Rugby League: What's wrong with the Warriors?

By PETER JESSUP

How things change. It seems only yesterday that the Warriors were being vilified for throwing the ball around too much, trying things too early, before they'd earned the right.

Now the questions are all about what's wrong, why the game plan is all forward-centred, why they can't score more tries and win more games.

Short answer: The NRL is faster this year and the Warriors are still adjusting to the rushing defence developed by the Roosters and copied by everyone else.

Evidence the inaccurate passing from dummy-half out. The backline is standing deeper than last season and the players haven't clicked into sync in terms of running on to the pass.

But these are professionals, I hear you say. It's round 12 of the competition and they had a two-month build-up.

There are lots of hangovers from the Warriors after their stunning effort last year. No side takes them lightly any more - they're playing last year's minor premiers and losing grand finalists. Their star players are now well known and well marked.

They are without their two star points-scorers. Ali Lauiti'iti is such a talent he is irreplaceable - not something you'd say lightly or about many players. He is still more than a month away from gaining a medical clearance and must regain match fitness. Injury has troubled Clinton Toopi since last year's Kiwis tour.

Therein lies another problem. Players, including Stacey Jones, Jerry Seuseu, Awen Guttenbeil and Toopi, who went on that tour played more than 30 matches last season, including 24 NRL rounds, three finals games, tests against Australia and Great Britain plus British club opponents.

Yes, they started later than the rest of the squad but some still carry niggling injuries, not least Jones who has been troubled by leg pain that restricts his acceleration and kicking.

There appears to be little impact on the scoreboard from the changes to personnel. No matches have been lost because of inferior goal-kicking. None of Brent Webb, PJ Marsh or Lance Hohaia has pushed past 50 per cent yet - Ivan Cleary consistently hovered just above 80 per cent - but the losses have all come because the other side scored more tries.

The defensive average, though, is where it should be. Their defence, generally, is better than ever. The side frequently hold out against repeat sets of six. Monty Betham has provided the staunch of the departed Kevin Campion.

The Warriors have conceded 204 points compared with the Roosters, the best defensive side on 169.

The bigger difference is in the "points for" column, where the Broncos lead with 296, the Roosters have 293, the Warriors 224.

The kicking percentage is down partly because so many of their tries this season have come from clever kicks from Jones to his wingers and thus the shots have been from wide out.

And therein lies the problem.

They are not testing the opposition up the middle often enough, there isn't enough of the quick, short-passing that can beat the rushing defenders. The options on attack are not as varied as they should be.

Part of that comes down to the weather - even the early-season games, with start at 4.30pm, suffered as dew fell. Several games have been played in rain.



The squad was supremely confident in March, especially after whacking the Broncos, but that has ebbed with poor results. Fewer players are keen to chance their arm.

Completion rates tell the story. Against Brisbane they finished 31 sets out of 44 and won 32-12; against Souths 33/49, and won 38-16; against the Cowboys 31/45, and won 30-24.

But in the 28-14 loss to Penrith at Ericsson last month they completed only 27 of 43 sets and last Friday against Canberra it was 27/44 in an 18-10 loss.

Completion in good field position is what is required if points can't be scored. That is one area the Warriors have not always been up to the mark.

Their sixth-tackle kicks are too often to the chest of opposing fullbacks and wingers. Marsh has occasionally found the 40/20 mark.

But rarely have they sent the ball to touch via the boot or taken the tackle into touch in the corner, then held the opposition down their end and converted territory to points.

The effort has been inconsistent, the props brilliant one week then off the next, or patchy over 80 minutes.

The backrowers have worked hard on defence but the attack options they offered the backline last season haven't been there. The midfielders haven't been able to punch the holes they did last season.

The competition is more even this year, thanks to the adjustments forced by the salary cap. There are no easy games. Ask Parramatta, 2001 grandfinalists, now unable to buy a win.

The Eels have lost their last two games by two points, one in overtime, the second to a last-gasp penalty. They haven't been playing badly, but nor have they been playing with consistency or confidence.

The Warriors can't hinge everything on the return of Lauiti'iti. Nor can they continue to rely on Jones' magic to dig them out of holes. Others have to stand up, take the line on, clear their arms and force off-loads, break tackles, put their team-mates into holes.

It's not a desperate situation yet, but with the competition halfway point reached next weekend and the representative season disruption straight after it, they wouldn't want to sink further. Because failure feeds on failure just as success breeds success. Worry too much, try too hard, move away from their natural game and things are likely to go from bad to worse.

What the Warriors need this weekend is a dry ground, a hard and fast track, a smart kicking game and good chase so they play the match in Penrith's half. And when they get there they need options other than Jones taking it to the defence. They need back-up for the ball-carrier.

Most of all they need the self-belief to throw the ball around and know it will bring points.

The state of play

SHOULD FANS BE WORRIED ABOUT THE WARRIORS?

YES

1. They only seem able to score on the wing.

2. They don't have a kicker who can convert goals from the sideline.

3. Major attacking weapons Clinton Toopi and Ali Lauiti'iti are out injured for the next month or more.

4. They lack consistency in performance.

5. The sparkling play that came with confidence has gone.

NO

1. They are no longer prone to loose, flaky passes.

2. The defence is better, especially on their own line.

3. They're in the top eight and can look forward to the return of Lauiti'iti, Toopi and Villasanti.

4. Any team with Stacey Jones, P. J. Marsh, Motu Tony, Brent Webb and Lauiti'iti needs only one more component - muscle - and they have that.

5. Some teams are struggling now, others will struggle when injury hits.