Warriors have the potential to win in 2016 but will they produce results?

MATTHEW JOHNS SCOUTING REPORT: The good news for Andrew McFadden is that he has a Warriors side which can win this competition. The bad news is, that places him under extreme pressure.

Warriors Training Session

THIS team has the “potential” to do anything. There’s that word again, “potential”.

“Potential” is the word synonymous with the New Zealand Warriors.

“Potential” gets coaches sacked and the Warriors do that better than anyone.

So the good news for Andrew McFadden is that he has a side which can win this competition. The bad news is, that places him under extreme pressure.

The Warriors have a solid team in 2016.

Word from inside the Warriors is that McFadden has until round eight to show he’s capable of controlling this playing squad and leading them to the title. In my opinion, if they have a slow first month, he’s gone.

Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke! On paper this is the most devastating creative spine in rugby league. What complements this trio is a big, powerful pack of forwards and big, fast, outside backs.

The speeding up of the game and the fatiguing of packs will make handling Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck and Luke a nightmare for opposition defences in the middle.

What could go wrong? Well, we are talking about the Warriors. They too often find a way. Nonetheless, I’m expecting at least a top-four finish. The key to the Warriors will be discipline with the football.

If they try to play too fancy and are frivolous with their attack, their defence will struggle to absorb the mistakes and the pressure this type of reckless football produces.

If the Warriors go out every week and try to simply blow teams off the park with attacking talent, they’ll finish mid-table.

But if they can focus, week in, week out and build their game on discipline and a hard-nosed defensive attitude, the trophy could be theirs.

BEST 13

1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2 Manu Vatuvei 3 Konrad Hurrell 4 Solomone Kata 5 Tuimoala Lolohea 6 Jeff Robson 7 Shaun Johnson 8 Jacob Lillyman 9 Issac Luke 10 Ben Matulino 11 Bodene Thompson 12 Ryan Hoffman 13 Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14 Albert Vete 15 Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16 Thomas Leuluai 17 Sam Lisone

INS

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters), Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ligi Sao (Manly Sea Eagles), Blake Ayshford (Cronulla Sharks), Henare Wells (Burleigh Bears), Jeff Robson (Cronulla Sharks), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Melbourne Storm), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds Rhinos)

OUTS

Nathan Friend (Gold Coast Titans), Siliva Havili (St George Illawarra Dragons), Nathaniel Peteru (Gold Coast Titans), Dominique Peyroux (St Helens RLFC), Sam Rapira (Huddersfield Giants), Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors), Chad Townsend (Cronulla Sharks), Sebastine Ikahihifo (St George Illawarra Dragons), Api Pewhairangi (Connacht — Ireland rugby), Brad Abbey (Bulldogs), Ngani Laumape (rugby union), Glen Fisiiahi (rugby union), David Bhana (Newcastle Knights)

DRAW

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