NRL - New Zealand Warriors 2017 Season Review

New Zealand Warriors 2017 Season Review

The Warriors entered 2017 with some optimism with both the inning foster five-eight Keiron Foran and under under newly appointed head coach Steven Kearney. Once again on paper this side looked like a Top 8 roster however like the previous 5 seasons they flattered to deceive finishing in 13th place, making it 6 years in a row without finals football after making the Grand Final in 2011. 

Season Ranking - 13th (7 Wins, 17 Losses, 444 Point Scored, 575 Against) 

Season Rating 1/10 - 1 Is the lowest rating I have given any team this year, however I feel the Warriors deserve it based on what they served up in 2017. I'm sorry, but I struggle to see any positives out of 2017 for the Warriors in which they deservedly finished in the Bottom 4 and put in several toothless displays. It was their 6th straight season outside the finals and, with the roster at their disposal, another gross underachievement for the sleeping giants of the NRL. The culture at the Warriors appears to be very poor with such brittle performances dominating their season once again. Their performances in Australia were often pretty spineless, and the only life in their season came during the Origin period when they take advantage of Clubs that are under strength. Once again, they finished the season deplorably with 7 straight losses. Major changes are required to turn this Club around it would seem. 

Coach Rating - 4/10 - It's hard to pin it all on Stephen Kearney in his first season at a Club that had missed the finals the previous five seasons. However, with a spine at his disposal of Tuivasa Sheck, Foran, Johnson and Luke,  Kearney really ought to have got a bit more out of this side. There was to be doubts about Kearney as a quality First Grade Coach, given his two underwhelming seasons at Parramatta, followed by this first up effort at the Warriors. I think the Warriors have bigger problems than simply the Coach, given they have turned over plenty of coaches over the years for similarly average results since Ivan Cleary's successful stint at the Club. However, that does not mean Kearney is not under intense pressure heading into next season. 

Best Win - Round 9 New Zealand Warriors 14 Sydney Roosters 13 @ Mount Smart Stadium  

This was clearly the best win of the Warriors' season, for mine, against a quality opponent in the Roosters in a real war of attrition. The Warriors trailed this game for the majority of the last 20 minutes, and usually they would throw in the towel if that were the case, but here they hung tough before pinching it with a late penalty goal. 

Worst Loss - Round 22 Newcastle Knights 26 New Zealand Warriors 10 @ McDonald Jones Stadium 

There were a host of listless displays from the Warriors in 2017, but none worse than their 26-10 loss to the Wooden Spooners in the Knights in Newcastle. This was a game the Warriors were never really in, against a side they were well capable of beating on paper. Coach Steven Kearney questioned the attitude of a number of players after this game, but still rolled out most of the same names for the remaining four rounds as they finished the season dismally.

Best Player - Roger Tuivasa Sheck - Whilst Sheck has perhaps failed to hit the heights that he did at the Roosters, I thought the Warriors' Captain was pretty consistent and dependable in a side with many under-performers. With 9 tries, 15 line breaks and running for over 3900 meters, Sheck involved himself in most games, and added touches of class to the end of several back line movements. 

Most Disappointing Player - Kieran Foran - It might seem harsh to plump for Foran, given he only played 17 games and was hampered by injuries for much of the season. However, I was disappointed by a number of displays, particularly after he started the season really well. I think both his involvement in games, and body language, dropped off once he had signed for the Bulldogs. Now, heading to his 4th Club in 4 years, Foran is not the sure bet he used to be, and will be under intense pressure to perform at the Bulldogs. 

2018 Propects (Grim) - I honestly can't see this side turning it around in 2018. I think as things stand they are favourites for the Wooden Spoon given their displays this season, and some of the departing names from the Club. The likes of Foran, Matalino, Hoffman and Lillian are four experienced players that have yet to replaced, with a rumoured big money move for Adam Blair seemingly about to be finalised. I have my doubts about Blair as a big money signing and, with little quality depth, Stephen Kearney will have his hands full in 2018 to try and get this team off the bottom.