Kicking hurts Warriors

Goalkicking proved the difference as the Dragons came from behind to down the Warriors 24-18 on Saturday.

Both teams scored four tries but St George Illawarra centre Zac Lomax, who grabbed a double, landed four goals compared to a solitary conversion by Warriors fullback Reece Walsh.

The star of the match was St George Illawarra fullback Cody Ramsey, who finished with a try and laid on another for Lomax in his first performance of the season in the No 1 jersey to stake a long term claim for the position.

For the Warriors, the loss was compounded by a suspected lisfranc foot injury that prevented star prop Addin Fonua-Blake finishing the match and may sideline him for a significant period.

The Warriors released prop Matt Lodge on Friday and are now in the market for a replacement.

Meanwhile, Dallin WateneZelezniak and the Warriors have set themselves a one-month target where they plan to find consistency ahead of their long-awaited return to Mt Smart Stadium on July 3.

After dropping another one they could have taken against the Dragon on Saturday, there are games to come against the Knights and Sea Eagles — minus Origin stars — to win if they’re genuine about remaining in finals contention.

Warriors coach Nathan Brown has said the side were desperate to ensure they put an emphasis on returning to New Zealand in just over five weeks with wins on the board.

“We want to go home and have the fans turn up to watch a team that’s playing consistent footy,” Brown said.

For Watene-Zelezniak, who returned from a nasty head knock a fortnight ago, he is counting down the days until he can take his young family home to New Zealand and live for the first time.

“A big reason why I signed here was to go home, we’re biding our time and doing what we can but we’re definitely all looking forward to getting home,” Watene-Zelezniak said.