Warriors feeling mental pressure

The pressure continues to mount for the Warriors, as they battle both on and off the field.

The players are away from families, have had two serious defeats in the last two weeks, lost a coach and had their commitment questioned.

Some players are considering returning home. For those that are staying on, including halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita, the focus has to turn to the mental game to ensure they are successful on the field.

‘‘It’s mentally tough not being with our families,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve been in this position for nearly three months now, but we can’t just sit here and feel sorry for ourselves, we’ve got to actually perform. It’s our job. That’s what we are here to do.

‘‘Once we get stronger mentally, get over feeling sorry for ourselves . . . it’s just preparing at training and making sure . . . we’re doing the best we can to prepare for each game.’’

Warriors players are expected to access a well-being app every morning and engage with a wellbeing adviser to manage the stresses associated with playing in the current climate.

‘‘If anyone’s feeling down [the advisers] go in and check on them,’’ he said.

‘‘[As a team] we have to try and stay close. We’ve only really got us at the moment.’’

The Warriors are coming off heavy losses, most recently 50-6 defeat by the Melbourne Storm a week after coach Stephen Kearney was axed from the side.

Harris-Tavita said training and preparation is key to turning around the club’s on-field results.

‘‘It’s just it comes back to training and preparing, making sure that you’re putting your best foot forward at training. That’s how you build confidence going into the game,’’ he said.

‘‘If you’ve done everything you can during the week, then when you go out on the field, you should be confident that you can play your role on the team.’’

It’s the first season with the Warriors for prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, but he’s coping with the upheaval covid-19 has brought.

‘‘It’s been really different from what I expected,’’ he said. ‘‘But I guess it’s pretty special because this will probably never happen again.’’

Focusing on ‘‘footy’’ is his main priority, but he along with the other players have been engaging with the wellness adviser to get them through.

‘‘I’m just . . . trying to make the most of my time in first grade and trying to play as many games as I can,’’ he said. ‘‘Everything else is out of my control.’’

He does think the unique experience will help him grow as a player.

‘‘I’ll be better off for everything that’s going on in the past couple of months,’’ he said. ‘‘Long term, it’ll be a good thing. [It will] make me more mature.’’

The Warriors face the Broncos on Saturday.