Warriors to revamp NRL attacking game

The players are the same but the approach will be substantially different from a Warriors side facing another uphill battle to reach the NRL playoffs in 2020.

The under-performing Kiwi club looked like they had uncovered the key to playing finals football two seasons ago when booking an eighth-placed finish.

But Stephen Kearney’s men took worrying steps backwards last year, lacking a cutting edge up front and failing to adapt to the absence of departed playmaker Shaun Johnson as they stumbled home to 13th.

Since then, no club has been quieter in recruitment.

Fringe Penrith hooker Wayde Egan has crossed the Tasman to replace Issac Luke but otherwise Kearney must get more out of the same group of players.

His solution may have been found during their turgid finish to 2019, when a group of senior players sat down with Kearney amid a run of heavy losses to powerhouse opponents.

Kearney took ownership for some of his team’s shortcomings, conceding his game plan had been too conservative.

It was agreed the forwards were capable of more creativity and they were given a licence to play more liberally in the last game of the season.

The result was a shock defeat of the grand-final bound Raiders in Canberra, in which the Warriors threw 21 offloads to the home team’s six.

“Certainly last year, I feel at times our middle forwards, they took a bit of criticism and part of that was my responsibility,” Kearney told AAP.

“The game model didn’t really allow them to showcase what I think they’re capable of.

“So it was a bit of a collective. I thought it was really important that the players had a say about where we need to improve.

“We’ve got some guys who have really good skill sets through the middle of the field but we didn’t allow them to play their best.”

Kearney said there won’t be a return to the ultra-flamboyant Warriors ways of yesteryear but he will encourage more risks to be taken.

He particularly wants captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to be a greater threat in the attacking half of the field, where the fullback’s line-busting ability could be used to create tries rather than just as a metre-eating weapon from deep.

Kearney will also seek greater resilience from his team, who he felt didn’t react well when some officiating decisions went against them, eventually leading to the late-season capitulation.

“I thought we got a couple of calls which didn’t do us any favours,” he said.

“I just reckon it wore the group down, to be honest, it broke the back of it.”

Kearney is expecting another strong season from blockbusting winger Ken Maumalo, while David Fusitu’a will shift to the centres with Patrick Herbert a chance of moving to the wing.

Kearney felt Herbert, five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita and versatile forward Isaiah Papali’i were ready to take their games to another level.

WARRIORS

Finishes over the past three seasons: 2019 – 13th, 2018 – 8th, 2017 – 13th.

Coach: Stephen Kearney.

Captain: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Key gains: Wayde Egan (Penrith).

Outs: Issac Luke (St George-Illawarra), Blake Ayshford (retired).

Best team: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (capt), 2. Patrick Herbert, 3. David Fusitu’a, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Blake Green, 8. Agnatius Paasi, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Leeson Ah Mau, 11. Adam Blair, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Lachlan Burr. Interchange: 14. Kodi Nikorima, 15. Leivaha Pulu, 16. Sam Lisone 17. Isaiah Papali’i.

Predicted finish: 16th

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