It’s impossible to understate what a brilliant job rookie NRL head coach Andrew Webster has done in transforming the Warriors into a genuine premiership threat.
Probably the most impressive thing about what Webster has done is the way he’s got the entire Warriors squad to buy in and believe in what he’s trying to build.
The Warriors signed Webster in July of last year meaning the new coach had almost zero input into the playing group club CEO Cameron George and general manager of football Andrew McFadden had already assembled.
BLOG WITH HOOPS BELOW FROM 1.30PM AEST
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >>>
Warriors deny epic Raiders comeback | 02:28
One of the first things Webster did when he signed was pick up the phone and call every single Warriors player to pump them up and tell them how excited he was about what he thought the club could achieve.
Plenty of NRL coaches who inherit a roster will immediately go about trying to make changes – Webster simply looked at the players the Warriors already had on board and then went about designing a style of play he thought could win games.
There isn’t a player at the Warriors this season who hasn’t improved under the tutelage of the new coach.
The Warriors recruitment of Marata Niukore, Mitch Barnett, Dylan Walker, Jackson Ford, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Luke Metcalf has been vindicated with a return to form that sees the club currently sitting outright third as they freshen up with a bye in round 22.
The club’s run home of Gold Coast (away), Wests Tigers (Hamilton), Manly (home), St George Illawarra (home) and Dolphins (away) sets the Warriors up as being a genuine chance of competing for the minor premiership.
It’s an example of what good coaching and a playing group who buy in and believe can achieve.
MORE NRL NEWS
BIG HITS: Panthers mission proves they are ‘real deal’, Mahoney move slammed
‘DON’T USUALLY COMPLAIN’: Fuming coach’s please explain for NRL
BIG HITS: DCE behind stunning first half as Sharks’ grim issue laid bare again
Eels hooker Hodgson set to retire | 00:35
The Newcastle Knights win over Melbourne Storm on Super Saturday was a return to the gritty Novocastrian sides of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Trailing 12-0, there was a genuine concern it could have been a blow out scoreline with Melbourne looking in a mood.
But to Newcastle’s credit the playing group responded with probably the club’s most impressive performance of the past two seasons.
It was a much-needed win for coach Adam O’Brien who’d been dealt a hard set to cards last week when it emerged the Knights had made a discreet approach to Des Hasler prior to the two-time premiership-winner signing with the Gold Coast.
If O’Brien can pilot the Knights into the finals then the club needs to back the coach to see out the final season of his current contract.
That’s the job they hired him to do. Next year will be his fifth season at the helm which includes finals appearances in his first two years at the club.
The way O’Brien handled the news about Knights boss Phil Gardner’s great mate Jeff McCloy having conversations with Hasler was a credit to the coach.
Rather than rant and rave or kick stones publicly, O’Brien simply prepared his team as best as possible and orchestrated the Knights first win over the Storm in eight seasons.
The Knights playing group didn’t look like a roster who weren’t playing for their coach.
What were your likes or dislikes from round 21?
BLOG WITH HOOPS FROM 1.30PM AEST (if the blog does not appear, click here)
