NRL: Warriors go quiet in battle

Micheal Luck is one of the more vocal members of the Warriors. He recalls the team being louder when he arrived in 2006. Photo / Getty Images

You might say the Warriors are the silent assassins of the NRL.

Coach Brian McClennan says they are the quietest team he has ever coached - and certainly with the 2012 edition, their bite is worse than their bark.

Throughout their previous upswing in form, the Auckland club remained one of the quietest teams in the NRL.

Watch the Sea Eagles, Broncos, Storm or Bulldogs among many others and the talk never stops; whether it is marshalling the troops on attack, assembling on defence or some well aimed barbs at the opposition, it is rare to hear the sound of silence.

In contrast, particularly when Jacob Lillyman and Micheal Luck were absent from the team, the Warriors were notable for their muted communication.

"I always thought they would be fairly quiet but it has surprised me how quiet they have been," says McClennan.

He has coached Mt Albert, Hibiscus Coast, Leeds and the Kiwis and says this current Mt Smart crop are the most reserved.

"This is the quietest team I have had but in saying that, I am honoured to be coaching these boys and, when the communication improves, they could go on to be the best team yet."

It hasn't always been that way at Mt Smart; certainly not when Luck first arrived in 2006.

"Back then, we had Pricey, Ruben [Wiki], Nathan Fien, Tony Martin, Awen [Guttenbeil] - Brent Webb was a big talker also," recalls Luck. "At the moment, I guess these guys are a very polite, respectful bunch and it is out of their comfort zones to go and say too much."

Players like James Maloney, Lillyman, Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati and Nathan Friend are never short of a word but many of the others can be fairly reticent.

"It took me a while to be comfortable talking out there," remembers Manu Vatuvei. "A lot of us are naturally shy and quiet and it can be hard to get out of the comfort zone. As senior players, we need to make [the younger players] feel comfortable and let them know they can open up."

There is certainly no doubt of the importance of on-field communication in the NRL, especially on defence where split-second decisions need to be made.

Looking back at the premiership winning teams of recent years - Manly, Melbourne and St George - they have always been full of vocal characters.

"Often on the field, a wrong call can be made but by everyone getting on board, you can make it the right one," explains Luck. "For example, on defence you might make the call to jam up when you need to slide but if everyone is on the same page, then you can make it successful. That is something that comes with experience and time and, as the season goes on, everyone will get more confident in their own roles and we will be in a good space."

McClennan and the coaching staff are tackling the issue with specific drills, aiming at prompting all members of the team - but especially the quieter individuals - to communicate more.

"The more comfortable guys are, the more they will talk," says Luck. "It probably comes back to senior players making them feel like their input is valued and it is worthwhile for them to speak up.

"It is something that no team can say they have got down pat - it is always a work in progress - but one that I think we are coming along pretty well with."