Teamwork pays off for Warriors
25 24 20 23 21 19 14 14 14 13 13 9 8 7 Warriors lock Adam Blair is putting the team’s great start to the season down to a willingness to work for each other.
The Warriors defeated the Cowboys 22-12 on Saturday night, for their fifth win in five games.
It’s the first time they’ve had such a streak since 2013.
Blair, who joined the club from the Broncos this season, feels the attitude to support each other is paying off.
‘‘It was gutsy [against the Cowboys],’’ Blair said.
‘‘We turned up for each other again. It’s something we worked on really hard in the off season, to make sure we look after each other and whatever happens on the field, we make sure we take care of it all.’’
Unlike the Roosters the previous week, it was tough to put the Cowboys away and their coach Paul Green thought they were the better team in the second half.
But it was two penalties from Shaun Johnson over that period that eased the pressure on the Warriors.
‘‘They turned us around a few times when we were attacking their tryline,’’ Blair said.
‘‘We knew in the second half they were going to try to play a bit of football. They got a try and turned us away a couple of times.’’
The Warriors are finding winning contagious.
‘‘You don’t want to lose and I think we’re heading in the right direction,’’ Blair said. ‘‘It’s important for us to stay grounded. It’s a long season and I know things can turn around quickly, so it’s important we continue to focus on our routines and we get that right each week.’’
Cowboys veteran Johnathan Thurston put the improved performances of the Warriors down to their better fitness.
‘‘They’re probably finally playing to their potential,’’ Thurston said.
Plenty in Australia were predicting the Warriors to pick up the wooden spoon this year but their great start to the season hasn’t surprised Thurston. ‘‘Not in my eyes,’’ he said. ‘‘Looking at their side, they’ve got talent all across the park but there were some areas I thought were there for the taking. We didn’t execute well in that first half, when we applied a fair bit of pressure on them. They’ve always been a side that can attack but their defence is what’s winning them all the games.’’
The atmosphere at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night could not have been more different to how it was the during those dark days towards the end of last season.
Warriors hooker Isaac Luke felt it was a special night.
‘‘Last year is something that we don’t want to remember,’’ Luke said.
‘‘But I was happy that our fans got behind the four teams, there was a great atmosphere.’’