Warriors 2024 Review

We never really did a debrief of a very disheartening (even for those of us who have seen this movie over and over) Warriors season. Coming off a prelim, with SJ robbed of a Daly M, and not really losing anyone we wanted to keep, there were dangerous expectations. We didn't even get much in the way of bullshit preseason hype out of Mt Smart. Lots of praise and expectation from Aussie journos though, which was unusual.

And we got delivered a 9 win, 13th place season that was over a few weeks early despite, as usual, you only needing 12 wins to make it, AND an emotional win in our last game against a top 4 side (well, sort of).

Best win was easily the Magic Round downing of the Panthers. Pumping the Cowboys in Townsville was a good one too. Worst loss? fuck there is two ways of looking at it. Getting absolutely destroyed by the Titans was a real WTF result. But that loss to Melbourne after the siren pretty much proved to me we will never ever beat them.

A quick player evaluation

Outside Backs

The outside backs were an enormous disappointment. CNK is all heart, but he's slow and his ball playing is very average. On the wings we had DWZ stink the joint out all year. Good for a high energy hit up. Bad for a complete inability to defend. Montoya is just a spud. Tauapiki got rave reviews after the Penrith game, but he looks too small and too slow to me. This area needs a complete overhaul.

Centres

Weak. RTS was a complete bust. At the start of the season we never gave him the ball. And then he never worked out how to use it. Berry and Pompey are servicable at the very best. Maybe a future with Leaitaua but he's far from nailed on first grade ready. Even weaker than the outsides.

Halves

Eeeesh. SJ fell in to a hole really badly. We played him hurt which didn't help, but that was poor season and a horrible way for the guy to go out. Metcalf got hurt early. Looks like he'll play the running role next year. TMM was terrible next to SJ but did better than expected when given the reins. Kicking depth is going to be a huge problem next year (though i will not miss an uncontested SJ hoik to finish every set). CHT should probably just go find something else to do.

Props

Position of strength! AFB is a fucking weapon who will be hugely missed. His midseason sulk wasn't a good look, but he came back and finished strong. We lost our best try scorer. Barnett made origin. From the Warriors. That's a big deal. Should be captain next year. Bunty was a decent depth prop.

Hookers

Egan looked like an Origin chance. And then he got hurt 18 times and looked like he should be in the NSW cup team. Terrible when not running the ball, and his service slipped as well. Lussick is just bog average.

Rest of the forwards (back rows and bench)

Harris is cooked. Got even slower, and even more hurt. His passing game is not a weapon when the opposition know he can't run. Capewell made Origin somehow despite being a complete slug for us as well. Ford ran around dropping the ball and giving away penalties. Jazz was the same as every year, all heart and energy and dropped balls and penalties and ineffective hit ups. Walker is a good player who i hope we keep, he is so good off the bench with his ability to run and ball play. Niukore runs so fucking hard, and hits like a truck, but is a complete one trick pony that good teams handle with ease.

Coaching

A bit yuck this year Webby. Yes, injuries fucked your spine every week. But our play was not suited to our players. We played a grinding style without the discipline to pull it off. Our attack was one-off hit ups and a high kick. We completed well, but in 2024 NRL you need to throw something at teams from further out to score points.

Has an enormous job on his hands to rebuild this team. We bought lots of old broken rejects from other clubs in the hope of a couple more good years. They've all broken at once. And there aren't great youth signs to take their place.

I am incredibly pessimistic about 2025 already. The roster needs a lot of new faces, and i can't see us getting them.

I just hope the crowds stick around.