Assistant coach Stacey Jones says the Warriors have been doing 50 things differently this season in their quest to lift the NRL crown. Photo/Jason Oxenham
Assistant coach Stacey Jones says the Warriors have been doing 50 things differently this season in their quest to lift the NRL crown. Photo/Jason Oxenham
Known as "The Little General" at the prime of his rugby league career, New Zealand Warriors legend Stacey Jones was no stranger to hedging his bets when push came to shove at the height of the battle in the National Rugby League or test arena.
"I think any player who wants to be successful has to take risks and put your body or your money on the line sometimes to back yourself so it's no different for rugby league players who more often than not come up [on top]," says assistant Warriors coach Jones, who enjoys a horse-racing flutter at his hometown pub on a Saturday afternoon but doesn't own or have shares in a horse.
"I just enjoy donating my money to the TAB," he says with a chuckle before the first leg of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Racing Carnival from 12.20pm tomorrow.
The $200,000 Tarzino Trophy group one weight-for-age 1400m dash will punctuate the nine-race Daffodil Raceday meeting at the Hawke's Bay Racecourse.
It was a "last-minute" decision for the New Zealand Sports Hall of Famer and fellow mentor Tony Iro to come down to Hawke's Bay because the Warriors players will be undergoing rest and recovery after the 8pm kick off against the Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, tonight.
Franchise CEO Cameron George, who has an affinity with Hawke's Bay Racing counterpart Andrew Castles, had approached them and the pair didn't need a second invite.
"I've been there [Hawke's Bay] a couple of times for different reasons so we're really looking forward to getting down for a good afternoon at the races," says Jones, adding he has had enough of the rain in Auckland for the past few days and is looking forward to the sunny 18C outlook in Hastings tomorrow.
The 42-year-old, who was in the Warriors side when they were losing grand finalists against the Sydney Roosters in 2002, will add another chapter to an illustrious career as a mentor when the NRL playoffs begin next week.
"It's been pretty tough for the last few years at this club so we've been able to have a pretty good year so far where we've been able to secure a spot for playoffs so, yeah, everyone's on a high but also aware there's still a fair way to go this year so we can go deeper into the playoffs to have a successful year," says Jones, alluding to a potential victory tonight paving a better playoff path rather than facing the premiership champions.
The Raiders are out of the running for the playoffs but, frustratingly, have claimed the scalps of the Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs in their previous two outings although the Stephen Kearney-coached Warriors remain the bookies' favourite to win tonight.
Simon Mannering (left) with Stacey Jones who regards the backrower a legend of the Vodafone Warriors family as he tees up for his 300th game today. Photo/Photosport
Throw in the incentive of seeing off home-boy Simon Mannering's 300th game, pundits are predicting a fourth win from five outings for the hosts who have a chance of qualifying fifth, provided the permutations fall in their favour.
Warriors winger David Fusitu'a also has a chance to become top try scorer, against a side they pipped 20-19 in round three.
Jones says both sides are good enough to "win on their day", especially after Canberra's claiming the scalps of top-four campaigners Roosters and Rabbitohs.
"Simon Mannering's a legend of our game of this club so I know all the players want to go out to give their best for him," he says. "It's important to turn up with the right attitude and energy so if we do that we should go a long way after this."
Jones dismisses any suggestions in Aussie media circles of introducing a "wild-card system" where a team, such as the Raiders, who show form towards the end of a season should be granted entry.
He believes teams should be rewarded for their preparation from pre-season, where injuries can take their toll on some, so a "little bit of luck" can go a long way.
"I don't think we should reward teams because they have a bad start and then come good towards the end of the season," he says, adding a 25-round competition demands that level of consistency and commitment to gauge sides' worth.
Last season, Jones says, was promising with Kearney and co experimenting with options but this year they have also embraced "lots of different things".
"Sometimes you have to take two steps back to go two steps forward so I think we've sort of built on last year," he says.
"There's probably 20, 30, 40, 50 different reasons why this team have small improvements in those areas."
Jones feels the leadership in the Warriors' squad has been significantly better than in previous winters.
Warriors backrower Tohu Harris is a pivotal part of the New Zealand Warriors' leadership group. Photo/Jason Oxenham
Hastings-born forward Tohu Harris is among those leaders in his maiden season with the Warriors.
"Tohu's a big part of our leadership scheme. From what I understand he hasn't come out of it but he's come here and taken on the role well week in, week out."
The 26-year-old versatile back rower won the NRL crown with the Melbourne Storm last year. The former Hastings Boys' High School pupil, who has played 131 NRL matches, last played for the Kiwis in 2016.
