NRL: Galvanised Panthers will come out firing

Jacob Lillyman has done well in shifting to starting front rower for the Warriors. Photo / Sarah Ivey

It's not quite drawing the Storm on salary cap scandal week but the NRL fixture list hasn't been kind to the Warriors yet again, handing them a date with the struggling Panthers just days after the club announced coach Matt Elliott would be terminated at the end of the season.

Termination, or maybe extermination, is pretty close to what happened to the Warriors last Anzac Day against the raging Storm, and they'll be up against another supremely motivated side tomorrow, says prop Jacob Lillyman.

The North Queenslander knows the galvanising effect a coach being dumped mid-season can have on a team. He was a member of the Cowboys in 2008 when the club announced Graham Murray would be shown the door.

"It was a very similar situation to Matt Elliott," Lillyman said.

"It's a tough time. You are close to the coach and you really feel for the guy. It does give you that extra leg. They are going to come out firing. I think a few of them are not [very] happy with the decision and they'll be looking to show their support for him."

The Panthers have made a play for Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens, reportedly tabling an offer worth up to A$2.5 million ($3.4 million) over four seasons. Elliott guided the club to second place last season but the team faltered badly towards the end and lost both of their playoff matches.

This season the Panthers have won just two of their seven matches and have suffered heavy home defeats to the Knights and Sharks.

Several leading Panthers players, including skipper Petero Civoniceva, have expressed dismay at the decision to dump Elliott.

Lillyman thought Elliott had played a big part in the representative prop joining the Panthers and then deciding to stay to play out his career at the club.

"It is going to be tough with big Petero firing up and throwing himself into the line," Lillyman said.

"We are just going to have to get our heads around that emotional start for them. It will be pretty physical but hopefully we can get past that and warm into the game."

The signs are encouraging for the Warriors. Lillyman has made a good fist of his transition to starting front rower. On Monday night he was part of an outstanding four-pronged propping effort that laid the platform for the gritty victory over the Storm.

"On the whole, us guys playing in the middle haven't been too bad all year," he said.

"It is good to finally get a bit of recognition, because we have been working hard, doing extra sessions during the week to try to get those fitness levels up."

The Warriors expect to be unchanged from the team that recorded Monday night's memorable victory in Melbourne, with tomorrow's 17 including nine players who were part of last year's 40-12 drubbing at the hands of the Panthers.

"I'm sure all the boys will want to come out [tomorrow] and give a good showing and make up for last year," Lillyman said.

* The Auckland Vulcans take on the Canterbury Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium at 1pm today in a NSW Cup top-of-the-table clash. Entry is free.