Tevaga prepares for run home

‘‘No team has been through what we’ve been through and I’m very proud how we’ve held ourselves together through this,’’ Tevaga said. It’s only going to make us stronger and we’ve turned over a new leaf.

‘‘We’re a different team than what we were at the start of the season, so that’s something to be proud of and there are some good signs there.’’

The Warriors are notorious for playing badly at the end of seasons, but given everything they’ve been through, Tevaga hopes that’s not the case this year, starting on Sunday.

‘‘We’ve got to play for each other still,’’ he said.

‘‘You can lose careers over not putting in efforts in these types of games, so I think everyone’s going to be playing hard, especially for Tom Ale. He’s going to be making his debut and I’m sure the boys will be raring to go for that one.

‘‘We said in the changing

rooms, we need to end the season on a high note and can’t put the cue in the rack just yet.’’

This year has been a season where the 25-year-old Tevaga has established himself as the club’s first-choice lock.

In 2018 he won the award for NRL Interchange Player of the Year at the Dally M awards, but such has been his progress that he’s unlikely to win that award again.

He has become the club’s enforcer on the field, a smart and powerful ball runner, and a fearless defender, prepared to make tackle after tackle.

However, Tevaga feels he could have played better in recent games.

‘‘I haven’t really reflected yet on my season, but I’m not overly pleased with how I’ve been going,’’ he said.

‘‘The last two weeks I haven’t been performing as good as I should have been, but I’ll reflect on that at the end of the season and see what I need to do to get better.

‘‘My discipline has been pretty poor and I feel like my defence hasn’t been up to the standard I set for myself.’’