When I talked to Warriors’ chief executive Cameron George towards the end of last season, he bristled at the suggestion that the club was in a rebuilding phase.
The Auckland NRL franchise had just signed Penrith assistant Andrew Webster as their new permanent head coach, after Stacey Jones had held the reins for 11 matches following Nathan Brown’s dramatic exit.
“I don’t like that word,” said George. “He is not coming here to rebuild. He is coming here to set a winning standard.”
But whatever verb you choose, it’s clear that Webster came on board with a massive task ahead.
The club was almost broken by the past three seasons, on and off the field. Last year was the low point. After a promising 4-4 start, the team won just two of their final 16 games, accompanied by plenty of negative headlines and dramas.
It was not a good time to be a Warriors fan. But will that famous loyalty be rewarded this year?
The Covid pandemic – and the enforced isolation across the Tasman – was a major factor in their struggles since 2020 and no one will ever know where the Warriors would be now without it. But regardless of the virus, it felt like the club had lost its way, with a series of poor decisions. Brown was a strange choice as coach given his CV, there were some weird roster decisions and recruitment supremo Peter O’Sullivan was a bad fit for a development club.
Now this is the reset – but it might actually work. After all kinds of false hope since 2019, this year feels like a restart. Webster is the key. An NRL operation is multi-layered and success depends on many factors but so much rests with the environment and culture that the head coach creates.
The 41-year-old made a strong impression in pre-season. He overhauled the training regime, taking a more targeted and scientific approach to work on the practice field. There is more planning and structure, but only to ensure that no time is wasted. Webster is demanding – there were some brutally early starts – but also leaves room for fun. Perhaps most importantly, he is constantly driving accountability, knowing that success is a product of the team setting their own standards.
Like any young coach, he is also hungry. The Sydneysider has been in the coaching game since 2006 and an NRL assistant for the past eight seasons. This is his big chance. It might be his only opportunity, depending on results, so he is determined to make the most of it.
“Any rookie coach is going to be handed a challenge,” said Webster. “No one is going to be handed a dream job, saying ‘hey mate, take over, we are favoured to win the competition next year’. That doesn’t happen.”
Equally, Webster is undaunted by what lies ahead. He believes in the club’s potential and has prior experience, after two years as assistant at Mt Smart in 2015 and 2016. While no one is getting carried away, there is some excitement around this team, shown by the impressive 12,000 crowd that attended the February trial in Christchurch, then another bumper 17,000 attendance for the season opening victory over Newcastle in the capital.
The true measure of the Warriors credentials will come over the next six matches, one of the toughest stretches of the season. There is the annual Anzac Day match in Melbourne and trips to Cronulla and Newcastle. They host North Queensland and the Sydney Roosters, before taking on Penrith during Magic Round.
“We know what is coming and we are excited about it,” said Webster. “That is the only way to approach it.”
Micheal Burgess
Sports Writer