League: Smarting Warriors rue rattling by Roosters

Ben Matulino. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Ben Matulino says team haven't spoken about last weekend's scoreless loss.

The Warriors were kept scoreless by the Roosters last weekend but Ben Matulino says the team haven't spoken about it.

The Roosters boast the best defence in the NRL and the Warriors struggled to get anywhere near their line to create any pressure.

Only the 15th-placed Titans have an error count as bad as the Warriors do in the competition and their reckless handling in Sydney cost them dear.

The attack, orchestrated by Shaun Johnson, couldn't continue to flourish as it has done in the Warriors' past three matches as the Roosters ruthlessly shut them down.

The Storm were the last team to hold the Warriors scoreless, winning 30-0 at Mt Smart in September 2009.

"It hasn't really been spoken about," said Matulino. "There's a lot of X-factor in our team, with people like Shaun [Johnson], Sam [Tomkins] and Tui [Lolohea].

"They all can score points and if we really had the chance to score any points, it would have had to come with 60-metre tries.

"We didn't get too many attacking opportunities with the way their defence came off the line. With that aggression you've got to get down and play the ball quickly. You can't really play football in your own end.

"It was an arm wrestle and we got done in our half a few times. They pretty much did our game plan against us and we made it too hard for ourselves because our completion rate wasn't good.

"We're wondering what works and how we could have won that game. I know that playing that game sets us up good for the rest of the season and for us to play good, and compete for the finals, we've got to play those tough teams."

Matulino was facing fellow prop Kiwi Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the Roosters front row and injuries to the Warriors pack have forced them to reshuffle in recent weeks.

"He's always tough," said Matulino. "Every time you play him he always brings the same game. He's aggressive and in your face and it's always going to take a couple of bodies to stop him."

Sam Rapira returned to the NRL last weekend and he's set to feature again for Manly's visit to Auckland and Sam Lisone could feature after impressing head coach Andrew McFadden with his form in the New South Wales Cup.

Matulino added: "Everyone's competing for the prop spots. Sammy [Rapira] came into the team this weekend and I thought he did his job. We're going all right and everyone who comes into the team does a job."

Manly arrive in Auckland with reports across the Tasman saying they've already released 14 players for next season and they'll soon be sacking head coach Geoff Toovey.

Star halfback Daly Cherry-Evans was forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury in Monday's defeat to the Cowboys and they're all the way down in 13th on the NRL ladder.

They have to win to keep their slim finals hopes alive and Matulino said the Warriors would not be underestimating the Sea Eagles. "We can't get too comfortable and think we'll beat them because we're on top on points and higher up the table. That's the trap for us. We'll make that clear and show up to be ready to play."