NRL: Get it right fix-it man's tough mission

Jayson Bukuya is setting a high standard with the Warriors, but has yet to fully rediscover his top form. Photo / Getty Images

Jayson Bukuya is the Warriors' fix-it man - but the back rower is a long way from completing the repair job.

Bukuya was brought to Auckland to strengthen the troublesome right edge defence, to add a defensive rock on the fringes.

That area of the field was a constant problem last season - at one point late in the year the team had conceded almost half their tries on that side, and statistically had the worst right edge defence in the competition.

It hasn't been that much better this year - not helped by the continual changes in personnel on that flank - but there were promising signs in the round eight victory over the Storm.

"My main job is trying to keep the right side together, getting them up and moving and making our tackles," says Bukuya.

"That's my goal - look after the right side."

Bukuya's arrival was overshadowed somewhat by the focus on Sam Tomkins. The Fijian representative has impressed with his aggression and competitiveness, and sets a high standard in training.

But the 25-year-old has yet to fully rediscover the form that prompted the Warriors to chase his signature last year.

"I haven't been too happy with my performances," says Bukuya. "I have been finding my feet among the boys ... there is a lot of improvement to come."

The win in Melbourne has been touted as a turning point, the kind of performance that can set a platform for a campaign.

The Warriors have notoriously struggled for consistency; maybe their season can take on a rosier hue from today.

"I'm not sure if it was a turning point but it is definitely a building point," says Bukuya. "We set a high standard there. We know what we can do and what we can achieve - it is just a matter of doing it now."

The 1.83m forward had similar ups and downs with the Sharks. Cronulla made the playoffs last year and in 2012 but were stuck in the bottom four for three seasons before that.

"It's been a strange start to the year," admits Bukuya. "We have definitely had our highs and lows, but it is nothing I haven't experienced before. We will get there and hopefully there is more to come."

Canberra are as unpredictable as ever. They have their usual combination of frightening pace and sheer size, and were impressive in wins over the Storm and the Rabbitohs.

But they are defensively fragile, conceding the most tries (36) in the NRL. Despite a poor (3-5) start to the season they tend to rebound after defeats - they have had consecutive losses only once this season - and Anthony Milford and Reece Robinson are two of the most exciting talents in the NRL.

"Ricky Stuart has got them going forward and got a lot of aggression out of them," says Bukuya.

"They have a lot of attack power with their ball players and ball runners. We definitely have to turn up otherwise we will be in trouble."

Today's match is also the the last chance this year to bury the Eden Park "hoodoo".

Bukuya can't really make the comparison - he has yet to play at Mt Smart as a Warrior - but others in the team are tiring of the subject.

"It's our last chance to get the media to stop talking about it for another year - we will be doing everything we can to make sure that happens," says captain Simon Mannering.