NRL: NZ Warriors licking wounds after season-altering defeat to Brisbane Broncos

RNZ News

2 days ago

The Warriors are braced for the worst over Luke Metcalf's knee injury.
Photo:
Tertius Pickard/www.photosport.nz
Analysis
-
NZ Warriors have plenty to think about, as they head into their third and final bye of the NRL season,
stinging from their fifth defeat - and first back-to-back losses
- against Brisbane Broncos.
Trailling 18-0 at halftime, they showed signs of a comeback, as they scored consecutive tries to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Leka Halasima, but could not complete the task.
Adding injury to insult, they lost the services of arguably their two best players this season and coach Andrew Webster may need to spend the next fortnight grooming re-inforcements.
Here are some takeaways from the calamitous Broncos result.
Without doubt, the biggest story of the Warriors' early-season success has been the emergence of Luke Metcalf in the No.7 jersey previously owned by club legend Shaun Johnson.
Many had their reservations about his ability to stamp himself on the game as Johnson had, but he had silenced those critics to such an extent, he actually
led the Dally M Medal standings
into the 14th round, when the judging went behind closed doors.
The last player to win the league's MVP award after leading at halfway was Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith in 2017, so maintaining that standing was always likely to be difficult.
Despite his thrilling form, there was always the fear that Metcalf would eventually succumb to injury. His 2023 club debut was delayed until the 12th round, after a hamstring injury in training, then he suffered a recurrence to miss his team's playoff run.
He missed most of last season with a broken leg, which is why his elevation to the lead job came as such a surprise.
When Metcalf ran out for the second half against Penrith Panthers last week with a heavily bandaged thigh, that seemed an omen.
Just a cork, said Webster. It's onwards and upwards for him.
As he passed the ball with 15 minutes remaining against Brisbane, Metcalf was cut in half by a perfect tackle from Broncos second-rower Brendan Piakura and could not find his feet.
Piakura was put on report, but even Webster admitted afterwards the contact looked good.
Pending the obligatory scans, the Warriors have indicated Metcalf's injury is a knee - and they have already
lost co-captain Mitch Barnett for the rest of the campaign
to one of those.
The club isn't short of halves options, with Te Maire Martin and Tanah Boyd offering considerable first-grade experience in their resumes.
Youngster Jett Cleary helped Warriors reserves to victory over Manly on Saturday and, if further misfortune strikes the squad, he may yet make a NRL debut this season.
The real question will be can any of them bring the same strike power shown by Metcalf through the early season, as they try to clinch a post-season spot.
Metcalf's loss only exacerbated an injury crisis that saw fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad leave the field at halftime, also with a knee injury. He seemed to fall badly, as he tried to stop Broncos centre Gehamet Shibasaki scoring before the break.
After missing a game with concussion, Nicoll-Klokstad was
about to pass Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco
for competition lead in running metres. Averaging 208m per game, he needed 190 against Brisbane to overhaul Tedesco, whose team had a bye.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad suffered an injury against Brisbane Broncos.
Photo:
DAVE HUNT/AAP
If he is also lost for a prolonged period, the Warriors have Taine Tuaupiki to replace him - except Tuaupiki may be required on the wing, after a subpar display from Ed Kosi, with
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak nursing an ankle complaint
.
Another option could see Tuaupiki at fullback, Adam Pompey on the wing and Kurt Capewell into the centres, with Leka Halasima promoted to start in the second row.
"They certainly won't be playing in two weeks, I can tell you that," Webster assessed on both Nicoll-Klokstad and Metcalf afterwards.
The Warriors have been well served by their 'next man up' philosophy, but every week now, Webster has to move his pieces to cover another vacancy.
Nicoll-Klokstad's knee did not seem as bad as Metcalf's, but they've now reached a stage where every additional injury just reduces their margin for error.
In his 101st NRL appearance, against the club that rekindled his career in 2022, Te Maire Martin logged a season-high 51 minutes off the bench and showed his ability to step into whatever role was required of him moving forward.
Initially, he replaced hooker Wayde Egan, who left the field in the first half for a head check. Right around the time he returned, Nicoll-Klokstad went missing, so Martin slotted into fullback.
Te Maire Martin fills in everywhere against Brisbane Broncos.
Photo:
Tertius Pickard/www.photosport.nz
When Metcalf hobbled off, Martin went into the halves, Pompey shifted to wing, Capewell to centre and the Warriors had the luxury of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the back - where many still believe he belongs.
"We practice Te Maire everywhere as much as we can," Webster said. "He played fullback here at the Broncos and did a really good job while he was here.
"I don't know how many guys can come on to play hooker, then move to fullback at halftime and then to halfback, and does a good job in all three roles.
"That's why you need those utility players and I don't think many clubs have that player."
Ironically, Martin is
off contract this season
and he is now well placed to push his claims for an extension at the Warriors, where he'd love to stay.
Whether he steps into Metcalf's position or keeps a spot on the bench, he has already shown his value.
From the moment Marata Niukore dropped the ball almost at the opening kickoff, the Warriors were their own worst enemies in terms of making basic errors. That mistake led to Katoni Staggs' opening try.
They were twice pinged for obstructing kickchasers and gave up two points through a penalty for not setting a scrum in timely fashion. The discipline that was a hallmark of their early games seemed to completely desert them.
They were perhaps unlucky on one of those escort calls, when Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was clearly offside in his pursuit.
"I was right in front of that and he was miles offside," said Webster, who spent the second half on the sideline, à la Ricky Stuart, after overseeing Nicoll-Klokstad's replacement at the break.
"He was three metres offside… it was like they just made it up. Reece Walsh was way in front, the first infringement was that.
"I don't know how they missed it. I'm not a touch judge, I'm not a referee and I could see it."
Webster isn't usually one to question the officials, but he may hear more about those comments this week. That's probably more an indication of his frustration beginning to show.
Incredibly, Tuivasa-Sheck's second-half try broke an 11-year drought at Suncorp Stadium.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scores a drought-breaking try at Suncorp Stadium.
Photo:
Tertius Pickard/www.photosport.nz
In 2014, he was still playing on the wing with Sydney Roosters, when he featured in a 30-26 win over the Broncos, scoring one of their five tries.
Since then, he had gone 10 subsequent visits without scoring, missing two seasons, when he changed codes to pursue his All Blacks dream.
Tuivasa-Sheck finished as his team's top metre-eater against Brisbane, with 175 run-ning metres, and was probably their best performer on the night.
The Warriors now sit fourth on the NRL table - four points behind leaders Canberra Raiders and Canterbury Bulldogs, and four points ahead of their next closest pursuers, the Broncos and Sydney Roosters.
They have just suffered their first consecutive losses of the season and have a 10-5 record. Their solid start to the campaign has built them a buffer over their rivals, but they are now trending in the wrong direction.
They have a bye week to regroup and regalvanise for the run home.
Erin Clark reflects on Warriors defeat to Broncos.
Photo:
Tertius Pickard/www.photosport.nz
No matter what happens, they will still hold fourth in two weeks, after Round 19, but there are seven teams, covered by just two competition points, breathing down their necks and, unless they turn their form around, they risk being swamped for a playoff spot.
They will likely be down at least four starters - Metcalf, Nicoll-Kolkstad, Watene-Zelezniak and Barnett - when they host Wests Tigers on Sunday, 13 July.
They have emerged from two previous byes this season with losses.
By Round 5, they had turned around a disappointing season-opening loss to the Raiders with three straight wins, but came out of the bye with their worst defeat so far against Melbourne Storm.
By Round 15, they had rebounded from another loss to the Raiders with back-to-back wins, including their best performance of the season against Cronulla Sharks, but have lost twice since that rest week.
The Warriors need to arrest that trend against the Tigers (5-10) - the good news (?) is they have no momentum to lose this time.
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