Shaun Johnson, Adam Blair and Blake Green listen into Warriors new fitness coach Alex Corvo ahead of the Warriors final preseason trial against Gold Coast Titans on Saturday. Photo / Greg Bowker
Shaun Johnson, Adam Blair and Blake Green listen into Warriors new fitness coach Alex Corvo ahead of the Warriors final preseason trial against Gold Coast Titans on Saturday. Photo / Greg Bowker
Looking at their recent performances, there's no mistaking which side comes into the Warriors clash against the Gold Coast Titans with more confidence.
The Warriors, fresh off two heavy beatings, have made it clear they need to change what they've been doing if they're going to be competitive this NRLseason. The Titans are without a win this season, but after a narrow 28-20 defeat to the South Sydney Rabbitohs last time out, Titans second rower Kevin Proctor said his side were continuing to build.
"We can take a lot of confidence out of that Rabbitohs game. They're supposed to be the benchmark of the competition and we had a chance to win that game. If we can build on that performance and not let ourselves down with our discipline and handling then I think we'll be right in it," he said.
The Titans opened the season without the services of first-choice halves duo Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts, but were set to get both back for tonight's clash.
The hosts were set to roll out a new halves combination with Chanel Harris-Tavita replacing Adam Keighran alongside Blake Green as Warriors coach Stephen Kearney looks for something to bring his side to life.
"They'll obviously be disappointed with how they've been playing the last couple of weeks," Proctor said of the Warriors. "I'm sure [Kearney] has got them up and about this weekend. I'm sure we'll see a fired up Warriors on Friday night."
The Warriors will need to be just that if they're to compete with a strengthened Titans squad who are buoyed by a physical pack.
After overpowering the Bulldogs in round one, the Warriors know it's a level they need to get back to, and improving on their 74 per cent completion rate would be a good place to start at Mt Smart tonight.
"I think the last two weeks it has sort of been everyone trying to solve it themselves," Warriors forward Lachlan Burr said.
"You've just got to complete. In these early games everyone's just got to compete, play simple footy — simple footy does it, you've just got to complete.
