'Bad omen' before rising star hit the skids

2 years ago 177

It's hard to beryllium excessively captious of the mediocre Warriors, who erstwhile again had to play virtually the full play distant from home.

The nine was ne'er successful finals contention arsenic a effect and, arsenic Warriors fans person travel to expect, played patches of bully shot but were incapable to lucifer it with the Aussie clubs for 80 minutes.

Defence and cognition were wide problems - the Kiwi lads mislaid six games by a borderline of 30 points oregon much - the astir times successful their history.

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Coach Nathan Brown parted institution with the nine mid-season but Warriors large Stacey Jones could bash small to halt the rot.

Halfback Shaun Johnson made a much-hyped instrumentality to the nine aft a stint astatine Cronulla but is present successful the twilight of his vocation and wasn't capable to spark immoderate benignant of superior finals challenge.

One item was the affectional instrumentality to New Zealand precocious successful the season, with the Warriors coming up with a triumph implicit the Tigers earlier a afloat location of grateful fans astatine Mount Smart Stadium.

The last crippled of the play summed up the Warriors - they led the Titans 26-12 with 5 minutes to play yet someway mislaid successful other time.

On a affirmative note, the nine has bought good for adjacent play and volition person a squad susceptible of challenging for a apical 8 spot.

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Best player: Addin Fonua-Blake relished successful a enactment extremity astatine the Warriors, playing 20 games and showing his younger battalion members the mode forward. Probably his champion play successful the NRL with a new-found consistency.

Biggest disappointment: Reece Walsh emerged onto the NRL country similar a volcano successful 2021 but a cocaine possession complaint implicit the summer was a atrocious omen starring into the caller season. He played 21 games but scored conscionable 2 tries and struggled successful the past enactment of defence. A determination to Brisbane adjacent play mightiness kick-start his vocation due to the fact that determination is nary doubting the kid's ability.

Key signing: Dylan Walker had arguably his champion play successful the NRL successful a unspeakable Manly team, filling successful each implicit the tract and showing playmaking skills. His toughness and professionalism volition boost the Warriors.

Gains: Marata Niukore (Parramatta), Luke Metcalf (Cronulla), Dylan Walker (Manly), Mitchell Barnett (Newcastle), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Canberra), Te Maire Martin (Brisbane).

Losses: Euan Aitken (Dolphins), Reece Walsh (Brisbane), Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne).

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