Read behind Warriors huddle
The Warriors have credited All Blacks skipper Kieran Read for the breathing technique that helped propel them to their impressive start to the NRL season against the Rabbitohs.
Following each try during Saturday’s 32-20 win in Perth, the Warriors gathered in a huddle in the middle of the field and took a few deep breaths as a way to stay on task and not get carried away.
Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said they picked up the idea from Read when he addressed the squad during a preseason camp in the Tauranga suburb of Papamoa in January.
It clearly benefited the team, as they produced a controlled performance on attack, particularly after scoring points to keep the pressure on the Rabbitohs.
Tuivasa-Sheck also feels it will come in handy when the result is on the line at the back end of a game – an area where the Warriors have struggled in recent seasons.
‘‘It’s something we got off Kieran Read. It just brings everyone back in to refocus and get ready for what’s next,’’ TuivasaSheck said.
‘‘Scoring tries, we were getting excited and everything was going well for us. But just from previous years we’ve been ahead a lot and lost in the last 10 minutes. So being able to reset and focus on the next task has been really helpful.’’
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney says it was the players’ call to use the breathing technique on the field but he sees the merits in it.
‘‘When you take a deep breath, you slow yourself down, so that’s the messaging behind it,’’ the coach said.
Winger David Fusitu’a, who scored a double against South Sydney, felt it did just that, and threw his support behind the idea.
‘‘[Read] came and gave us a few tips on focusing in after something’s happened and focusing on our next job,’’ Fusitu’a said.
‘‘It just calms you down and gets everyone on the same page and connected, so it was good.’’
Saturday’s victory saw the Warriors break their Perth hoodoo at the 10th attempt, a losing streak that dated back to 1996.
Tuivasa-Sheck was even more delighted to start the season on the right foot, but the team has quickly turned its attention to this weekend’s first home game against the Titans.
‘‘The boys are excited that there’s a lot to improve on,’’ the skipper said. ‘‘There’s lots of things we can do and and we just want to improve each week.’’