Vodafone Warriors Turned Horse Whisperers

Written by Brad Inger

NRL 2016 Round 13 Review: Warriors too much for Bumbling Broncos
NZ Warriors 36 def Brisbane Broncos 18

The Vodafone Warriors turned Horse Whisperers in their round 13 match-up with the Brisbane Broncos running away with a 36-18 victory at Mount Smart Stadium.

Andrew McFadden stated during the week that the Warriors needed to have a more positive attack in order to increase the team’s confidence which will, in turn, improve their defensive efforts.

The boys were granted a free licence and they took it with both hands. Right from Albert Vete’s first hit up you could clearly see that the team’s attitude had vastly improved. The attitude and commitment shown from the playing group in this match has been something the fans have been begging for since the beginning of the season.

No longer did this side look lost in attack. The forwards were chewing up the metres through the middle allowing Issac Luke to get a roll on from the play the ball causing the broncos to constantly be on the back foot. With the forwards dominating the battle up front, Shaun Johnson finally had the room to attack the line and be the devastating attacking player that he is known to be.

Everything seemed to work for the Warriors in this game, from the bounce of the ball to most of the offloads sticking and in what was a welcome change we were even awarded those 50/50 calls from the referee. They gave themselves plenty of attacking opportunities and after 21 minutes they were 18-0 up after some clever plays from Shaun Johnson, scoring a try himself and setting Bodene Thompson up for another, Jacob Lillyman scored the third from a nicely placed grubber from Issac Luke.

The Broncos tried to get themselves back into the match with a try to Alex Glenn and before the end of the first half they had two tries pulled back for forward passes to go into halftime 18-6 down.

We've seen many games where this side would have folded in the past but two minutes into the second stanza the Warriors were over again through an amazing diving try by David Fusitu’a. The NZ based side scored three more tries through Ryan Hoffman, David Fusitu’a who bagged himself a double and Solomone Kata. Brisbane could only manage two more tries to Jordan Kahu and Tevita Pangai but the Broncos were never in this match and were possibly lucky to only have lost 36-18.

The line speed shown from the home team was the best I have seen for month’s, maybe even years, missed tackles were few and far between and importantly those silly errors and penalties that have plagued this side this season were gone.

My player of the day goes to Shaun Johnson, with the forwards doing the hard yards up front he had free reign in this game and he took full advantage. An attacking Shaun is a dangerous Shaun and the fans will be hoping that this version is here to stay this season.

As for my player who needs to improve, well I cannot pick a player who needs to improve this week as I can’t point out anyone who let the team down, this was the first complete team effort we have seen this year.

Have things started to click with the Warriors? Did Konrad Hurrell’s exit last week help realign this team as a unit and/or perhaps the players open honesty session last week helped the players get onto the same page. In all honesty, I think it’s a little from column A and a little from column B.

Whatever was said in the honesty session seems to have helped this team actually buy into what this club is trying to become. Does this mean that the season is saved? No, possibly not. This is just a step in the right direction and the team needs to continue to bring the right attitude each and every week.

The Warriors face the Newcastle Knights in Round 14. Although the Knights have only managed the one win this season, the Warriors cannot afford to let their guard down. Their current points differential is not going to do them any favours come seasons end if they stay deep in the negatives so they really need to put some big performances in to bring them into contention with the top 8.

Who were your key players in this victory?

What do think was the reason for this change in performance and is this a permanent change for the season?

Comment and let me know.

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Faither: It's not just a slogan, it's a movement

The Aussies: Warriors Best 1-17 from Across the Ditch

Written by Gareth Sykes

It's not an uncommon occurrence to come across a debate within a NZ Warriors fan page where you have one group of people arguing that "we have too many Aussies in the side" while another group will argue just as passionately "we need more Aussies".

Quite frankly, i think the argument is absurd. The powers that be within the club spend the money on a player who they feel will best fulfill the required role within the playing group. A players country of birth has nothing to do with anything and to be honest, it leaves me scratching my head why this argument even arises to begin with.

Shaun Johnson: From Golden Boot to Black Sheep

Written by Gareth Sykes

SJ, Magic Johnson, Princess, Shaun or Johnson, whatever name you use to refer to the Warriors number 7 there is no denying the huge amounts of natural talent this young man possesses.

Round 13 Game Day

NZ Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos

Saturday June 4th

Mt Smart Stadium
5pm (NZT) 3pm (AEST)

Match Officials
Referee: Henry Perenara
Assistant Referee: Chris James

NZ WARRIORS

1. Tuimoala Lolohea         

2. David Fusitua                   

3. Blake Ayshford                      

4. Solomone Kata                          

5. Manu Vatuvei                                 

6. Thomas Leuleuai                                    

7. Shaun Johnson                                    

8. Jacob Lillyman

9. Issac Luke

10. Ben Matulino

11. Bodene Thompson

12. Ryan Hoffman

13. Simon Mannering

Interchange:

14. Nathaniel Roache

15. Sam Lisone

16. Albert Vete

17. Charlie Gubb

18. Ligi Sao

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Darius Boyd

2. Lachlan Maranta

3. Jack Reed

4. James Roberts

5. Jordan Kahu

6. Anthony Milford

7. Ben Hunt

8. Josh McGuire

9. Travis Waddell

10. Adam Blair

11. Alex Glenn

12. Sam Thaiday

13. Corey Parker

Interchange:

14. Jarrod Wallace 

15. Tevita Pangai Junior

16. Joe Ofahengaue

17. Kodi Nikorima

18. Herman Ese'ese

19. Jai Arrow

With the Warriors heading into this Round 13 clash fresh from the bye, supporters will be hoping for a vastly improved performance from the side that coughed up one of their worst displays in recent memory against the Canberra Raiders in Round 11. 

After hearing reports that the players have held a crisis meeting in a bid to clear the air, allowing themselves to speak honestly and openly with each other in an attempt to put to bed whatever the underlying issues have been for recent below-par performances, one must feel that the penny has finally dropped within the playing group.  I think it's a fair assumption to suggest that player power has been a long term issue within the ranks.  Now that they've had a line drawn in the sand by senior figures within the club, that's hopefully sending out a crystal clear message that poor performances will not be tolerated, it may finally be clicking that throwing your toys about as a player isn't going to work anymore, you either step up to the plate or walk out the door.

In years gone by, you could almost put your house on the line betting on the Warriors to win with them being in a similar position. Unfortunately, from what we've seen so far, 2016 doesn't seem to be one of those years where we ride that roller coaster and manage to bounce back like a team possessed after a poor outing. 

Looking at the team on paper, this would have to be as close to full strength as we can get. It's vital that our big names turn up to play tomorrow and are switched on from the very first whistle. It is critical to our performance that our forward pack earn their money this weekend, Matulino, Lillyman, Hoffman, Mannering and Thompson need to be battle ready and get over the advantage line from the first set to allow Luke, Johnson and Lolohea to work their magic. Without the ball in hands we must remember that defence is the first form of attack. Who remembers a few years back when we would drive defenders back with every tackle? We need that mongrel again! We need to see a side who trusts one another and we need to see a side that will put their body on the line, time and time again, purely so they don't let their brothers down.

Our left edge gets a little bit of normality back to it with Manu Vatuvei rejoining the team after being away on medical/personal leave as well as the inclusion of Solomone Kata who returns from his week long suspension. 

Manu might be a man best avoided if you're in Broncos colours for this game.  He'll be out to prove the doubters wrong, regain the faith from those who have lost it and will send his apology to family, team mates, fans, officials, sponsors and all those he feels he let down, the only way he knows how, by letting his footy do the talking. 

The Broncos are odds on favourites for this one but that's just how the Warriors like it.  The expectations will be low and an upset the furthest thing from any Rugby League tragic's mind. The Warriors will have a point to prove in front of their home crowd and with the inclusion of a couple of superstars back into the Warriors line up and the short turn around the Broncos Origin players have been forced to face, an upset is well and truly on the cards. Brisbane have only managed 1 win from their last 5 outing at Mt Smart, lets hope that's about to be 1 from 6.

Warriors by 4 in what could well be looked back upon as a season defining moment.

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1997: Super League

Matthew Ridge was the Warriors 3rd captain in as many years

1997 was the Auckland Warriors 3rd first grade season in the Australasian Rugby League competition. John Monie again had the job of head coach for the year but after starting the campaign with 6 losses from the opening 9 rounds, Monie was replaced by Frank Endacott who would take over from Round 10. 

Flashback Friday - Round 25, 2010: Warriors vs Broncos

***FLASHBACK FRIDAY***

With the biggest crowd of the season at Mt Smart Stadium crammed in to farewell one of Rugby Leagues favourite sons, Steve Price, this Flashback Friday we remember a game we played against the Broncos in Round 25 of 2010. 

In one of the most dominant performances the Warriors have ever played against the Broncos we would go on to win 36-4. In fact, right up until the dying stages of the match the Warriors were leading 36 nil. 

Manu "The Beast" Vatuvei celebrated his new 2 year deal with the Warriors by touching down for the first 4 pointer of the game. Doubles to both Lance Hohaia and Lewis Brown as well as tries to Mannering and Matulino ensured a fond farewell for Price as well as well earned celebrations for the contract extension of Manu. 

Just as great as the result was, one of the greatest moments involves a piece of individual brilliance for the "Huntly Hurricane", Lance Hohaia. He breaks the line down the middle and with only Josh Hoffman left to beat he chips, chases and regathers to score.

It wasn't just tries, farewells and celebrations in this game. We all got to watch on gleefully as Ben Matulino and Jacob Lillyman put on one of the hits of the year to knock the sense out of Sam Thaiday. If all this wasn't enough to rub salt into the wounds of the Broncos, we had the joy of watching some vintage Brent Tate, causing his former team mates nightmares as he opened up the line on numerous occasions creating havoc down their left hand defensive edge.

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Faither: It's not just a slogan, it's a movement

Player Profile - Jonathan Smith

NAME: JONATHAN SMITH
WARRIOR NUMBER: 84
DOB: 20/02/79 (AGE 37)
BORN: AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
CLUB DEBUT: 24/6/2000 vs ROOSTERS
POSITION: SECOND ROW