NRL: Damage control for Warriors coach McClennan

If Brian McClennan survives the summer as Warriors coach, he says players can expect a torturous pre-season working on their concentration under fatigue. Photo / Getty Images.

Warriors coach Brian McClennan is in damage control following his team's humiliating 52-12 defeat by North Queensland.

Far from being top-eight contenders as expected following their grand final appearance last season, the Warriors are now in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon after an effort short of quality and backbone against the Cowboys in Townsville last night.

But rather than point the finger at tactical or technical faults, McClennan told the media afterwards that a lack of physical and mental conditioning was to blame for five consecutive defeats, the last two of which, against the Sharks at Mt Smart and now the Cowboys, have been heavy.

With three matches remaining for a team short of form and ideas, McClennan is already looking to next season and a new fitness regime.

"Our concentration of staying in each game has been poor - that's the reason,'' McClennan said.

"We have to work and finish the season with a bit of pride, which is what we're aiming to do.

"Next year, in the off-season, pre-season, we're going to have to work a lot harder on being able to concentrate in the game.

"That's through conditioning - physical conditioning and mental conditioning and making sure we become a tougher team.''

Two defeats in this shocking run for the Warriors came against Newcastle and Manly came after they had built 18-point leads.

"I think in general, we've been too inconsistent in our form - through games and throughout the season,'' McClennan said.

"There have been periods, like the period against Manly, to get out to 18-0 playing some really good football - then we slacken off with 30 seconds to go [in the half] and let them back in.''

The Cowboys scored at a point a minute in the first quarter of the match, with Carlos Tuimavave finally responding with a try for the Warriors and his side went to the halftime break 22-6 down.

Winger Manu Vatuvei scored his 100th NRL try when touching down after the break but it was a rare positive moment for the Auckland-based team who are 13th on the ladder. Another happened before kick-off when James Maloney was given the all-clear following an against-the-odds recover from his knee injury.

For the Cowboys, winger Ashley Graham scored a hat-trick and Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen predictably ran the show.

Warriors' fullback Kevin Locke's involvement for the rest of the season is in doubt after he injured an ankle in the first half.

Cowboys 52 (Ashley Graham 3, Matt Bowen, Antonio Winterstein, Kane Linnett, Gavin Cooper, Brent Tate, Aaron Payne tries; Johnathan Thurston 8 goals). Warriors 12 (Carlos Tuimavave, Manu Vatuvei tries; James Maloney 2 goals). HT: 22-6