2022 Preview: Warriors

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As our 2022 NRL club preview series draws to a close in the next 24 hours, Rob Crosby looks at the NRL's most selfless club - the Warriors - and how their year ahead looks.

Nomads hope for a return to the promised land

Few teams have faced a level of sustained adversity quite like the New Zealand Warriors during the era of COVID.

Heading into their third straight year based in a foreign land, the Warriors will be eyeing off two grand returns in 2022 - a top eight finish and, more importantly, a homecoming across the Tasman.

Setting up camp in Redcliffe following two seasons on the Central Coast and in the Queensland bubble, coach Nathan Brown will be hoping to reverse a trend of close losses after watching his side fall agonisingly short by six points or less on seven occasions throughout last season, including a trio of one-point defeats that saw the side finish the year in 12th position.

Bidding farewell to captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck following an influential six season stint, the return of Shaun Johnston shapes as a monumental move for the club in turning closely-fought contests into wins and nurturing the likes of Reece Walsh and Chanel Harris-Tavita through the rigours of first grade rugby league. Additional signings include emerging prop Aaron Pene, on-loan outside-back Jesse Arthars and recently upgraded half Ashley Taylor.

Opening the new campaign with a Saturday evening clash against the Dragons on the Sunshine Coast, the Warriors are tentatively scheduled for a long overdue homecoming in July opposite the Tigers.

Why they'll win it

When Shaun Johnson was shown the door at the end of the 2018 season, few would have envisioned the superstar half ever returning to the land of the long white cloud. Fast forward three years and Johnson's homecoming looms as one of the most significant signings made by the club over the past decade. Returning from Cronulla as a more mature player, the 31-year-old has been able to refine his skills as a game manager rather than relying upon the flamboyance that made him a New Zealand icon as a younger man. With the side losing a host of matches by narrow margins last year, the addition of Johnson may provide the polish needed to reverse those results into wins.

Why they won't

For as gallant as the Warriors have been since the onset of the pandemic, the toll of perpetually playing away from home has unquestionably seen the resolve of the playing group waver at times.

Wilting in the face of adversity against Melbourne and South Sydney last year, the most damning performance came in the final round encounter with the Titans where the build up of frustrations spilled over into ugly scenes during the closing stages.

While the pressures of the nomadic lifestyle has resulted in some inspired displays of resilience over the past two years, it is hard to see the Warriors continuing to play with tenacity three years into the pandemic should results prove hard to come by and another variant of the virus emerge.

The draw - how the Warriors' schedule stacks up

Opening the year with four matches against bottom eight teams over the opening five rounds, the Warriors will face a difficult fortnight towards the end of April with clashes against the Roosters and Storm on the road.

Scheduled to play their first match in New Zealand in three years following the second State of Origin fixture, the side will relish the home crowd support in fixtures against the Tigers, Storm, Bulldogs and Titans during the race to September.

Key player

Few players have risen to such heights as quickly as Reece Walsh in 2021.

Beginning the year unable to crack the top 17 at the battling Broncos before ascending to State of Origin selection mere months after debuting in first grade, the teenage talent will be a marked man in his second season.

Having been able to dazzle opposition players unfamiliar with his natural flair last year, the star fullback will need to evolve his game or risk becoming the latest in a long line of players to struggle in the transition from rookie to regular first-grader.

Set to benefit immensely from the presence, on and off the field, of Shaun Johnson - a player similarly familiar with the pressures of instant stardom - the Warriors will be banking on Walsh's brilliance to break back into finals football for the first time in four years.

Rookie to watch

With several positions in the backline up for grabs, Mangere East junior Edward Kosi will be pressing his case for regular game time on the wing. Averaging 100 running metres across five appearances during his rookie season, the 23-year-old generated praise for possessing the physique fans have come to expect from wingers in Warriors colours.

Following the departures of Ken Maumalo and David Fusitua over the past twelve months, Kosi will have his sights set on cementing a place in the top grade come round one and never yielding his jersey for the ensuing 25 rounds.

Player movements

Inbound: Jesse Arthars (Broncos - on-loan), Shaun Johnson (Sharks), Aaron Pene (Storm), Ashley Taylor (Titans)

Outbound: Peta Hiku (Cowboys), Sean O'Sullivan (Panthers), Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Cowboys), Chad Townsend (Cowboys), Paul Turner (Titans), Kane Evans (Hull FC), David Fusitua (Leeds), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZ Rugby Union), Leeson Ah Mau (retired)

Best 17

1. Reece Walsh
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Euan Aitken
4. Rocco Berry
5. Edward Kosi
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Matt Lodge
11. Eliesa Katoa
12. Josh Curran
13. Tohu Harris (C)

14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Ben Murdoch-Masila
16. Aaron Pene
17. Jazz Tevaga

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