NRL: McFadden praises Warriors' defence

The Warriors kept the Eels to just 13 points. Photo / Getty Images

Back to back away wins have given the Warriors NRL campaign a boost but it's their much-improved defence that is giving confidence to coach Andrew McFadden and his team.

Yesterday's 17-13 golden point win over the Parramatta Eels gave the Warriors their second nail-biting win in Sydney in seven days, following last week's final-minute victory over Cronulla, and consolidates their position inside the top eight going into this week's bye round.

McFadden praised his side's defensive grit and determination to hold on for the win after they were reduced to 15 men for the second-half following injuries to two of their most experienced forwards, Ryan Hoffman (concussion) and Thomas Leuluai (knee).

"I'm really proud," McFadden said. "We always knew it was going to be tough to win here - that's two Sydney wins in a row now - and we were going to have to really defend well to do it.

"And obviously the circumstances were a bit harder when we lost Ryan and Thomas. So [we're] very happy.

"We've got some young kids out there and they are doing a great job."

After leaking too many points earlier in the season, the Warriors have made good on promises to improve their defence, especially when protecting their own line.

In five games between rounds four and eight the Warriors twice conceded four tries, to the Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers, five tries twice to the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys, and a whopping six tries against the Gold Coast Titans.

However, over the past fortnight they have tightened those numbers up dramatically, conceding just two and three tries to the Sharks and Eels.

The Eels fought back admirably from 12-0 down at halftime but they blew numerous scoring chances and the desperate Warriors kept turning up to snuff out dangerous attacking raids.

Solomone Kata, Chad Townsend and Sione Lousi did well to force Eels fullback Reece Robinson into touch and Tui Lolohea produced a third try-saving effort in as many games, when he forced Semi Radradra into touch ingoal.

"We knew that would happen as well," McFadden said of the Eels' improved attack.

"They're a desperate team at the moment. They certainly came out very physical in the second-half and we definitely made it harder on ourselves.

"We forced a few passes and had a few errors and that just gave the opposition more momentum and they took it.

"We'll have to learn a bit from that but, again, I'm really proud of the way we hung in there and managed to defend it out."

The Warriors hope the week off will assist Hoffman's recovery from his second concussion in three weeks, while both Manu Vatuvei (sternum) and fullback Sam Tomkins (knee) are on track to be fit for their round 12 home match against the Newcastle Knights on May 31.

The early prognosis for Leuluai does not look good, but scans are required to determine the full extent of what is thought to be an ACL injury.

"The skipper and some of our Kiwis guys have had a big month of football and the bye has definitely come at the right time," McFadden said.

"The opposition were pretty tired as well, it was that type of game and it was always going to come down to a moment and I'm just glad that we got it."