Star signings Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck join the Warriors in 2016. Photo / Getty Images
Star signings Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck join the Warriors in 2016. Photo / Getty Images
The 2015 Warriors season promised plenty but turned into a nightmare for their long-suffering fans that are already looking ahead hopefully to 2016.
After climbing into fourth spot heading into round 19 a record-equalling eight straight losses saw them crash out of the finals race with Sunday's last round defeat to the Canterbury Bulldogs sealing their 13th-place finish.
Herald league writer David Skipwith takes a look back at the best and worst of the club's 20th season in the NRL.
Injuries cannot be used as an excuse for some of their awful defeats, but losing Manu Vatuvei, Sam Tomkins, Konrad Hurrell, Thomas Leuluai, Ryan Hoffman, Shaun Johnson, Bodene Thompson, and Ben Matulino to injuries and suspension undoubtedly played a key role in undermining their title quest.
The high casualty rate forced an over-reliance on young players, with no less than six rookies - Solomone Kata, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Ken Maumalo and Mason Lino - being called upon to start in first grade.
Coach Andrew McFadden admitted he erred in some of his selections and he may rethink his decisions to persist with the likes of Kata for all 24 games, and choosing Lolohea at halfback, while Hurrell warmed the bench and Tomkins remained at fullback.
The lack of fit players meant his hands were tied in some cases, but the lack of depth, class and experience meant the Warriors were exposed when the pressure came on.
The leadership of captain Simon Mannering was questioned following consecutive 50-16 defeats to the Cowboys and Wests Tigers, but with senior men missing he lacked support at crucial times.
Shaun Johnson limps off the field against Manly. Photo / Getty
A moment all Warriors supporters had long feared became a horrible reality 25 minutes into the round 20 clash against Manly, when Johnson crossed for a trademark try and in the process fractured his left leg and dislocated his ankle.
His departure had an immediate effect, with the Warriors capitulating in the second-half to lose 32-12, and things never improved.
Despite positive talk about fighting on, the Warriors lacked the class and ability to cope in the absence of their chief playmaker.
Without Johnson's brilliant and unpredictable running game they were short on ideas in attack, and five-eighth Chad Townsend struggled when burdened with the additional organising and creative duties.
Johnson's replacement Tui Lolohea gradually grew into the No7 jersey in his five starts, by which time they were out of finals contention, and Mason Lino tried hard in the role when Tomkins' injury forced a backline reshuffle for the final round encounter against the Bulldogs.
Sam Tomkins looks on as the Dragons celebrate another try. Photo / Getty
It was do or die for the Warriors heading into their round 22 fixture at the Cake Tin but they failed to fire a shot and were woeful against an understrength Dragons side.
Errors and poor last tackle plays saw them waste possession, while the Dragons established a 10-0 lead through two soft tries before the floodgates opened in the second-half.
The humiliating 36-0 defeat ensured the NRL's longest losing streak was extended with the Warriors recording their 11th defeat in a row against the Red V.
Nathan Friend performing his backflip try assist. Photo / YouTube
The Warriors clinched a third straight win and their first against a side ranked above them in the top eight when they toppled Melbourne Storm 28-18 at Mt Smart Stadium.
The understrength Warriors did well to carve out a 16-0 halftime lead with Shaun Johnson having a hand in each of their first four tries, before his stunning individual four-pointer saw them home.
The game will forever be remembered thanks to Nathan Friend's upside-down through-the-legs back-flip pass which saw the No9 make news headlines around the world.
The win promoted the Warriors into fourth spot and expectations soared before their season fell apart over the next two months.
The big prop was outstanding in the middle of the park and forced his way back into the Kiwis for the Anzac test after a dynamic start to the club season.
Led the way in run metres for the Warriors with 3249 for the season at an average of 154.7 in each of his 21 games, and averaged 13.8 hit-ups and 26.9 tackles every outing.
A three game suspension for a shoulder block on Dragons playmaker Gareth Widdop was the only blemish on an outstanding individual season.
Tui Lolohea. Photo / Getty
The versatile 20-year-old was outstanding playing 11 games at fullback, five at halfback and also made handful of appearances at centre and wing.
Will be better again next season when he's tipped to take on a starting role in the halves together with Johnson.
Rookie centre and top try scorer Solomone Kata also impressed, particularly throughout the first half of the season, and young front-rower Albert Vete got better as the year progressed.
Ryan Hoffman. Photo / Getty
Made an instant impact on the left-edge with strong carries and a relentless work ethic and helped lead the way and set a positive example for the side's younger players.
His last-minute charge-down of Jeff Robson's kick was an example of his never-say-die attitude and helped set up Johnson's last second match-winning try against Cronulla.
Was badly missed when a calf injury sustained in the State of Origin decider saw him sidelined for five games, but upon his return buckled down and never dropped off the pace.
Star signings Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck join the Warriors in 2016. Photo / Getty Images
The addition of fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and hooker Issac Luke alongside Johnson will give the Warriors a spine of Kiwis internationals, with Leuluai and Lolohea sure to duke it out for the five-eighth role.
But their arrival won't guarantee the Warriors any results and much work is needed to improve their consistency and ability to match it with the top sides.
The difficult times of the last two months should prove invaluable to the younger players in their second season, and with more recruits still to come, the Warriors should field a more experienced and better balanced side in 2016.
A top eight berth is non-negotiable while on paper they have a roster that should put them among the top four.
Warriors 2015: Games 24, Won nine, lost 15 (37.5%). Finished 13th. Points for: 445 - 13th ahead of only the Titans (439), Dragons (435) and Panthers (399). Points against: 588 - third worst behind the Knights (612) and Titans (636).
2015 record against current top eight teams: Games 12, Won two, lost 10 (16.66%) 1. Roosters - Two losses (21-25 & 0-24) 2. Broncos - Lost (16-24) 3. Cowboys - Two losses (24-28 & 16-50) 4. Storm - One loss (14-30), one win (28-14) 5. Bulldogs - Lost (22-26) 6. Sharks - One win (20-16), one loss (14-18) 7. Rabbitohs - Lost (4-36) 8. Dragons - Lost (0-36)
The two victories came in a last-second round nine win over the Sharks, thanks to a brilliant last-second individual try to Shaun Johnson, and in the dominant, but ultimately misleading, 28-14 round 18 win over the Storm.
The other seven wins of the season came against teams in the bottom half of the ladder, against the Raiders x 2 (10th), Eels x 2 (12th), Wests Tigers (15th), Knights (16th), and Titans (14th).
Andrew McFadden's record
Warriors record: Games 43. Won 19, lost 24 (44.18%). 2014 record: Games 19 W10 L9 (52.63%) Finished ninth.
