Issues at the Warriors: Part One - Motivation and desire

It's been one of the biggest mysteries of the Warriors over the last few years - the inability to rise to the occasion, live up to expectation and find the will and desire on any given match day.

There have been at least nine games this season where the team simply hasn't turned up; from the Anzac day drubbing in Melbourne, to last Sunday's hiding by Parramatta.
The embarrassing display against the Eels felt like the worst `white flag' of the year.

Aside from making up for the below par performance against the Tigers seven days earlier, it was a chance to end the season on a high and an opportunity to send Thomas Leuluai and the other players departing the club out as winners.

But it was listless, as if many of the players were already thinking about the off season.
It's a big issue.

The players couldn't respond to the external motivating factors listed above, couldn't respond to others provided by the coaching staff and couldn't find some internal reasons to perform.

Compare them with the Knights; Newcastle's roster of kids had endured 22 losses in an awful campaign, but were still `having a dig' until the end and were unlucky to lose to the Dragons.

Here, if you can bear to read it, is a short list of games the Warriors couldn't get up for this season.

v Dragons, Nelson. 46-10
Reasons to be motivated; The final trial of the season, Simon's Mannering last game as captain, the first match in Nelson in front of a bumper crowd.
What happened: The Warriors conceded eight tries in a mistake riddled display.

v Tigers, Campbelltown. 34-26
Reasons to be motivated: The first outing, after a long pre-season. A chance to end their opening day demons. Knowing the importance of a good start to the campaign.
What happened: The Warriors played as if they had read too much pre-season hype, as they let in for five first half tries before coming alive in the second spell.

v Sea Eagles, Mt Smart. 34-18
Reasons to be motivated: Given their painful history against Manly, a chance to catch the Sea Eagles at their most vulnerable point in years.
What happened: Started slowly, and never really got going. Manly only won four games away from Brookvale this year, and two were against the Warriors.

v Storm, Melbourne. 42-0
Reasons to be motivated: Marquee game on Anzac Day, emotional pre-game build-up with veterans, chance to test yourself against one of the benchmark teams .
What happened: Lack of defensive line speed or commitment as Storm scored 28 unanswered first half points.

v Raiders, New Plymouth. 38-12
Reasons to be motivated: First game in Taranaki, homecoming for Issac Luke, five match winning streak over Canberra.
What happened: Warriors fell apart after 20 minutes. Trailed 22-0 at half time.

v Rabbitohs, Mt Smart. 41-22
Reasons to be motivated: Chance to all but seal a precious finals berth. Challenge of one of the best packs in the NRL.
What happened: A lackadaisical performance on a night that promised so much, against a team that had lost nine on the bounce.

v Cowboys, Townsville. 34-6
Reasons to be motivated: The defending premiers were in a bit of a pickle, with three straight losses. Chance for rare victory in North Queensland.
What happened: Game was over by half time.

v Tigers, Mt Smart. 36-24
Reasons to be motivated: The season was on the line, for both teams. To take advantage of the Titans' loss the night before. To know they had "emptied the tank" in pursuit of the top eight. Some revenge for the round one ambush.
What happened: A flat first half, a promising mid-section, then a fade at the finish.

v Eels, Mt Smart. 40-18
Reasons to be motivated: To end on a high. For Thomas Leuluai, and the other departing players. For the ex-players who attended on `Old Boys' day. For the fans who came on a miserable winter's night.
What happened: Faded after promising start, taken apart by a team guided by Jeff Robson and Clint Gutherson in the halves.

In Part two tomorrow: Why's it's a mistake to focus on individual errors