Green sees more upside
The Warriors aren’t getting ahead of themselves but five-eighth Blake Green believes a couple more wins could transform them into a more formidable outfit ahead of the NRL finals.
The Auckland outfit is all but mathematically assured of making their first finals appearance in seven years after Saturday’s nerve-wracking 18-12 victory over St George Illawarra in Wollongong.
The hard-fought win keeps them in eighth spot on the competition ladder and four-points ahead of Wests Tigers with four games remaining in the regular season.
Green isn’t taking anything for granted but is confident that if they manage to cement their spot in the playoffs in the coming weeks they can find another gear to take them into the business end of the season.
“I wouldn’t say we’re a shoo-in yet,” Green told Newstalk ZB yesterday. “I’d certainly like it if we could win our next two on the bounce and (if we can) definitely lock ourselves away I think you’ll see a new footy team.”
The Stephen Kearney coached side boast the best away record in the NRL with eight of their 12 wins coming on the road, but they hope to end a four-game losing run at home in Friday’s clash against Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium. Their run home requires just one away trip to Sydney to take on the Bulldogs (13th) before back-to-back matches in Auckland against Penrith (fifth) and Canberra (10th).
Last week’s capitulation to the Gold Coast gave skeptics more reasons to doubt their finals credentials and they did well to respond positively with a brave defensive effort clinching the result over the Dragons.
The 31-year-old admits the players have been burdened by outside expectations and criticism, but believes another couple of positive performances will provide a surge in
We put enough pressure on ourselves let alone the pressure we cop from everyone else, and our families and friends expect us to do well as well.
Blake Green
confidence and belief.
“We’ve had a fair bit of pressure on our shoulders. Every time we’ve lost in the last five or six weeks people have said ‘here we go again, they won’t make it’,” he said.
“We put enough pressure on ourselves let alone the pressure we cop from everyone else, and our families and friends expect us to do well as well.
“We know what it’s all about and if we can manage to win our next few games and lock away a position in the playoffs I reckon you’ll see a new footy team.
“Hopefully we can take the shackles off and the monkeys off our back and just tear into some footy at the back end.”
Meanwhile, Warriors front-rower Sam Lisone is facing up to three weeks on the sidelines after being hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge.
The 24-year-old is in hot water after he connected with a raised forearm on Dragons second-rower Tariq Sims during the second-half.
Lisone has already served a one match ban this season for raising his arm twice in the round three win over Canberra, and will need to contest the charge to have any hope of playing against Newcastle.
Lisone was also on the receiving end of a similar incident earlier in the match when a raised arm from Dragons second-rower Tyson Frizell hit him in the throat and left him requiring attention from the trainer.
However, unlike Lisone, the New South Wales State of Origin forward has escaped further scrutiny.
When asked about the Lisone incident involving Sims Kearney was philosophical about whether he would have a case to answer.
“I’m sure there’s a dozen or so incidents in a game,” said Kearney.
“I do remember the incident, I don’t recall the specifics or details. If he has something to answer for then he has something to answer for.”
Fellow Warriors interchange forward Bunty Afoa has also been slapped with a grade one dangerous contact charge on Dragons forward Leeson Ah Mau but will be free to play the Knights with an early guilty plea.