Sir Peter Leitch Club at MT SMART STADIUM, HOME of the MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS
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Sir Peter Leitch Club AT MT SMART STADIUM, HOME OF THE MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS 21st June 2017 Newsletter #175 Wasn’t He Supposed to Sign For Us? By David Kemeys Former Sunday Star-Times Editor, Former Editor-in-Chief Suburban Newspapers, Long Suffering Warriors Fan O MUCH for the speculation about Te Maire Martin coming in to replace Kieran Foran. SFor those of you living in a cave, and who haven’t heard, instead the Kiwis international has signed on the dotted line for the Cowboys. Cowboys or Warriors - not much of a choice is it? He has signed a deal with the Cowboys until the end of 2019, and considering most of would be willing to predict he will jot oust Johnathan or Matt Moylan from the halves, you’d have to wonder what the attraction of Townsville is compared to Mt Smart. Scratch that, you would not have to wonder really would you? Title prospect or perennial under-achiever? Martin was wanted at the Cowboys two years ago, but chose the Panthers, apparently because he wanted to “fast-track” his career. How’d that work out for you mate? Still just 21, Martin has plenty to learn, but I am with those who said he had plenty to offer too, and I am gutted he has turned his back on us. To be fair, who can blame the young man when he has the chance to learn from Thurston, who is the best there is. He said it himself: “I'll just soak in as much as I can from JT and try and work on my game. When I turned them down before, there was a part of me that just wanted to play first grade. Penrith was a good opportunity. I didn't really look too much at the learning side of it back then. Now I have a clearer understanding.” Martin clearly did not feature in the plans of Panthers’ coach Anthony Griffin, who is said to have always harboured doubts about the player’s physicality, and who dropped him to reserve grade after the Panthers lost 28-2 to Cronulla early in the year. “I got told to go back and fix it. I was being a passenger and my form was down. I wanted to get back to play- ing good footy in reserve grade but it was quite tough. Things happen - that's just how it works. I would have liked to have stayed. It is what it is. This is a new opportunity for me now.” It certainly is, and it is a lost opportunity for us. Continued on next page... Continued from previous page... until the end of the 2020 season. With Martin headed to the metropolis that is Townsville, not hard to see Couple that with news that coach Steve McNamara’s how crucial that signature was. move to the top job at the Catalans Dragons, the worst kept secret in league, has been announced. Winger Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was our 2016 Super Premiership player of the year, and he’s penned a It’s easy to sit back and ask how much of a loss it will two-year deal. He got called up against the Roosters be, given that we have hardly set the world on fire, back in April, then played against Penrith, St George but remember coach Stephen Kearney brought him and Brisbane, scoring doubles against the Panthers to the club, so he must have rated him highly. and Dragons. He looks a great prospect. Because things are not going exactly as we would Halfback Mason Lino captains our ISP side, and has like, it is easy to forget McNamara was good enough been around so long it is hard to remember he is only to coach England – and do a good job of it too. 23, and he’s aboard for another two seasons. On the one hand our numero uno Jim Doyle said the NYC players Lewis Soosemea and Joe Vuna have also club didn’t want to stand in his way. “It’s not some- got new deals. You could be forgiven for asking who? thing we could say 'tough luck, you're contracted to Soosemea is a wing, and Vuna a second-rower with u s’.” our youngsters. On the other hand, tough luck, you’re contracted to Too Much Time On My Hands us, but I am just being bloody miserable, and it is not so different than us getting Kearney to move from The good thing about the bye round is that you get Brisbane, who did not stand in his way. two points, while the boys get to put their feet up. We have more coaches than decent centres certain- The bad thing is that it means I have too much time ly. So with off, that leaves us with Kearney – hardly on my hands, and that leads me to trying to figure setting the world on fire, Stacey Jones, a legend but out the mathematics and permutations of getting to untested, and Cappy McFadden – tried and failed. the hallowed ground that is top eight. But it’s still hard to see the club bringing in another It seems so long ago that it happened, but only be- coach. cause it is so long ago that it happened. It’s not just a blow for us, but the Kiwis too, since Mc- Me and maths are not the best of friends. Namara was appointed assistant coach for the World Cup year. Back to the drawing board. But the conventional wisdom is that 28 points will get you there – although it’s only a few years since we The NZRL has already started the search for a re- had exactly 28 points and got beaten to the finals on placement and Kiwis Rugby League World Cup cam- for and against. paign manager Shane Richardson says an announce- ment is not far off. We are six and eight, for a 12 point haul. Add in four points from this weekend’s bye and our second in a Add to that news prop Tof Sipley is off to Manly. “We few weeks, and that’s 16 points. were keen for him to stay and made a good offer, but it hasn't been enough,” recruitment manager Tony Even I can figure out that means we need at least six Iro said. more wins, assuming Josh Hoffman does the kick- ing from now, so we will probably be okay for and We will live to regret that. against points wise. Some Are Staying THough No matter how you chop and change it, this Friday night at Mt Smart against the Doggies is going to be While Martin isn’t coming, and McNamara is going, massive. We struggle away from home, so getting the at least we have secured some signatures, though the points in Auckland is critical. harshest of critics might wonder why. Centre Blake Ayshford, a 157-game NRL veteran, has extended his stay until the end of the 2019 season. Continued on next page... Standoff Ata Hingano, who is still just 20, has signed Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 2 Continued from previous page... contract with immediate effect,” a statement on the club’s website said. The following week we are away to Manly, who al- ways beat us, home or away. And how’s this for complete bullshit? Roosters chief executive Joe Kell, on the club’s website: “Shaun has Then it’s that second bye I mentioned, before the made a significant contribution to the Roosters’ on- Penrith Panthers come to our place. I’ve decided, field success across his 13 years at the club, and for despite the fact I think the Panthers are a good side that, we thank him. The club wishes Shaun all the despite not always showing what they are capable of, very best in the future.” that one is winnable. Yeah, right. This prediction lark is a mug’s game, but since I have been called lots of things considerably worse than Kenny-Dowall still has a few years left in him, at mug, I have us at 20 points going into round 20 – 29, but it is hard to see those years being at another that’s four more from the byes, and four from beat- NRL club, although it is rumoured the Knights have ing the Doggies and Panthers, but losing to Manly, shown interest. especially given we have to go to Perth. He made his debut for the Roosters way back in 2007 Logic tells you we might as well not bother to go to and played 224 games, scoring 121 tries along the Townsville, and the Sharks will be way too good even way – second only to Anthony Minichiello. given how strong we are at home. Two losses on the bounce. The whole thing is just plain sad. Bugger, it is starting to look like the same old story How To Make A Million Dollars Vanish – four wins needed from our last five. We might get The NZRL is about to report a 2016/17 surplus of the first of them against the Knights, even across the $643,000,a pleasing financial result that up from the ditch; but the following week the Raiders visit NZ, $342,000 surplus last year. and they never seem too bothered by that. It’s come about because the Perth test and UK Four The old sphincter, if I am right – and my wife says Nations delivered returns ahead of budget.