'This time it's different' say Warriors of slump

The Warriors' bench players show their disappointment after another loss during the 2012 season. Photo / Photosport

Even though it feels like 2012 - with a decent mid-season surge before a sharp drop at the end - senior Warriors players are adamant it's different.

In 2012, they won eight of their first 16 games and were in playoffs contention before a dramatic downward spiral. They didn't record another win - losing eight in a row - to finish equal second bottom on the table.

This season, the Warriors' record was 9-7 after 16 games before their current run of six successive defeats.

So, to quote a famous baseball manager, is this deja vu all over again?

"I don't think it's the same," said captain Simon Mannering. "A lot of things have changed since then ... changed for the better. Maybe from the outside it seems the same, because you judge the team on its results. But within these walls it is changing for the better. But it is easy to say that. We have to show it on the field."

Jacob Lillyman agrees.

"It is definitely different. In 2012, we still had most of our players but the wheels just fell off. This year we have been caned by injuries. You can't really compare them."

Many are making the comparison - especially as former coach Brian McClennan had been sacked by this point in 2012 - but is it valid?

The team for McClennan's final game featured Shaun Johnson and James Maloney in the halves, as well as Lewis Brown, Ben Henry, Manu Vatuvei and Bill Tupou in the backline. The pack included Russell Packer, Nathan Friend, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo and Elijah Taylor, with Micheal Luck part of the interchange. In contrast, last week's team was missing eight frontline players, which has proved too much of a gulf.

"We've lost Shaun [Johnson], Ryan [Hoffman], Bodene [Thompson], Manu [Vatuvei] ... the list goes on," said hooker Nathan Friend. "Losing our No1 playmaker is always going to make a difference. Look at Melbourne without Cooper Cronk - they lost four in a row - or the Cowboys without JT [Johnathan Thurston]."

Friend, who has been part of the Warriors' rollercoaster ride for the past four seasons, is confident about the future direction of the club. "They'll be fine," he said. "We were travelling OK before the run of injuries. Attitudes have definitely changed around here and people are working harder. From the outside, it is normal to be questioning things but there are a few different factors compared to other years."

A lot depends on how the Warriors respond over the next two games. A win would be a bonus, but a couple of fighting performances are critical.

That starts today against the Tigers, who are bottom of the table but capable of anything. They have had recent wins over the Storm and Raiders and were edged by the Knights two weeks ago.

And the Campbelltown crowd will be farewelling veteran hooker Robbie Farah.

"They are a dangerous, ad-lib kind of team," Friend said. "They can try anything from anywhere and Farah is pretty good around the ruck."