Richie Barnett: Club need to look for an enforcer and find some mongrel

Nathan Friend of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors need more mongrel.

In years gone by, opposition sides talked about how tough the Warriors pack was. And it was true. Now it's just lip service.

Where is the Kevin Campion, Quentin Pongia, Ruben Wiki, Joe Vagana, Jerry Seuseu or even Awen Guttenbeil?

There's no enforcer in the Warriors side and it's telling. They've lost the intimidation factor as they obsess over a structured game plan.

I think they need another prop - a tough prop in the mould of an Ashton Sims, Matt Scott or Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who brings both a good motor and mongrel.

They also need to chase another hooker. Nathan Friend has been signed for another season but I worry about what they do beyond that. They are only an injury away from facing a big disruption to the side. Siliva Havili hasn't yet showed enough to say he's the future of the club and shifting Thomas Leuluai to the No9 jersey disrupts the balance of the halves.

I would like to see them sign a flamboyant hooker, someone like Penrith's James Segeyaro.

The Warriors seem to be going away from the attacking style that was their signature. They seem to have lost the ability to play off-the-cuff football.

Under coach Andrew McFadden, they are playing in a similar way to Ivan Cleary but without the offloads. A nippy and creative hooker would help alleviate that.

The Warriors don't have enough players with the right character. They need individuals who know how to play the full 80 minutes and how to win games. The acquisition of Ryan Hoffman from Melbourne will help a lot because he will bring much-needed leadership. The club need more players like him, more journeymen who keep going and going.

The Warriors have a handful but too many who are being carried. They can play well for a time but can't do it over a season. Five weeks ago, the Warriors hit their limit. They ran out of juice and couldn't keep producing because they had no energy left.

This was evident in someone like Suaia Matagi, who was playing really well but then slowed. Ben Matulino also seemed less effective and this might have had something to do with the fact he played more on the edge.

The strength of the Warriors has traditionally been their go-forward but this was lacking this season and it was often up to the outside backs to do that job for the forwards.

Feleti Mateo continues to baffle. He's a supremely gifted player who can hum off the back of a strong forward pack but isn't known for his work ethic.

His head didn't seem to be in it 100 per cent this year, which saw him dropped to reserve grade. I think he still has something to offer the Warriors but only if his attitude is right.

In saying all this, I don't think the Warriors are far off from being a good side.

They will be better for another season under their belt and McFadden will better understand his players.

And they have plenty of time now to contemplate what they need to do to rival the likes of the Rabbitohs and Roosters, who I think will fight out this year's title.