Premature Capitulation

supporter (noun)
1. a person or thing that supports;
2. an adherent, follower, backer, or advocate.

We'll be singing

When we're winning

We'll be singing

There are certain mysteries in life – some big, many small – that I have resigned myself to never truly understanding. The fatalistic psyche of many New Zealand sports fans must sit remarkably high on the list. In a country where we are used to being the underdog, there is a very vocal section of league fans who are willing to give up at almost the first sign of trouble. Sweeping statements seem to follow almost every loss, even when the season is only halfway through.

“Hopeless.” “They were pathetic.” “The season is over.” “We won’t win another game.” “Sack the coach.”

All aboard the fatalistic locomotion! Next stop: Capitulation Station!

Admittedly, many of these generalised displays of verbal defeat are merely the words of extremely passionate fans who are sorely disappointed by the performance of their team. As supporters, we place high expectations – sometimes unreasonably so – on the players and feel short changed when they don’t deliver.

I get knocked down

But I get up again

You're never going to keep me down

Warriors fans also make their opinions heard loud and clear by using their feet on a hauntingly regular basis, either by simply not going to home matches, or by leaving several minutes early. The home ground may have changed its name back to Mt Smart Stadium, but the “Ericsson Shuffle” is still alive and well. I have, on more than one occasion, witnessed fans leave early with a Warriors loss looking lightly, only for the home side to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the dying moments.

Is it really worth sacrificing the mass jubilation of a last minute victory in order to beat the traffic?

Or is it more a reflection of the general apathy that surrounds the Warriors in particular, especially among Aucklanders? In a city of more than one million people, the Penrose based club has one of the lowest crowd averages in the entire National Rugby League, despite a promising on field resurgence in recent weeks. It’s not that there aren’t many fans, but that the majority prefer to stay home in the warmth and comfort of their living rooms, supporting from afar. The general perception seems to be that it is cheaper, and it avoids the embarrassment of witnessing another ignominious defeat firsthand – a sorry mixture of convenience and apathy. There is also much less traffic.

But not all fans take this approach. A hardcore minority come each and every week, and not all of them are locals. Many fans come from out of town, regularly making long road trips to home matches, travelling hundreds of kilometres in order to get to Mt Smart Stadium. The return journey must seem twice as long after a loss.

I get knocked down

But I get up again

You're never going to keep me down

It is these fans – the ones who bear the scars of a weary and sometimes painful thirteen season campaign since the 1995 inception of the Warriors – who are the flesh and blood of the club. They have experienced firsthand both the depressing lows and the dizzying heights of a rollercoaster ride supporting their team, often all within an eighty minute period.

These fans do not view themselves as mere spectators at these matches, but as participants. They go, not to simply watch the players, but to help them along, too. This is also evident in Australia, with the Warriors chant regularly being heard on the television broadcast of away games.

But even if some Warriors fans appear to give up on the team before full time, the club has no intentions of giving up on their supporters. With the standoffish era of past management well and truly gone, the club is rewarding fans with away match functions as the team continues to entertain on the field.

I get knocked down

(We'll be singing)

But I get up again

You're never going to keep me down

(When we're winning)

Perhaps it would be worth some fans staying around for a full match in future. Their added support could make the difference between a match deciding play being an inspirational success or an embarrassing failure. After all, as the Warriors’ advertising campaign used to say, it’s just a matter of faith.

Source:
Song lyrics from ‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba

A Taste Of Tate

In the midst of a six match losing streak, Warriors fans found little to celebrate on the field as their team fell to the Sharks, Knights, Tigers, Eels, Bulldogs, and Storm in succession, dropping from fourth position to thirteenth position on the National Rugby League table. However, off the field, a major victory was won in the signing of Brisbane Bronco centre/winger Brent Tate on a three year contract. Tate, brother-in-law to Warriors captain Steven Price, would bring an impressive amount of experience – twelve State Of Origin appearances for Queensland, seventeen international caps for Australia, and a Premiership Winner’s Ring – to a backline that will be losing the seasoned understanding of another Premiership winner in Tony Martin, as well as Todd Byrne, a grand finalist.

Originally from the town of Roma, Queensland – a town which has also produced rugby league legends in current Kangaroo captain Darren Lockyer, former Bronco, Queensland, and Kangaroo winger Willie Carne, and the first Aboriginal to captain an Australian national side, and Immortal, Arthur Beetson – Tate has been such a thorn in the New Zealand side for so long, that it is hard to believe that he is only 25 years old. Kiwi rugby league fans have seen plenty of him in the green and gold, and have witnessed his immense skill on the international stage, often to their dismay.

Supporters were given a glimpse of where the club is headed when the Broncos visited the Newcastle Knights in Round Eleven, just three days before Tate’s signing was announced. During the previous week, the Warriors had granted junior centre/winger Cooper Vuna’s request for an immediate release, and he met the soon-to-be Auckland-bound Tate on the field. In the one-sided contest, which the Broncos won 71-6, Tate scored twice, including the try of the match from seventy metres out by running outside Vuna, his opposite, before running infield to evade the rushing Newcastle fullback and jog casually to score underneath the posts. It is this level of individual game breaking ability that the Warriors have been lacking on a consistent basis, despite a stunning 54-14 performance against the Penrith Panthers.

However, Tate’s signature isn’t set in stone – or ink, as the case may be. His new agreement is subject to a medical and fitness test. This clause was initially included to assess a potentially career-ending neck injury he received in a huge tackle at the hands of former Warriors winger Francis Meli in 2003. Tate must have been relieved when Meli left the club at the end of 2005, having received several damaging defensive hits from the former Kiwi winger. That relief was short lived, though, as Meli’s replacement turned out to be Manu Vatuvei, who at 1.89m (6ft 2in) and 113kg is both taller and heavier than Meli, a fact which Price continues to find plenty of humour in at his younger in-law’s expense.

Surgery and a protective neck brace have allowed him to return to the field, but he is now back in the recovery ward, having had an operation on Saturday after tearing both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial ligament in his left knee during the third State Of Origin match on July 4th. Tate was visibly emotional in the changing rooms after receiving news of the extent of his injury, and was seen being consoled by Price after the game, the Warriors captain no doubt doing his best to keep his Origin team mate in a positive mood.

Consequently, Tate has requested an early release from the Broncos to begin his entire recovery process under the watchful eye of former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew, so as to avoid having to change specialists partway through his rehabilitation. He and his wife have already found a house in Auckland, and they are expected to arrive at their new club as early as August.

Spending the extra six months or so with the team will also allow Tate to get to know his soon-to-be team mates and form relationships with them – an all too important aspect of the game as it builds trust and confidence between the players. Considering his previous run-ins with some of the current Warriors squad, a handshake and a polite greeting will be just what the doctor ordered!

Brent Tate
Age: 25
Position: Centre/Wing
NRL Record: 115 matches, 41 tries
State Of Origin Record: 12 matches, 4 tries
International Record: 17 matches, 11 tries

Still Paying The Price

The time has come

To say fair's fair

To pay the rent

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact's a fact

It belongs to them

Let's give it back

While the topic of rugby league is a trivial one in comparison to the true subject of Midnight Oil’s 1988 hit ‘Beds Are Burning’ – a plea for the land rights of aboriginal Australians – the lyrics seem appropriate for the plight of one player in his bid to represent his country.

That player is Warriors captain and Queensland prop Steve Price.

The last time the former Kangaroo played for Australia was on the 26th of November, 2005, in the Tri-Nations final. On that cold winter night in Leeds, the heavily favoured Australians had no answers for a fired up Kiwi team who played with an immense amount of passion. The New Zealanders kept their opponents scoreless for the first time in twenty years, running out victors with a 24-0 score line.

It was this loss which saw Price’s international career come to a grinding halt. This wasn’t because he performed poorly in the final, but because Jones – who only came out of international retirement after being persuaded to by Price – played extremely well, setting up three of the Kiwi side’s tries.

The Australian selectors, it seems, still haven’t forgiven Price for his apparently inexcusable indiscretion.

Rugby league and politics have never been far from each other, which isn’t entirely surprising considering the sport was born through a rebellion from the English Rugby Football Union in 1895, which itself had broken away from soccer in 1823.

But the continued omission of Steve Price from the Kangaroos side is beginning to look like the narrow minded approach of bitter selectors. One would think that a selector’s job is to choose the best players available based on their on field form, but this doesn’t seem to be the case where the Australians are concerned.No forward gained more meters each game in 2006 than Price, who averaged 155 metres per match, ranking fifth highest among all players. After fourteen rounds and eleven appearances in 2007, he has increased that average to 185.5 metres per match.

But perhaps the most impressive thing about Price is the way he has performed during and directly after State Of Origin matches. In the first State Of Origin match of 2007, he gained 195 metres, while making twenty-five tackles with no misses, three offloads, a line break, a charge down, and not a single error. Not bad for a player who at thirty-three years old is fourteen years older than the youngest player on the field, New South Wales winger Jarryd Hayne. Only five days later, he gained 130 metres for the Warriors against a dominant Bulldogs side.

The same thing happened three weeks later. After making 135 metres, thirty-five tackles without missing any, and two offloads in Queensland’s 10-6 series deciding victory over New South Wales, Price gained an incredible 306 metres and three offloads against the Sharks, just three days following the mid-week representative match. That Round 14 tally against the Sharks is a record for the most metres by a forward in the history of the National Rugby League. His effort against the Cowboys in Round 5, totalling 272 metres, ranks second.

It may seem strange for a passionate and patriotic New Zealander to be calling for the Kangaroos to select the form prop of the toughest competition in the world, but if the sport is to consistently succeed at the highest level, the best players have to be selected, not on reputation, but on form. Too often, personalities get in the way, or a club refuses to release a selected player to further their own domestic endeavours.

When Price was urging Jones to come out of international retirement, then Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett asked him why he was doing it. Price’s answer was simple: “For the good of the game.” Indeed, with the World Cup approaching in 2008, it must surely be the game itself that takes highest priority – not the politics.

Whether the Australian selectors are willing to accept it or not, Midnight Oil’s words ring loud and true.

The time has come

To say fair's fair

To pay the rent

To pay our share

The time has come

A fact's a fact

It belongs to him

So give it back!

Judicial Inequality?

Judicial Inequality?

During the court case in which former Wests Tiger Jarrod McCracken sued the Melbourne Storm and two of its former players, Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai, over a spear tackle in 2000 that prematurely ended his professional rugby league career, footage of the incident was broadcast as evidence. The tackle, as a result of which McCracken suffered neck and spinal injuries, earned the former Kiwi captain AUS$97,000. More importantly, however, it demonstrated the essential need to maintain player safety and welfare.

The National Rugby League introduced a new rule stating that a tackled player could not be placed onto the ground past a horizontal angle, so as to avoid unnecessary contact with the head. This makes perfect sense, of course, especially in light of the number of players who have had to give up the game because of a neck or spine injury, the most notable of recent times being Andrew Johns.

At the same time, the governing body has taken measures to protect its officials from physical and verbal abuse. The aforementioned Johns experienced this first hand in 2006 when he let out a tirade of angry words at a touch judge during one highly emotional game, after which he received a two match suspension at the hands of the judiciary.

But has the National Rugby League gone too far? In their efforts to ensure the safety of their employees, have they placed the welfare of match officials above that of the players themselves?

During the Round 5, 2007 match between the New Zealand Warriors and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a match that will be remembered as being the catalyst to a change of the obstruction rule, two other incidents occurred that attracted the attention of the judiciary, both involving Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon.

In the official Laws Of The Game, a player is deemed to be guilty of a Dangerous Throw “if, in any tackle of, or contact with, an opponent that player is so lifted that he is placed in a position where it is likely that the first part of his body to make contact with the ground will be his head or neck (‘the dangerous position’), then that tackle or contact will be deemed to been avoided”. [Section 15, Note 1 (d)]

In the second half of that match, Souths player Dean Widders and a fellow Rabbitoh lifted McKinnon in a tackle that saw the fullback to land headfirst onto the ground. However, referee Jason Robinson declined to award a penalty, saying to McKinnon: “You put yourself into that position”. For the referee to suspect a player would put his body into a dangerous and potentially career-ending position for a mere penalty is absurd enough, but when McKinnon pushed Robinson two minutes later, he found himself on the end of a contrary conduct charge.

As a one-eyed and biased Warriors fan, I completely agree that McKinnon was right to get charged. However, I take issue with the length of the ban in comparison to the one placed on Widders and other players guilty of dangerous throws, such as the Warriors’ own Michael Witt and Tony Martin a few weeks later. Widders was charged with a grade one dangerous throw, meaning an early guilty plea prevented him from missing any game time. In contrast, McKinnon was forced to sit on the sidelines for two weeks after pleading guilty to his grade three charge.

At what point was McKinnon’s act, which didn’t put the referee into any physical danger, worse than a tackle that could potentially remove a man from the playing field for good? It is right that the National Rugby League works to protect its officials, but what seems to be lacking is common sense.

Numerous other examples exist, some more relevant than others, in the recent history of the judiciary. In Round 5 alone, Widders, Dragon Ben Hornby, and Bronco Darius Boyd failed to miss any game time after taking early please following dangerous throws. Meanwhile, Jeremy Smith, the last player before McKinnon to manhandle a referee, sat out for four rounds following his indiscretion.

One would have thought a player’s safety would take a higher precedence over a referee’s comfort, especially when situations like McCracken’s arise. Clearly, the judiciary appear to disagree.

Sources:
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/devastated-wade-takes-ban/2007/05/01/1177788106427.html ‘Laws Of The Game 2007’ – NRL Rule Book

***Published in Issue Three of Super League Magazine, 2007***

Brothers In Arms

Brothers In Arms

The soldier shifted nervously as the small landing craft made its agonisingly slow passage towards the steep and rugged coastline. With the sun yet to rise, he squinted his eyes and peered through the darkness at the shadowed horizon. With his heart pounding, the Lance Corporal gripped his rifle firmly, double checking that his bayonet was in place, as the lifeboat was rowed closer to shore, the first crackles of gunfire audible from the towering ridges ahead.

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be

Charles Savory was never far from controversy. Born in Auckland in 1899, the keen sportsman initially picked up rugby union as his sport of choice. After allegedly kicking an opposition player in a club match in 1910, and receiving a two year ban as a result, Savory switched to rugby league, where he earned a reputation as a fearless and rugged prop forward.

He represented New Zealand in the thirteen man game against Australia in 1911, and played to such a high level that he was invited to join the Kangaroos on their tour of Great Britain, not unlike what Dally Messenger had done for the All Golds only four years earlier.

Some day you’ll return to
Your valley and your farms
And you’ll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Letting out a battle cry, the non-commissioned officer leapt from the boat and into the cold water of the Dardanelles, running as fast as he could, desperately trying to find safe ground amidst the fury of gunfire. As sunlight began to gently creep over the rugged terrain above them, the invading soldiers managed to dig themselves into positions in the side of the cliff.

Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I’ve witnessed your suffering
As the battle raged higher

During a 1912 match against Auckland club side Newton, Savory first found himself on the wrong side of the judiciary. Having been sent off during the game, and after a failed appeal, the burly prop was suspended for the rest of the season, costing him the opportunity to take part in a second tour of Australia.

The following year, just days after having been selected in the national side, Savory was caught in what he forever labelled a case of mistaken identity. At an inquiry held by the Auckland Rugby League, the Kiwi forward was found guilty of kicking and banned for life.

The New Zealand Rugby League’s reaction was swift, and although they selected another player to take Savory’s place in the tour, they allowed an appeal to be heard. After finding there was no case to answer, they allowed the former rugby union player to return to the playing field.

And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

The Lance Corporal took a deep breath as he looked over his equipment, making sure there was nothing missing and that he was ready for battle. The word had just come through: they were to advance on the enemy’s position. The soldier had encountered battle before, albeit on a rugby league field. The countrymen of his former opposition were now his comrades, fighting somebody else’s war in a far off land.

There’s so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

In the aftermath of Savory’s disqualification and reinstatement, a split formed between the Auckland Rugby League and the New Zealand Rugby League that still exists to this day. After earning another international cap in 1914, the man whom the controversy surrounded became the New Zealand amateur heavyweight boxing champion, before signing up to perform his duty after the outbreak of World War One.

Now the sun’s gone to hell
With the moon riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die

Yelling out “I’m going to fight for my country”, Lance Corporal Charles Savory charged the enemy positions in an ill-fated attack. He was killed by Turkish artillery fire, and was later credited for his bravery during the battle. Despite what some league officials had thought two years earlier, Savory proved in death that he had been a worthy representative of New Zealand.

But it’s written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We’re fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Lest we forget.

Sources:
www.cwgc.org
www.lighthorse.org.au
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Krithia
www.letssingit.com - song lyrics - 'Brothers In Arms' by Dire Straits, 1985
Wanganui Herald, 26th July 1915, Page 5
'The Kiwis: 100 Years Of International Rugby League' by John Coffey and Bernie Wood

Don't Shoot The Messenger

Don’t Shoot The Messenger

Just a castaway
An island lost at sea
Another lonely day
With no one here but me

On the 20^th of August, 2005, Andrew Johns spoiled Stacey Jones’ farewell party by engineering a solid 16-4 victory at what was then Ericsson Stadium. Jones’ final home game for the Warriors hadn’t gone to plan, but Johns made amends for this at the post match function, where he told a parochial crowd of Warriors fans of his respect and admiration for The Little General.

Just over eighteen months later, and with Johns’ retirement still hitting the headlines, Jones was able to return the favour.

“His competitiveness – his skill – was just a level above everyone else,” said the New Zealander of his rival at both club and international level, “and also the confidence he brought out in the players that he was playing with.”

It isn’t often that rivals publicly compliment each other, but when Andrew Johns shocked the rugby league world on the 10^th of April by retiring from the game – following what looked like an innocuous collision with fellow Knights players at a mid-week practice – it brought about an end to a stellar career, and plaudits were predictably swift from around the world, from friend and foe alike.

More loneliness
Than any man could bear
Rescue me
Before I fall into despair

After all, 249 first grade games, 23 matches for New South Wales in the State Of Origin series, 21 tests for the Kangaroos, two NRL Premierships, two Dally M Medals, and a Clive Churchill Medal tend to make opposition teams respect a player.

Newcastle recovered well to bounce back from the shock to defeat the resurgent Rabbitohs 23-22, with young New South Welshman Jarrod Mullen looking to fill Johns’ giant shoes. Fittingly, the club has announced that the number seven jersey will be retired for one week.

But it isn’t just the Newcastle Knights who need to find a replacement player for Andrew Johns. Of all the teams to be missing his presence, it is the Kiwis who ironically find themselves in an awkward position following the former Kangaroo captain’s retirement.

Johns was to have become the second Dally Messenger.

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I'll send an S.O.S. to the world

The first, Herbert Henry Messenger, was born in New South Wales in 1883. Initially a rugby union player, he travelled as part of the 1907-1908 All Golds team that played against and defeated Great Britain two matches to one, the tour marking the birth of international rugby league. Dally played a total of four tests for the Kiwis, scoring two tries and five goals.

With nigh on a century having passed since that momentous occasion, the New Zealand Rugby League invited Andrew Johns to play as a modern day Dally Messenger in a commemorative tour to Great Britain. The choice, it seemed, was a simple one.

Both Messenger and Johns were creative players who revolutionised the way the game was played. Messenger even forced a rule change, when, upon kicking the ball behind the opposition players, he ran out of the field of play, around the oncoming defenders, and back onto the field to finish off the attack and score a try.

Likewise, Johns has changed the way the game is played, with his all round quality – his ability to set up tries with a cut out pass, a grubber kick, a chip and chase, or a towering bomb, all perfectly complementing his strength in the defensive line.

I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

And so now, it seems, the New Zealand Rugby League must come up with yet another Messenger to find their way out of this unfortunate conundrum. To do otherwise would not only make Andrew Johns’ invitation hollow and meaningless, but it would also make a mockery of the game’s first international pioneers.

The most obvious suggestion for a replacement would have to be Brisbane Broncos playmaker Darren Lockyer, but with the club’s long history of refusing a number of players to join the Kiwis squad, and with ex-Roosters standoff Brad Fittler also being touted as a possibility, the true identity of the new Messenger remains to be seen.

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle!

Song lyrics from ‘Message In A Bottle’ by The Police
www.letssingit.com
www.nrl.com
www.warriors.co.nz
www.wikipedia.org
“The Kiwis: 100 Years Of International Rugby League” by John Coffey and Bernie Wood, 2006

***Published in Issue Two of Super League Magazine, 2007***

Offload Preview - Sea Eagles -V- Warriors, Round 4, 2007

The Matchup:
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles versus the New Zealand Warriors.
Sunday 8^th April, 4pm (NZT), Brookvale Oval, Sydney.

History:
The Sea Eagles and the Warriors first met in round 5, 1995, with the Warriors losing at home. This trend has since continued, with the winner of all but two of their eleven matches being the away side. The teams have played eleven times, with the Warriors coming out victorious five times – four of those five victories were at Brookvale Oval.

Last Five Encounters:
2004, Round 4: Sea Eagles 10-28 Warriors
2004, Round 10: Warriors 20-42 Sea Eagles
2005, Round 1: Warriors 20-26 Sea Eagles
2005, Round 25: Warriors 22-20 Sea Eagles
2006, Round 5: Warriors 8-22 Sea Eagles

Last Week:
The Warriors stumbled to the in-form Melbourne Storm, conceding an early 14-0 deficit. The club managed to regather, though, and ended up losing 30-12, avoiding what could have been a very embarrassing score line.

The Sea Eagles were fairly decisive in their victory over the Roosters, despite a slow start. After trailing 8-6 early in the second half, they powered to a 30-8 win.

In The Engine Room:
The Warriors forwards struggled against the Storm last week, due in part to the slippery surface at Olympic Park, but mostly because the Melbourne defence moved up quickly and prevented a lot of go-forward. Ruben Wiki gained only 65m, and Steve Price only managed 81m. Similar gains were made by Micheal Luck (77m), Evarn Tuimavave (77m), Epalahame Lauaki (70m), and Sam Rapira (65m). The defensive efforts from the forward pack was admirable, however.

The Manly forwards had a field day against the embarrassed Roosters. Jason King (161m), Brent Kite (138m), and Anthony Watmough (181m) punished their opposition.

Out The Back:
The Warriors’ backline struggled in Melbourne, with gaps appearing on the fringes, particularly on the right hand side. Coach Ivan Cleary was quick to make changes, however, and the slightly smaller, slightly slower Manly backline should be much easier to contain than the Storm were.

The most dangerous players for the Sea Eagles appear to be fullback Brett Stewart and centre Jamie Lyon. These two players both made more than 100m, and also did most of the scoring, with 18 points between them.

Injury Ward:
For the Warriors, Jerome Ropati (hamstring), Wairangi Koopu (shoulder), Louis Anderson (ankle), and Aiden Kirk (knee) are all still unavailable for selection.

The Sea Eagles are without Matt Orford (knee), Steve Matai (ankle), and Steve Menzies (groin).

Taking The Punt:
Warriors Logan Swann and Sam Rapira celebrate two separate achievements this weekend. For Swann, this will be his 150^th match for the club, whereas Rapira will take the field on his 20^th birthday. Ivan Cleary has showed faith in his side, despite losing to the Storm, and has named an unchanged seventeen – the only alteration being Nathan Fien will start, with George Gatis to start on the bench. The Sea Eagles have named an unchanged line up from last week, and while they have shown that they have depth, their backline may struggle, especially without the assistance of halfback Matt Orford. Both sides finished well last week after a slow start, so look for some fireworks as the game progresses. Warriors by 6.

Offload - Issue 3, 2007

Humbling Loss Reveals Hidden Insights

The Warriors have an opportunity to bounce back against the Manly Sea Eagles this weekend after stumbling against one of the early form teams of 2007 in Melbourne last week. The Auckland-based franchise were simply outclassed by last year's Minor Premiers, and the result was essentially decided inside the first twenty minutes.

But Warriors fans can take heart from their team's turnaround. Coach Ivan Cleary recognised the need for a bit of extra power in the forwards, and brought Epalahame Lauaki onto the field, moved lock Simon Mannering to centre, Lance Hohaia to standoff, and Michael Witt was shifted to the bench. Even though Witt returned to the field at a later stage, the initial changes solidified the team and the defense against a very elusive Melbourne Storm backline.

If nothing else, this positional switch proved that Cleary isn't afraid to recognise when the initial game plan isn't working, and that he is prepared to make the big calls during the game. It also highlights his ability to read the game, to analyse where the team's strengths and weaknesses are, and to decide what needs to be done to bolster the side where it is needed.

Too many coaches would have stood back and thrown their hands up in frustration after conceding almost a point a minute early on, but once Cleary had changed his tactics, the points scored thereafter totalled a narrow 16-10 lead in favour of the Storm.

An interesting aspect of the match against the Storm was the statistics. They usually tell a fairly conclusive story, but in that match, the Warriors were either on par or had the upper hand in almost every department, including metres gained and penalties conceded. Errors were made by both sides, but those committed by Warriors players proved to be at more crucial times, and ultimately proved to be more costly. Cleary will be aware of this, and will have drilled the appropriate concentration and tactics into his side.

The Manly Sea Eagles will witness firsthand just how much of a turnaround the Warriors have been able to make on the training ground during the week.

Life And Death And Rugby League

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” – Bill Shankly

One man.

Peter Taylor. A remarkable man, and the person solely responsible for my discovery of rugby league, it was he who taught me the rules and educated me about the teams to watch. He let me stay up way past my bedtime to watch his beloved Easts taking on all and sundry. He pointed out the greats of the day: Andrew Ettinghausen; Allan Langer; Mal Meninga. We spent many evenings watching these legends as he taught me all I needed to know about rugby league.

In 1995, he took me to my first match. The date was March 10th, 1995, and for the previous week, I had been practicing my role in the Warriors’ opening ceremony. After the game had begun, I was rushed up to a corporate box to enjoy the spectacle. Dad was right behind me all the way.

One moment.

In the final home match of the 1999 season, the Warriors took on the Newcastle Knights. It was my first year as a season ticket holder, and I had taken my father along to the game in the hopes of convincing him to buy one for himself the following year. It was a tough ask. The opposition was class, led by the brilliant Andrew Johns. And to add to my poor chances of persuasion, it was raining heavily.

But after eighty minutes of dominant football, and with the Warriors securing an unprecedented 42-0 win, the seed had been sown and Dad bought a season ticket for every season from 2000 onwards. It was always a special time at the game. We bonded as a father and son should, discussing everything from team selections to politics, as our team either excited or embarrassed us with their performances on the field.

One heart.

We united in our support for our club. From the dizzying heights of our Grand Final appearance in 2002, to the dismaying depths of our fall from grace in 2004, we were at the ground every week, cheering from the sidelines. We were there when the club farewelled Ivan Cleary and Kevin Campion after their final home game in 2002, and we were there in the final round of the 2004 season when we waited with hesitation to find out if it was us who had won the wooden spoon, or if it belonged to the Rabbitohs.

And then, all of a sudden, that bond was shattered.

On the evening of Friday, March 23rd, 2007, just two days before the Warriors hosted the Brisbane Broncos, my father passed away after suffering a fatal heart attack. It was a sudden and unexpected death, but the slight smile that rested on his face assured us that there had been no suffering.

One empty seat.

I still attended the Warriors match that Sunday, and sat next to where Dad would have watched the game from. Prior to kickoff, the ground announcer spoke of his passing and of his support of the club. I proudly watched as 16,738 fans listened in silence, soaking it all in.

While it felt somewhat awkward to watch the match in my father’s absence, the 24-14 result was a fitting tribute to a league man who had seen his fair share of highs and lows, both on and off the field. I took pride in cheering and booing on his behalf, and called Warriors captain Steve Price to thank the team for earning what was for me a very sentimental victory.

One less voice to boo the ref; one less voice to cheer on the team.

Peter Taylor wasn’t a former international league player, nor was he a foundation club member. He didn’t coach a first grade side or train youngsters about proper tackling techniques. But he did raise a son and teach him to love the greatest game in the world.

Perhaps the legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly wasn’t so far from the truth when he spoke about life and death as they pertain to sport. Sometimes they can mean the one and the same.

One man, one moment, one heart. One empty seat. One less voice to boo the ref; one less voice to cheer on the team.

Peter Taylor

1946~2007

Father; fan; warrior; friend.

Until we meet again.

***Published in Issue Two of Super League Magazine, 2007***

Offload Preview - Storm -V- Warriors, Round 3, 2007

The Matchup:
The Melbourne Storm versus the New Zealand Warriors.
Sunday 1^st April, 2pm (NZT), Olympic Park, Melbourne.

History:
The Storm have long had a Kiwi connection associated with them, dating back to their inception when they fielded players like Stephen Kearney and Tawera Nikau – something that has always added that extra bit of meaning to their matches against the New Zealand-based Warriors. The passing of Melbourne Storm team manager Michael Moore in 2000 has added a sombre aspect to the clashes, with the Michael Moore Trophy contested each time the two teams meet. The Warriors currently hold the trophy.

Last Five Encounters:
2004, Round 16: Storm 42-6 Warriors
2005, Round 14: Warriors 24-16 Storm

2005, Round 23: Storm 22-10 Warriors

2006, Round 1: Warriors 16-22 Storm
2006, Round 24: Storm 20-24 Warriors

Last Week:
The Warriors blitzed the Brisbane Broncos in the second quarter of their round two match at Mt Smart Stadium, but failed to capitalise on their lead in the second half. Their early efforts proved enough, however, as they ended up winning 24-14.

The Storm won their second consecutive match, beating a keen but inexperienced Canberra Raiders side 32-16. That follows their first round defeat of the Wests Tigers, with a narrow 18-16 score line.

In The Engine Room:
It should come as no surprise that Warriors captain Steve Price should be the man to watch when it comes to gaining metres up the middle. Against the Broncos he continued his strong early season form, gaining 148m.

The Storm props, Antonio Kaufusi and Brett White, struggled against the Raiders last week, gaining only 54m and 77m respectively. It was their backs who provided most of the gains.

Out The Back:
Warriors winger Michael Crockett scored another brace of tries last week, and he now leads the try scoring statistics across all sixteen teams. Michael Witt stood up against the Broncos, as did Tony Martin and Manu Vatuvei.

Billy Slater returned to form against the Raiders, scoring a try, breaking the Canberra line three times, and gaining a team high 167m. How he compares to Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon will be of high interest.

Injury Ward:
For the Warriors, Jerome Ropati (hamstring) failed to return to the field last week, but it is hoped he will be back by round four. Wairangi Koopu (shoulder), Louis Anderson (ankle), and Aiden Kirk (knee) are all still unavailable for selection. Patrick Ah Van (shoulder) makes his return in reserve grade for the Auckland Lions.

The Storm are without Adam Blair (unknown), Matt Rua (wrist), and Steve Turner (ankle). Michael Crocker returns from injury this week.

Taking The Punt:
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has selected an unchanged team to face the Storm. With both teams undefeated, the quality of opposition must come into account, and the Warriors have dispatched better sides, particularly the Broncos. The Warriors look stronger in the forwards, but the Storm have always excelled with their backs. Look for some great match ups including Slater versus McKinnon and Inglis versus Witt. This will be a close match, and a tough one to call. Warriors by 4.

Offload - Issue 2, 2007

Cleary’s Crew Makes It Two From Two

The Warriors made club history when they beat the Broncos 24-14 on Sunday, the first time the club has won both of its first two matches in a season. They sit fourth on the table, one of only six teams undefeated in 2007, alongside the Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm and Knights.

After two rounds in 2006, the Warriors were eight competition points off the lead, but one year later it is only point differential that prevents them from sitting in first place. The strong start is evidence of coach Ivan Cleary’s impressive start in his second year as a first grade coach, ignoring the much talked about ‘second year syndrome’.

Another who appears to be performing well in his second season in the top grade is 2006 Dally M Rookie of the Year nominee Grant Rovelli. The 24-year-old halfback has guided the team effectively behind a forward pack that has dominated its opposition. With freedom to roam, and time to plan, the halfback has averaged 1.5 try assists in his first two matches, twice that of his 2006 average.

That has helped the team to average five tries and 29 points per match, compared to just over four tries and 23 points in 2006. Six points may not sound like much, but the Warriors lost five matches last season by that margin or less. If they had won each of those matches, the team could have finished the regular season as high as fourth.

The ability to extract extra points from all aspects of the attacking formation seems to have officially arrived, with points being scored on both flanks and in the centre. New recruits Michael Witt, Wade McKinnon, and Michael Crockett, have already proven their worth, claiming six of the ten tries scored so far. Crockett especially has excelled with regards to finding the try line, with four tries to his name. He has shown a lot of pace – impressive for someone who has previously snapped a hamstring.

Defensive efforts have also improved across the board, and if captain Steve Price and vice captain Ruben Wiki continue to lead the way up front, the signs are positive for a season in which the Warriors are likely to return to the finals series.

In Memoriam - Peter Taylor - 1946-2007

Peter Raymond Taylor

1946 ~ 2007

Peter Taylor was my father for as long as I can remember. He didn’t like to be made a fuss of. Even when it came to his birthday, he only ever wanted deodorant and socks. But I’m proud to be his son, and I’m happy to boast of how wonderful he was.

Dad had an infectious personality, and he loved to tell stories, even if you’d heard them before and knew how they ended. He loved telling jokes, but had a dismally small repertoire, which resulted in a lot of repeated punch lines. I lost count of the number of times I heard him say “I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous”.

Dad was a non-conformist who did things his way. He didn’t like working in a suit. Even now, he’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt. And he taught me how to shave with a manual razor over the phone.

He often got called a Barnabas – an encourager. I saw this in action many times. He would never shy away from an opportunity to encourage or uplift someone when he saw the need.

Dad was a great giver, too. Not just of his finances, but also his time. He used to like sharing certain things exclusively with those close to him. With me, our special times were spent at Warriors matches. When I first convinced him to buy a season ticket, in 2000, we entered the stadium as a father and son, but over the following seven seasons, we grew together as best friends – my closest male friend was a baby boomer! We would talk about anything and everything: league, of course, but also religion, politics, girls, relationships, and life in general. That was where our friendship grew and blossomed, in Row L, seats 3 and 4. We laughed, we cried, (and as Warriors fans we were entitled to our fair share of tears), and we booed and cheered our way through each match.

Dad’s seat was empty last week, but I cheered on his behalf, and the team’s win was a fitting tribute to him. The ground announcer also spoke of his passing prior to the match, passing on the club's condolences as more than 16,000 people silently heard of Dad's dedication to the club.

Peter Taylor was a humble gentleman with a big heart for anyone, friends and strangers alike, who just needed love. It seems only fitting that it should be his heart that eventually called him up to heaven.

Offload Preview - Warriors -V- Broncos, Round 2, 2007

The Matchup:
The New Zealand Warriors versus the Brisbane Broncos.
Sunday 25^th March, 4pm (NZT), Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland.

History:
These two teams have a rivalry that goes right back to season one, round one. The Warriors have managed to beat the Broncos only seven times from twenty-one encounters. All seven victories have come during the last twelve matches, since the Warriors initial defeat of Brisbane in 2001.

Last Five Encounters:
2004, Round 22: Warriors 14-21 Broncos
2005, Round 2: Brisbane 12-24 Warriors
2005, Round 16: Warriors 30-18 Broncos
2006, Round 13: Warriors 18-23 Broncos
2006, Round 26: Brisbane 36-12 Warriors

Last Week:
In round one, the Warriors were decisive in putting the Parramatta Eels to the sword, running out 34-18 victors. Their first half effort was particularly impressive, and the went to the break with a 24-0 lead.

The Broncos did well to come back from a 16-6 half time deficit to draw level, before letting the Cowboys escape their grasp in the dying minutes. The final score was 23-16.

In The Engine Room:
In Steve Price and Ruben Wiki, the Warriors have a significant advantage when it comes to gaining metres. Against the Eels in round one, they gained 304 metres between them, Price in particular carrying on his impressive 2006 form.

For the Broncos, on the other hand, Dane Carlaw and Petero Civoniceva managed a respectable 216 metres, but Carlaw only contributed to 64 of those. He will need to provide more if the Brisbane backs are to reap many rewards.

Out The Back:
The Warriors found two of their new signings, Wade McKinnon and Michael Crockett, to be of particular use, as the pair started and completed attacking plays respectively. The Australians scored three of the Warriors’ six tries against the Eels.

Brisbane’s halves pairing of Shane Perry and Karmichael Hunt will be looking to make an impression in the absence of key playmaker Darren Lockyer. Hunt will especially savour the opportunity to perform well on New Zealand soil.

Injury Ward:
For the Warriors, Jerome Ropati has recovered from a hamstring injury, but has failed to make the first grade side, while Wairangi Koopu (shoulder), Louis Anderson (ankle), Patrick Ah Van (shoulder), and Aiden Kirk (knee) were unavailable for selection. Captain Steve Price fractured a finger the day before the match against Parramatta, but is still expected to lead the side against Brisbane.

The Broncos lost playmaker Darren Lockyer (ankle) and second rower Corey Parker (wrist) in round one, while David Stagg has yet to recover from a shoulder reconstruction.

Taking The Punt:
With Evarn Tuimavave joining the Warriors bench, it looks like coach Ivan Cleary is looking to turn this into a battle up front. If he gets his way, and Dane Carlaw performs similarly to the way he did last week, look to the Warriors backs to make easy metres around the tiring Brisbane forwards. Warriors captain Price will be looking forward to another opportunity to make his brother-in-law Brent Tate leave the field without two competition points. A wounded Bronco is particularly dangerous, but the Warriors should have enough firepower to put this stallion out of its misery. Warriors by 10.

Offload - Issue 1, 2007

Warriors Look Impressive While New Coaches Have Mixed First Round

The 2007 season of the NRL is well and truly about fresh starts. With the Gold Coast Titans entering the fray for the first time, numerous players have scattered far and wide to find new teams, new homes, and new contracts. But another group of people have been spinning the turnstiles into overdrive in the off season: coaches. Of the sixteen teams contesting the Premiership, only half have retained their head coaches from the previous season. The other eight, comprising of the Eels, Knights, Sharks, Roosters, Titans, Rabbitohs, Raiders, and Panthers, have a fresh face at the helm, and after one round they have brought about mixed results.

Only the Knights, (25-24 over the Bulldogs), the Sharks, (18-0 over the Panthers), and the Rabbitohs, (18-6 over the Roosters), were victorious in their first non-trial game under the helm of new coaches, but it is far too early to predict how these teams might fare throughout a full 25-round competition.

However, it could be said that the added stability that other teams have could count in their favour. Warriors captain Steve Price cited this steadiness as a contributing factor to the club’s opening 34-18 victory over the Eels.

With greater depth in the squad and a more believable desire to put together genuinely solid performances, the Warriors are already looking like potential top eight material. And with an even starting position in 2007, they are already six points ahead of where they were this time last year.

The game day experience has also improved, with local band The Black Seeds entertaining the crowd shortly after the Auckland Lions ran out 27-8 victors over the Paramatta Eels Premier League team. A three hundred member kapa haka group performed to a respectfully silent crowd who soaked in the impressive display, and fireworks were set off above the Eastern Stand shortly before the two teams took to the field.

All of these things are contributing to the atmosphere of seeing a game live at Mt Smart Stadium – an atmosphere that has waned over recent years.

With better performances on the field, and better entertainment off it, the Warriors are working hard to win back fans. A sizeable crowd for their round two match against reigning Premiers the Broncos would be just desserts for a solid pre-season from the players and staff alike.