Warriors ‘will get chance to reset in Auckland’ At a glance
Warriors coach Stacey Jones says the team will get a chance to reset now it’s going home to Auckland to play its next game.
The Warriors lost 40-6 to the Panthers in their final NRL fixture at Moreton Daily Stadium and the next time they take to the field it will be in Auckland against Wests Tigers on July 3.
Having played 59 games on the road, everyone at the club is itching to play at Mt Smart Stadium again, even if the team will keep Redcliffe as its training base for the rest of the season.
The heavy loss to the Panthers was expected, given how poorly the Warriors have been going and the game was barely mentioned in Jones’ post match press conference.
For him and the club, this was one more hurdle to get over before they play in New Zealand again and Jones says it gives them the chance to turn a page.
‘‘It’s going to be very exciting for the group and where we are at the moment,’’ Jones said. ‘‘It gives us an opportunity to reset ourselves.
‘‘We’re not in a good way at the moment with how we’re playing, but what this gives us is a good opportunity to get back home and try to play some good footy that we want to make our people proud of. The good thing about this is that it gives us the chance to do it.’’
Jones handed halfback Ronald Volkman his NRL debut in this game and while he wasn’t able to shine, given the one-sided nature of the contest, there were a couple of impressive moments from the 19-year-old.
Volkman is signed with the Warriors for the next 31⁄2 years and is seen as the club’s long-term halfback.
As the Warriors’ greatest playmaker, Jones knows what he’s
Panthers 40 (Brian To’o 2, Moses Leota, Dylan Edwards, Taylan May, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin tries; Nathan Cleary 5 gls, Stephen Crichton gl) Warriors 6 (Josh Curran try; Reece Walsh gl). HT: 0-18.
talking about with Volkman and says he’s liked what he’s seen from him since he joined the club from the Roosters recently.
As for the loss to the Panthers, which was the Warriors’ seventh in a row, captain Tohu Harris said he felt the team played the game with the right attitude, even though the scoreline still shows it was a blowout.