It wasn't their best performance, but there were a few things to smile about, which brings me to my positives.
Match Positives
The forwards continue to impress me this season, with 5 running for over 100 metres.
Jackson Ford (164m), Addin Fonua-Blake (159m), Mitchell Barnett (150m), Tohu Harris (130m) and Jazz Tevaga (101m). There is still a drop-off when Barnett and AFB leave the pitch, but the replacement middles are improving; Tevaga got through plenty of work, Tom Ale added some impact, and Bunty Afoa added some defensive starch to the middle of the field. Still work to do, of course, but if they can keep improving on getting that go forward, we should see the backs create many more attacking opportunities.
It's a week closer to getting the full-strength side back: Waye Egan, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marata Niukore, Dylan Walker, and now Taine Tuaupiki are all out. I commended the squad's depth in the preseason, and it has been tested. I think the players who have had to step up have done a decent job, but I can't wait to see what the full-strength 17 can do when on the pitch together.
The club has spoken a lot about being 0-2, not affecting them, but as a player, it does sit in the back of your mind a little, so getting that win just takes some pressure off. Playing well but still losing can just suck all the air out of the room, so this was a perfectly timed confidence boost.
They have runs on the board now and can focus on stringing together some victories.
However, I did have concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.
Match Negatives
The Warrior's errors jumped into double digits for the first time this season, with 13 made.
I'm not sure if their desperate pursuit of that first win made them push things a little, but to face the top dogs in this competition, you cannot give away this many free sets, as they will put you to the sword. They have shown in patches that they can play attacking football with limited errors, so I want to see those patches extend to the entire contest.
Flowing on from the errors, the missed opportunities were true coachkillers, Ford going alone instead of putting Metcalf away, and Berry not passing to DWZ are the two that spring to mind. You can let these go in a victory, but if the Warriors lose this you know these moments would be brought up countless times. They are little things, but they will improve with a bit more confidence and communication; they are split-second decisions that need to be made, but with a bit more time together, I am sure that these opportunites will be taken.
The right edge attack looks to be getting back to its 2023 form slowly, which is great; however, the left edge attack still needs work; the majority of the time that it looked dangerous was when Shaun Johnson shifted that way, Metcalf is growing each and every work, but I want to see his distribution skills go up another level to really unleash RTS and Montoya. That edge just screams points, so once they get to a point where both sides are deadly, then the opposition's defence is just going to open up.
Warrior of the Match
My Warrior of the Match goes to Tohu Harris.
The skipper delivers week in and week out, but because he always plays well, he sometimes gets overlooked in this section (a bit like Simon Mannering used to). He led the side with 50 tackles, ran for 130m, and was more involved in the playmaking with some excellent passing plays. He is a true legend of this club; despite the constant injury concerns that cloud Harris, he continuously churns through the work and is a great role model for the young forwards developing at the Warriors.
Warrior to Improve
I actually have no player to improve this week, Jackson Ford and Marcelo Montoya were close, but I think by the end of 80 minutes, their negatives were balanced out by their positives, a statement that would have been different if the Warriors lost this much, I am sure.
Next Round Thoughts and Prediction
Round 4 sees the Warriors remain on home soil, returning to Go Media Stadium to face the Newcastle Knights, who defeated the Storm 14-12 in Round 3.
Regarding the team I would pick, we know Taine Tuaupiki is out. If Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is ready to go, I would bring him straight back in. If he is not ready, then Tuivasa-Sheck moves to fullback, and I would bring Ali Leiataua into the centres. If Wayde Egan and Dylan Walker are also fit, I would bring them back, with Chanel Harris-Tavita and Jazz Tevaga dropping out.
The Knights haven't had the greatest start to the 2024 season but showed a lot of improvement in their first win of the year against Melbourne. You know they will be looking for some revenge after the Warriors ended their 2023 season in this venue in a dominant fashion, so I'm expecting a tough contest.
It's almost rinse and repeat from last week. If the Warriors can reduce those errors and play a consistent 80 minutes, a win is definitely on the cards, I'm confident that they will be up for this so I am picking the Warriors to win by 8.
So, that was a relieving Round 3, but as usual, I will leave you with some questions.
Do you have a player to improve?