NRL: Win some, lose some: Warriors a mixed bag

Shaun Johnson's try in Melbourne has been a season highlight. Photo / Getty Images

Halfway through the NRL season, league writer David Skipwith assesses the highs and lows of the Warriors so far in 2014.

Best performance
Anzac Day victory over the Storm in Melbourne

With just two wins from their opening seven games, the Warriors were given little hope against a full-strength Storm outfit. A gutsy and clinical effort saw them defy the critics, as they completed 35 of 39 sets (90 per cent) and absorbed wave after wave of attack in the second half before Shaun Johnson's stunning try sealed the upset. The win proved the catalyst for a change in fortunes and set the standard for the rest of the year.

The find so far
David Fusitua

Twin defeats to the Dragons marked a sluggish start to Fusitua's first-grade career but four more impressive outings have seen him earmarked as a star of the future. He has scored four tries - two of them brilliant one-handed acrobatic efforts against the Storm and Rabbitohs - and his size and pace make him a threat, not only on the flank but also when working the ball off the Warriors' line. The 19-year-old is also well spoken and exceedingly polite, displaying a maturity often missing in young NRL players. He has the potential to become the complete package.

Worst performance
Round 5 vs Cronulla

Hopes were high the Warriors would kick on to their third-straight victory following back-to-back wins over the Cowboys and Tigers but what unfolded at Shark Park sealed the fate of Matt Elliott as Warriors coach. Cronulla, bottom of the table, won 37-6, running in seven tries, with winger Nathan Stapleton helping himself to four. A lone four-pointer to Manu Vatuvei in the 80th minute was all the Warriors could muster. They made 16 errors and missed 21 tackles but, of greater concern, was an alarming lack of fight after conceding three tries to finish the first half down 16-0. The dramatic fallout that followed ensured this defeat will not be forgotten any time soon.

Biggest blow
Losing Thomas Leuluai

After a delayed start to the year due to a groin injury sustained at last year's World Cup, Leuluai returned off the bench in the round-four victory over the Wests Tigers in Wellington. He played only three more games (Sharks, Bulldogs and Dragons) but a recurrence of the injury ruled him out of the Anzac Day clash against the Storm and he hasn't been sighted since. His experience and direct approach in both defence and attack have been sorely missed.

Biggest let down
Dane Nielsen

Centre Dane Nielsen played the opening seven matches of the season (two wins) before he was relegated against Melbourne. He's since been confined to New South Wales Cup duty - it didn't help he missed training after a drunken night out - as Konrad Hurrell, Ben Henry and Ngani Laumape have done a good job in midfield. The Warriors' attacking potency has since improved along with their results, having won four of their next six games without the former Queensland State of Origin representative.

Best moment
Shaun Johnson's brilliant try against the Storm

With the Warriors clinging to a two-point lead inside the last quarter, halfback Shaun Johnson engineered a brilliant try to give them a match-winning 16-12 lead. Attacking from 40m out on the fourth tackle, Johnson beat a couple of defenders and produced some nice interplay with Jayson Bukuya and David Fusitua before running in untouched. It was, as television commentator Warren Smith said, "as good as it gets".

Best quote
Thomas Leuluai almost lets slip the 's' word

Senior Warriors players were rolled out to address the media following Elliott's exit as coach after the Sharks thrashing and the announcement of Andrew McFadden as his replacement. Thomas Leuluai looked uncomfortable when discussing the situation but gave some hint as to what really went on when he said, "the blame doesn't all lie with the coach. It's not a nice feeling to be standing here today knowing that your coach got sss the coach resigned, and you sort of had a part to play in that."

Prediction

My crystal ball tells me the Warriors will fly as high as sixth on the NRL ladder by the end of 26 rounds. Seven home games against the Broncos, Panthers, Eels, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Roosters and Titans, as well as two byes, should see them make up some valuable points, while they face just four away matches against the Broncos, Raiders, Knights and Panthers. I'm tipping them to win as many as six of those on home turf and also foresee them posting three away wins. Beyond that, anything is possible in finals football, but the tea leaves tell me they will exit in the second week of the playoffs.