League: Can't put a Price on fitness

Much of the team's success rides with star halfback Stacey Jones being fit and healthy. Picture / Brett Phibbs

It's clear there is a new lease of life at the Warriors and that the coach and players feel more comfortable heading into this season than they did the last.

The mere presence of NRL veterans Steve Price and Ruben Wiki has had a fair bit to do with that.

It's not a feeling of comfort or complacency because it's possible there will be more competition for spots this season than ever before.

Despite ructions in the past few days with the exit of Vinnie Anderson the focus at the club is the upcoming campaign.

Star halfback Stacey Jones, on whom much of the team's success or failure always rides, is clear that he's better, both physically and mentally, than he has been for some time, and that he's not alone.

"When you lose your confidence takes a hit. Ruben and Steve have helped everyone take a step up. They instil a good ethic. I feel we'll compete better - Ruben made a huge difference to our forward pack against Parramatta last weekend," said Jones.

He's also pleased at the input from new hooker Nathan Fien. "He plays similar to P. J. [Marsh]. The nine is a very important part of the team, especially when you're near the opposition try-line. With Tevita Latu back, too, we have more options.

"A lot of onus has been put on guys like Nathan, Tevita, Jerome Ropati and Lance Hohaia - in the past it's been the half who tried to do everything but now everyone knows their role a lot better, there's more understanding."

It's nice to have a confident and comfortable Jones back on deck after years when he has been plagued with shin, knee and ankle trouble, his acceleration wanting and his kicking game stifled by the injuries.

The Warriors' returns from 2005 will no doubt depend as much on his input as anything else - he is the game-breaker. The job for the rest is to put him in position to do that.

It's clear there is more communication on defence after the input from Kevin Campion and more ideas thanks to Ivan Cleary. Of the on-field talk, Jones says simply that you can do it when you're fit.

The club has made much of the improved aerobic fitness of the players - they will go for longer, less hands-on-hips after they've passed the ball or made a tackle and more effort to look for the next involvement. There has been lots of work done to improve what they do without the ball, filling the holes on the field.

"Unthinkable," Jones said of his own condition to start the last NRL season. No trials games, little conditioning. All have returned better beep and skin-fold tests. The gym work has been as intensive, the running and fitness work more so.

New captain Price said the build-up was as demanding as any he had under training legend Billy Johnstone in 12 years at the Bulldogs. "You don't get anything worthwhile easily - you won't win a premiership without the training."

Price has been impressed with the skills he's seen - but he always was. "The Warriors have always been a hard team to stop when they're on their game."

But they lost too much ball, he said. The flamboyant style had won games they should have lost but lost them more games they should have won, he said. They weren't fit and when pressure went on they had no instinct to get them out of a hole.

"You think better when you're feeling better," said Price. "What you train for is execution, to build good habits so you react on instinct. The Panthers used to be terrible trainers and they always had injuries, then they got fit and won a premiership. And look at what Ricky Stuart did with the Roosters."

The knee medial ligament tear that kept Price out of the grand final has healed, but a a shin splint kept him out of the trial against the Eels. He expects to be okay before the season start against Manly in a month.

Fans will be looking for a significantly better start than was delivered last season when the Eagles and Warriors kick off.

The revamped east stand, taking the ground's seated capacity to about 28,000, closes in the stadium and promises an intimidating atmosphere for visiting sides.

But we've heard all the pre-season push before. We've had big-name buys, rising stars, new coaches, new training regimes, new management. There's been lots of promise and promises in nine years of under-achievement.

What the fans want above all else is professionalism. Price has it - and it appears to be rubbing off.

Comings and goings in the NRL

WARRIORS

IN: Steve Price (Bulldogs), Ruben Wiki (Canberra), Nathan Fien (North Queensland), Todd Byrne (Roosters).

OUT: Vinnie Anderson (London Broncos) PJ Marsh, Marcus Perenara (Parramatta), Matt Jobson (Tigers), Ali Lauiti'iti (Leeds), Jerry Seuseu (Wigan), Mark Tookey (Castleford/Hull), Justin Murphy (Widnes/French RU), Henry Fa'afili (Warrington), Danny Sullivan, Paul Dezolt (released).

BRONCOS

IN: Justin Hodges (Sydney Roosters), Brad Thorn (Canterbury NZ rugby), Ricky Sibiya (PNG), Leon Bott (NSW rugby).

OUT: Carl Webb (North Queensland), Michael De Vere (Huddersfield), Brad Meyers (Bradford), Craig Frawley (Canberra), Ben Czislowski (Bulldogs), Gorden Tallis, Paul Green and Ben Ikin (retired).

BULLDOGS

IN: Chris and Nathan Armit (Parramatta), Ben Czislowski (Brisbane), Marvin Karawana (Wellington).

OUT: Steve Price (Warriors), Johnathan Thurston (Nth Qld), Jamie Feeney and Dennis Scott (Melbourne), Hutch Maiava (Cronulla), Glen Hughes and Steven Hughes (retired).

COWBOYS

IN: Johnathan Thurston (Bulldogs), Carl Webb (Broncos), Justin Smith (Souths), Brent O'Connell (Burleigh), Gavin Cooper (Redcliffe), Sena Mataora (N Sydney), Kieren Kerr (Tigers).

OUT: Nathan Fien (Warriors), Glenn Morrison (Parramatta), Jamie McDonald (Melbourne), Kevin Campion (retired).

DRAGONS

IN: Michael Ennis (Newcastle), Albert Torrens (Manly), Colin Best (Hull).

OUT: Mark Riddell, Henry Perenara (Parramatta), Brent Kite (Manly), Nathan Blacklock (Hull), Brett Firman (Roosters), Lincoln Withers, David Howell, Michael Howell (Canberra), Tony Jensen, Nathan Long, Willie Leyshon, John Carlaw (released).

EELS

IN: Timana Tahu (Newcastle), Mark Riddell, Henry Perenara (St George-Illawarra), Paul Stringer (Souths), Chad Robinson, Ian Henderson (Roosters), Glenn Morrison (N Queensland), P.J. Marsh, Marcus Perenara (Warriors).

OUT: Adam Dykes (Cronulla), Michael Witt (Manly), Chris Armit (Bulldogs), Chris Thorman (Huddersfield), David Vaealiki (Wigan), Junior Langi (Salford), Craig Stapleton (Leigh), Lee Hopkins, Jamie Lyon (St Helens), Mal Kaufusi (London), Wise Kativerata (Randwick rugby), Shane Muspratt (released), Corey Pearson (retired)

KNIGHTS

IN: Kirk Reynoldson, Dustin Cooper (Melbourne), Jesse Royal (Penrith), Dane Campbell (Brisbane Easts), Grant Wooden (Wynnum), Kurt Hancock (Bathurst St Pats).

OUT: Ben Kennedy (Manly), Timana Tahu (Parramatta), Michael Ennis (St George), Keith Henderson (Leigh), Jamie Fitzgerald and Grant Wooden (released), Matt Parsons, Robbie O'Davis, Russell Richardson (retired).

PANTHERS

IN: Paul Franze (Cronulla), Luke Dyer (Melbourne), Michael Roberts (Tweed Heads).

OUT: Paul Whatuira (W Tigers), Amos Roberts, Richard Fa'aoso (S Roosters), Luke Harlen (Cronulla), Jesse Royal (Newcastle), Ryan Girdler and Martin Lang (retired).

RABBITOHS

IN: Shannon Hegarty, Peter Cusack, Peter Taylor, Ray Moujalli (S Roosters), Michael Greenfield (Cronulla, Willie Peters (Widnes), Scott Logan (Hull), Trent Young (Brisbane Easts), Germaine Paulson (Toowoomba).

OUT: Paul Stringer (Parramatta), Justin Smith (N Queensland), Mark Meredith (W Tigers), Damon Alley-Tovio (Canberra), Filimone Lolohea (Hull), Willie Manu (St George), Brett O'Farrell (Cronulla), Mark Leafa and Owen Craigie (released), Jason Death (retired).

RAIDERS

IN: Jason Smith (Hull), Matt Adamson (Leeds), Lincoln Withers, Michael Howell, David Howell (Illawarra), Craig Frawley (Brisbane), Jermaine Ale (Roosters), Bronx Goodwin (Cronulla), Damon Alley-Tovio (Souths), Ben Jones (Redcliffe).

OUT: Ruben Wiki (Warriors), Joel Monaghan (S Roosters), Luke Davico (Wigan/retired), Brad Drew (Huddersfield), Mark McLinden (London Broncos), Nick and Kosta Kouparitsas, Matt McLay (Tigers).

ROOSTERS

IN: Amos Roberts, Richard Fa'saso (Penrith), Joel Managhan (Canberra), Brett Firman (Illawarra).

OUT: Todd Byrne (Warriors), Shannon Hegarty, Peter Cusack (Souths), Chad Robinson, Ian Henderson (Parramatta), Jermaine Ale (Canberra), Aaron Mercer (Tigers), Justin Hodges (Brisbane), Brad Fittler (retired).

SEA EAGLES

IN: Ben Kennedy (Newcastle), Brent Kite (St George), Michael Witt (Parramatta), Matt Ballin (Brisbane), Ashley Alberts (Brisbane).

OUT: Ian Donnelly (Melbourne), Albert Torrens (llawarra), Kevin McGuiness (Salford), Dallas Rennie, Nick Bradley (released), Andrew Walker (retired).

SHARKS

IN: Adam Dykes (Parramatta), Paul Mellor (Castleford), Vince Mellars (Warriors), Hutch Maiva (Bulldogs), Luke Covell (Tigers), Luke Harlen (Penrith), Beau Scott (Illawarra), Philip Leuluai, James Stosic, Cliff Manua (Newtown).

OUT: Matthew Rieck (Tigers), Paul Franze (Penrith), Chris Beattie and Matt Bickerstaff (Perpignan), Pat Gisbon (Carcassonne), Dean Dosnich (Pia), Andrew Dallalana (France), Jason Kent (released), Michael Russo (retired).

STORM

IN: Dennis Scott, Jamie Feeney (Bulldogs), Ian Donnelly (Manly), Jamie McDonald (N Queensland).

OUT: Stephen Kearney (Hull), Kirk Reynoldson, Dustin Cooper (Newcastle), Danny Williams (released), Rodney Howe and Robbie Ross (retired).

WESTS TIGERS

IN: Paul Whatuira (Penrith), Matthew Rieck (Cronulla), Mark Meredith (Souths), Nick Kouparitsas, Kosta Kouparitsas, Matt McLay (Canberra), Aaron Mercer (Roosters), Matt Jobson (Warriors), Tim McGann (Easts Rugby), Jarrod Saffy (Sydney Uni rugby).

OUT: Luke Covell (Cronulla), Luke Isaaka (Leigh), Gray Viane (St Helens), Keiran Kerr (North Queensland), Scott Sattler, Jason Moodie, Robert Mears, Michael Buettner (retired).