Warriors 2016 season in review

In the five seasons following their last grand final appearance, the New Zealand Warriors have followed a near identical trajectory: starting off slowly, finding form mid-season, only to plateau during the final competition rounds.

Churning through four coaches during that period, the Warriors have proven to be the NRL's biggest disappointments leaving fans perplexed as to how a side with one of the largest and most talented junior bases, mixed with an impressive recruitment strategy has failed to deliver on its potential.

Coming off the back of a horror finish to 2015, culminating in a run of eight straight losses that saw the side fall from fourth to just one win ahead of the wooden spoon, the Warriors were buoyant about their prospects following the recruitment of Kiwi superstars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke, as well as the return of Shaun Johnson from injury. Further new faces included journeymen Blake Ayshford, James Gavet and Jeff Robson, whose experience and poise was expected to provide a calming influence upon the often-erratic side.

Early form in the Auckland 9's appeared to suggest the Warriors would be in for a successful campaign, going down to a retrospectively illegitimate Parramatta side in the tournament final to alleviate the pressure on coach Andrew McFadden. However, by halftime in the side's opening round clash against Wests Tigers, the calls to axe McFadden were palpable with the men from Auckland producing one of the worst halves of football seen in recent memory. While they managed a second-half fightback, the damage was done as the club slumped to its seventh consecutive opening round loss, sadly compounded by a career-ending knee injury to Kiwi utility Ben Henry. A further run of poor performances were punctuated occasionally by wins over the struggling Knights and Roosters, however just when the side looked to be building momentum, disaster would strike. In one of the Warriors' best performances of 2016, fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was ruled out for the remainder of the season following a torn ACL against Canterbury in Round 7, and a week later in the aftermath of a 0-42 shutout against the Storm on ANZAC Day, six senior players were stood down for prescription drug indiscretions, while an agonisingly poor showing in New Plymouth saw the Warriors head into the representative period languishing in 13th position.

With prop Jacob Lillyman the only player affected by Origin duties, the Warriors launched their customary mid-year revival with a resounding performance against Brisbane, an even larger win in Newcastle and a nail-biter over the Roosters to sit just outside the top eight. Showing themselves to be equally adept at piling on points as holding their defensive line, the New Zealanders endured a telling July with three of their four matches resulting in heartbreaking extra-time losses - against premiers Cronulla, as well as Manly and Canberra. Relief would be sweet however, as Shaun Johnson stepped up to break the run of losses with an 89th minute footwork tour de force against Penrith, once again leaving the Warriors in a position to launch a run towards September.

Heading into Round 22 the Warriors faced a mouth-watering clash on the Gold Coast headlined by the return of Jarryd Hayne to rugby league. With the largest regular season crowd in over six years turning out to Cbus Super Stadium, the New Zealanders stunned the Titans faithful with a 24-14 victory built on the back of a committed defensive performance combined with trademark attacking flair. Having defied critics and pundits alike, the side looked set for a relatively fair run home, only to conjure an abysmal finish that left fans remonstrating.

A run of four straight losses over the final month saw the team fall by the wayside, as shocking performances against also-rans South Sydney and Parramatta were compounded by a late fadeout in a do-or-die clash with Wests Tigers, a match unfortunately marred by a series of dubious refereeing calls. Ultimately the failure saw coach Andrew McFadden relegated to an assistant role, with New Zealand head coach Stephen Kearney installed to take over in 2017.

Turning point

Coming off the high of silencing the Titans on the Gold Coast, the Warriors faced a Rabbitohs outfit reeling from a cruel winter of nine-straight losses at Mt. Smart Stadium. Crossing for an early four pointer, the home side looked on track to book a spot in the finals, but a dismal showing saw South Sydney produce an emphatic 41-22 victory. Humbled by the Cowboys a week later in Townsville, the late season curse struck once again as Andrew McFadden's men bowed out of contention with two further losses at home, raising barely a whimper.

What worked

At their best the side played a brand of football as enterprising as it was defensive prudent. Exciting fans with ball movement difficult to contain, the Warriors proved they could be just as dangerous as any side in the competition, while ensuring teams had to fight until after the 80th minute to claim victory. Having challenging eventual premiers Cronulla in the Shire, the Auckland-based club has shown untapped potential, but consistency has long been an untreated plague supporters have had to endure.

What didn't work

While poor starts to campaigns have become commonplace for the Warriors, the magnitude of their 2016 capitulation is hard to fathom. While the long-term injury to star signing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck can be viewed as a contributor to the sides downfall, the fact they managed to produce their best performances of the season without the Kiwi fullback makes it difficult to comprehend how the team failed to reach the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Traditionally the New Zealanders have benefitted from an easy draw during the middle third of the season courtesy of Origin, but for all the excuses the recidivist nature of the Warriors makes it near impossible to see the premiership heading across the Tasman in the short term.

Best Players

In a season of such resounding disappointment a number of the sides younger brigade stood tall. Dismissing any case of second year syndrome, centre Solomone Kata was awarded with a place in the New Zealand 4 Nations squad courtesy of his 15 tries in 21 games, while David Fusitua made amends for a poor 2015 to cement his standing as an NRL player, showing immense versatility in the backline including a resounding four try haul against Newcastle mid-year. Not to be outdone by the backline, props Sam Lisione and Albert Vete bounced back from the clubs prescription drugs saga to announce themselves as logical successors to Jacob Lillyman and Ben Matulino in the starting forward pack.

Rookies

Boasting an entire country's worth of talent, the Warriors once again produced a number of graduates from their lower grades. With Ben Henry opting to hang up the boots following another serious injury, coach Andrew McFadden blooded a series of utility players throughout the year. Nathaniel Roache, Jazz Tevaga and Ata Hingano all spent time in the #14 role with varying degrees of success; Roache drawing comparisons to former Test player Jerome Ropati, Tevaga forcing Issac Luke onto the bench, while Hingano has been earmarked as a potential long-term prospect in halves. Others to impress in their debut season include back-rower Bunty Afoa, whose hole running style drew a great deal of praise, while Tofoafoa Sipley will ensure the sides front rower stocks remain competitive.

Lower Grades

Intrust Super Premiership NSW

Utilising a squad of 34 first grade players, the Warriors reserve grade squad frequently featured a revolving cast of NRL players. Bolstered furthermore by the return of former test forward Ali Lauititi, the ISP side qualified in fifth position but a poor finish to the year saw their chances of reaching the grand final fall by the wayside following a loss to Newtown in the Semi Finals. Impressive youngsters Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Mason Lino will be hopeful of time in the top grade following the appointment of Stephen Kearney, while veteran centre George Carmont made a late season cameo at age 38.

Holden Cup - Under 20's

Having made their claim as the dominant force in Under 20s throughout the competitions nine-year history, the Warriors experienced a miserly season to finish in 14th. Missing the playoffs for the first time, the side managed just eight wins and a draw, in a shift that looks to have seen Penrith assert themselves as the new powerhouse in the Holden Cup. Despite the poor results on the field, Nathaniel Roache and Bunty Afoa both received call-ups to the NRL squad, while utility Erin Clark featured in two tests for Samoa in a sign of positive things to come for the New Zealanders

2017 Chances

For too long the Warriors have promised so much but failed to deliver. With a roster brimming with world-class talent and the potential inclusion of former Kiwi test captain Kieran Foran pending NRL clearance, the side has the potential to win the premiership. However, history has shown three things to be certain in life: death, taxes and that the Warriors will disappoint.

Best lineup for next season

*based on current signings

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Ken Maumalo
3. David Fusitua
4. Solomone Kata
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Kieran Foran / Tuimoala Lolohea
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Jacob Lillyman
9. Issac Luke
10. Ben Matulino
11. Bodene Thompson
12. Ryan Hoffman (C)
13. Simon Mannering

14. Charlie Gubb
15. Sam Lisione
16. Albert Vete
17. Bunty Afoa