NRL: Kearney looks for weekly improvement

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck dives on the ball during Vodafone Warriors v Cronulla Sharks. Photo / Photosport

It's time to draw the curtains on the Warriors season.

Coach Stephen Kearney admitted as much after the 26-12 loss to the Sharks last night, which has surely ended their faint finals hopes.

"The light is getting dimmer and dimmer - there is no doubt about that," said Kearney, when asked about their top eight possibilities. "But for me it's never been about that, it's been about improving from week to week. That's the most important part. The individual making sure we improve ourselves every time we take to the training paddock. We have five games left [and] that's my focus for them."

There's no point in talking about mathematical possibilities, because this team doesn't have such a dramatic revival in them. At this stage it would be a bonus if they can win one or two more games this year.

It's starting to feel like 2015 all over again, when the Warriors lost halfback Shaun Johnson and their season went into free fall.

Confidence is down and belief is almost shot, at a time of year when other teams are hitting their straps. It's a familiar, but no less painful feeling for Warriors fans.

Compounding last night's loss was a potentially serious injury to Bodene Thompson. The back rower suffered a suspected torn pectoral muscle, which would require surgery and rule him out for three months.

There is also concern over the fate of prop Sam Lisone, who was placed on report for lifting his knee, after an attempted tackle by Sharks five eighth Fa'amanu Brown.

It looked like Brown, who was heavily concussed, got his body and head position horribly wrong, as he lined up Lisone, and that was Kearney's interpretation after the match.

Hopefully the NRL judiciary sees it that way, but there is an ominous track record of Warriors players being treated harshly, with the Konrad Hurrell/Anthony Tupou incident from 2015 still fresh in the mind.