Warriors aim to break cycle

another strong effort from the forwards after they responded to a couple of below-par displays with a powerful effort against the Sea Eagles.

With Taumalolo and prop Matt Scott, who is pressing for a recall to the Queensland side, leading a rugged Cowboys pack they are sure to be tested physically tonight.

But Blair feels that as long as they play with energy and enthusiasm, they are more than capable of laying a platform for the rest of the side to fire.

‘‘We hadn’t played like that for a long time,’’ he said of the Manly game. ‘‘We started our season off like that, with energy and communication through the forwards. When we look back, our better performances are ones where we have a lot of energy and it just gives confidence to the group.’’

Meanwhile, Blair may not be the official captain but he is set to be one of the leading players selected when coach Michael Maguire announces his Kiwis squad on Sunday night.

However, the 32-year-old veteran insisted that his focus has not shifted from the Cowboys this week.

‘‘As you get older you understand we play week-to-week footy and those things are most important,’’ Blair said.

‘‘You’ve got to get through that before you start thinking about representative stuff and it’s quite easy to put it aside.’’