Warriors chief executive Cameron George on Warriors' shift to Australia. Video / Christopher Reive
OPINION:
The Warriors return to action next weekend as they kick off their 2021 season against the Titans. Lavina Good lists five reasons to get excited.
1) The twin towers
Call me old fashioned, but I'm glad the Warriors aren't just boasting big wingers this season. It's time to bragabout a menacing pack.
Former Warriors captain Steve Price once told me that a light engine room means losing the arm wrestle and surrendering precious field position. So, it never felt right relying on Ken Maumalo to generate the go-forward; it was only a matter of time before the Warriors became unstuck upfront. I hated seeing a winger with the most yards, breaks and go-forward.
Well, rejoice Warriors fans, the big boys are back in town – and they will intimidate the opposition.
All hail Tongan international Ben Murdoch-Masila, on a three-year deal from Warrington.
In England he stormed his way to cult hero status, scoring a try every three games in the Super League.
Ben Murdoch-Masila of Warrington Wolves applauds the fans. Photo / Getty Images.
The 29-year-old Otahuhu junior was in devastating form against England and Australia in 2019, claiming the prized scalp of the Kangaroos in the Oceania Cup. I watched from the sideline in awe of a standout powerhouse prop making a mockery of the Aussie defence. He plays with pride and passion, just the tonic the Warriors need.
Watch him combine with his Tongan teammate Addin Fonua-Blake. They will destroy defensive patterns throughout the year, leaving the faint-hearted in their wake. One destroys, the other lines up.
The twin towers will have league fans this side of the ditch salivating, plus add a touch of spicy defence.
Even though new rules this year are trying to speed the game up, and despite some league critics saying big might not necessarily be better…I know I'd prefer to have Maumalo and Fonua-Blake running for me, rather than at me.
2) How deep is the love?
It's been a while since the Warriors squad at the start of the season was synonymous with the elusive word, depth. But in 2021 there will be first-grade quality players on the bench and some not even named in the starting 17.
The Warriors were the biggest movers in the off-season transfer market recruiting seven new players.
Not only should fans celebrate the big-name signings, but remember David Fusitu'a, Maumalo and Leeson Ah Mau had limited involvement last season.
With the excitement of the Maumalo-Fonua-Blake combination on board, and 110kg Kane Evans bringing a steel-hard edge to the pack, there will be genuine competition and pressure put on every forward to perform this season.
Throw in Tohu Harris, Bayley Sironen and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown to the forward mix and the biggest headache new coach Brown will have is who to leave out. A welcome headache for fans.
The Warriors know what to expect this season away from home. They won't have the support of the Penrose faithful, at least not at the start of the season, but they won't have the pressure either.
There will be fewer distractions and less media attention. They can knuckle down from the beginning and train as one. Develop their own team culture as they welcome seven recruits.
For years, the Warriors players and their management have complained about the travel and the effect it has on their players.
This year the Warriors are in charge of their own destiny, and with an impressive roster, apart from the lack of a world-class hooker, they have all the ingredients to keep fans' hopes alive.
3) The right coach
Time will tell with new head coach Nathan Brown. I've always admired his courage to pick players on attitude and not just form. As a player he donned the boots 170 times, made it to three grand finals but has never worn a Premiership ring. He is hell-bent on changing that in 2021, in fact, that's why he took charge of the Warriors.
This is his fifth club as head coach. The 47-year-old is oozing with experience. But how does he turn that into winning games? Simple, he picks the right players for the job, and in his mind those players make a great team. Individual brilliance doesn't sit pretty with him. You can have Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scoring loads of tries and topping the metres gained tally, but no win and that's a waste of everyone's time and effort.
Coach Nathan Brown, Vodafone Warriors training session ahead of the 2021 NRL rugby league season. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
He took over the Knights from Wayne Bennett and recorded back-to-back wooden spoons in his first two seasons.
What will he do differently at the Warriors? He is aiming for consistency from his team, and also teaming up with consultant Gus Gould to develop new players.
Development is key. Not to win a Premiership this year, but within the next five years.
Also, he's a fan of encouraging the offload, which the Warriors and their fans love. It's going to be an exciting season.
Be patient Warriors fans, he's the right man for the job. Trust him.
Mainly because the game needs him. He's a great guy who has blossomed into one of the best in the world and I'm sad to see him go. He's not a Mad Monday kind of league player, he shows brilliance on the field and respect off it. He leads by example and has tremendous mana.
But sometimes you need to accept the things you cannot change.
One thing I can change is my attitude towards him.
I don't want to focus on the All Blacks, I'm not interested in what happens to him next year, but I do know from the opening trials his desire to win a Premiership for the Warriors hasn't waned.
He's on a mission, and it's time Warriors fans enjoyed the ride with him.
Tuivasa-Sheck is a great leader and magnificent footballer and I know he doesn't want to desert the club, he wants to take the club to the top.
Roger, you've got one season, show us what you've got.
Lavina Good is a sports reporter and rugby league analyst.
