Complete effort needed

The Warriors have shown form in patches but coach Stephen Kearney says only an 80-minute performance will do if they are to resuscitate their rapidly fading campaign.

The Warriors were almost there last weekend as they pushed the Cowboys to the limit before falling to a 24-12 defeat in Townsville.

While they can still reach the finals, needing to win at least five of their remaining six games, such a run seems highly unlikely for a side that has not won more than two in a row all season.

It does not get any easier this week with reigning premiers Cronulla coming to Auckland on Friday, albeit without injured playmaker and former Warrior James Maloney.

But Kearney is confident that if they can become more clinical in attack, they will give themselves every chance of pulling off an upset.

‘‘There’s certainly some execution areas where we can be a lot better and we’ve identified those early this week and where that improvement is for us,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘But I’m picking that if we turn up with that type of effort and are a little bit better with our execution then I’m pretty sure we’ll get a lot closer to a result.’’

Sitting in fourth place, the Sharks are making a strong defence of their title. But with the Cowboys, Sea Eagles and Eels all breathing down their neck, they will be desperate for the win to stay in the top four.