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With their season hanging by a thread and Adam Blair celebrating his 300th first grade match the Warriors had all the motivation needed to perform.
It wasn't pretty, but the Warriors did enough to defeat a wounded Titans 24-20.
The Warriors needed a result here, and they got it, yes it was against a team lower than them on the table that lost two of their key players during the match, but you have to play what's in front of you and get the job done, and I think the Warriors did that.
That past month has highlighted how out of sync this team has been and it has affected their attack, but we saw glimpses of the old attack coming back, there's still a long way to go, but they are at least heading in the right direction.
The Warriors are still miles away from even being considered a top-eight side, but if they can continue to get wins and the teams around them struggle like they have been, they may still be able to sneak in.
They were able to exhort a ton of pressure on the tiring Titans which allowed the Warriors to get themselves back in the match after almost letting the game slip out if their hands which leads me to my positives from the game.
Much like last week, the Warriors were able to insert themselves into the match quickly, scoring minutes into the contest via Karl Lawton. If the Warriors want to string some wins together then bolting out of the gate will get them some of the way there.
They struggled in that 30-50 minute window again but rather than get bogged down by their errors they were able to work together and get back into the contest.
Working together is another positive, watching the match last week you could see the team wasn't gelling, they were getting down on each other when mistakes or misreads happened and that just lead to more going wrong.
This week you could see an attitude shift, and when things went against the Warriors, they worked harder and backed each other up.
The goal-line defence was good again (apart from a moment I will mention below), the Titans had so many repeat sets but could not convert them into points.
The Warriors defence stayed strong when it counted, the last few minutes of the match had the Titans camped on the Warriors line desperate to score and get the win, but the Warriors refused to give in.
Yes, Adam Blair got a sin-binned in that final minute, but u think it worked in the Warriors favour slightly, the Titans got the penalty, but the Warriors got that time to reset the line and focus which was all that was needed to hold onto that lead.
They struggled in that 30-50 minute window again but rather than get bogged down by their errors they were able to work together and get back into the contest.
Working together is another positive, watching the match last week you could see the team wasn't gelling, they were getting down on each other when mistakes or misreads happened and that just lead to more going wrong.
This week you could see an attitude shift, and when things went against the Warriors, they worked harder and backed each other up.
The goal-line defence was good again (apart from a moment I will mention below), the Titans had so many repeat sets but could not convert them into points.
The Warriors defence stayed strong when it counted, the last few minutes of the match had the Titans camped on the Warriors line desperate to score and get the win, but the Warriors refused to give in.
Yes, Adam Blair got a sin-binned in that final minute, but u think it worked in the Warriors favour slightly, the Titans got the penalty, but the Warriors got that time to reset the line and focus which was all that was needed to hold onto that lead.
There were still issues, which leads me to my negatives.
Although the goal line defence was solid for the most part, the Titans first try was due to a massive hole between Blake Green and Tohu Harris.
Im not sure what happened there but I could see the hole as soon as the Titans looked that direction and knew the Warriors were in trouble.
I know Tohu is carrying injuries so maybe that hindered him in some way at that moment, the Warriors need to communicate better to ensure that they plug up any holes in their line.
In their defence, that was the earlier on in the match, and they improved as the game went on.
Unforced errors, man errors seem to be the mainstay in my reviews every week.
At times it seemed like the Warriors were just trying to force passes and offloads instead of little the plays develop.
In some aspects, it is good to see the Warriors desperate to get the result, but they have to pick their spots, you do not need to score off every tackle or even every set.
The experienced spine needs to talk to their team and just settle things down, play smart, and points will come.
Lastly is the interchange, the past few weeks I have been happy with the bench selection and rotation, but this week one thing bothered me.
Bunty Afoa did not get used until the second half, Bunty's hard runs when he gets his boarding pass at around the 20-30 minute mark really help the Warriors keep the pressure on.
To only put Bunty on 45 minutes into the match and to only use him for 16 minutes is criminal and cannot happen again, with the Titans down to a two-man bench I would have utilised some quick interchanges with the front rowers to quickly build momentum.
I don't think I will ever understand Kearney's interchange mindset but would love to hear him explain it one day.
Although the goal line defence was solid for the most part, the Titans first try was due to a massive hole between Blake Green and Tohu Harris.
Im not sure what happened there but I could see the hole as soon as the Titans looked that direction and knew the Warriors were in trouble.
I know Tohu is carrying injuries so maybe that hindered him in some way at that moment, the Warriors need to communicate better to ensure that they plug up any holes in their line.
In their defence, that was the earlier on in the match, and they improved as the game went on.
Unforced errors, man errors seem to be the mainstay in my reviews every week.
At times it seemed like the Warriors were just trying to force passes and offloads instead of little the plays develop.
In some aspects, it is good to see the Warriors desperate to get the result, but they have to pick their spots, you do not need to score off every tackle or even every set.
The experienced spine needs to talk to their team and just settle things down, play smart, and points will come.
Lastly is the interchange, the past few weeks I have been happy with the bench selection and rotation, but this week one thing bothered me.
Bunty Afoa did not get used until the second half, Bunty's hard runs when he gets his boarding pass at around the 20-30 minute mark really help the Warriors keep the pressure on.
To only put Bunty on 45 minutes into the match and to only use him for 16 minutes is criminal and cannot happen again, with the Titans down to a two-man bench I would have utilised some quick interchanges with the front rowers to quickly build momentum.
I don't think I will ever understand Kearney's interchange mindset but would love to hear him explain it one day.
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Ken's double takes his season tally up to 10 which is double the amount he scored last year, he continues to be the backbone of this side leading the metre count almost every week and being a constant threat to break the oppositions line.
His reliability under the high ball and his defensive positioning is improving every week, and he is genuinely making that left wing his own.
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I like Lawton and the spark he offers this side, and the rumours of the Warriors trying to flick him off to superleague teams has me worried.
I don't see Luke sticking around another season, and while Roache is a talented player, his track record has me doubtful that he can stay healthy for an entire season so I would be signing Lawton for a few more years and having a Roache/Lawton tandem.
Lawton has denied the reports, and I have my fingers crossed that he be here in 2020.
With the international window upon us, there is no NRL this week.
The Warriors that are not involved will be able to have a week off to get rid of the niggles that come at this point of the competition, and the ones that are playing will hopefully return to the Warriors camp full of enthusiasm after playing for their respective countries.
I will be writing the match review and match report for the Kiwis vs Tonga clash for Nothingbutleague.com, and it should be an exciting match to watch, and I can't wait.
After the internationals are done, the Warriors return to Mount Smart to face a Penrith Panthers that has improved since their embarrassing showing in round 10 and will test the Warriors.
Winning here keeps the top eight aspirations (no matter how slim) alive, and I think the Warriors can get the job done here, so I'm picking them to win by 14.
The Warriors that are not involved will be able to have a week off to get rid of the niggles that come at this point of the competition, and the ones that are playing will hopefully return to the Warriors camp full of enthusiasm after playing for their respective countries.
I will be writing the match review and match report for the Kiwis vs Tonga clash for Nothingbutleague.com, and it should be an exciting match to watch, and I can't wait.
After the internationals are done, the Warriors return to Mount Smart to face a Penrith Panthers that has improved since their embarrassing showing in round 10 and will test the Warriors.
Winning here keeps the top eight aspirations (no matter how slim) alive, and I think the Warriors can get the job done here, so I'm picking them to win by 14.
So that was an improved round 14, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.
Are you looking forward to this week's internationals?
Do you have a player that needs to improve
Would you keep Karl Lawton for 2020?
What is your score prediction for Round 15?
This post first appeared on Nz Warriors 2017 Season Preview : Above The Line - The Kearney Era Begins, please read the originial post: here
