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***