NRL: Warriors have plenty to work on to make season a success

Ivan Cleary. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Stacey Jones copped plenty of flack as the Warriors misfired last season, but the team's problems went well beyond him being a bit off the pace.

You have to say Stacey and Joel Moon didn't click and Stacey became the scapegoat for too many under-performing players. Joel moon struggling to adjust to the six jersey left the Lttle General trying to do it all on his own.

Stacey wasn't the player he used to be and unfortunately he was put in the situation of running the side for entire matches when I think he was only ever meant to be there for 20 or 30 minutes.

But the halves certainly weren't helped by the lack of creativity in the backrow.

Most of the other NRL sides you watch play very much at the line. They receive the ball at the back of the dummy half and play at the line. I didn't see that at all from the Warriors last year.

They play a bit too deep and I don't think they have enough numbers in support inside and out to give their halves options. That is something I am sure they will be able to rectify - and something I'll be looking out for on Sunday.

The struggles in the halves last year were magnified by a lot of individuals under-performing.

You can't have a team with individuals not performing at their best. If you can get the best out of each player then you've got something to work with. That's what Ivan Cleary will have been working on during the off-season.

Key players such as Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati and, to a lesser extent, Sam Rapira, had all played a lot of football in the past few years and they just looked worn out. The rest period they've just had by not playing for the Kiwis should hopefully give them a new lease of life and bring more enthusiasm back into the side.

Mannering not being there for the first game is a blow. The Warriors will miss his experience, along with that of Steve Price. But Micheal Luck can do the captaincy job just fine. I think most people expected him to get the job in the first place.

The best thing to come out of the off-season was Ivan talking about letting the ball sing again. Ivan shot himself in the foot last year by trying to play a consistent style of football. In this day and age you can't be predictable. You've got to have some x-factor, you've got to play an ad-lib style of football or you just won't make it in this game any more.

Not many people are picking the Warriors to make the playoffs this year, but I'll stick my neck out and say they'll come eighth.

New halves Brett Seymour and James Maloney both look like very steady players. There are still questions to be asked about them but they should shine if the Warriors take it to the line and provide plenty of support inside and out. They both play very much the Australian way and that is what the Warriors need.

Brent Tate being back is also huge. If every player performs to his potential, the Warriors will go okay. Let's hope so. Despite their form last year their support still held pretty strong. It's vital they capitalise on that this year.