downfall. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Jacob Lillyman</span> - </b>It's been an all to familiar tale with Jacob over the last few seasons, play great leading into Origin, gets selected for Origin, plays great for QLD, hits cruise control for the remainder of the year. Jacob is such an important cog to the Warriors machine and with him sitting in idle for such large portions of the season it puts far too much strain on the rest of the pack, not to mention teaching bad habits to a crop of very promising young forwards currently within the ranks.</li>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">LADDER PREDICTION FINISH - 6TH</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">KEYS TO SUCCESS</span></b></div>
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<li><b><span style="color: orange;">First 6 and last 8 games</span> - </b>Since we last made the finals in 2011, our biggest Achilles heel has been the teams inability to start and finish the season off strongly. The first 6 games of the season are important to launch that springboard to set yourself up for the remainder of the season while the back end of the year is crucial to finding the form required to head into the finals. Of the 30 games we have played in the opening 6 rounds of the comp since 2011 we've managed to win only 9 of those. Turning our attention to the back end of the season and the final 8 games we've managed to win only 9 from a possible 40. From those 70 games we've won a total of 18 and lost 52 and if we break that down to a season average of points we're earning during those rounds it's a woeful 7 points from 14 games a year. Add the two byes into that equation and it takes us up to 11 from 16 games/rounds leaving only 10 rounds to compile the extra 17 points required to make the "magic number" of 28. An improvement in these areas is an absolute must for as long as we struggle at the start and back end of the season, we won't see much success. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Higher energy levels to begin game and 2nd half </span>- </b>I sometimes sit in utter disbelief as i watch the side run out for the kick off to either start the game or begin the 2nd half then witness a horror show unfolding in front of my very eyes. How one side can so often come out looking as flat as they do on such a regular basis beggars belief. I don't know what the ritual involves prior to kick off but whatever it is, stop it! Stop it NOW! The occasional game you can understand but this happens on a far too regular basis at a professional level and it quite frankly isn't good enough.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Stiffening up defence</span> - </b>Communication. Commitment. Trust. Pride. Attitude. It's not all just about getting the individuals tackling technique perfected because without those 5 ingredients i mentioned the teams defense will continue to be in disarray. Far too much jersey grabbing and lazy attempts at a tackle from professionals. Far too many players walking back to the defensive line. WALKING! That's just not good enough? If you're hurting and sucking in the big ones while not being able to get back and defend with your team mates then stop taking the easy way out and move those legs faster and prepare to hurt more because winning a comp involves individuals pushing themselves through that barrier and digging deeper than they knew possible. A jog would even show intent and put the fans minds at ease in regards to players commitment to the jersey but walking shows disrespect to yourself, team mates, coaches, club, fans and sponsors. We can't win comps when only the bottom couple of teams have more scored against them than us.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: orange;">Minimising errors</span> - </b>I would love to see stats on errors from teams in their own 20m and penalties being given away in the opposition 20m. I would almost put the video game collection on the fact we must be miles ahead of 2nd place. The pressure we put ourselves under is astronomical compared to any other teams i watch over the course of a season. If we fix those unforced, brain snap type errors we'll go along way to winning more games. Failing that, defend the set following the turn over in possession or penalty being given away. It's like being able to read the future in these scenarios, Warriors error, opposition try. The sad thing is, it's more often than not all too easy for the opposition to stroll over. Rarely do we make sides work for their points. We are guilty of letting in some of the softest tries you're likely to see during a season.</li>
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<i>Written by Gareth Sykes</i></div>
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<i>Faither - "by the fans, for the fans"</i></div>
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<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-15831934698551312022016-11-14T01:30:00.000+11:002018-05-05T16:22:44.039+10:001993 Home Jersey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px;"><span style="color: white;">Jersey Name: 1993 Home jersey</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px;"><span style="color: white;">Year/s Jersey Active: 1993</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px;"><span style="color: white;">Jersey Type: First Grade Home</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px;"><span style="color: white;">Jersey Debut: March 1993</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;">Official Supplier: CCC Canterbury of NZ</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;">Main Sponsor: DB Bitter</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;">Back Sponsor: DB Bitter</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;">Sleeve Sponsor: N/A</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJW5wjaZnotBFrkSIgj2riOrFOS1P0i-z6mOmOWicI8LBhEbzsiCi0pmEEu7qLQbYw2pg3oe396Z1jDRAXUGIPZwoVqisSvtz2DmhRXepRtVEGg0YrFH1EQBIcQbQgK3UDhJYg7rDElgK/s1600/10647141_1555959821286557_3258276592267107006_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJW5wjaZnotBFrkSIgj2riOrFOS1P0i-z6mOmOWicI8LBhEbzsiCi0pmEEu7qLQbYw2pg3oe396Z1jDRAXUGIPZwoVqisSvtz2DmhRXepRtVEGg0YrFH1EQBIcQbQgK3UDhJYg7rDElgK/s320/10647141_1555959821286557_3258276592267107006_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px;"><span style="color: white;">The Warriors jersey was officially released in March 1993. That same month the Warriors Scholarship Development squad would become the first Warriors team to play a game wearing the Warriors jersey in the curtain-raiser for the Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs match played at Carlaw Park, Auckland.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;"><b>CCC Canterbury of NZ</b> - This jersey was mostly seen worn by players in ads for the sale of the jersey and at the official launch. What sets this jersey apart from the 1994 version is the placement of the CCC logo which is above the NSWRL badge and the fact that the CCC logo is embroidered on. The following year would see the CCC logo placed below the NSWRL badge and sublimated.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;">This jersey is rare and I have only ever seen two for sale in the last 10 years.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;"><b>Peerless -</b> This version saw the chevron made of individual strips of fabric and sewn one on top of the other. DB Bitter and Peerless logos are laminated as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5px;">Quite rare but most people probably wouldn't care much for its rarity so I wouldnt place too high a value on it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; font-size: 13.5px;">-Charlie Raass</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-70187618504575474572016-11-12T02:14:00.000+11:002016-11-12T02:14:43.935+11:00Alarm Bells Ringing for Kiwis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since the introduction of the expanded format for the Rugby League World Cup in 1995, there has been 4 WC Tournaments take place, 1995, 2000, 2008 and 2013. The key to having a successful campaign at a World Cup should begin almost immediately following the commencement of the previous Tournament.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> One of the decisions that should be at the very top of the priority list is who you intend on taking the nation forward in a coaching capacity with a strong list of contingency plans should Plan A fall through, as we saw with Kearney when taking on the Head Coaching role at the Warriors and having to reluctantly hand over the reigns to the Kiwi side. The fact that we are a little over 12 months out from the 2017 WC and the powers that be decided to give the Head Coach position to Kidwell may well be the teams achilles heal and be the difference between the Kiwis potentially reclaiming the coveted trophy and walking away empty handed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSMpyXPdxoq_AHaGxVhM1u8ELheGjnb3DoICc4ov7b0Dd8vF-hm5xVaKtpIM0c8fhrDil5tRI1sbRvw1PKvC9AZnRb3lTEQrf4u5B6oxbHTcgzaxs-Qo55LRjioQhwn8F8y_0V4N3jp0/s1600/New%252BZealand%252BKiwis%252BCaptain%252BRun%252BvxFqAXtSMfGl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSMpyXPdxoq_AHaGxVhM1u8ELheGjnb3DoICc4ov7b0Dd8vF-hm5xVaKtpIM0c8fhrDil5tRI1sbRvw1PKvC9AZnRb3lTEQrf4u5B6oxbHTcgzaxs-Qo55LRjioQhwn8F8y_0V4N3jp0/s320/New%252BZealand%252BKiwis%252BCaptain%252BRun%252BvxFqAXtSMfGl.jpg" width="233" /></a>As far as preparation goes, the Kiwis seem to be well behind the 8 ball in comparison to their main opponents, England and Australia, in one area particularly. Like NZ, both England and Australia have opted for coaching changes in recent times, the difference being the massive gulf in class between each countries respective selections.<br />
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In February it was announced that Wayne Bennett had accepted the Head Coach role for England. I doubt i need to go into detail about what Bennett can do with sides that he is involved in as his record speaks for itself. Arguably the best coach of the modern era with a knack of getting the best out of players in his teams.<br />
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It was announced in December last year that Meninga would be the man to lead the Australian side into the next World Cup. Some say his coaching record is nothing flash at club level, i disagree. During his stint as Raiders head coach between 1997-2001, the Green Machine managed to finish 3rd, 7th, 9th, 4th and 11th respectively.<br />
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Apart from his final season where the club finished in 11th position, Meninga had a very successful stint in charge of the Raiders. The year they ended up in 9th position saw them finish on 31 points. Since the introduction of the Top 8, no club has missed the 8 scoring as many points and it wasn't until the 2016 season where Canberra actually managed to score more points than they did in that 1999 season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh0xTsysNaqZRgv09dE3WW2theocApZIkWSPB21jAk5gNUIRtJlrDMT1yxaSCteap-JyeUQwYEBlg-5eoS1EAj6C24m9OKbCb0O8TdDkLpq5KgyeSZjz-pYESGLUJw5IBcoectclSC8A/s1600/Meninga%252CM+AUS_Coach_Presser_151303054news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh0xTsysNaqZRgv09dE3WW2theocApZIkWSPB21jAk5gNUIRtJlrDMT1yxaSCteap-JyeUQwYEBlg-5eoS1EAj6C24m9OKbCb0O8TdDkLpq5KgyeSZjz-pYESGLUJw5IBcoectclSC8A/s320/Meninga%252CM+AUS_Coach_Presser_151303054news.jpg" width="320" /></a>Let's not forget what Mal managed to do with the Queensland State of Origin side, he managed to turn them from a team that looked as though they might be on the wrong end of a NSW dynasty and completely flipped the scenario by turning the Maroons into arguably the most dominant Origin side in history.<br />
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Then we have the Kiwis and their newly elected coach in Kidwell and his coaching pedigree. While i am under no illusion that it is still early days for him as a coach and he may very well become a successful coach at International level, it's hard to understand why the NZRL would decide to blood a rookie so close to a World Cup.<br />
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While it may not have been ideal or part of the plan for the NZRL not to have the luxury of having Kearney remain at the helm right through until the World Cup, it is not an excuse for not being better prepared. They should have had a contingency plan for the possibility of Kearney not being able to continue on in his role, a contingency plan that isn't blooding a rookie but being able to bring in an experienced and successful coach into the vacant position. <br />
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You need to look no further than the way Jim Doyle explained the process of Kearney replacing Cappy at the Warriors. Both himself and the club had plans in motion should Cappy not fulfill what was required of him during the season which potentially would have left the club needing to find a new coach, which is how it turned out in the end. Doyle spoke of how he not only had a wishlist of coaches should the occasion arise but had also been in talks with those in his sights for months in advance. With the level of professionalism now on display in the Rugby League world, a knee jerk reaction to a bump in the road is not acceptable and poor performances on the field are the side effect to such reactions.<br />
<br />
In only the handful of games that Kidwell has been in control of we've already seen some worrying signs. While some may seem like non-issues and others can be put down to experience or lack thereof, they all add up to a failure in setting up a platform that provides the side with the best possible chance of victory. Some examples from the top of my head on what has or has not been on display already from Kidwell should have even the heartiest Kiwi supporter sitting on edge are;<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Not settling on a goal kicker. In the one off test we had Luke kicking, Kahu vs the Poms in the opening round of the 4 Nations and Johnson in the game against the Aussies. Goal kicking is as much skill as it is routine and chopping and changing kickers in every game does nothing but disrupt routine.</li>
<li>The lack of minutes for Taumololo in the Perth Test. Having the head coach of your international team simply "forget" to bring on the best forward in the NRL and subsequently leave him languish on the bench is unacceptable. </li>
<li>Only playing Eastwood for 15 minutes vs Australia and having the response of "i just couldn't get him on". Considering the massive defensive effort the Kiwis were forced to endure and with some of the big lads looking gassed, i find it strange that he couldn't find a way to bring on fresh legs.</li>
<li> The constant referring to "we're improving every week". After the Perth game it's hard not to improve as i don't think we could have been any worse. We were average at the very best against the poms and no better against the Aussies. With the current squad at his disposal, which is one of the stronger ones named in recent times, this team should be playing at a much, MUCH higher standard than what we've seen so far.</li>
<li>Explaining how "proud" he was of the team after their performance against Australia. Don't get me wrong here, everyone can be proud of the way the team managed to defend their own line when the Aussies seemed to be camped down that end. The fact of the matter is that the reason we were forced to defend our line so ferociously was due to our own poor handling and/or discipline. We coughed up simple ball, we gave away silly penalties (with a number of them being on 4th and 5th tackles), we were completely out muscled in the arm wrestle up front with the Kangaroos looking like they were making metres with ease up through the middle while we struggled to even get out of our own end for long periods of the game, our kicks and kick chases were poor when we had the opportunity to pin the opposition either in-goal or deep in their own half and our defense everywhere on the field apart from our goal line was borderline terrible with missed tackles regularly allowing the Aussies to get out of trouble and almost instantly put us back under pressure. </li>
<li>SKD seemingly getting chance after chance while being in terrible form.</li>
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From what i have seen on display with both the team efforts and some of the coaching decisions, this side is a long way from what they are capable of. We're seeing some of our big players who are normally performing at an extremely high level for their respective clubs fail to deliver so far at international level under Kidwell. We've rarely looked as though we've been able to get out of 2nd gear which leads you to believe the coach is struggling to motivate the players accordingly prior to the game. If a new head coach is struggling to get energy levels up from his players this early on in his International Career then one must hold grave concerns over his ability to have the playing squads full and undivided trust and attention, if he is struggling to have that now then it's hard to see that improving in the future.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day all i can do is hope that i am wrong and that i am made to eat my own words on the back end of some much improved performances. It's important to note that my concerns are a direct result based on what has been said and done up to this date of Kidwells time as Kiwis head coach. It is in no way meant to be a sign of disrespect to a legendary Kiwi and i will support him as coach of the Kiwis for as long as he is in that role, that doesn't mean i won't express my concerns and as it stands, i have a few.<br />
<br />
<i>Written by Gareth Sykes</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-88083871547025247022016-10-08T04:53:00.001+11:002016-10-08T04:53:33.994+11:00Faither Report Card - 2016. Part 3 of 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the 2016 review hits the halfway point with Part 3 of the Faither Report Card the NRL season has officially drawn to a close. With that, i'd like to extend a sincere congratulations to the Cronulla Sharks for taking out the 2016 Premiership. A long time coming for fans, let's hope as Warriors fans we don't have to wait quite as long.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div>
Before we take a look at the next players in line for the Report Card, let's take a quick look back at those who we graded in Part 2</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>James Gavet - Grade: D+</b></div>
<div>
<b>Charlie Gubb - Grade C+</b></div>
<div>
<b>Ben Henry - Grade: N/A</b></div>
<div>
<b>Ata Hingano - Grade: C+</b></div>
<div>
<b>Konrad Hurrell - Grade: E</b></div>
<div>
<b>Shaun Johnson - Grade: C</b></div>
<div>
<b>Solomone Kata - Grade A- </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Shaun Lane</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Second Row - 1 Appearance</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: N/A</span></b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJieFd0joohUGs43M_SuGHXhRJXTbFrNV59TJcTyjPQVrXBJ7EsGAJU3RgSMM7TAPdwhyphenhyphenFs6V2hyphenhyphenHNariFD5eHmrp_zBnTyp1aZPmkqb0CFLjm58IsGK4IsWHBMCevt39v4my03MIcS2Q/s1600/NRL%252BRd%252B9%252BWarriors%252Bv%252BDragons%252BS-w4ypyNSrhx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJieFd0joohUGs43M_SuGHXhRJXTbFrNV59TJcTyjPQVrXBJ7EsGAJU3RgSMM7TAPdwhyphenhyphenFs6V2hyphenhyphenHNariFD5eHmrp_zBnTyp1aZPmkqb0CFLjm58IsGK4IsWHBMCevt39v4my03MIcS2Q/s200/NRL%252BRd%252B9%252BWarriors%252Bv%252BDragons%252BS-w4ypyNSrhx.jpg" width="200" /></a>A truly bizarre move to trade in Lane for RFM. I'm not sure what, if any, thought process was going on with this player trade but it was one that certainly saw the Warriors organisation draw the short straw without a doubt.<br />
<br />
With very limited minutes in his one and only 1st Grade Appearance for the club, it makes you wonder why the club agreed to swap a back rower for another back rower, especially considering the depth we have in that position while being clearly light weight for depth in others. Lane as a Warrior will go down as yet another unexplainable decision in Warriors history.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Thomas Leuluai</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Stand-Off/Hooker/Halfback - 18 Appearances</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: A-</span></b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR0oMNy-1uk4aa9hLKNFeUG8PN-SmkPS83j7ShByHABw-FpYeuvXoq8NbgpbqDPVOQekqXLUW6zJYrd0lBv6duPhSAVpadThFcLuAkGUbSfop1Vd7HbSZzXr68rbNge6lwe-nLdiGmnE/s1600/thomas-leuluai-warriors-team-list_47jr14kn7pvn123hwdbq1yvs6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR0oMNy-1uk4aa9hLKNFeUG8PN-SmkPS83j7ShByHABw-FpYeuvXoq8NbgpbqDPVOQekqXLUW6zJYrd0lBv6duPhSAVpadThFcLuAkGUbSfop1Vd7HbSZzXr68rbNge6lwe-nLdiGmnE/s200/thomas-leuluai-warriors-team-list_47jr14kn7pvn123hwdbq1yvs6.jpg" width="135" /></a>After his 2015 season was ruined by a season ending injury it took some time for Tommy to regain form and confidence but when he managed to find his mojo he was an absolute superstar for the Warriors throughout the course of the season.<br />
<br />
Very much an underrated player in the opinions of plenty of Warriors Supporters (for reasons i cannot quite understand), Tommy will be sorely missed in 2017 and will leave a substantially sized hole within the organisation. A complete professional both on and off the field, Leuluai does plenty of the "unnoticed" stuff which is critical in regards to team performance and without that work the team would struggle to function in a manner required to be competitive at NRL level. Tommy isn't the kind of half that will feature predominantly in the highlight reels but in terms of his football awareness, organisation, communication and defensive work he is up there with the best halves in the business.<br />
<br />
Will undoubtedly be sorely missed with or without the 2017 signing in Foran. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Jacob Lillyman</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Prop - 22 Appearances </span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: C</span></b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHK70v1YAYisITUzlVjvkrjelvZOVrvXjLLYZrvDGP3uGbovevinGEq3LHXKGmc_YS31Ms_H08oiJWUDd7KygJjMrvgHp9-EwItTKXbKUcaalBhuvlSkerG24hIJp9iKEYfJjH_sRfBk/s1600/Jacob%252BLillyman%252BNRL%252BTrial%252BWarriors%252Bv%252BBroncos%252Bv3i1yLAQVsPl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHK70v1YAYisITUzlVjvkrjelvZOVrvXjLLYZrvDGP3uGbovevinGEq3LHXKGmc_YS31Ms_H08oiJWUDd7KygJjMrvgHp9-EwItTKXbKUcaalBhuvlSkerG24hIJp9iKEYfJjH_sRfBk/s200/Jacob%252BLillyman%252BNRL%252BTrial%252BWarriors%252Bv%252BBroncos%252Bv3i1yLAQVsPl.jpg" width="200" /></a>In what seems to be a frustrating story of "same old same old" that seems to be unfolding during each season with Lillyman, 2016 once again saw him playing some pretty good footy leading up to the Origin period only for it to fall away once the series was over. Leading the metres for the club and coming in 2nd behind only Simon Mannering for tackles made during the opening 10 or so rounds, it was disappointing to watch him fall away once again during the back end of the season in a time where his team really needed a man of his ability to lead the pack by setting an example to the rest of the forwards.<br />
<br />
Without doubt has the ability to lead from the front and help the side get on the front foot when he decides to roll up the sleeves and get involved in the arm wrestle but unfortunately seems to lack the ability to do that consistently over an entire season, sadly an all too familiar theme with the Warriors. The sort of form he seems to find when playing in a QLD jumper would be incredible to have when with the Warriors, let's hope we can see that in 2017. </div>
<div>
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<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Sam Lisone</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Prop - 21 Appearances</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: C+</span></b><br />
2016 proved to be a somewhat solid yet unspectacular second season in the top grade for Lisone. After being caught up in the early season off-field drama involving himself and a few of his team mates, i must admit i was expecting the gravity of the situation to take a bigger toll on him than what seemed to eventuate.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHo4zczZKgce_o-iOXvYjMNzq0hBJkh3Jjk0TFiPmafFj1RZu24_xK-8DwPVuRlFYDyp6AVQ5I-SEfvtZDsaWAXiSoNvUU6Drz_yCuh8GiYsRdTlb24J-oDErMEpZL7gzpj59ooe0MRrs/s1600/160305TigersvWarriors_19-Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHo4zczZKgce_o-iOXvYjMNzq0hBJkh3Jjk0TFiPmafFj1RZu24_xK-8DwPVuRlFYDyp6AVQ5I-SEfvtZDsaWAXiSoNvUU6Drz_yCuh8GiYsRdTlb24J-oDErMEpZL7gzpj59ooe0MRrs/s200/160305TigersvWarriors_19-Small.jpg" width="200" /></a>Lisone was guilty of some poor on-field decisions although it's hard to come up with an argument that would even slightly suggest that he didn't roll the sleeves up, look to get involved and have a red hot dig over the course of the season.<br />
<br />
As is the case with 99.9% of all young players while they find their feet at NRL level, Lisone at times made some lazy efforts in defense which resulted directly to points that could have easily been avoided. He also put himself into first and second receiver far too often which time and time again disrupted the flow of the Warriors attack and there were a couple of occasions where we could all see as clear as day, him attempting to give our International hooker a gentle nudge out of the way at the hooker position at the play the ball. Add to that the field goal attempt and it's fairly easy to see that a very clear and in no uncertain terms message needs to be issued to Sam from the incoming coach, do what you do best. Tuck the ball under the wing and bend the defensive line, get the boys on the front foot.<br />
<br />
We don't need him getting in the way and trying to be the hero, we have the best game breakers in the game. I have a feeling we are going to see a massive season from Lisone in 2017, a season where he stamps his claim as one of, if not the, best prop the playing roster has to offer.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Tuimoala Lolohea</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Utility Back - 22 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: D-</span></b><br />
A player that seems to have won over a high percentage of the Warriors supporters base, on what basis he has done that i am not too sure but it is evident, that for reasons unknown to myself, he has a very healthy amount of support for doing very little if i am being perfectly honest.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcYI5eOcCdat53lqasNTWyOIGVx8Pkj1oOjXpMLkizDqkIhm0aD1peOhp0v8E2Ip04LD_9bSdIoGCpAHzO5fDNpmK_6LyFSHgbKZosVHWFQVzJTggSCJfUF9IbxpIs1P37O1tL6kVlu4/s1600/1471326061354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcYI5eOcCdat53lqasNTWyOIGVx8Pkj1oOjXpMLkizDqkIhm0aD1peOhp0v8E2Ip04LD_9bSdIoGCpAHzO5fDNpmK_6LyFSHgbKZosVHWFQVzJTggSCJfUF9IbxpIs1P37O1tL6kVlu4/s200/1471326061354.jpg" width="200" /></a>The age old argument goes along the lines of "oh but he never got a chance to play in a position for long enough to make it his own". With that argument neither has Jono Wright, yet fans sit in front of their TV's or at the game eagerly awaiting Wright to make any sort of mistake, no matter how big or small, just so they can jump online and criticize him in a brutal fashion. The other thing is that while Lolohea was (unsuccessfully) being given opportunities to lock down a position in the backline, the moment another player was given half a sniff they grabbed the chance they were given by the scruff of the neck (Fusitua and Maumalo as examples) and weren't willing to give up the jersey they had EARNED. <br />
<br />
I am under the impression that a lot of the "love" shown towards Lolohea was due to the unwarranted criticism and hatred shown towards Tomkins last year, whatever player it was replacing the Englishman i think would have won the hearts of the Warriors Nation. In the games Tui stepped in as FB for the injured Tomkins in 2015, it was with complete certainty that you knew when Lolohea was stepping up to the line as a ball playing FB in a sweeping backline move that the play unfolding would be held up ever so slightly due to Lolohea being either half a pace in front or behind the play, which in turn slowed the move down, giving defence that extra half second to get in position and inevitably defending the play comfortably. He was also out performed late in the season in the halves (granted, in a struggling outfit) by a man (Lino) who had far less experience and natural talent. He failed to step up then when given a shot and 2016 proved to be more of the same.<br />
<br />
His best football played with the club has been on the right wing outside Ayshford, yet even then opposition sides summed him up fairly quickly. We have better options at FB, wing, centre and halves, so unless Tui is happy to play a utility tole of the bench in 2017 and beyond i believe he is surplus to requirements and the over rated tag may end up being bigger than any future prices tags.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Sione Lousi</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FhFm7p_btwKLkcfvvllDVMD9Y7Fdl0fU1Jmpkos5WEjU3TFeq6jk3Bzcx5zMSSLj1-mSPtkUjLQxqI2SnUfm3fSJGo7Vzqou0dDsGmwlIIc5Q2OC6FQVJyxIrEkntndpMynjHjICIGk/s1600/New%252BZealand%252BWarriors%252BMedia%252BTraining%252BSession%252B_LGXlePxs6Bl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FhFm7p_btwKLkcfvvllDVMD9Y7Fdl0fU1Jmpkos5WEjU3TFeq6jk3Bzcx5zMSSLj1-mSPtkUjLQxqI2SnUfm3fSJGo7Vzqou0dDsGmwlIIc5Q2OC6FQVJyxIrEkntndpMynjHjICIGk/s200/New%252BZealand%252BWarriors%252BMedia%252BTraining%252BSession%252B_LGXlePxs6Bl.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="color: orange;">Prop - 1 Appearance</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: N/A</span></b><br />
Another season cut short through injury and unfortunately will be remembered as a player who failed to live up to the expectations people had of him from a younger age as well as the majority of his performances in first grade resembling that of his last name.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Isaac Luke</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Hooker - 20 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Grade: B-</span></b><br />
To say it was disappointing to see the sort of shape Luke came back from his off-season in would be an under statement. In what was a very high profile signing for the club it was border line disgraceful to have him turn up to training in that condition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bV47nmlznlGiSH1fJvO0gfCwXT2vdT4VG99Yj8tf38Rzg7XHIkrYkC90HPAKU5lowMesoDpTYC4tOG-z14_1Dc3gbBe0UpEhZ7XmmryYmWdm8Ug5zeFnoWAUF2s_acJU3h-T3sX2_gQ/s1600/1470355375563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bV47nmlznlGiSH1fJvO0gfCwXT2vdT4VG99Yj8tf38Rzg7XHIkrYkC90HPAKU5lowMesoDpTYC4tOG-z14_1Dc3gbBe0UpEhZ7XmmryYmWdm8Ug5zeFnoWAUF2s_acJU3h-T3sX2_gQ/s200/1470355375563.jpg" width="200" /></a>His early season form was affected thanks to his lazy off-season just as much as it was going through a time where he child was unwell and stuck in hospital. It's important to remember that these guys are not robots and are human like you or i and like ourselves, issues within our private life can and will effect our ability to perform the job we are employed to do at the level expected of us.<br />
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Luke's form certainly improved as the season progressed but he never reached the levels that the club and fans alike were hoping for and knew he was capable of. Hopefully with a solid pre-season and a clear mind to start 2017 we can see Luke start the year nice and fresh and play to the level we all had hoped for this season because if he starts 2017 strong it's hard to imagine watching the squad struggle through the opening rounds. It may well come down to how Luke runs out in Round 1 as to how our season pans out.<br />
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<i>Written by G.Sykes</i><br />
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<i>Faither - "by the fans. for the fans"</i><br />
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-75818944745852562016-10-05T14:00:00.000+11:002016-10-05T14:00:01.007+11:00Player of the Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">2015 *Ben Matulino</span><span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif=""><br />2014 *Simon Mannering<br />2013 *Simon Mannering<br />2012 *Ben Matulino<br />2011 *Simon Mannering<br />2010 *Manu Vatuvei<br />2009 Micheal Luck<br />2008 *Simon Mannering<br />2007 Steve Price<br />2005 Ruben Wiki<br />2004 Wairangi Koopu<br />2003 Francis Meli<br />2002 *Ali Lauitiiti<br />2001 Jerry SeuSeu<br />2000 Robert Mears<br />1999 Jason Death<br />1998 Joe Vagana<br />1997 Stacey Jones<br />1996 Stephen Kearney<br />1995 Tea Ropati</span></div>
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<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-43052875451393175852016-09-28T17:28:00.000+10:002016-09-28T18:22:31.657+10:00Faither Interview: Michael Witt - Warrior #134<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Born in Toowoomba, QLD, Michael was not only a talented Rugby League player from a young age but was also a Champion Junior Boxer. Witt played 179 First Grade games in both the NRL (94) and English Super League (85). Over the course of his 179 Career Games he represented 6 Rugby League clubs over a 12 year career (Parramatta 27, Manly 20, NZ Warriors 43, Crusaders RL 42, London Broncos 43 and St George 4).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Witt was offered a scholarship with the Eels in 1999 and went on to play in the SG Ball Grand Final where his team unfortunately went down at the hands of Wests in a tight affair, 18-16.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the best goal kickers to play the game, Witt's goal kicking was radar like which saw him go close to breaking the most consecutive goals record set by El Masri as well as smashing Halligan's season percentage record in the same season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today the NZ Warriors Faither Supporters Group have been lucky enough to have a few moments of Michael's spare time, where we can ask him a few questions and hopefully learn a little more about the classy half who will no doubt go down as one of the best looking blokes to play the game.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGbwRM-GYs6Ue6rzRJU77ZRuxJDubP5idyfYp_eTUn0YxOJ5h1hjss1Z_Fbackf740C4BPiZ2EBx4nE66jBnRptDig8VdTlg9pCVeFzHXmZo4n7PAeZEiJcGeuyXU1yjR_P96y_Arb97I/s1600/Manu+Vatuvei+Storm+2008+Finals.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGbwRM-GYs6Ue6rzRJU77ZRuxJDubP5idyfYp_eTUn0YxOJ5h1hjss1Z_Fbackf740C4BPiZ2EBx4nE66jBnRptDig8VdTlg9pCVeFzHXmZo4n7PAeZEiJcGeuyXU1yjR_P96y_Arb97I/s320/Manu+Vatuvei+Storm+2008+Finals.png" width="320" /></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Okay, let's get the most obvious questions the Warriors Supporters want to ask out of the way first. So, if you listen close enough, on a day where the wind is blowing strong from the South, you can still hear the echoes of "PUT THE %*$#^&! BALL DOWN" left behind from thousands of NZ Warriors Fans after your try in the 2008 Finals game against the Melbourne Storm. Firstly, was there a moment between you looking back at Smith to the time you put the ball down where you thought to yourself "holy shit! I might have messed this right up", or were you completely and utterly in control of the whole situation? Secondly, are you able to share what Steve Price said to you after the try had been awarded? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like to think I was in total control. What I was trying to do was stand in the corner for as long as possible to run the clock down. Adam Blair was chasing and he run past me so I thought I'd run the clock. I stood for a bit but as soon as I seen Cam Smith I put it down. It looked a lot worse than it was. As I went to throw the ball in the air Smithy kicked it so looked close but never in doubt. I think Pricey said you're mad now take as much time as you can with the kick. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Where did it all begin for you as a Rugby League player?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toowoomba QLD. Newtown Lions </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: If Rugby League didn't work out, where do you think your career and life path would have taken you?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not sure to be honest. I was very single minded that I would make a career of football. I put that before everything as a kid.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c-i7apy5A7rbdX2bU7FEUpQBYkPQzWrbe6EUSj3Z2NHr0wucHLqUUKI5v-i-SiMVTVOrMlAjoAAzTODQZqdthkl4hMHIKNOCc5XY0A6HGuiFZQWf0bXk_JC6PIOb-HIMCVlBAD31Pgaq/s1600/r0_59_2936_1710_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c-i7apy5A7rbdX2bU7FEUpQBYkPQzWrbe6EUSj3Z2NHr0wucHLqUUKI5v-i-SiMVTVOrMlAjoAAzTODQZqdthkl4hMHIKNOCc5XY0A6HGuiFZQWf0bXk_JC6PIOb-HIMCVlBAD31Pgaq/s320/r0_59_2936_1710_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What team did you support as a kid and who was your favourite player?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Newcastle knights. Robbie O'Davis was my hero. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What other sports did you play growing up?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did some boxing and I played a bit of basketball.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Wikipedia has your nickname listed as "Wittdog". What's the meaning behind that and what other nicknames have you had over the years?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not sure how Wittdog came about. As you can imagine with a last name like Witt I've had a few. Most of them came from opposition fans haha. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Who taught you how to kick goals? You had an unusual style but it sure paid dividends when with the Warriors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I worked very closely with Jason Taylor at Parramatta when I was younger. He was unreal for me. I added in the knee lift myself when I went to Manly to slow my approach to the ball. Didn't look real good but it worked for me so I stuck with it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa9H7GdPh6QO3BT4Y2t4gSJbl-XJs2rd9TRW-nYjzU89gVtqVxmtwWSlmxS1q35Vz1Uej6pfSjS0MkG8cnbOxsnCFAC1_FDylqC7-TzDym2S7z7gVVaAmKASElApTLY2WfJk7J36Uhert/s1600/2008+Michael+Witt+home.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUa9H7GdPh6QO3BT4Y2t4gSJbl-XJs2rd9TRW-nYjzU89gVtqVxmtwWSlmxS1q35Vz1Uej6pfSjS0MkG8cnbOxsnCFAC1_FDylqC7-TzDym2S7z7gVVaAmKASElApTLY2WfJk7J36Uhert/s320/2008+Michael+Witt+home.PNG" width="217" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: During the 2007 season it was almost as if you couldn't miss a shot at goal. You ended the season with a strike rate at an incredible 92.5%, breaking Halligan's record for best success rate in a season and went within 7 of equaling the great Hazem El Masri's most consecutive kicks record. Were those records in the back of your mind while lining up your shot at goal or was it just business as usual when you had the kicking tee in position?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's all the media wanted to talk to me about at the time but it didn't worry me that much. I wasn't worried about the record at all. I just wanted to win. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: You were a promising boxer as a kid and have gone back in the ring since retiring from Footy. Are you still fighting?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just had the 1 fight because it was something I always wanted to do. I went back to my trainer from my childhood days. I would love to have another fight next year but just see how it goes. The night of my fight I lost a good mate, my trainer's son who passed away of a brain injury received in a fight later that night. That shocked me pretty badly. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What are you doing with yourself these days? Still running Witt Bros Developments?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No Witt Bros was just something me and my older brother ran whilst we played. We both love real estate so we would build homes and sell them. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: How did you find the transition from NZ to playing Super League for the London Broncos?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved my time in the Super League. After 4 years I was ready to bring my family home though. You don't get used to that weather over there. I was lucky enough to play in 4 countries so we had some great times. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Were you disappointed that the Dragons signed Benji Marshall who effectively replaced you in the starting lineup?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah I was at the time. I came back, trained my backside off, got the 7 jersey to start the season and was ready for a big year. But I dislocated my shoulder in round 1 and battled injury so the club seen an opportunity and they took it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What was the highlight of your footy career?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Probably our finals run in 08 at the Warriors. The beards, the fans and the black outs at Mt Smart were unbelievable. Great memories. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What did the Warriors as a club do for mentally preparing our boys for game day during your time?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We used to meet away from Mt Smart on game day. Get strapped and ready then arrive at the stadium on the bus together. I always felt like we were going to win at home. As I said the Warrior fans were the best home fans by far. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What is the funniest off field story you have of one of the boys while you were at the club?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Georgie Gatis. He thought I messed up his locker 1 day so when I left he emptied both mine and Tony Martins lockers. Put everything in a garbage bag and sent me a video of him setting it all on fire. Haha Lunatic. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: In 2009, you left league to play union for Otago with hopes to play for the All Blacks. What made you decide to return to league after only half a dozen games for Otago? And why the All Blacks, why not the Wallabies?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had an offer to go to rugby after Ivan had told me that no matter what I would not be playing anymore first grade at the Warriors. John Hart encouraged me to go as he thought I would go well at union. I met with coaches in the AB'S set up and it really excited me. The coach at Otago if I'm totally honest had no idea and I didn't want my career to end playing there. Again I had an offer to go to Wales and one of my best mates Tony Martin was there so I decided to leave. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: You represented QLD Rugby League in both U/15's and U/16's in 1999 and 2000 respectively. In 2003 you were selected to represent NSW Rugby League in the U/19's and then in 2004 named in the emerging Queensland State of Origin squad. Was it difficult for yourself going back and forth between states and was it something that you were being pressured into as coaches/selectors were vying for your loyalty to their respective teams? Or was it something you were happy to go along with at the time?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I never played NSW 19's because I was playing 1st grade and didn't want to put that at risk. Back then you played for the state where you were based. I was always a Qld'er. I got close but was never really good enough to play Origin. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Over the years you have been lucky enough to have been coached by some of the best in the business. Is there a coach that stands out above the rest and what is it about their coaching that makes them superior?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They were all great coaches in their own right. Probably Ivan Cleary, I liked his style the most. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Who, in your opinion, was the best player you've ever played alongside and why?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Very hard to say. I don't want to single out one. That would disrespectful to many others. I played with some of the greats. Very blessed. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Is there a player you wished you could have had the chance to play alongside but were never able to?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andrew Johns. No doubt. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: You've appeared in many Charity Calendars over the years and have frequently been referred to as one of the sexiest men in Rugby League. In 2007, you were one of the finalists in the Adidas Action 3 Sexiest Men in League Competitions but ended up being beaten by Brett Stewart. Are there any hard feelings between the two of you over the result and have you ever questioned him about being involved in possible vote counting fraud because dead set mate, as a straight bloke I can see that you win that final every day of the week! Toovey would be demanding an investigation!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Haha. I was actually told I had won and that I needed to fly to Sydney to get the award on the footy show. But we had just been knocked out of the comp and I wanted to go have a drink with the boys. Was a good choice as I had a great time!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: How is the body holding up from all the injuries over the years? Is there an injury in particular that is still causing you grief?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not too bad. I have to keep myself in shape or I will fall apart. Probably have the most trouble with my neck and back. Bulging disks 👎👎👎</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Do you sing in the shower? If yes, what's your go to song?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No I don't really. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What sort of music do you enjoy? (favourite band/song/artist?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love SIX60. Can listen to them all day </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What's your favourite food?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chips with chicken salt. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: You're moving to a deserted island and only get to take 3 things. What do you take?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My wife and 2 daughters. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: What sort of a kid were you like in school?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like to think I was a good kid. Bit of a rat at times but always respectful. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Who wins in a fight, Mario or Sonic?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never played computer games so have no idea. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faithers: Finally, what does the future have in store for Michael Witt?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I live on the Gold Coast now and love it. Hopefully be old and happy here for a long time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Much love </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Witty... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Warrior 134.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-51851605296412106012016-09-28T14:30:00.000+10:002016-09-28T14:30:01.342+10:00Golden Point Record<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div 0.5em="" 14px="" 22.4px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" line-height:="" margin-bottom:="" margin-top:="" sans-serif="">
Played 11: Won 4, Lost 4, Drawn 3</div>
<ul 0.3em="" 0px="" 1.6em="" 14px="" 22.4px="" c="" circle="" cx="" cy="" data:image="" encoding="" fill="" font-family:="" font-size:="" height="" http="" line-height:="" list-style-image:="" margin:="" padding:="" quot="" r="" sans-serif="" svg="" url="" version="" width="" www.w3.org="" xml="" xmlns="">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Won 31–30 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Round 16, 2003</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Lost 26–28 vs North Queensland Cowboys, Round 15, 2004</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Lost 29–30 vs Canberra Raiders, Round 20, 2004</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Lost 18–22 vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Round 18, 2006</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Draw 31–31 vs Sydney Roosters, Round 21, 2007</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Won 17–16 vs Sydney Roosters, Round 6, 2009</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Draw 14–14 vs Melbourne Storm, Round 7, 2009</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Draw 32–32 vs Penrith Panthers, Round 21, 2009</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Won 17-13 vs Parramatta Eels, Round 10, 2015</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Won 28-32 vs Sydney Roosters, Round 5, 2016</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Lost 18-19 vs Cronulla Sharks, Round 16, 2016</li>
</ul>
<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-59307295146523820362016-09-25T12:55:00.000+10:002016-09-25T12:55:25.674+10:00Faither Report Card - 2016. Part 2 of 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing on with our 5 part series of the NZ Warriors Report Card for 2016, let's take a quick look back and briefly recap the grades that players received in Part 1.<br />
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<b>Ryan Hoffman - GRADE: C</b><br />
<b>Bunty Afoa - GRADE: B</b><br />
<b>Matt Allwood - GRADE: C-</b><br />
<b>Blake Ayshford - GRADE: B</b><br />
<b>Raymond Faitala-Mariner - GRADE: N/A</b><br />
<b>David Fusitua - GRADE: A-</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">James Gavet</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Front Row: 10 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: D+</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLMosfMBCZWVhdDfQP6VcfoW4UGpoletWRnr92AsxkJpYkkhNptSlRXoNm-i4HbjSO1Cb8bzicjp_CNCCUY7yBavOvyZMKRYDWnBmwqGW1FsUeJwnwEStYpzubVbYrOZE8DuLJ-_rovA/s1600/1462090387777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLMosfMBCZWVhdDfQP6VcfoW4UGpoletWRnr92AsxkJpYkkhNptSlRXoNm-i4HbjSO1Cb8bzicjp_CNCCUY7yBavOvyZMKRYDWnBmwqGW1FsUeJwnwEStYpzubVbYrOZE8DuLJ-_rovA/s200/1462090387777.jpg" width="200" /></a>While showing glimpses of being able to provide the mongrel that the Warriors forward pack is sorely missing, Gavet was often a little under whelming and struggled to keep up the intensity during his time on the field. Averaging a tick under 30 mins a game in his 10 appearances, Gavet was guilty of giving away silly penalties, missing tackles that need to be made at NRL level and handing over cheap possession during his time on the field. In his last 2 games he didn't manage to crack 20 minutes on the field and with his intensity dropping off when given more game time, an increased effort is required in the training paddock to improve his fitness which in turn will also reduce the errors and missed tackles.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Charlie Gubb</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Front Row: 14 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: C+</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP40uoDUB9M1jNEIGrjN0NxS48LKwmpp4Ti_kRdEDKSHf8O9qEgc7kqvcGHCcOduvLjU03QOsvIJpvXLo14-dPONa4sEhWlJPW8dWwIe6VW3DHL19ofvkreQRg4bC8Vu_yFggD2pn1Y-Y/s1600/charlie-gubb-warriors-628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP40uoDUB9M1jNEIGrjN0NxS48LKwmpp4Ti_kRdEDKSHf8O9qEgc7kqvcGHCcOduvLjU03QOsvIJpvXLo14-dPONa4sEhWlJPW8dWwIe6VW3DHL19ofvkreQRg4bC8Vu_yFggD2pn1Y-Y/s200/charlie-gubb-warriors-628.JPG" width="200" /></a>Gubb has quickly become somewhat of a cult hero among the Warriors Supporters since being given regular game time in First Grade. Another player who clearly wears his heart on his sleeve and puts everything into whatever it is he is doing on the field. At times he can be guilty of over exuberance which, as shown during the season, can result in him missing tackles and/or misreading opposition attacking plays which puts extra pressure on his team mates in the defensive line. There are occasions where Gubb needs to try and keep his energy in check and in doing so will cut out those defensive errors. As with most players who wear their hearts on their sleeves during games, Gubb can sometimes be guilty of brain explosions as shown with his recent trouble with the judiciary over shoulder charges. While it's always good to see a player in the pack showing some mongrel, it needs to be done within the rules of the game so that it isn't at the detriment of the team. <br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Ben Henry</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Second Row: 1 Appearance</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: N/A</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iKMKrFbYkuGlRbaRJBYOBSIg8uF8aNe0jEn05sLM5-bKauhqy9GAAyhtrFIi-_Rr09MtmClHhQbyizZgaf8pFcDZ1fOUsOmUtoFCBjLK4wsJzhqXzgEeG4I-miEAfQnwCi5io5o-AQ8/s1600/scczen_a_150412nzhgbwarriors13_620x310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iKMKrFbYkuGlRbaRJBYOBSIg8uF8aNe0jEn05sLM5-bKauhqy9GAAyhtrFIi-_Rr09MtmClHhQbyizZgaf8pFcDZ1fOUsOmUtoFCBjLK4wsJzhqXzgEeG4I-miEAfQnwCi5io5o-AQ8/s200/scczen_a_150412nzhgbwarriors13_620x310.jpg" width="200" /></a>Fate, mixed in with the Rugby League Gods, decided to be cruel to Ben and it was heartbreaking to see, not only his season, but his career cut drastically short by yet another injury during his return game early in the season. Earmarked as the long term option for the clubs captaincy from a young age, Benry had many years of playing First Grade to look forward to but unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be. <br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Ata Hingano</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Five-Eighth: 2 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: C+</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLTF22EG66L6q2u_tXl1eaU0LJVCJva3gXqWE8rUDRNUxLeKNZyFNkzbOiF73oCoycfxlsONsP2-DfAco7IYFZDEPxjhAIdM2xqO2VX-2j1lTMrJmVxA5ZG6SZVIRi9tDNBmYzU5XJQg/s1600/1470469500836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLTF22EG66L6q2u_tXl1eaU0LJVCJva3gXqWE8rUDRNUxLeKNZyFNkzbOiF73oCoycfxlsONsP2-DfAco7IYFZDEPxjhAIdM2xqO2VX-2j1lTMrJmVxA5ZG6SZVIRi9tDNBmYzU5XJQg/s200/1470469500836.jpg" width="200" /></a>With only 2 First Grade games to go by, it's a little hard to decide just how Ata went in his first couple of appearances in the top grade. The things that certainly did stand out was he looked a man who oozes confidence and the majority of his touches looked to be silky smooth. He also looked as though he wasn't the slightest bit afraid to take the line on and did so effectively on a number of occasions. The only thing that really stood out in a negative light were unforced errors that were made due to poor handling during times of the game where the team desperately needed to keep hold of possession. It's hard to imagine anything other than this kid going on to have a wonderful career and I thoroughly look forward to seeing more of him in the First Grade side during the 2017 season.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Konrad Hurrell</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Centre: 3 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: E</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs04EuP5uRWjV_GsBYfYy6vC5CNLZIIV0ApIggUVWP94GpVglAUJnqYKwCpdzTwPZ32hbeKQmO1jTzgMTkcpGpueqqSauL21TqHrSeFmaLJdmXsLwH_2LGVoZi9L3UL4iW0T8Aer7YlB8/s1600/eight_col_Konrad_Hurrell_16x10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs04EuP5uRWjV_GsBYfYy6vC5CNLZIIV0ApIggUVWP94GpVglAUJnqYKwCpdzTwPZ32hbeKQmO1jTzgMTkcpGpueqqSauL21TqHrSeFmaLJdmXsLwH_2LGVoZi9L3UL4iW0T8Aer7YlB8/s200/eight_col_Konrad_Hurrell_16x10.jpg" width="200" /></a>After supposedly putting in the hard yards during the pre-season which left him physically in the best shape he has been in for quite some time, Konrad let the emotion of being over looked at centre to start the season get the better of him. Instead of knuckling down and not only continuing to train the house down but also perform at a high level while in reserve grade, he decided he would instead throw his toys and throw a tantrum. His on field performances were average at best while in the lower grades and his continual indiscretions off the field, not only did his own reputation harm but was also beginning to tarnish the reputation of the club. While he could be afforded some leeway with his average performances in his 3 outings in First Grade due to playing out of position, his lack of impact, defensive and handling errors as well as obviously carrying a chip on his shoulder throughout the whole experience pretty much takes that opportunity to be afforded some leeway away from him. A simple attitude adjustment from Konrad would have seen plenty of the drama be a non issue and likely seen him return to 1st Grade in his preferred position. <br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Shaun Johnson</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Halfback: 24 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: C</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GfVH2i0B4fC8MKCUws7C_p-UxPIBOlun10nAyvjbpRKRupW7arwigU4k6lPl_AaZGrCy2FDW3MEvu-0xciGJ8_6Qm2cx70vENW1jAhB9juqsQ2YMFKi0BznQebqy-hi1JEp50cjP0TY/s1600/eight_col_Shaun_Johnson_16x10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GfVH2i0B4fC8MKCUws7C_p-UxPIBOlun10nAyvjbpRKRupW7arwigU4k6lPl_AaZGrCy2FDW3MEvu-0xciGJ8_6Qm2cx70vENW1jAhB9juqsQ2YMFKi0BznQebqy-hi1JEp50cjP0TY/s200/eight_col_Shaun_Johnson_16x10.jpg" width="200" /></a>The early stages of the 2016 campaign were always going to be a bit sluggish for SJ as he returned from a serious injury. Unfortunately, this was another year where SJ was far too guilty of not only drifting in and out of matches but failing to turn up altogether. You're always likely to see the clutch plays come from the #7 but filling the highlights reel with a moment of brilliance every few games isn't going to win the side a competition. It's vital that Shaun finds consistency in his game because without that he may struggle to help lead this side to win the big prize. There has been plenty of talk about Johnson playing on "one leg" for the 2nd half of the season but as I see it, if a player tells the coaching staff that he is fit enough to play then a niggling injury cannot be used as an excuse for a season that didn't go close to being at an acceptable standard for the Warriors #7. Leading into our game before the second bye, he had a golden opportunity to sit that game out which would have given him 3 weeks to rest the injury. Instead he decided to play, reducing recovery time between games and not giving the leg as much time as possible to come right. I'd rather see SJ sit that game out and give himself every chance of being able to play on "two legs" for the 2nd half of the season. <br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Solomone Kata</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">Centre: 21 Appearances</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: A-</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AcxLK1_7ZStvt_c8mjWWOqjSUAfTBl520DAw6811mQ_DGaXGOhBrL5BH_SY0x-fxMng0uutuke2-P6Xfz8PD23lDOoojwzQQfp9oqQhx4dq2zfQbKOGn76baPejZN4kXfZaZ3Egf4Rc/s1600/1463466940489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AcxLK1_7ZStvt_c8mjWWOqjSUAfTBl520DAw6811mQ_DGaXGOhBrL5BH_SY0x-fxMng0uutuke2-P6Xfz8PD23lDOoojwzQQfp9oqQhx4dq2zfQbKOGn76baPejZN4kXfZaZ3Egf4Rc/s200/1463466940489.jpg" width="200" /></a>During his Rookie Season in 2015, I was one of many who were critical over Kata and his defensive frailties. Credit where credit is due because over the course of the off-season, Kata clearly made it a priority of his to work hard on improving that area of his game. The improvement he showed from one season to the next with his defense was remarkable to say the least. With that part of his game being tightened up along with his ability to cross the stripe and the power game that he possesses in attack, it's not too far fetched to suggest that Kata could well become one of the premier centres in the game over the coming seasons. The only real blemish that can be picked as an area of his game that needs to be worked on his ability to feed his outside man more often when the opportunity presents itself. I am sure he is aware that he needs to work on that and i am confident that in 2017 we'll see that added to his already impressive arsenal.<br />
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<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-23251091169143263252016-09-23T22:39:00.000+10:002016-09-23T23:07:17.777+10:00Faither Report Card - 2016. Part 1 of 5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT78ZddHQpAHBfvtdZMe47lVeDcUNSKGd180PLt6_LDRniXxSDIw6Pl2zL2ILSTbMyo1QIEws76b-9dk5qG0nXqYjUfZJ1AO79lrGhCXCcg5tah2MTeuq-Ym1oYnl6RumwB8uSjAneI8/s1600/800335-370626-34.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT78ZddHQpAHBfvtdZMe47lVeDcUNSKGd180PLt6_LDRniXxSDIw6Pl2zL2ILSTbMyo1QIEws76b-9dk5qG0nXqYjUfZJ1AO79lrGhCXCcg5tah2MTeuq-Ym1oYnl6RumwB8uSjAneI8/s320/800335-370626-34.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the 2016 NRL Season winds down to an end, it's a good time to look back over a season that offered so much promise for the NZ Warriors yet delivered that all too familiar feeling of let down come seasons end, leaving fans ponder what went wrong and wonder if we'll ever get it right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While some players certainly played at a level that is required in what is highly regarded as the toughest comp in the world, others were well off the mark and nowhere near the standard they've set themselves over previous seasons. While I completely understand that it's virtually impossible for players to avoid hitting a dreaded form slump, it's inexcusable and quite frankly, it's close to unforgivable watching some of our "stars" look like they'd rather be anywhere else other than in a Warriors jersey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's take a look at how each player stacked up in a season that will go down in history as yet another that got away. </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Ryan Hoffman (c) </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Second Row: 23 appearances </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GRADE: C</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ9INSBMqao-uAgZ9kkooQs6r_BrzOKcm6mo9n6ZTRKzvjeea4BC6mHkCvz57o4zoAx52KQWYAl2hTdeEY1QsEapcagT9TIDYSfX2vkIdfnG59Y4ZzGXDtNgfjvaXnzbQimVvsDN9s9Y/s1600/CsX-9arUsAAgGOd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ9INSBMqao-uAgZ9kkooQs6r_BrzOKcm6mo9n6ZTRKzvjeea4BC6mHkCvz57o4zoAx52KQWYAl2hTdeEY1QsEapcagT9TIDYSfX2vkIdfnG59Y4ZzGXDtNgfjvaXnzbQimVvsDN9s9Y/s320/CsX-9arUsAAgGOd.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking over as club captain to start the season added extra responsibility and expectations to the experienced shoulders of this seasoned campaigner. At times the body language portrayed from Hoffman suggested that he, on more than a handful of occassions, questioned what he had gotten himself into and what, if anything, he could do to lift his troops to the level of expectations that he is accustomed to. While it's obvious the 280 game NRL veteran wears his heart on his sleeve in every game he plays, it also looks as though Father Time may be catching up on him. With a total of 314 First Grade games (290 NRL, 34 SL), 7 for NSW City, 14 for NSW Origin and 7 appearances for Australia, it seems as though the wear and tear on the body may be starting to take a toll. Needs to share more of the defensive workload with his partners in crime in the backrow during the 2017 Season as his numbers in comparison for 2016 just aren't up to scratch. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bunty Afoa </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second Row: 4 appearances </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GRADE: B</span></i></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BnBA3A9p4MUHmNRxPTiMTfXRtljePBOgXX6WSCDdPRGcN9eqMKBidXYdDLXfTcxBPIYmtc_NiFdJCCBRZezf5ixBGKP02P5_x4YEwxvBSYZrE-fwxXhG6RVcxDRYlUDzEqcmihyBiS8/s1600/1469882193611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BnBA3A9p4MUHmNRxPTiMTfXRtljePBOgXX6WSCDdPRGcN9eqMKBidXYdDLXfTcxBPIYmtc_NiFdJCCBRZezf5ixBGKP02P5_x4YEwxvBSYZrE-fwxXhG6RVcxDRYlUDzEqcmihyBiS8/s320/1469882193611.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As is the case with most seasons that end in disappointment, it's important to look back and reflect over the season that was and acknowledge the diamonds in the rough that shine through and offer that glimmer of hope for the future. Averaging just a tick over 45 mins a game in his 4 first grade appearances was all that Afoa needed to make fans of not only the Warriors but Rugby League in general sit up and take notice. Providing much needed enthusiasm to the side, Bunty also offered a little bit more to the back row that often comes under scrutiny for being too one-dimensional. In 187 minutes of First Grade, Bunty managed to score 2 tries, make 2 line breaks, complete 106 tackles and miss only 3 in the process and earn the side 276 running metres along with 3 tackle breaks. This kid looks likely to have a big future and I for one cannot wait to see more of him in 2017.</span><br />
<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Matt Allwood </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Centre: 4 appearances</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: C-</span></i></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzFU_J2qjVqs3CQMjPeqoG8Zs-v69CEHQNvq87zAzMDhpNzvsRgb1zVOKjunhyphenhyphenRuFFgFxQBAO0v6z3AmB668cOE1Whg_biLaNZe9_YxNnyWg_D4A6BMdh3KvmVeq_r9nXdeFS_zoGbvU/s1600/Matthew%252BAllwood%252BEtA33iqxM1Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzFU_J2qjVqs3CQMjPeqoG8Zs-v69CEHQNvq87zAzMDhpNzvsRgb1zVOKjunhyphenhyphenRuFFgFxQBAO0v6z3AmB668cOE1Whg_biLaNZe9_YxNnyWg_D4A6BMdh3KvmVeq_r9nXdeFS_zoGbvU/s320/Matthew%252BAllwood%252BEtA33iqxM1Bm.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A player that, at times, can face a little bit of unfair criticism. People tend to either forget or simply choose to ignore the fact that in every squad you need to have players who are there as depth and cover for either injury or suspension to those ahead of them in the pecking order. You cannot pick 25 players that are all close to the best in their preferred position. As a "depth player" Allwood filled his role adequately. While looking like one of the better performing players in Reserve Grade during the early parts of the season, he was eventually rewarded for that form with selection in the Top Grade. There were some glaring errors he made with his defensive reads and he needs to remember that the team must defend as a unit to be successful. Allwood was guilty of rushing out of the line on numerous occasions which did nothing but add more pressure to the side during times which already saw his team-mates on the back foot. Maybe a case of being too keen to show he was worthy of the promotion or possibly a sign that while he performs and looks the goods in reserve grade, struggles to adapt to the jump up. If the errors were to be removed from his game he could go on to another level as a footy player but until they do he will struggle to find his feet in the top grade. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></i></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Blake Ayshford </span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Centre: 23 appearances</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: B</span></i></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAaFSyARTbhyntDMCMbqwECpsM4V4rKFb89XKpXbnxFkqzi907ZVIqlqFF06esjaxyOWszI0U2BCb0SmWEok-ebDZDWTmNBWKzvY2RbQr0ZstqkPznfkReAiV0sD44OQ7Lfv7-PMYWlg/s1600/Blake%252BAyshford%252Bj1Zst3WkQanm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAaFSyARTbhyntDMCMbqwECpsM4V4rKFb89XKpXbnxFkqzi907ZVIqlqFF06esjaxyOWszI0U2BCb0SmWEok-ebDZDWTmNBWKzvY2RbQr0ZstqkPznfkReAiV0sD44OQ7Lfv7-PMYWlg/s320/Blake%252BAyshford%252Bj1Zst3WkQanm.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the announcement that Blake had signed with the club was made, it was originally thought among most that he would play second fiddle to both Hurrell and Kata. Ayshford seems to be one of many players to pull on a Warriors jersey that gets ridiculed relentlessly, regardless of form or what they bring to the table. Up until the last half a dozen or so rounds, Ayshford was by far one of our best performers. It was unfortunate that his form was affected late in the season due to a back injury and it's that form in particular that fans would rather remember for reasons I cannot explain. Not only was he one of the better performing players throughout 2016, he was also one of our better try scorers, finishing behind only Johnson, Fusitua and Kata. Also interesting to note is the remarkable defensive improvement shown this season by Ayshfords centre partner, Kata. Is the almost unbelievable improvement in Kata's (defensive) game merely a coincidence that it coincides with the inclusion of a renowned "defensive centre" at the club? I'll let you decide that one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Raymond Faitala-Mariner </span></i></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aQ39ebm6RYDPyWYLh9mt4E0IwvXyyhu3JjiBZoeDfbmi753QyA51j1MVTUWFbP_7YRDj_FpqhqZIyAkECUZ1eKOt3yS9wIqwSw09BMHMRcQRGEAIXIlSZTWS45Hv64zsboaXfy1mDio/s1600/Faitala-Mariner%252CR+160311201news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aQ39ebm6RYDPyWYLh9mt4E0IwvXyyhu3JjiBZoeDfbmi753QyA51j1MVTUWFbP_7YRDj_FpqhqZIyAkECUZ1eKOt3yS9wIqwSw09BMHMRcQRGEAIXIlSZTWS45Hv64zsboaXfy1mDio/s200/Faitala-Mariner%252CR+160311201news.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Second Row: 1 appearance</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: N/A</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was sad to see RFM leave the club after looking good in the trials. Unfortunately, these things happens and it is virtually impossible to keep all the talent on the roster. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: orange;">David Fusitua </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">Wing/FB/Centre: 18 appearances</span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">GRADE: A-</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fusitua has been a young bloke with huge wraps attached to him from a young age. After forcing his way into the first grade squad as a 19 year old he showed glimpses of what he could offer as well as showing where his weaknesses lay during his debut season. After having a particularly horrid run with injuries, his return to the game in 2016 saw him take every opportunity given to him with both hands and excel in whatever position he was selected to play in. A gifted athlete who is incredibly agile for a big bloke, Fusitua made many a highlight reel with some of his outstanding try scoring efforts. After being forced to cover wing, fullback and centre, Fusitua rarely put a foot wrong in any of the aforementioned positions and is certainly a player the club will be wanting to lock up long term. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Faither: By the fans, for the fans"</i></span><br />
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Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-59910851389390550532016-09-21T16:00:00.000+10:002016-09-21T16:00:03.380+10:00Largest Home Attendance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">38,405 - vs Parramatta Eels at Eden Park on 12 March 2011</span></div>
<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">37,502 - vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Eden Park on 4 March 2012</span><br />
<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">32,740 - vs Sydney Roosters at Eden Park on 16 March 2013</span><br />
<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">32,174 - vs Illawarra Steelers at Mt Smart Stadium on 16 April 1995</span><br />
<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">30,112 - vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Mt Smart Stadium on 7 April 1995</span><br />
<span 12px="" 16.08px="" arial="" d2129="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="">30,112 - vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Westpac Stadium on 11 May 2013</span><br />
<br />Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659309324147250951.post-83408281004846940022016-09-19T13:19:00.000+10:002016-09-19T13:45:55.098+10:00Faither Interview: Richard Villasanti - Warrior #87<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Born in the ACT, Richard Villasanti or "Villa the Gorilla" as he was affectionately<br />
known, enjoyed a First Grade career spanning 8 seasons in which he played 116 games for 4 clubs (6 with Balmain Tigers in 1999, 7 for Wests Tigers in 2000, 96 for NZ Warriors 2001-06 and 7 for Cronulla Sharks in 2006). Richard also played 1 international for Australia and in doing so became the first Warriors player to represent the Kangaroos.<br />
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Richard was a Junior Kiwi and was also selected for the wider Tonga squad for the 2000 World Cup but did not play in the tournament.<br />
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Today the NZ Warriors Faither Group have been lucky enough to catch up with Richard, giving us the chance to ask a few questions to learn a little more about one of the best enforcers the Warriors have been lucky enough to have in their squad.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Where did it all begin for you as a rugby league player?</span></b><br />
Richard: Under 10s'. Tuggeranong Buffaloes, Canberra.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: If Rugby League didn't work out, where do you think your career and life path would have taken you?</span></b><br />
Richard: I lived and breathed football from a very young age and didn't see anything else as a real option but I have a love for all sports so I imagine it would be somewhere in the sporting sector.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What do you think about the nickname "Villa the Gorilla"? And who was the person to originally hand you that nickname?</span></b><br />
Richard: I love the nick name! I don't where it originated but it came in the '03 season when we were on a roll.<br />
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<i>Villasanti puts a massive hit on Webcke</i></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: How much of the game do you recall after the "Freddy Incident" in the 2002 Grand Final?</span></b><br />
Richard: To be quite honest I don't remember much of the game at all. One of the few things I do remember though was looking at the sky from flat on my back after a few of the Roosters boys whacked me hahaha. But in regards to the Freddy incident, I don't remember anything of it and of course the hooter sounding for full time.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: I recall an interview with you a few years back where you mentioned that you were still yet to watch a replay of the game. Have you managed to bring yourself around to watching it or is it a game that you have no plans to ever revisit?</span></b><br />
Richard: That quote still stands. Possibly in the future when my daughters are grown up and start asking questions I might sit down and go for a trip down memory lane with them.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: You enjoyed what was arguably one of the more successful periods in Warriors history where the club managed to reach the play offs 3 years straight. Where do you think the Warriors are going wrong in more recent times? And do you think they are close to getting it right?</span></b><br />
Richard: Yes, we did enjoy a purple patch there for a few years but I think the difference was to now, is that in 01, 02 and 03 our squad was unique in the fact that we had veteran players come from other clubs (Campo, Ivan, Tooks, Doc, Rubes, Morgan and Pricey) that were successful. Those guys brought experience as well as that hard nosed competitiveness and the no-nonsense attitude to the club. That mixed in with Polynesian home grown talent that taught us young guys to compete at the level required for the NRL.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Quite often you hear about the supposed "bro culture" within the Warriors, is it something you noticed during your time with the club?</span></b><br />
Richard: No, not at all. We all loved a joke and a prank but when it was game time it was game on.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Of the clubs you have played for, who have been the best fans and why?</span></b><br />
Richard: Definately the Warriors fans HAHAHAHA. The most passionate I've ever seen!!!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Can you share how you felt about the 2002 Grand Final half time recording that Daniel Anderson played? And can you let us in on what was actually being played back to the team?</span></b><br />
Richard: Yeah it's a bit of a blur and I missed the recording as I was getting treatment at the time.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What did Daniel Anderson do to make that team click during the golden 2001-2003 days. As I feel things are over complicated these days and I remember Anderson saying many times he would just keep things real simple.</span></b><br />
Richard: As previously mentioned, we had a great mixture of youth, talent, skill, experience and fearlessness which combined with Daniels coaching methods we played an attractive and exciting brand of football, while giving the coach and our fans heart palpitations lol. And the thing that we all understood is that whatever position you were picked in you knew your role within the team and if you did your role we were successful more often than not.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc9AwpOwtwttjirOj6vAqZ_kz8wMv-NX0nVvGuF0XJ5jupbUrI1eVer8yKwgSyTfI66dCjGrlkYoOcEP19G-X_vWmzQ1u7GHCHs0wqlUdygk4SKrYpj0U4QQcmoQmK37MUuym4q8wUV0/s1600/IMG_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc9AwpOwtwttjirOj6vAqZ_kz8wMv-NX0nVvGuF0XJ5jupbUrI1eVer8yKwgSyTfI66dCjGrlkYoOcEP19G-X_vWmzQ1u7GHCHs0wqlUdygk4SKrYpj0U4QQcmoQmK37MUuym4q8wUV0/s320/IMG_0378.JPG" width="320" /></a><b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Where do you think Stacey rates among the great halves of all time?</span></b><br />
Richard: Stace was like a chess player. He could see an outcome 3 plays before it happened, his vision and anticipation was second to none. In my eyes one of the greatest players that I played with and he scored one of the best individual grand final tries (if not the best) that you are ever likely to see.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: How did you get the nickname Lochness?</span></b><br />
Richard: Hahahahah Because the Lochness is only heard of and never seen. A bit like me when it came to Tony Kemps fitness sessions hahaha<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: orange;"><b>Faithers: What was better, playing in a Grand Final or playing for Australia?</b></span><br />
Richard: Playing for Australia was a great honour and privilege but playing in the Warriors maiden grand final appearance and watching a whole nation come together and get behind us tops the list. You are with these guys for 9 months of the year, day in and day out, all striving to achieve the same goal, creating lifelong friends and great memories along the way. That's what it's all about for me.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What did the club (Warriors) do for mental training when you were playing? Did they have any full time or part time doctors to keep the boys mentally tough in games?</span></b><br />
Richard: HAHAHA! No doctors but we had this guy named Kevin Campion who kept the boys in check.<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Why did you choose to rep Australia over New Zealand after being a Junior Kiwi? Do you regret the choice looking back?</span></b><br />
Richard: No. From a young age I dreamt of playing origin so I chose Australia to try to get the chance but it never eventuated.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What was the actual injury that forced your retirement? How does it effects you today? </span></b><br />
Richard: It was my knees. I have no meniscus (cartilage) left between my knees, which means i'll need two knee replacements in the future but other than that body is coping lol.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Who do you consider the best player you have played alongside and against and why?</span></b><br />
Richard: There are too many players to just single out one.<br />
<b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: If you could play any position other than prop, where would you prefer to play?</span></b><br />
Richard: On the pick and swing. See what all the fuss is about lol.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Do you sing in the shower? If yes, whats your go to song?</span></b><br />
Richard: Yeah I've been known to belt out a tune in the shower. Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (islands in the stream) lol<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What sort of music do you listen to? Who is your favourite artist and what would be your favourite song?</span></b><br />
Richard: I like all sorts of music, except classical, different sounds for for different moods.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What's your favourite food?</span></b><br />
Richard: Seafood, seafood and seafood.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What sort of a kid were you like in school? And what were you favourite/worst subjects?</span></b><br />
Richard: I wasn't really a big fan of school. The only reason I pretty much went was to play in all the school sports teams lol. I couldn't stand art or maths.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Who wins in a fight, Spiderman or Batman?</span></b><br />
Richard: Batman! Hands down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRk9GuXF-Szb-i9g9aeBO8x-bLQTo5d0KBHsWSOfaKKBEx4Mt_rhxcxfuFz6pl4k-cHSuXgVKL0jH9fze-lOBUbvSL9sGU6qmBmwXTNMByJRlmff8UMRs2lffzSDoV96Db2QMDtJRnuc/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRk9GuXF-Szb-i9g9aeBO8x-bLQTo5d0KBHsWSOfaKKBEx4Mt_rhxcxfuFz6pl4k-cHSuXgVKL0jH9fze-lOBUbvSL9sGU6qmBmwXTNMByJRlmff8UMRs2lffzSDoV96Db2QMDtJRnuc/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="320" /></a><b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: What are you doing with yourself these days? Are you still working as a plumber?</span></b><br />
Richard: Yes. When I retired I had nothing to go back to so I enrolled myself in at tech and started a mature age apprenticeship. 8 years later I run my own plumbing business in Sydney.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">Faithers: Finally, what does the future have in store for Richard Villasanti?</span></b><br />
Richard: Well I''m keen on returning to NZ next year to hopefully watch the Warriors play to their potential and seeing some familiar faces.<br />
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<i>"Faither - By the Fans. For the Fans"</i><br />
<i>Written by G. Sykes (Geese)</i><br />
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<span 13.2px="" 18.48px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="" tahoma="">Join the Warriors Faither Supporter Group by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZWarriorsFans/" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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<span 13.2px="" 18.48px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="" tahoma="">"Like" the Warriors Faither Supporter Page by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WarriorsNRL" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> </span></div>
<span 13.2px="" 15.4px="" 18.48px="" 21.56px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" pen="" play="" quot="" sans-serif="" sans="" style="background-color: #333333; color: #cccccc; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;" tahoma="">Follow us on Twitter by clicking <a href="https://twitter.com/FaitherNz" style="color: #cc6600; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><br />
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<span 13.2px="" 18.48px="" arial="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" line-height:="" sans-serif="" tahoma="">Email us at nzwarriorsfaither@gmail.com</span></div>
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<i 15.4px="" 21.56px="" cccccc="" font-family:="" font-size:="" line-height:="" pen="" quot="" sans="">Faither: "It's not just a slogan, it's a movement"</i> </div>
Gareth Sykeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00528934262029222200noreply@blogger.com0