Warriors must get smarter, says Watson

Eric Watson

Warriors majority owner Eric Watson is committed to the long-term future of the club but wants improvements off the field.

Watson yesterday suggested that legal action against the NRL over the deduction of points would not help the club's relationship with the league and agreed management needed to improve.

He batted away questions about the role of Mick Watson in the salary cap saga and whether the former chief executive was still involved with any of his businesses.

Eric Watson said the new board and management would be overseen by independent auditors, with a six-monthly review of all player wage spending from now on.

"We need to be more vigilant and review governance," Watson said, "so that the board can be confident along with management that there is no breach."

The four-point deduction was not in the spirit of transtasman sport, he said, and though the club was considering all options, including an appeal, it wanted to work closely with the NRL.

"We can be a jewel in the crown of the NRL, we've proved that." Watson's company Cullen Sports would in future focus on the Warriors and forget about branching into other sports as it did in pursuing boxing and rugby over the past two years, he said. But there would be no recriminations within the company.

Warriors chairman Maurice Kidd's position was safe. Watson had confidence in the management to complete a turnaround on and off the field.

The management had already reviewed all salaries and contracts and made adjustments for the technical breaches detected by the NRL.

The players met yesterday to express their resolve to overcome the setback and coach Ivan Cleary spoke with Watson to spell out his disappointment at a bad start to his first year as an NRL coach and also to convey the determination within the squad.

"I wouldn't necessarily want to be the first team that plays us," Watson said.

The club had lost around $1 million last year and the present circumstances meant he was predicting a multimillion-dollar loss this season.

But he and business partner Mark Hotchin remained committed to the long-term - profit was not their motivation.

More focus would go on developing New Zealand talent.

The club had brought in players and it didn't work for them.

"We need to invest more in development and that's what we'll be doing."

Watson said he would talk to the squad if and when asked to do so by the coaching staff and management. But he was not hands-on with the team.

Sponsors remained committed to the team. Watson said he had received lots of positive feedback and all he wanted now was for fans to get behind the team. "It has to be tough for the players.

"When we're the underdogs we play a lot better and my word aren't we the underdogs now," he said.

The NRL's financial penalty of a A$430,000 ($480,500) fine might smart now but the real pain will come next season because the Warriors must cut from their salary cap the amount over-spent in 2004, A$860,000.

They will not be able to attract star players nor upgrade the contracts of those they want to keep.


Playoffs not out of sight just yet

The road to the NRL playoffs is not out of the Warriors' sights despite the deduction of four competition points, but their season will depend on a successful start.

The Warriors have a bye for the Anzac test and from there until the State of Origin series begins things get decidedly tough for them.

The experience of the last few seasons suggests the Warriors will need around 28 points to make the playoffs. That was the cut-off last season.

In 2004 it was 26, in 2003 28, in 2002 25, in 2001 26 and in 2000 it was 26.

So they need to win around 14 games, including the bulk of their 12 homes games. To make the playoffs the Warriors need to beat the teams they can and should beat, the likes of Souths, Canberra and their first-up opponents the Melbourne Storm.

Any other team that enjoyed the ground-gain provided by Steve Price and Ruben Wiki in 2005 would have made the finals. If those two find form again there is no reason the Warriors cannot make the playoffs and there is no reason to think the two veterans will lack any desire.

The hinge is Nathan Fien at halfback and Sione Faumuina at five-eighth. That, and enjoying a relatively injury-free season.

It cannot be an easy start for coach Ivan Cleary. The reduction of the 2007 salary cap by the amount over-spent in 2004 will mean there is little money to attract new players or to upgrade the contracts of those the club wants to retain.

Much is going to depend on how well Cleary manages the introduction of fresh young talent because he will be forced to do that. In that regard, he could not want for a better co-coach than John Ackland.

The Dragons started last season with five losses yet made the top-four.

Warriors hooker Lance Hohaia said the players agreed with Cleary that the penalty did not finish off their chances in 2006.

"It's not the end of the world, it's definitely not the end of the season. Four points isn't a hell of a lot. When you add in the two byes we're basically back at zero."


The first round

March 12 v Storm, Ericsson Stadium
March 18 v Eels, Hamilton *
March 25 v Wests Tigers, Christchurch *
April 2 v Knights, Newcastle
April 9 v Manly, Ericsson
April 16 v Raiders, Canberra
April 21/25 v Souths, Ericsson +
April 28/30 v Bulldogs, Ericsson
May 6/7 bye (Kiwis v Kangaroos test on May 5)
May 13/14 v Dragons, Wollongong
May 19/21 v Wests, Ericsson
May 26/28 v Sharks, Cronulla
June 2/4 v Broncos, Ericsson
June 9/11 v Roosters, Aussie Stadium

* Away games
+ Dates not yet finalised

- Peter Jessup and NZPA