Warriors ‘owe it to their fans’

At a glance

Warriors chief executive Cameron George says the team needs to win back the respect and trust of their fans tonight.

The club’s supporters were reeling after their abysmal 42-16 loss to the Raiders last weekend, with the players being booed as they left the field down 30-0 at halftime.

That result was the lowest point in a season that has been disappointing, but there is the chance to make amends against the Sea Eagles at Mt Start Stadium tonight.

George says there wasn’t anyone at the club who thought the performance against the Raiders was acceptable and they owe their fans after that game.

‘‘In respect to last week, it didn’t meet anywhere near the standards that we have set within this place,’’ George told Stuff.

‘‘The coaching staff know that, the players certainly know that and that was well addressed during the course of the game, post the game and then in the review.

‘‘The players were embarrassed, the coaches were embarrassed, I was certainly embarrassed for our fans.

‘‘But the thing about it is that you have to draw a line and move on and we play Manly.

‘‘For our fans, we’ve got to win back their respect and trust after last week’s game.

‘‘There are no excuses from this club about what happened last Friday, absolutely zero.

‘‘We’re not looking for one and we’re not making one. So the ball is in our court to win our fans back.

‘‘We’ve seen super human efforts over the last six weeks from the boys, so we need to find that again and put it back into our performance and the results will come on the back of that.

‘‘That’s the minimum standard we expect and our fans expect.’’

As chief executive, George leaves the football decisions at the club to the experts, but he sees his role to hold people accountable when things go wrong.

‘‘Last week’s performance doesn’t require me to put the heat on. Everyone in this organisation understands that wasn’t good enough, in any way, shape or form. So me jumping up and down isn’t going to change what happened.’’

George spent the aftermath of the Raiders defeat observing how everyone at the club has responded to that performance.

While there was plenty of gnashing of teeth, the coaches and team have been focused on preparing for the Sea Eagles. NRL, Warriors v Sea Eagles

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland; 8pm tonight

Roger Tuivasa-sheck (c), Gerard Beale, Peta Hiku, Blake Ayshford, Ken Maumalo, Chanel Harris-tavita, Blake Green, Agnatius Paasi, Jazz Tevaga, Leeson Ah Mau, Adam Blair, Isaiah Papali’i, Lachlan Burr. Interchange (from): Adam Keighran, Sam Lisone, Bunty Afoa, Ligi Sao, Josh Curran, Adam Pompey, Hayze Perham, Leivaha Pulu.

Tom Trbojevic, Jorge Taufua, Bradley Parker, Moses Suli, Reuben Garrick, Dylan Walker, Daly Cherry-evans (c), Addin Fonua-blake, Apisai Koroisau, Martin Taupau, Joel Thompson, Curtis Sironen, Jake Trbojevic. Interchange (from): Manase Fainu, Corey Waddell, Morgan Boyle, Taniela Paseka, Jack Gosiewski, Lachlan Croker, Brendan Elliot, Lloyd Perrett.

What: When, where:

Warriors:

Sea Eagles:

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has confirmed Api Koroisau is an option the club is looking at for next year as they get a first-hand glimpse of the Manly hooker tonight.

Koroisau is contracted to the Sea Eagles until the end of 2021 but the Sea Eagles have given him permission to talk to rival teams, with reports across the Tasman suggesting the Warriors are locked in a race with the Bulldogs for his services.

The hooking role has been a problem position of late for Kearney.

Utility Jazz Tevaga has been named to start against Manly with veteran Issac Luke suspended and injury-plagued rake Nathaniel Roache out for the season, while Kearney also revealed Karl Lawton could require major shoulder surgery.

With Luke seemingly on his way out of Mt Smart at the end of the season, Koroisau would be a strong addition to the squad.

‘‘There’s no doubt everyone’s p .... d off with what happened on Friday night,’’ he said. ‘‘I saw that in the demonstration of Stephen’s [Kearney] disappointment through his halftime speech and again post the game.

‘‘But in any environment, you can’t continue in an angry manner, you’ve got to put the disappointment aside, draw a line and respond to what happened.’’