Rugby League: Warriors boss gets tough on unhappy players

By Peter Jessup

The management of the Auckland Warriors yesterday reinforced their threat to sack up to half the team at the end of this season, and shrugged off indication that the players had not received the news well.

Board chairman Graham Lowe said excuses for poor performance were "like a worn-out record now and it's not acceptable."

"Talk of clearing the place out has ruffled a few feathers but that's too bad," he said.

Whether the stinging criticism lifted or depressed the side was immaterial after six straight losses, he said.

"We won't just sit here quiet because that would be accepting the situation and we won't accept it."

Lowe said everyone at the club was feeling the pressure. He personally had been unable to attend the last two games against Souths and Parramatta due to further heart problems.

The players' displeasure at reading of the axe hanging over them was conveyed to management by trainers.

Given the bosses' feeling, further revolt will bring an invitation to use the door.

"I've been through [losing streaks] before. I know what it's like when your future is threatened - I've faced the sack three or four games into a season - but when you're in professional football that's all part of it. We can't afford to sit on our hands, we've got to make things happen," Lowe said.

The hunt for players who would beef up the side was on in earnest, the first signing being former Canterbury Bulldogs reserve-grade hooker Robert Mears, who comes on board to fill in for the injured Jason Death and Syd Eru.

Mears, aged 24, has 18 first-grade starts and more from the bench.

He was cut by the Bulldogs at the start of this season because they have Kangaroo Jason Hetherington and the Australian under-19 rep as their reserve-grade rake.

Mears has been playing on the Central Coast, and given his selection for the New South Wales Country side who played in the curtainraiser for the Anzac test, is rated the best rake outside the NRL. He is on a week-by-week contract, pay for play.

Lowe would not rule out further mid-season buys. The club was yesterday negotiating with another NRL club over the release of a back who does not fit that club's game plan - though he virtually ruled out rugby players, saying that coach Mark Graham did not rate most of them.

Later this week Lowe will meet agent Wayne Beavis, who has many top-line players off contract at the season's end and available for talks after June 30 on his books.

Lowe would not talk specific positions or players but it is sure they will be hunting centres, ball-playing back-rowers and a standoff.

The Paul brothers, Robbie and Henry, Lowe believes, are a 50-50 prospect for next season as the Warriors pursue negotiations with Bradford.

"The boys certainly want to come. But no matter who we buy in, there has to be an improvement from the rest.

"It's exactly the same as any other job, Lowe said. "They're being paid to perform and they're not.

"Accountability was something we stressed when we came in here. We're not going to step back from it now."

Eru goes to a wrist specialist today for diagnosis of the re-injury he suffered against Parramatta.

He had bones fused to support torn ligaments and on Saturday night took a knock directly to the area.

Staff are waiting for the bruising to clear before determining treatment but he is not likely to start against Canberra at Ericsson Stadium this weekend, opening a hole for Mears to resurrect his NRL career.

Joe Galuvao is a less than 50-50 chance after tearing a hamstring. Prop Brady Malam is the only one off the casualty list, his abdominal tear passed by team doctor Tony Edwards.