• Warriors Bear Weight of Auckland Nines Expectations

    It seems only reasonable that the other sides would lay down and permit the host Warriors to take out the NRL Auckland Nines and the local expectations are along similar lines, but rugby players seldom show much respect for expectations.

    The risk for the Warriors is not only that they might put too much faith in their status as the host club, whilst disregarding the motivation their opposition will derive from the opportunity to send the home crowd to the exits with lowered self-esteem.

    This is definitely not going to be of those affairs devised to provide an exhibition for the Warriors, as the other teams, even though expressing reluctance to risk key players in the Nines, are fielding formidable sides that will test the Warriors to the limit.

    This could be the year for the Warriors to live up to expectations, although in the previous three years of Nines, they have not notched a win.

    All the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of the Warriors, who have the weight of the fans with which to deal, whilst the other sides seem to take a more laid back, nothing to lose approach that gives them a valid chance to gauge their prepartations for the upcoming 2017 NRL season.