Warriors unchanged for Sharks clash
The Warriors have shown form in patches but coach Stephen Kearney says only an 80-minute performance will do if they are to resuscitate their rapidly fading campaign.
The Warriors were almost there last weekend as they pushed the Cowboys to the limit before falling to a 24-12 defeat in Townsville.
While they can still reach the finals, needing to win at least five of their remaining six games, such a run seems highly unlikely for a side that has not won more than two in a row all season.
It does not get any easier this week with reigning premiers Cronulla coming to Auckland on Friday, albeit without injured playmaker and former Warrior James Maloney.
But Kearney is confident if they can become more clinical in attack, they will have every chance of pulling off an upset.
‘‘There’s certainly some execution areas where we can be a lot better and we’ve identified those early this week and where that improvement is for us,’’ Kearney said. ‘‘But I’m picking that if we turn up with that type of effort and are a little bit better with our execution then I’m pretty sure we’ll result.’’
Sitting in fourth place, the Sharks are making a strong defence of their title. But with the Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Eels all breathing down their neck, they get a lot closer to a will be desperate for the win.
With second rower Ryan Hoffman (foot) and hooker Nathaniel Roache (hamstring) still sidelined, Kearney has stayed with the same lineup that went down to the Cowboys.
It means halfback Mason Lino will again be teamed in the halves with Kieran Foran, while big frontrower Chris Satae, who made his NRL debut last week after James Gavet pulled out with a broken arm, is retained on the bench.
Playing his first NRL game in almost two years, Lino impressed with his short-kicking game and combined well with Foran, who returned to form with a hand in two tries and running for a teamhigh 176m.
Kearney was generally happy with their control but wants to see his halves as well as hooker Issac Luke and fullback Roger TuivasaSheck maintain it for the whole game.
‘‘They thought they could’ve been a lot better and I thought they lost their connection at certain stages of the match,’’ he said.
‘‘So that’s a focus for them this week, to make sure that connection is there for 80 minutes.’’
Wing David Fusitu’a and backrower Bodene Thompson are poised to extend their sequences of appearing in every match this season while Jacob Lillyman, Sam Lisone, Issac Luke, Ken Maumalo, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the injured Shaun Johnson have missed just one game.
The Warriors have enjoyed reasonable success over Cronulla during their history with a 16-20 win-loss record in 36 encounters.
In 16 matches at Mt Smart they have a 9-7 edge, although the Sharks have won seven of the last nine matches between the two sides.