Tough review for Warriors
Review sessions at Mt Smart Stadium are never easy after a loss, harder still just after a onepoint defeat at home with the season in the balance.
But that’s exactly what the Warriors walked into this week as they looked over how their heart-breaking golden point defeat to the lowly-ranked Panthers on Sunday came about.
Coach Stephen Kearney said the players were ‘‘clearly still hurting’’ after they let slip a match in which they were on the right side of an 11-5 penalty count, and the Panthers had two players sent to the bin.
‘‘The review was pretty quiet to start out with to be honest, the boys were clearly still not happy from Sunday,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘But it was really important that we put that aside quickly and focused on where we can improve. I don’t think it was all bad, just a few moments we let lapse.’’
Players put their hands up individually for those lapses, and the side trained yesterday with what appeared to be far more intensity that had been present in recent weeks.
Whatever areas need fixing, they need to be done quickly as the Warriors prepare to tackle the high-flying Knights on Saturday in Newcastle.
The two sides met earlier in the season at Mt Smart, the Knights winning that one 36-18 and they have gone on to win seven of their last eight since.
Kearney said while unhappy with his side’s most recent result, he wasn’t prepared to throw the baby out with the bath water and introduce a whole new game plan.
‘‘I think it’s really important that we stick at our process. One thing I do know is if you don’t do that and you take your eye off the ball for whatever reason then you don’t give yourself a chance,’’ he said.
Newcastle’s hot run of form has come, in part, thanks to the contributions of two former Warriors in Mason Lino and James Gavet.
Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said while happy to see his former team-mates succeed at other clubs, including Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), there would be no love lost out on the field.
‘‘They both got opportunities at the Knights and I’m so pleased with so many of the boys doing well elsewhere, but we’ll put that aside on Saturday and hopefully get one over them,’’ he said.
‘‘The Knights, the physicality they have in the pack in particular, will be a focus for us. It was tough the first time we played them but this time we will be ready. We need to try and minimise the timing their backs have.’’