KEY POINTS:
Experience has taught me that footy players are natural story tellers. And some are very convincing, especially when it comes to excuses about performance.
During my coaching career I heard some whoppers.
Once I sat with former Wigan and Great Britain halfback Andy Gregory for two hours trying to get to the bottom of why his defence was so brittle. Gregory was a nuggety little guy who was never lost for a word, and even tried to convince me there was something wrong with the video we had just watched of our last game. He hardly appeared to be even attempting to make any tackles, but swore black and blue that for some unexplained reason the tape wasn't picking him up.
As he started to create more excuses, he blamed Tony Iro, who was playing on the right wing, for making too many tackles that Gregory said he had covered. He said that every time a break was made on that side of the field Iro would yell "I'll get him", causing Gregory to drop off.
In another game, a big Cup match against Leeds, Gregory got stuck into the late Adrian Shelford at halftime. Shelford, a tough front-rower, was one of the best Kiwis to play for Wigan. But little Gregory used to love winding him up.
During the first half Shelford had pole-axed Leeds front-rower and hard man Lee Crooks with a massive front-on tackle.
At halftime I suggested to Gregory that he lift his workrate in defence.
Gregory claimed that in fact he'd had Crooks all lined up to flatten him but Shelford got him first.
As the team returned to the field, Shelford actually apologised for getting Gregory's man.
But the use of video technology is a wonderful coaching tool and I was always able to convince Gregory he was lazy on defence.
Being the typical cocky little halfback, he would try to have the last word and was very hard work at times. But he was a world-class match-winner.
He just didn't think his job description included tackling.
I first used video analyses of my games in 1979 in Brisbane. Most of our games in those days were televised and the ones that weren't we filmed ourselves.
To be able to replay the game and edit passages of play for individual players to study was a godsend.
Watching the Warriors struggling against the Storm last weekend, I tried to imagine how difficult it was for coaches before video technology was available.
One of the reasons a coach's language was often quite colourful was because they only had word pictures to work with.
Although those words were usually straightforward you often knew they weren't getting through.
But the video will have been Warriors coach Ivan Cleary's best support tool this week.
The replay will clearly show the team's problems in defence.
Flat-footed, outnumbered and lazy will have been terms used by Cleary during this last week when he showed his team multiple replays.
There also seemed to be a lack of intensity. That could have been because the Broncos game the week before would have taken a lot out of them. Supporters have to realise that the intensity of modern-day NRL football will always cause upsets and blowouts as teams have to back up after tough games.
The TV screen will make it very clear to the individuals who were at fault in defence. Cleary really won't have to say a word but I'm sure he will. Because it wasn't good enough.
I said last week that rounds 3, 4 and 5 could determine whether the Warriors will be good enough to win the Premiership this year.
Last Sunday showed the class of the Storm but also, unfortunately, a lack of class at the Warriors. But it wasn't all bad, and their problem is fixable.
However, against clubs such as the Storm, Manly this week and the Cowboys next week, the Warriors need to be able to counter sides that have possibly more individual class.
I haven't been all that impressed with Manly so far this year except to say they are playing tough. It's hard to gauge the flogging they dished out to the Roosters last Sunday because the Roosters are so bad. Even their coach, Chris Anderson, has plucked them publicly.
But Manly will have seen how the Storm ran the Warriors forwards around with a good kicking game that forced them to keep turning around. And also the Storm's speed around the ruck area in attack caused many of the Warriors' defensive problems.
The Warriors forwards will need to be far more mobile against the Manly pack who often skirt wide, and back each other up.
This is a very good Warriors team but last weekend exposed a few cracks. But they seemed to get into a better rhythm when Lance Hohaia shifted to five-eighth.
Ruben Wiki continues to amaze me with the way he keeps pulling out these good games. His effort was outstanding.
If a loss can ever do you a bit of good, then maybe last week was the one. The NRL competition is more competitive than ever and any side losing two in a row will naturally starting questioning themselves.
* From what I've heard, the Auckland Lions had another impressive run, this time in going down narrowly to the Bulldogs 32-28. The Dogs side contained nine players with first-grade experience but Auckland were in the game all the way, and appear to be getting better with each outing.
