Warriors forwards urged to front up

Four weeks into the season and the Warriors may finally get to unveil their New Zealand international spine tomorrow.

But skipper Roger Tuivasasheck says the star quartet can only do so much if their forwards fail to aim up against the Dragons.

The Warriors have struggled for direction in attack as they dropped their previous two games, with last week’s 24-12 defeat to the Bulldogs particularly concerning given the amount of possession they had.

With Tuivasa-sheck, who missed last week’s match due to a concussion, named to return and Kieran Foran potentially set to join fellow playmakers Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke in the team, that could go a long way to solving their problems.

Tuivasa-sheck and Foran are yet to receive the final clearance, but even if they are, ‘RTS’ says their performance will be dictated by the men up front.

‘‘When [the attack] works the forwards are strong, when it doesn’t work the forwards aren’t that strong,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got players like Shaun Johnson, Ata [Hingano], maybe Foran, myself and Tui [Lolohea] at the back. For them to play their footy they need the boys at the front need to punch up.’’

Luke echoed his captain’s comments and as one of the leaders, admitted he took last week’s display personally.

‘‘It’s great to have Kieran back but I’m more focused on the middles,’’ the hooker said. ‘‘I failed there last week so my job is to make sure they go forward this week and if Kieran does get on then he’ll reap the rewards.’’

The Dragons have had their own issues on attack recently, but if there is one thing the club can depend on it’s their rugged forwards, as shown during last week’s gritty win over reigning premiers Cronulla.

It’s an extremely well balanced group, with size from former Warrior Russell Packer and Paul Vaughan, strike in the edges in the form of Tyson Frizell and Joel Thompson, while Tariq Sims and Leeson Ah Mau offer plenty of impact off the bench.

But as long as the Warriors play smart and as a unit, Tuivasa-sheck is confident they can limit the Dragons’ effectiveness.

‘‘The biggest thing we’re working on is our support play, not letting a forward go on their own,’’ he added. ‘‘Going in twos, going in threes, trying to hold off their middle because they’re a team that likes to send three into one tackle.’’

The game will be a special occasion for Simon Mannering, who will make is 262nd appearance for the club, surpassnig Stacey Jones’ previous record of 261 games.

As Mannering’s career has gone on he has reached many milestones, which he’s been reluctant to talk about, but even he realises this one is special.

‘‘I wasn’t too fazed with it, but then I thought about it and with Stacey there and growing up watching him play as a kid, looking up to him so much,’’ he said.

‘‘Then having the chance to play alongside him and be coached by him and now to be almost recognised alongside him, that’s what’s special.’’

Although Mannering will take the record, he says he’ll never take over from Jones as being the Warriors’ greatest player.

‘‘I know he’s really proud of the record,’’ Mannering said of Jones.

‘‘So I sort of don’t want to take it off him, he’s such a legend of the club. He still be, no matter who’s played the most games for the club. He’ll still be the greatest Warrior we’ve had at the club.’’