Sam Rapira is focused on a Warriors win. Photo / Getty Images
Sam Rapira will blow out 25 candles on his birthday cake today but would rather see the Warriors blow out the Raiders and reassure fans their 2012 vintage has the talent to fulfil its pre-season promise.
Rapira is a straight-up character, an actions-not-words man; a good candidate as a key lieutenant to skipper Simon Mannering in the team's quest for consistency.
With 124 NRL matches to his name, Rapira encapsulates the team's recent struggles into eight words: "Catch the ball, gain metres, make our tackles".
There's this week's team talk sorted. A compilation of three simple ideas to counteract last week's woe against the Roosters. It was Rapira's first game back after a pre-season shoulder injury.
Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Ukuma Ta'ai and Sione Lousi have assumed the propping responsibilities in his absence.
"Our focus has been on holding the ball, completing sets and defending strongly," Rapira says. "Last week our errors stemmed from dropping the ball cold. It was pretty basic."
The lack of possession saw the Warriors make 48 extra tackles (175 vs 127) in the first half and go to the break 16-4 down. Rapira admits they are missing the defensive qualities of the injured Micheal Luck and Jacob Lillyman. He insists others like lock Elijah Taylor can step up despite a blip last week where he topped the tackle count with 41 but missed six. Halfback Shaun Johnson was also exposed on defence, missing eight tackles.
"It's hard without those guys [Luck and Lillyman] but blokes like Elijah have generally stepped up while Shaun is still gaining experience."
Rapira believes it is unnecessary to post someone like himself as Johnson's enforcer, much like Darren Lockyer was protected in his early days as Broncos five-eighth after transferring from fullback in 2004.
"He doesn't need protection. I feel he can hold his own. Our troubles are wider than that; we are losing matches at the start. That's the most important thing to improve because the Raiders have a significant attack; they are hard and physical."
The Warriors might have injury concerns up front but the Raiders are also down on numbers. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Dane Tilse still give them plenty of propping hit-up power but Brett White's ACL rupture and David Shillington's continued absence means they lack experience. The Warriors sat 11th at the start of round six with two wins; the Raiders were ninth with the same number of wins but slightly ahead on points differential. There is little between the two sides but Canberra Stadium has proven a graveyard for the Warriors in seasons past.
Their only win there was in 1997, although in 2001 they beat the Raiders at Manuka Oval, also in the Australian capital. Today's match is the first visit to Canberra since a 38-12 loss in 2009. "We haven't done well there over time but we haven't spoken about that. If you do, I think it creates a situation where it is harder to win," says Rapira.
The Warriors have spent the week in Kiama, just south of Wollongong. They have been away from the media and fan spotlight that tends to consume them at home.
Typically Rapira is keeping his motivation low key - despite the birthday - but his sentiment is strong.
"I won't be telling anyone [about turning 25], so I'm not expecting any presents. A win would be good but I'd settle for walking off the field with our heads held higher than last week."