Hugh McGahan: Warriors talk the talk, now walk the walk

The Warriors need Shaun Johnson to show more consistency. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Warriors marketing team have gone into overdrive as the club celebrate 20 years in the Australian competition but there's one slogan that comes to mind - it's time to stand up.

There's been plenty of clever rhetoric out of Mt Smart but they just have to start doing it.

Sadly, nothing really seems to have changed. They have had a normal pre-season, typical marketing campaign and middling recruitment.

If you believe everything they are saying, they're going to have a great season and everything is terrific. The thing is, every club says that heading into a new season.

Phil Gould said recently he couldn't see the Warriors making the top eight and it's hard to disagree with him. They have promised a lot before and fallen over and, after 20 years following the Warriors, I need to be convinced they are on the right track.

They were disappointing last night. They started well enough and had all the momentum but couldn't kick on and the inexperience of their younger players showed in the second half.

The experienced players tried to carry them but in the end faltered an even the likes of Ryan Hoffman and Simon Mannering made mistakes as the Knights upped their tempo.

The one thing that gives me hope is what I'm hearing from coach Andrew McFadden. He makes sense when he speaks and is clearly trying to improve standards on and off the pitch.

He's willing to give youngsters a chance rather than turning out the same old, same old and Tui Lolohea was excellent at fullback last night. His speed, agility and scambling defence were impressive and fullback is a good fit for him at the moment as he learns about first grade before eventually shifting to the halves. But it's hard to see McFadden ever leaving out Sam Tomkins if he's fit and Lolohea would be wasted on the wing, where he was originally named to start.

It would be great if Warriors performed well but a lot comes back to halfback Shaun Johnson. He said after the Four Nations and then again when he was named international Player of the Year the best was yet to come.

That bugs me coming from Johnson. His best is good enough already - he's an exceptional player - but he needs to do it more consistently. It's hard to be consistent when you play an ad-lib style and look for the side-step or gap.

Johnathan Thurston is the best half in the game. He offers a balance of brilliance, team management and game management and does it consistently well.

Kieran Foran and Cooper Cronk are also consistent, without being as exceptional as Thurston, and Daly Cherry-Evans is like Johnson - capable of the brilliant but inconsistent.

The Warriors recently chased Jason Taumalolo and offered him huge money to come to Auckland. I didn't see the worth in that.

The one thing this country has plenty of is back-rowers and, while he might be an exceptional talent, I'm not sure he is worth $1 million a season. The only reason you would pay that sort of money is if you threw it at a Sonny Bill Williams who is not only a good player but also hugely marketable.