KEY POINTS:
At the weekend, Storm beat Warriors 30-12 - so have the Warriors resorted to their old form despite the great start the Warriors had had to the season?
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Pam
I dont understand how people who are supposed to be fit athletes and are well looked after by their support crew, get "jetlagged" on a short hop across the ditch? Its just an excuse, Melbourne were the better side on the day! The Warriors (and I am a supporter) just have a long way to go before they are the calibre of the likes of the Storm. Consistency and a happy team environment will be the key.
Moheka
The Storm were just too good. The Warriors made their mistakes sure, but can any one of us commentators get out their and play that type of footy? for 80 minutes, let alone 26 odd rounds of hard graft. Give the boys a break!! They handed the two victories to us fans before this defeat, may I add last years champions and ex-champions the Canterbury Bullbogs. People that bag the Warriors need to get a life, sure they make mistakes, we all do, that what makes us human and not machines, go the Warriors, you have my support, and I reckon you guys are on track.
Fili (Sydney)
The Warriors have this habit of when they are behind. They do not seem to have the mental toughness to grind it out which unfortunately for us diehard supporters, reverts to their typical old habit of giving up too easily. Sure there were some big hits here and here, but they have to be realistic and be consistent for the full 80 mins before we can even start talking about premiership-material. I hope they can turn it around from hereon in and take each game like it's a grand final, they simply need this type of attitude to stay up there cos quite frankly, I am sick of seeing them languishing down the bottom half of the table year after year. The Storm simply did their homework after last years only home loss to our boyz' and that is where the Warriors lost, thinking they would cruise again. Not sure if anyone noticed but the halftime pictures in the sheds also showed which team was determined to go on and get the job done. Nevertheless, I wish them all the best for 2007.
Danny Rankin
They were beaten by a better team on the night.The real test is next Sunday against Manly.
John
Mate I am currently living in Germany so I only see of the games what I can on the internet. Te warriors played awesome the first two games they had, Melbourne is one of the favourites this year, but with the media and so on in NZ as soon as a team like the warriors loose a game, no matter how good they are going before that every gives them slack, Its always been like this and seems like it will always be, Its a bit pathetic. I think should give them a break!
Dave
Last weekend was simple, Melbourne were fired up and once they won the early exchanges knew they could shut the warriors down. Another day it will be different, warriors may win the early exchanges and will smother Melbourne. Melbourne are a team where you need to break their spirit and force them away from their game plan and into making rash decisions. You don't do that by conceding 3 early tries. The rematch in Auckland will be great.
Kels
Woeful Warriors? Please. You can not expect a team to win every week. It wasn't the best game, they were too slow to get into it, against a classy team like Melbourne that's just asking for trouble. The scoreline wasn't great, a loss wasn't great, but all in all the game itself wasn't that bad. I'd like to see them pick up the defence a little, and there's clearly some areas that need work. But now the coach and players know what they are. Good on Ivan Cleary for taking control of the situation and switching the team up too. It made a difference. Lance Hohaia deserves his spot on the field, I'd just like it if that spot was the halves every week, instead of being the fill-in guy.
Ben Tuala
I believe the Warriors are not the way of the old. As a kiwi, having 1/2 the team Aussies, and a great coaching team, especially someone as good as Ivan Cleary, we are allowed to have the odd 1 or 2 games loss.Whatever happened to keeping the faith? The Warriors are coming back this year, and we are going to be at the peak of our game, coming into the rounds ahead.So I enjoy them for being spontaneous, and they can afford to be who they are, Never write them off!
Steve Jordan
Does it really matter if the Warriors did well or badly against the Storm? What concerns me more is the profile of the NRL competition in Australia. Did the game against the storm really only attract a crowd of 8000 odd in a city of 4 million? I know the launch of the AFL season is swamping everything in the media ( alarmingly also in Sydney and Brisbane) but really the NRL and Super League should be doing a better job to promote both battling rugby codes on this side of the ditch.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
As a team, the Warriors didn't turn up to play while Melbourne took every opportunity to make the Warriors pay with mistakes. Several of the Warriors really made wrong decisions which led to the Storm scoring (Slater was unlucky at one try being denied).It isn't all panic stations yet for the Warriors; as they would have learnt a great deal from where they went wrong and will want to perform just as good against the Sea Eagles this coming weekend. Anyone and everyone knows when the Warriors are on song, they are the form team to beat, but they do have their off days every now and again. I certainly didn't seen any signs of the Warriors of old and it's just ridiculous to suggest they'd slip back into old habits.
Ross
Damn right they Warriors are on track!! So they lost on the weekend...so what? Only one visiting team walked away from a Melbourne home game last year with a win under their belts...the Warriors. That stat is pretty solid throughout the Storms history so getting beaten there isn't freakish. It's normal to get beaten at Melbourne and also give the Storm some credit they played really well...guarantee they will be top 8 as they are every year. It's only game 3 people and the warriors are up 6 competition points on where they were game after game 3 last year...don't write them off yet and get out to their home games to support the boys because they always play harder for an appreciative audience....if you want them to win get involved!
Rich
The Warriors were outclassed by a form team with some classy individuals. However they shouldnt worry too much - they've showed enough to date that makes me thinking they will make the top 8 for sure. Folau showed Matuvei how he could be playing and I doubt anyone in any code could stop Billy Slater when he's on fire.
Bryce
The Storm are the best team in the league by a mile and a lesson to the whole NRL in how to build a team ,They dont have any juniors as it an Aussie rules state so they must be the best run team we have a huge advantage over them and still after more than 10 years havent got it right unlike them who already have a title in the bag.
Steve
What up with all the hype that the Warriors have gone back to the bad old days? We are week three into the competition and the Finals are four and half to five months away. Throw in three games of State of Origin, maybe the odd test match and then we should get a feel for how the Warriors go. How many teams have been on fire at the start of the season only to fizzle out two weeks before the Finals? Some players will find form the more they see the field while others who are sizzling now may find the fire burnt out before the end of the season.There's also injury concerns that will no doubt show up as the season progresses and that will be a contributing factor to a lot of clubs. How did Parramatta Eels go when Nathan Hindmarsh suffered his knee injury towards the end of last season? And I'm not even a Warriors fan! Go the Panthers!
Brown Boi
I think the Warriors looked like the sun had dried their energy out. They looked sluggish and very slow motion like. In saying that, I do think they will recover and produce a memorable season for all the right reasons. But.riddle me this: What's the go with kava? From what I have heard from some old skool kava drinkers is that top athletes and Kava are far from a good mix for success.
T
I believe the Warriors loss to the Storm simply came down to mental and physical fatigue from the previous game against the Broncos. It is a pattern that is prevalent in most sports where teams tend to struggle in the next game after a close and intense match regardless of the result. Coaches should be aware of it by now and I think its naive to think that it doesn't take its toll. Graham Henry's re-conditioning program is a good example on an overall level but coaches also need to deal with it at a game by game basis to keep players fresh. Strategies to combat it may include changing starting line-ups to inject some more energy and enthusiasm and easier post training runs to freshen up.
Steve
Let's not be too hasty to judge the Warriors on the basis of one loss. Yes, they lost and yes they weren't great, but one loss cannot and should not deflect from a strong start from the first two matches. Two things to bear in mind - (1) the Storm are a very good team, especially on their own patch & (2) give our guys credit for not letting it go altogether (as they would have in previous years).A loss such as this will do the Warriors a power of good. They will learn more from this loss than from the 2 previous wins. What the team needs from us now is our support - they deserve that at least. Let's not make more of one loss than we should.Go the Warriors.
Bruce Potter
I think the Warriors are on form. I cant see Cleary letting them go back to the way they used to play they look a lot more composed and patient this year and Storm are my favourites to win the competition this year so losing to them is not that bad, If we beat Manly next week then this will cement my thoughts as we need to win the games we are expected too and Manly is one of those games. The Warriors will be in the top eight this year no doubt about it.
Peter Larsen
The Storm rattled the Warriors in the first 20 minutes and they were never in the game. Showed a better commitment once the changes were made to the backs which strengthen up the defence. Billy Slater what a great player, he will create problems for all teams in the NRL. It is going to be a very good team that beats the Storm.
Jono
The Warriors are still on course for a top four finish in the NRL this season. After a shocking 20 minute period I believe the Warriors were the better side with stronger defence and controlling possesion and territory.A slippery field and 15,000+ Storm fans at your back was always gonna be a tough first away game. But the Warriors will be better off for it. Watch out Sea Eagles here come the Warriors!
Jared
The NRL is a long and difficult comp. I see nothing special about this year's Warriors side. More importantly I am disappointed in the lack of local talent in the halves. This is a New Zealand team. An Aussie here and there would be OK but 9 7 6 and 1 with no kiwi in sight is disheartening to say the least.
Lorenzo Seiuli
It's simple, the Storm are by far the better team. Quit making out the Warriors were under performing against the Storm, you guys do this every time, like now, when the Warriors lose, you say they were the old Warriors and when they win, you say they were the better side, your all starting to sound like the Kiwi coach. He always makes excuses for the Kiwis before every test so that he doesn't get the blame for the loss. Get over it Warriors fans, this is a good Warriors outfit, its just round 4 damn it, and your all acting like it's already over.
Eric
The Warriors were certainly out-smarted early on. They looked like they were still jet lagged, and clearly had not been ready for the full-on onslaught which Melbourne had planned. Added to this was that the Storm created their own luck and had the benefit of the run of the ball, and the Warriors could not take a trick, most of the boys having an average day at best. All the top teams will get 2 of these games in a season. The best way out is to put it down to an early season lesson, a reminder to get back to the hard work and be certain to take it out on the Sea Eagles next weekend.
Daniel Illson
The Storm were simply a better side. However, the Warriors didn't help themselves with a terrible start and poor ball control throughout. You can't make that many errors and expect to win against any team. The Warriors seem to be missing a real game breaker, either in the backrow or the centres. Lance Hohia seems to be the only player with the sort of x-factor that could make something out of nothing. Although hes punching well above his weight, he is being played out of position. Having said that, its better to have him on the park out of position than not at all. The Warriors had a bad game and will be better for it this weekend with another tough ask away against the Cowboys. Chur... How would you assess the Warriors performance against the Storm? Have they returned to the woeful Warriors of old or was Melbourne simply the better side?
Dan Tahere
Go the Warriors. I am a core Warriors fan and I am not being biased by saying they are the form team. The weekend game against Melbourne (love this team too), was a lesson to the coach. "Jetlag and fatigue" - these two simple, yet disastrous elements will not help in the execution of your game plan. I believe this was the over all telling factor of the Warriors Loss. They looked lethargic and slow around the field, so I believe once the Warriors get their fly time adjusted, it be all good in da hood. I do not take anything away from the Storm, they are a very good team.
Rochelle
I do not think they have returned to the "Woeful Warriors" at all. Melbourne were always going to be a tough ask to beat at home and apart from a bad start where the Warriors defence was poor and let Melbourne get off to a 14 point start, the rest of the game was 16 - 10. If they were the "Woeful Warriors" of old, it would have ended up being 60 - nil, not 30 - 10. Let us see how they go next week and the week after that.... before the doubters that are waiting to pounce write them off.
Niels
What idiotic management have the Warriors got that they allow the team to have Kava sessions! This is a narcotic that stupefies the brain and leads to liver damage. I predict that if this practise is not stamped out, then the season will slide downwards and the Warriors will turn into Wahines! Why promote anti-smoking and encourage drug taking? Wake up.
William Murray
I think the Warriors just seem to be obsessed with not doing basics 1st. They seem to dig a hole 4 themselves, I can understand how past coaches of the Warriors felt so frustrated with bad performances like they played against the Storm, I have been like every Die hard supporter who have followed the Warriors since day 1 and see that they always seem to lose the plot. I am not interested in listening to there excuses, 1st and foremost. Catch the ball before you pass it, Ok, do you players understand what I am saying? Watch the ball 1st, before you catch it ok. Kids stuff, lets hope you fellas clean your ears out before you play Manly.
