KEY POINTS:
The Warriors' season ended with a thud last weekend in Townsville, disappointing fans and critics. But despite that last heavy loss, let's look at the way the year played out and how it affected those same fans and critics.
Anyone who was asked before the season kicked off,
"would you like the Warriors to finish fourth at the end of round robin?" would have accepted it gleefully.
That alone suggests the season was successful but, as usual, we always want more and complain heartily when it is not achieved.
Given the state of the Warriors at the start of the 2006 season - reeling at - 4 points after the salary cap breaches - surviving the financial fallout and forging their way to a top four finish the following season is a remarkable achievement.
When the club was on a six-game losing streak, many thought the Warriors were destined to fight for the wooden spoon with the then out of sorts Roosters.
Thank goodness sanity prevailed at the club and they continued on the path towards structure, disregarding the advice of the masses to play the natural flair format that suits the Polynesian psyche.
This is where we can see how the team has grown through perseverance and belief - a belief that in the long run, 'structure' was much better for the club than the short-term satisfaction of ad lib (flair) football.
The arrival of Brett Tate will add class to a backline which lacked punch until Jerome Ropati was introduced and then failed when he was struck by injury.
The halfback combination provide sufficient direction to again point the Warriors towards the top eight in 2008 but if the club is to be taken seriously as a contender, an upgrade in class is desperately required.
A quality ball playing forward in the Ali Lauitiiti mould is required. I think the club has one in Epalahame Lauaki but discipline in his game, with and without the ball, is essential if the team is to progress.
Lastly, the team needs back-up in the same positions just in case injury visits more often than in 2007. When Ropati and Manu Vatuvei were sidelined, we witnessed the result of bringing in a player at the business end of the year who did not have game time at that level.
I feel the Warriors are in a stronger position than previous seasons because they're not relying on the individual skill of a handful of players to carry them through games.
The club is being moulded around an expectation of players knowing their job, what is required, when it's required - oh, and by the way, your individual skill is the extra we need to win the premiership.
Roll on 2008.
