SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 19: The Warriors look on during the round six NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the New Zealand Warriors at Bankwest Stadium on June 19, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Predicted Finish: 16th
Actual Finish: 10th
Few could have predicted the season that the Warriors ended up having. At almost unbackable odds to finish with the wooden spoon, they played well above expectations. Considering the incredible difficulties they were forced to deal with, a 10th placed finish is downright incredible.
- The Obvious: The Warriors players and staff could have been forgiven for throwing their hands up and putting 2020 in the too hard basket. Considering everything that was going on, and the uncertainty it created, you wouldn't begrudge the Warriors staying at home and waiting to see what happened.
For them to agree to go into camp in another country from their homes and families was huge. Although I'm sure the NRL would have found a way to continue on either way, the fact the Warriors were so quick to commit to the move saved untold stress that would have come as a result of broadcast agreements. Brilliant stuff. The communities really embraced the Warriors too, with literally thousands of Australian based League fans buying Warriors memberships.
- Late Season Form: At the halfway point of the season the Warriors set three wins from 10 games and looked a long, long way from finals footy. The Warriors would rally and win five of their remaining ten games to briefly flirt with an unlikely finals run.
A run of four wins over five weeks saw them enter a must-win game against the Eels to set up a virtual eliminator with the Sharks. Unfortunately, they would not obtain the result they needed in either game, however, a 40-28 win against Manly in the final round of the season sent them out as their efforts deserved.
- Future Sorted: Full disclosure I was pretty dirty on the club when they sacked Stephen Kearney considering everything that was going on. That said, the Warriors finally ended speculation re their coaching future with the move. They've appointed Nathan Brown as their coach and have already made some big-name signings to help build their future. AFB, despite his history off-field, moves home as one of the premier props in the game, while Bayley Sironen is a clever signings. Euan Aitken has a chance to really establish himself also. Kane Evans and Ben Murdoch-Masila both add size and power to an impressive Warriors pack for 2021 and beyond.
- Horror Start: The Warriors started the season with back to back losses to the Knights and Raiders. Not the end of the world considering both opponents would go onto play finals footy. They'd concede 20 points in each game. Again, not atrocious reading considering the strength of their opponent. The kicker here was that across 160 minutes they only managed to score six points. They would manage to beat the Dragons in round three by 18-0 before again being held to zero by the Panthers in round four. To score 24 points in four games is pretty fire reading, especially considering 18 points came in one game. Not ideal to say the least.
- Big Losses: Despite improved results overall, the Warriors still had that horror loss in them. Round six and seven saw them lose 40-12 and 50-6 to the Bunnies and Storm. A 46-10 blow out loss to the Sharks in round 10 came despite their opponents' indifferent form. In a shortened season, points differential was always likely to be important. These blow out losses helped consign them to a -115, 115 worse than the eight placed Sharks. Even if they had managed the late wins they needed, those huge losses would have helped to end their season.
Tohu Harris
It feels almost wrong to have anyone here other than Roger, however Tohu Harris had a season that simply cannot be ignored. He beat out some incredible players to capture a spot in the Dally M team of the year.
He played in all 20 games this season, averaging 173 run metres and making 845 tackles at over 93% efficiency. Impressively he actually moved into the middle and played prop when called upon, despite still being one of the best wide running second rowers in the competition.
There are very few sides, if any, that Harris wouldn't walk into based on his behemoth efforts in 2020.
His on-field stats were incredible and all reports indicate he was just as, if not more, valuable off-field providing guidance for the younger members of the squad.
B-
How can you possibly grade the Warriors 2020 season? On one hand, they missed the finals, by a large margin, and were reduced to nuisance value late in the season. On the other hand, they were forced into spending months away from their families and probably produced results above pre-season expectations.
Honestly, I don't think many 'experts' had the Warriors finishing 10th in their pre-season predictions. That in itself proves the Warriors probably exceeded expectations, let alone throwing in the cross-Tasman camp.
Their late-season run had many hoping for a miracle that would lead to the most unlikely of finals appearances, however, it was not to be.
Ultimately the Warriors 2020 season will be remembered for their incredible efforts and sacrifice in unimaginable circumstances, but their on-field efforts deserve to be remembered as well.
Young players developed quickly. Players came in on oan and represented the club and themselves with great pride, while the Warriors stars played beyond themselves.
Nathan Brown has plenty to build on for 2021 and beyond.