Rugby League: Anderson gives Warriors a stern wake-up call

By PETER JESSUP

Warriors coach Daniel Anderson has told his troops to harden up and focus on motivation and attitude when they play the Bulldogs in Wellington tonight.

Anderson is not happy that some of the squad seem content with one-from-two in terms of performance; that some took it easy in Newcastle, where they lost after dumping Brisbane the previous weekend.

"They have to shake that frame of mind - they have to put in a ball-tearer every week."

Anderson said he could tell that his side was not there mentally last weekend, when tackles were missed, allowing the Knights some easy tries.

"Newcastle were very skilful, but we weren't putting our bodies on the line.

"We didn't tackle well at all.

"There was a lack of communication and the defensive system I play relies on everyone tackling, it relies on everyone making a tackle - if you miss one, it's just about all over."

Anderson reckons the intensity problem stems from the fact that New Zealand players do not have to be at top form week in, week out. "There might be two or three hard games, then a breather."

That is probably a pointer to what seems inevitable anyway - a shortening of the Bartercard Cup team list from 12 to 10, or even eight.

Strugglers Porirua meet Mt Albert in the curtainraiser to the Bulldogs' match at the Cake Tin. They and Ngongotaha look the sitting ducks for a cull.

Fever has taken hold in Wellington for the first NRL game there, and Anderson hopes most of the crowd will be backing his boys.

There will also be support for the Dogs. A variety of their present and former stars have been making promo visits in recent weeks, and the club has announced an annual Peter Moore Memorial Scholarship for a Wellington junior, to recognise its former chairman and the link to the city.

Anderson said the Warriors were injury-free and in good spirit, with no shellshock after the 24-45 loss to the Knights.

The Dogs and Warriors both like to play it tough up the middle, with the big forwards offloading.

"I think they're a bit ahead of us in terms of skill in the forwards," Anderson said.

The Dogs had been more adventurous this season and it had paid for them, he said.

"I don't expect that to change."

Two Bulldogs the Warriors will need to watch carefully are teen Braith Anasta, who has scored four tries this season already, and veteran Darrell Trindall.

"Tricky" Trindall has not played in the Aussie premiership since he left Souths at the end of 1999. He settled with and left St Helens early, signed with the Dogs this year, then split with them after a row with captain Darren Britt.

But he returned, citing a misunderstanding, and after impressive performances for the Dogs' reserves, has been elevated to the bench in Wellington.

Dogs' kicker Hazem El Masri wanted kicking practice at the Cake Tin before the game to learn the wind shifts.

The Warriors are without ace Ivan Cleary, and Motu Tony could get more than his last-start 10 minutes for his boot.

fusixpointNew Zealand Warriors: Clinton Toopi, Henry Fa'afili, Richie Blackmore, David Myles, Francis Meli, Nathan Wood, Stacey Jones (c), Ali Lauiti'iti, Jason Death, Justin Morgan, Logan Swann, Awen Guttenbeil, Monty Betham; interchange Motu Tony, Richard Villasanti, Justin Murphy, Jason Temu.

Canterbury Bulldogs: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Nigel Vagana, Willie Talau, Brett Howland, Brent Sherwin, Craig Polla-Mounter, Darren Britt (c), Corey Hughes, Steve Price, Darren Smith, Steve Reardon, Braith Anasta; interchange Jamie Feeney, Paul Rauhihi, Willie Mason, Darrell Trindall.