Warriors must ensure they use their heads
It won’t be the game plan or player matchups that determine how the Warriors go against the Dragons tonight.
Instead, it will be the top two inches; whether the players front up against their undefeated opponents or put in another performance that doesn’t match the opposition’s intensity.
Given the occasion last weekend, it was disappointing that the Warriors looked flat in their 27-18 loss to the Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium.
‘‘We were, but in saying that, you can’t take anything away from the Broncos,’’ Warriors hooker Issac Luke said.
‘‘They came over here ready to play and we weren’t able to match them.’’
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney didn’t feel complacency was a factor in the Broncos loss.
There have been suggestions that the Warriors over-achieved during their five-game winning streak at the start of the NRL season, but it could also be argued that the team is genuinely that good.
Luke acknowledges his side needs to take a better attitude into this weekend’s fixture.
‘‘It’s pretty easy, we’ve just got to turn up and be ready to put the bodies in front and get ready for that physical battle,’’ he said.
‘‘We did well to stay in the game [against the Broncos], but there were certain parts of our game where we needed to be better.
‘‘I’ve been part of teams that have fallen when it’s got too hard, but the boys did really dig in to stay in the contest, but in the end they ran away with it.’’
‘‘We didn’t show up last week, so we have to make sure we show up this week,’’ Luke added.
‘‘What better chance to showcase our great game than by playing St George, who are on top of the ladder?’’
One part of Luke’s game that’s stood out throughout his career and will be needed on tonight is his ability to quickly assess a defence when standing at dummy half.
Just before he gets the ball, he looks up, almost instantly analysing a defence and then he’s off, either attempting to make a break or passing the ball to the halves.
‘‘With me, it’s like maths,’’ he said, revealing the thought process he goes through each time.
‘‘From the middle of the field, by the posts, there should be two markers and five each side plus the fullback.
‘‘So all you do is look at who’s not on the right side.
‘‘If I look at the posts, or a bit to the side of the posts, I find out who’s missing and that’s where I attack.
‘‘My job is to control what I can do with the markers and I’ve got to keep them honest.
‘‘If I get out and they’ve gone, then I can run. But if I get out and they’re tight, then I pass.