League: Warriors will have to claw out victory, coach says

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden. Photo / Jason Oxenham / Getty Images

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden admits his side is lacking confidence but is relying on them to dig deep to scrap out a much-needed win over the Penrith Panthers tomorrow.

The Warriors' once potent attack has been as effective as a pop-gun over the past month as they stumbled to four consecutive defeats, including two losses to the Sydney Roosters and St George-Illawarra in which they failed to register a single point.

Against the Dragons their ball movement was clunky and disjointed, with the service from hooker Nathan Friend and exchanges between halfback Tui Lolohea, five-eighths Chad Townsend and fullback Sam Tomkins lacking in timing and accuracy.

McFadden believes his side needs to simplify their methods and rely on the basics to get them back on the winners' list.

"I don't think getting the ball across the field was the issue. It was just some of our pass selection in the end," said McFadden.

"We're just missing that last pass and the opposition did a good job of scrambling and we just couldn't find that final killer punch.

"We're obviously a team that's a bit down on confidence so we're going to have to scrap it out.

"It's not going to come easy, we're going to have to tough one out.

"We've certainly still got a chance to make the finals but this week is our priority.

"Backing up and getting a good performance is first and foremost."

McFadden clarified the comments he made following last week's defeat about his players not being up to first-grade standard, saying that he was referring only to their mediocre performance that night against the Dragons.

"What I said was that on the night they were not up to first-grade standard. It's not that they're not first graders, they just didn't perform as they needed to in the NRL.

"They've certainly still got a lot of abilities so they didn't put their best foot forward on the weekend, but they're more than capable to bounce back.

"You can handle losing but we certainly let ourselves down there," he said.

"We've got a lot of pride to play for now."