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League legend praises the signing of Blake Green

Zion Dayal
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Blake Green at Cronulla Sharks  Wikimedia Commons

The Warriors have ended a five-year drought against the South Sydney Rabbitohs with a 32-20 victory.

Warriors' fans can be forgiven for having their hearts in their mouths as the first fifteen minutes of their season looked all too familiar.

The New Zealand based side entered round one of the 2018 season on a nine-game losing streak.

During the off-season they acquired some new faces to try to elevate the club back to the playoffs and restore some dignity back into the club.

One of those inclusions is veteran half Blake Green, he has been handed the number six uniform for the season lining up alongside star halfback Shaun Johnson. 

The Warriors' number six jersey is yet to find a permanent home, the jumper has been passed around many players over the past three years with no one being able to play consistently enough to claim it. 

But, if Saturday's performance was anything to go by, Warriors' fans should stay optimistic that the five-eight jumper belongs to Green.

Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott hailed the signing of Blake Green saying he was what the Warriors needed.

"Blake Green actually compliments Shaun Johnson in a different type of way that Foran did last year, he has taken a lot of pressure off Shaun Johnson and it has allowed Shaun to play his best game," Endacott said.

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney was also quick to mention Green's impact on the team.

"Blake has been a real important inclusion to the group, he brings a number of things, his energy that he presents at training early in the week and in the sheds after the game, but that's just the way Blake is, he's a real olden day footballer, he has had a positive influence on the group," Kearney hailed. 

The Warriors made a strong start to their season sending out early warning signs that they are not a team to take lightly.

They ran in six tries to defeat a lackluster South Sydney side and showed ominous signs of what may be to come this season. 

Coach Stephen Kearney also praised his team's performance but knows there is an even bigger challenge next week.

"We were worried about executing a plan and process, we have worked really hard at that. But what I do know is that the boys would gain a great deal of belief from that win, they feel good about themselves, but I'll be quick to make sure they understand that they have another challenge next week at home," Kearney said. 

The Warriors return home to Mount Smart Stadium to play the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday.