Rounds 1-5: The Elliott enigma
The Warriors opened the year by absorbing a 36-16 thrashing at Parramatta before hosting St George-Illawarra in the first of three Eden Park excursions.
After leading 12-6 at the break the Warriors capitulated in the second-half with nine errors, poor last-tackle plays and bad finishing - themes which would continue throughout the season - helping the Dragons to a 31-12 win.
Eric Watson, Owen Glennm Matt Elliott.
A hard-fought 20-16 round three away win over the Cowboys gave coach Matt Elliott some breathing space before a dominant 42-18 victory over Wests Tigers in Wellington indicated the Warriors were back on track. However, a humiliating 37-6 defeat at Cronulla had alarm bells ringing, and within 24 hours Elliott was told to pack his bags. An ugly public spat ensued between the club's two owners, Eric Watson and Owen Glenn, and chief executive Wayne Scurrah volunteered to resign should the club miss the playoffs.
Rounds 6-18: Hope springs eternal
Andrew McFadden's appointment saw the side given a selection shake-up with Feleti Mateo and Chad Townsend swiftly dropped to NSW Cup, while a new harder edge quickly defined team trainings. Twin defeats to the Bulldogs and Dragons implied nothing new, but a stunning 16-10 Anzac Day upset over the Storm in Melbourne heralded a new dawn. Playing an attractive style that blended power and poise, the Warriors went on to win seven of their next nine games to bolt into top eight discussions. Two byes assisted their rise up the ladder while the Warriors also benefited from playing a depleted Broncos team and an Eels side missing Jarryd Hayne during the State of Origin period.
Thomas Leuluai's groin injury allowed Townsend and Shaun Johnson to forge a solid halves pairing, while Konrad Hurrell's form blossomed after a stint in reserve grade helped him overcome weight and fitness concerns. His resurgence and Ngani Laumape's rise saw Dane Nielsen on the outer but the club's outside backs stocks began to be tested with a shoulder injury ruining Glen Fisiiahi's season, an injury-ravaged Jerome Ropati announcing his retirement, and Kevin Locke heading for Salford.
Rounds 19 on: Once Were Warriors
With a top four berth beckoning the Warriors blew their return clash with Brisbane 28-22 before a groin injury robbed them of Johnson's class for a three-week spell heading into their round 20 defeat to Manly. A big 54-18 away win over Canberra enhanced their reputation as flat-track bullies and worrying signs littered their patchy 16-12 win over Cronulla. The Sharks' 19 offloads exposed the Warriors' defensive vulnerability to second-phase play and the Knights followed suit the next week, with 15 offloads aiding them in a tight 28-22 victory.
The signs were ominous but no one could predict the Warriors' 46-12 capitulation to the Roosters, their worst performance of the season and the fifth time they conceded more than 30 points.
An emphatic 42-0 bounce-back win over the Titans set up a final-round showdown with Penrith, but with top eight glory awaiting them, the Warriors turned in another meek and submissive display to see their season dissolve in a 22-6 defeat.
Those two six-point losses to Brisbane and Newcastle proved crucial to their end fate, and leaking three late tries against the Raiders ultimately allowed the eighth-placed Broncos to edge them on points differential.
Who comes, who goes?
Two names - Dane Nielsen and Feleti Mateo - have been at the forefront of speculation about which players the Warriors will look to offload after both spent time in reserve grade because of inconsistent form. You could add Jayson Bukuya to that list, after an underwhelming first season in which he failed to produce the same from six seasons at Cronulla, while the reputations of several others remain under question.
Sacking staff is all good and well if there are players on the market to replace them, and that needs to be considered when evaluating how to strengthen key positions in the front-row, halves and midfield.
Whether Ben Matulino remains a second-row option could impact on whether the club looks to find another reliable prop to compliment Jacob Lillyman.
Do they persist with Nathan Friend at hooker and look to give Siliva Havili more game time, or can Chad Townsend force his way into five-eighth to leave Thomas Leuluai to fill a utility role?
Nathan Friend.
Plenty of potential exists among the young outside backs but fans have been screaming for a hardened and experienced midfielder for years but in many ways the club are damned if they do, damned if they don't in terms of their recruitment.
Shelling out big coin for Sam Tomkins was met with howls of protest, and although it took the England international time to find his feet, he proved himself a more rounded and disciplined player than Locke.
Similarly, the signing of Storm and NSW star Ryan Hoffman was met with misguided cynicism while the possible poaching of Manly enforcer Steve Matai has drawn mixed opinions.
Ryan Hoffman.
The counter argument that there is no shortage of talented back-rowers or up and coming centres-wingers at the club loses weight when inexperience rears its head in crucial moments and big games.
What additions can be made to the playing group remains to be seen but the general feeling is the Warriors lack at least one or two more experienced players needed to take them to the next level.
Big decisions
McFadden has some big decisions to make around the development of his younger squad members, with 16 players used this season all having fewer than 50 games of first grade experience.
The likes of Sione Lousi and Sebastine Ikahihifo showed glimpses of what is needed up front, but injuries and the fact they are still learning their trade saw them found out at different times through the year.
Tuimoala Lolohea looks to be a diamond that will polish up well in the halves in the coming years, and wider out Ngani Laumape and David Fusitu'a remain first graders ofimmense potential.
Having a full offseason will allow McFadden to instil and refine his own doctrines and methods and allow him time to work on improving individuals' games.
He should also expect his key playmakers - Johnson, Leuluai, and Tomkins - to have improved combinations and will demand they raise their levels of consistency and execution.
Improving a diabolical away record that saw them win just four of 12 games on the road would go a long way to assisting their aims.
The potential of the club has never been doubted as they look ahead to their 21st season, but reality all too often falls short of expectation.
