The Warriors will look to finish their season on a high after being knocked out of top eight contention last week.
COMMENT:
An NRL season like no other isn't officially over for the Warriors. But the loss to the Sharks, which ended their finals hopes, was the final curtain in many ways even though there are two games remaining.
Time for the bouquets and brickbats. So here are the slightly prematureWarriors Awards for 2020.
Player of the Year
The question is this: If Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stays at the club, will anyone ever get the Simon Mannering Medal off him?
RTS will make it four player-of-the-year wins in a row this year, without a doubt.
I reckon he should be a major chance to win the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year title, for his brilliant form and the way he led the Warriors on their taxing campaign in Australia which included dealing with a change of coach.
The Halberg Awards committee gave it to MMA star Israel Adesanya last year, which means there is new hope for sports outside the stock standard crowd.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes a break that leads to a try for Chanel Harris-Tavita against the Eels. Photosport
The biggest disappointment of 2020
Todd Payten leaving, to take over as coach of the Cowboys next year.
That's not to dismiss the incoming Nathan Brown as a potentially fine coach. But the Warriors will have to start all over again, yet again. And Payten did a brilliant job of steadying the ship, and is now viewed as a rising star in the NRL coaching ranks.
From a media point of view, Payten's understated delivery contained lots of great stuff. He'll be remembered and missed.
Try of the year
The one close to halftime in the narrow loss to the Eels is a contender for try of the year (so far anyway) in the whole competition.
In the finest Warriors tradition, the ball was all over the place, a bit like the club itself over the past 25 years. The final act was a Kodi Nikorima kick which Chanel Harris-Tavita raced on to for the touch down.
It brought the top-eight chasing Warriors back into the game, and they followed it up with another spectacular Harris-Tavita try.
They were the two most unforgettable minutes of the season, even though the Warriors eventually lost.
Most interesting "no comment"
Incoming coach Nathan Brown said virtually nothing when asked about the future of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is reportedly considering a switch to rugby union if the Warriors have to camp in Australia in 2021. Determining the great fullback's future could be the season defining moment, rather than anything which happened on the field.
Dumbest comments
It wasn't all bad from owner Mark Robinson. He makes life interesting, which is what sport should be about.
But the way he publicly ushered Blake Green out of the club, on the eve of a game and without apparently talking to Green, probably helped persuade the five-eighth to quit mid-season. And Green's absence was felt, no doubt about it, particularly in the loss to the Sharks which ended their remote finals hopes.
After a fast start to the year, Robinson went quiet. I hope he doesn't go too quiet, but he needs to pick his subjects.
Best Quote (1)
"I need someone with some personality."
Owner Robinson on why he sacked coach Steve Kearney in June.
Best quote (2)
"We need to sacrifice our families and go over to Australia and go to work because that is what everyone wants."
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, on the team having to camp across the Tasman because of Covid-19.
Signing of the year
Phil Gould…on potential entertainment value alone. The club's new special advisor with the alpha personality wields a bit of power and influence across the ditch although just how much remains to be seen.
Gould was an instant knight in shining armour when the NRL tried to kick the Warriors' main sponsor Vodafone out.
You can see what a powerful figure can do for a club at the Titans, where Mal Meninga is the Godfather. Gould probably doesn't have Meninga's pull anymore though.
Scary signing of the year
Phil Gould. Put it this way - he's got a lot of history. He's not always the most cohesive of influences.
Top photo
From Jess Blair, at Auckland Airport, of her husband Adam saying goodbye to tearful son Taika before the team headed across the Tasman on a sporting journey into the unknown.
Photo / Jess Blair / Instagram
Strangest brew (1)
The hoo-ha involving controversial agent Isaac Moses. After Moses' fall from grace in Sydney, Steve Kearney - one of his clients - was soon shown the door. Another Moses client, Blake Green, departed mid-season. Another, Adam Blair, is weighing up his future, even though he has another lucrative year on his current deal. Yet another Moses client, Todd Payten, was elevated to interim coach.
There was a lot of dot joining by Warriors observers, but I don't think anyone has really got to the bottom of just how strongly all the events were linked.
Former Warriors coach Stephen Kearney. Photosport
Strangest brew (2)
Kearney's time was up - there's no doubt about that. Yet his team almost had a death wish on his behalf - they bombed an extraordinary number of tries on Kearney's watch this season.
The try bombing came to a head in the round six game against South Sydney and club owner Robinson had the final straw he needed to get rid of a coach whose team was stuck on a crazy roller coaster.
Strangest brew (3)
The departure of Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a - who quit Australia for family reasons - was expected to be a body blow.
They were hardly missed.
The Warriors actually got better without them. There has to be some chance that things improved when the squad wasn't undermined psychologically by a small group of players who made it clear they didn't want to be there.
Stat Attack
The Warriors have had just one win over a top eight side in 2020. Payten turned them into a really competitive outfit worthy of respect every week. But will they build on that, or lapse into their old ways? The jury is still out and fans have every right to remain sceptical.
Glass half full or empty
Tohu Harris had a great year. He was pivotal in turning things around. He is a fantastic NRL forward.
But Harris gets in position to offload so often and never lets the ball go. From the sideline it almost looks as though he has a mental block. A few more Harris offloads would make the Warriors a far more dangerous side.
Tohu Harris in action for the Warriors against the Panthers. Photosport
Unsung hero (1)
He didn't play a huge part. But the firebrand Panthers loan forward Jack Hetherington taught the Warriors a thing or two about attitude.
Unsung hero (2)
Recruitment boss Peter O'Sullivan hasn't come up with any major wins, but he's cobbling together quite a handy squad. O'Sullivan made his name finding superstars - second rower Eliesa Katoa might prove to be his next big thing.
Nuisance of the year
Lock Jazz Tevaga is way better than nuisance value, but he strikes you as a bloke who must annoy the hell out of the opposition.
Tevaga almost never dies in the tackle. He either struggles ahead, or somehow gets the ball away at the last second. I can't recall seeing another NRL player so good at smuggling the ball free when seemingly smothered.
If RTS goes to rugby, Tevaga might be a captaincy option. He's certainly got attitude - he'd be an interesting choice.
Pass of the Year
Peta Hiku with a trademark Peta Hiku pass. Gregg Porteous / NRL Photos
1st: Peta Hiku 2nd: Peta Hiku 3rd: Peta Hiku
Weird achievement of the Year
Getting to the end of this awards ceremony without mentioning the referees. Oops. Just ruined it.
Since we've mentioned the refs…best quote (3)
"That's the worst sinbinning I've ever seen".
Aussie commentator Andrew Voss, after Jazz Tevaga was dismissed for a very soft punch in the Eels game.
