Lisone: We need to play for each other
Front-rower aware fans, critics have written off Warriors’ hopes
Straight-talking Warriors frontrower Sam Lisone knows fans and critics have all but given up on them, but says his teammates need to play for each other in tomorrow’s NRL clash against North Queensland.
The 11th-placed Warriors head to Townsville needing to win at least five of their remaining seven games to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, following consecutive defeats to Manly and Penrith.
The Warriors have enjoyed just one away victory this season and are looking to overturn a horror record in Townsville where they have won just one of their last 11 matches against the Cowboys since 2002.
With star halfback Shaun Johnson likely to miss at least a month of football with a knee injury, it will take a dramatic improvement for the Warriors to find the consistency required to book their first finals appearance since 2011.
“Everyone has given up on us to be honest, but we’re excited,” said Lisone. “We’ve got our backs against the wall and we’ve just got to head up to Townsville and do it for each other.
“We know we’re still in with a chance but we’ve just got to focus on this game and take it week by week.
“As long as we can come off the field and look your brother in the eye and say ‘we gave it a red hot crack’ that’s all we want from each other.”
In his third season with 56 first grade games to his name, Lisone is desperate to avoid another poor season finish after the Warriors lost their last eight games in 2015 and six of their final eight matches last year.
The 23-year-old understands the team’s fortunes impact on people outside and beyond the playing group and club football staff and says the players need to stay tight if they are to avoid another downhill slide.
“We’re in it together,” he said.
“There’s a lot of pressure in first grade and everyone’s feeling it. Our families and the people in admin here at the club, when we lose everyone feels the same as us.
“We’ve just got to stay tight, no one point the finger, and just get through it together.”
Lisone admits the Warriors forwards have failed to fire in their last two outings, and says they need to generate greater ruck speed to provide their playmakers with a better platform to launch their attack.
“Penrith were winning the play the balls and creating momentum and they had good players like Nathan Cleary playing off the back of it.
“We know we’ve got to be better there and we’ve been working really hard at training on that.
“This week we’re going to try to get Bully [Issac Luke], Mason [Lino] and Kieran [Foran] running all the time.
“If we see them running that will tell us that we’re doing our job because we’re getting them quick play the balls.”
Johnson’s absence is an obvious blow to the side’s attacking ability but Lisone is confident Lino will handle the No 7 role in his first NRL game in two years.
“Shaun is a big loss but it’s a good challenge for some of us to step up. Mason and [back-up half] Ata [Hingano] are the future of our club and both are in our emerging leadership group.
“It’s a good challenge for them to step up and make something of this season.”