There were aspects of the match to smile about, which brings me to my positives.
Match Positives
There wasnt much to take from this performance with so many players out, but it was a good showing for a few of the names that will play a part in the finals. Josh Curran, Mitchell Barnett, Adam Pompey, and Bayley Sironen all had solid nights, and despite the loss, they will benefit from having the run. Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris need help up front, and the performances from Curran, Barnett and Sironen showed they can do that job. Pompey showed some promise with the ball in hand, but the best thing for him was getting a week to work with Te Maire Martin as the Warriors need the left side attack to fire in the finals.
The key figures got a week to rest and not travel to sort out any niggles they have and focus on the finals. I said last week that I'm not a fan of resting players and I would prefer momentum going into the finals, but let's face it, the Warriors' final month was not what we expected, they were grinding and winning, but it wasnt anything to write home about so perhaps this week off was just what the Warriors needed. It cost them a ladder spot, but facing the Panthers in week 1 is a better match for the Warriors than the Broncos, so it may prove to be a wise move from Webster, but time will tell.
The Warriors are finals-bound, a statement I did not expect to say this season; this year has exceeded all my expectations, and while there is still more of this story to tell, It looks like the Warriors have started to build a good foundation and this should lead to more success in the future. I still don't know how deep the Warriors will go in finals; part of me can see them going very deep, while another part has concerns that they could exit in straight sets. This week's match against Penrith will paint a better picture for their hopes, but until then, let's just enjoy the return to finals.
However, I did have some concerns, which brings me to my negatives from the game.
Match Negatives
Once again, errors were a huge concern for me; the Warriors made 14 in this match. We could link some of that with the new combinations, but double-digit errors have been a blight on each Warriors game for the past month.
This is my biggest concern for the Warriors finals campaign, if they continue to make ten or more errors in the finals, they will be looking at an early exit. Each error is a free set for the opposition, so if they eliminate the silly mistakes, they will make themselves a harder team to beat.
The attack was clunky; again, much of that can be a by-product of the shuffled team. Te Maire Martin was rusty after not playing first grade for 6 months, and Ronald Volkman showed that he is not ready to take control of a first-grade side attack just yet. In Volkman's defence, the Warrior's forwards needed to be rolling forward to give him time and space, but in a nutshell, the team just looked slightly off. However, as the game developed, they started to improve. TMM started to click on the left edge, which will be pivotal in the finals, and he will be better after the run.
The Warriors struggled with the Dolphins' second phase footy. The Dolphins unleashed 21 offloads in this match, breaking the Warriors' defence line to shreds; it is a concern and a reason why I am happy the Warriors are not facing the Broncos this week. I think with the return of those key figures, this will be addressed and fixed, but from here on out, every aspect of the Warrior's defence needs to be tightened, wrap up the ball carrier and shut down any chance of second phase footy and it makes it easier to restrict the opposition's attack.
Warrior of the Match
My Warrior of the Match goes to Josh Curran.
Another start and another strong game from the cult hero forward; he led the game with 36 tackles and was also busy with the ball in hand, running for 173m and making a crucial line break that led to Marcelo Montoya's try. May not be the most talented player on the pitch, but he always gives it 100% and plays with heart, which I would take any day of the week; he is a true battler in every sense of the word.
It's been a strange year for Curran, spending the majority of the season riding the pine; however, if the last two rounds are anything to go by, he has built up some form and momentum, and it will make for a difficult decision for Webster to make come team naming Tuesday this week.
Warrior to Improve
My Warriors to Improve is Rocco Berry.
I was stuck between Berry and Ronald Volkman, but I went with Berry because he was one of the few regulars featured in this match.
I can't say if his knee injury from last week was a factor in this match, but he missed 5 tackles, made an error, gave away a silly penalty and struggled on the kick chase, which has been his biggest attribute this season, he had low numbers with the ball in hand, running for only 30m off 6 touches, which has been a familiar pattern this season for the young centre. An off night and another interesting proposition for Webster's team selection this week. If his knee was the reason for the decline, would you want to select him this week or move Montoya into the centres instead and bring Kosi back on the wing?
Finals Week 1 Thoughts and Prediction
Finals Week 1 sees the Warriors remain across the ditch, moving to BlueBet Stadium to face the reigning Premier Penrith Panthers, who soundly defeated the Cowboys 44-12 in Round 27 to earn the Minor Premiership.
Regarding the team I would pick, I thought it would be easier to just name my 17, so I've put it below. In the backs, I am only stuck on the centre spot that Rocco Berry usually fills; if his knee is showing any signs of issues, I would move Montoya there and bring Ed Kosi back. If his knee is fine, I would keep him in his spot. Forwards are how they have been used for most of the season, and I have included Tohu Harris as I believe he will be playing, but I have left out Jazz Tevaga as I'm not sure if he will be fit to return yet, although I have kept Curran in the starting lineup due to his recent form but could easily see him and Ford swap around.
It's a hell of a match-up for the Warrior's first finals match in five years, facing the current champions, and many will have already written the Warriors off, but I think they have a decent shot at scoring the upset here.
The Panthers have been beaten six times this season, and the one thing that was common in those defeats was the Panthers struggling with the second phase football, similar to the Warriors (no surprise since Webby came from Penrith), they are a great defensive team with solid structure, but you can catch their scrambling defence out. So the Warriors will want to add a bit of that into their attacking plan, but in order for that to work, their errors need to come down. On top of that, their defence must be top-notch, as the Panthers can score from anywhere and through anyone. It will take a huge effort, and if the Warriors are still in the hunt at halftime, then it is anyone's game. I'm sure Webby has a few tricks up his sleeve for his old mentor, and it should be a great match.
While I will be putting my money on the Warriors and genuinely think they could walk away with the victory, I think the Panthers at home will be too tough, so I have to pick the Panthers to get the win here in a tight contest by 8 but really hope I'm wrong.
So that was disappointing but not surprising Round 27, and as usual, I will leave you with some questions.
What changes would you make to the game day 17?
What would you do with Rocco Berry?
Do you think Webster has a few tricks up his sleeve that we have yet to see?
What is your score prediction against the Panthers?