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Home / Sport / League / Warriors

<i>Hugh McGahan:</i> Warriors winning formula

16 Jun, 2007 05:00 PM3 mins to read

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KEY POINTS:

There's no need for Warriors fans to panic. Their team may have lost six in a row but they are playing with a structure that will ultimately bring success.

I have listened to and spoken with many supporters who reckon the team's flair has gone and they cannot
score tries the way they used to in the past.

Great, I say - their old high-risk style of play was more of downfall than an attribute.

When the tide turns for this team, their more structured style will be their default setting when the going gets tough and this will win them many games.

The flair will return when the structure is strong, solid and unyielding. Do not lose sight of the goal for the mere pleasure of entertaining football.

Let's assess the team's season so far. The Warriors started with confidence, given they were level with everyone else and not on -4 points, as in 2006.

The results reflected that confidence, with two wins and a top four placing. There was no mention of the team's style of play or ethnic mix.

Following these wins were a couple of losses but the team was still in a positive mode and the line-up was settled.

The ever-contentious combination in the halves was established, with Grant Rovelli and Michael Witt at No 7 and 6 respectively.

Direction from this pair was sound without them ever overly concerning the opposition.

The foundation of each game was built around the more devastating front row combination, with Ruben Wiki and Steve Price dominating their opposites with ease.

The rest of the team followed that lead, allowing the introduction of younger players into a confident team, despite not winning games.

You know what? Still no-one was complaining about their style of play or the players' country of origin. Yes, there was disappointment at the losses but not an unhappy word regarding playing style.

Then came a string of losses and now we are at a stage where the pressure is squarely on coach Ivan Cleary, who is sticking with his game plan and his experienced players.

It is obvious in the way the Warriors have been approaching matches that all the players are making an effort.

I say this in the context of all teams that play without confidence, dropping balls, missing tackles and passing to team-mates in worse positions. This Warriors team is not making those mistakes and is playing to a structure that will work when games are either free-flowing or tight and tough.

In terms of a mid-season assessment, this team is failing but not in the miserable manner many are advocating.

Patience will reward those who stay the course and it will be 10-fold.

Don't despair - end-of-year exams will give a better indication of the club's future.

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