NRL 2018

@rembrandt said in NRL 2018:

@siam said in NRL 2018:

I didnt see the game but I think this highlights package creates the story pretty well

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I lost my warriors faith many years ago, since then there have been a few false dawns which have ensured I won't be jumping on a bandwagon just yet..but what is different about them this year to last? Watching that clip it seems mostly the same players though some of those defensive plays showed a hell of a lot of spine. Did Kearny just need a year to get things organised properly?

I guess my real question is, is this for real?

Last years team was not Kearney's, he inherited it. Sneak will know the specifics but there seems to be many new players, Harris, Hiku, Pulu just to name a few. Guys like Matulino have been shipped out, allowing for the forging of a new team culture and the new trainer has got the boys fitter than ever

@canefan I'm still not believing this to be real, I seriously thought the next two years would be about rebuilding, but bringing in new veterans and a new training regime seems to have been the correct fix.

I think (when we look back at his coaching tenure) the big moment for Kearney came when he was able to ship Manu Vatuvei off to the SuperLeague. Manu was the head honcho of a very laid back culture within the squad and once he went the rest got in line or went out the door.

@sneakdefreak I forgot about the Beast! Maumolo is as big but boasts a bigger engine and safer hands

I don't really get all the negativity about bandwagon/fair weather fans. It's just proof that lots of people want them to do well, but have got sick of their shit.

The interesting thing about Warriors bandwagoners is how self aware they are. They are often pretty happy to say they support the Warriors when they were winning.

Besides, it's so frustrating watching a team you care about playing like they don't care while hearing rumours about shortcuts at training, entitlement, etc. Fans will let a lot of poor results slide if they think the players are working hard. That was my experience anyway, as a Chiefs fan for the first 15 years or so.

@rembrandt who cares if it's real? It's amazing. And built on un-Warrior traits. Fun however long it lasts

@milk well as a Northland fan who I reckon have had it worse than the Warriors fans, I couldn't care less of all those extras who come along when winning, it is tough supporting a team that loses and looks incompetent, so you just enjoy the times when they nab a win or look like they know what they are up to!

@milk said in NRL 2018:

Besides, it's so frustrating watching a team you care about playing like they don't care while hearing rumours about shortcuts at training, entitlement, etc. Fans will let a lot of poor results slide if they think the players are working hard. That was my experience anyway, as a Chiefs fan for the first 15 years or so.

It's a bit like my Blues experience...

It'll be a tough ask to back up this week as Harris, Johnson, Kata are all out for the Anzac game against the Melbourne Storm. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the 17 jersey means Gelling could be returning to bench (and CNK starting) or either Fusitua or Maumalo is carrying an injury.

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
2 DAVID FUSITU'A
3 PETA HIKU
4 ANTHONY GELLING
5 KEN MAUMALO
6 BLAKE GREEN
7 MASON LINO
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 ISSAC LUKE
10 AGNATIUS PAASI
11 SIMON MANNERING
12 ISAIAH PAPALI'I
13 ADAM BLAIR
Interchange:
14 JAZZ TEVAGA
15 SAM LISONE
16 ALBERT VETE
17 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD
18 LIGI SAO
20 JOSEPH VUNA
21 CHRIS SATAE
22 SAM COOK

Storm are missing Jesse Bromwich,

Their form has been patchy by their standards , clearly missing Cronk from last season , tried young 20 year old Brodie Croft , he has been swapped for the more mature but less naturally talented Riley jacks .

Probably played their best football of the season in their last game against Brisbane so might be hitting some form .

20 minutes in and we're down 24 points. The last try came off a forward pass missed, as if the Storm needed any more help

30 zip 16 minutes left in the first half. We're stopping no one. I'll be switching over at half time if not before

Bugger, it must be retro performance round.

The Storm 5 goes 80 odd metres from first receiver to score. Send out the women and children

The refs are trying to nail the coffin shut with a wildly out of kilter penalty count

I was so very close to clambouring on that bandwagon and attending the game in Melbourne tonight. Thankfully the scars of the New Plymouth Canberra game are still strong and getting up for the dawn service has left me unmotivated.

My Storm fan mate is gutted I decided not to make it.

It's alright guys, I just tuned in for the 2nd 40 Warriors score. No idea what happened in the first half but the comeback is on!

Melbourne cheating their asses off to stop another, on a warning now.

Huh, so a deliberate knock forward in league is only a scrum.

@siam said in NRL 2018:

Huh, so a deliberate knock forward in league is only a scrum.

The rules in league seem so laxed. He just slapped it a mile forward to stop a try.

Warriors in again. Need 28 points in 19 minutes.. comon lads!

But ... but ... but ... Alex Corvo! The Blues! This is our year ... !