Richie Barnett: It's time to toughen up and make most of home advantage

Warriors players look dejected after conceding a try during the round one NRL match against the Parramatta Eels. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors need to review how many home games they take away from Mt Smart Stadium because their record in these games is hurting their premiership chances.

I find it staggering they have only ever won two home games away from Mt Smart Stadium. The club have indicated they want to play more often at Eden Park but this is not a good idea.

Winning brings fans, not a fancy stadium.

The Warriors have underachieved throughout history and they need to win a first NRL title. If that means playing home games at Mt Smart Stadium, then that's what they should do. They have to build on something and deliver results.

Clearly the players feel more comfortable at Mt Smart, otherwise their record playing around the country and at Eden Park would be better.

Players are funny beasts.

They like things to be the same; they like waking up in their own bed, they like things to look familiar when they drive to the stadium and they like to know what they will find in a dressing room.

At some grounds, you just can't wait to get out of there. I used to hate playing at Newcastle.

Novacastrians are pretty tough people and it feels like they hate you when you run on to the ground. I tried to turn it into a battle when I played there but sometimes it got the better of you.

A lot of players from Australian clubs have said they hate playing at Mt Smart Stadium. It's an industrial area, the stadium feels unwelcoming and the weather is often poor.

These are also reasons why the Warriors want to play more often at Eden Park but it is giving up an advantage they have.

I understand that running a club is a business but, for fans, success is the most important thing and money will come in from success.

I like the idea of taking games around the country, because the Warriors should be a New Zealand team rather than an Auckland team, but they have to deliver as a club on the field first and foremost.

They certainly didn't do that last weekend against the Eels as they let in some pitifully easy tries.

It wouldn't surprise me if the forwards issue a challenge to the backs for tomorrow's game against the Dragons. The forwards were sometimes beaten up by Parramatta last weekend but, on the whole, tried hard and it would have been deflating to see how easily the backs allowed tries to be scored against them.

The forwards should be saying to the backs this week, "How about a bit of graft and we'll do this together".

Something is also clearly wrong in the players' mindsets when it comes to the start of the season because the Warriors' record in not only opening games, but also the early stages of a season, is generally poor.

Contrast that with Melbourne, who haven't lost a first-round game in 10 years. They simply know they have to start a season well because they lose so many players to State of Origin later in the year and adopt a tough mentality.

The Warriors need to find a similar one. They can't offer any more excuses, because it's hurting them and their fans.