Billy Walters of the Broncos celebrates with teammates after Brendan Piakura of the Broncos scores a try during their win over the Storm. Photo / Getty Images
There is a simple recipe for the Warriors ahead of tonight’s clash with Manly. Bring composure, bring calmness, bring courage and most especially concentration.
Regardless of the final implications of their result against the Sea Eagles – with their top four hopes gone after the Broncos beat the Storm 28-14 on Thursday night, thanks to another virtuoso performance from Reece Walsh - the Warriors need to build some momentum ahead of the playoffs.
That means a strong performance at Brookvale Oval, to give a platform for the home elimination final the following week.
The key factor is maintaining focus – and limiting as much as possible the lapses that have scarred their work in the past two months. Those fades were particularly costly in the home matches against the Titans and Dolphins and again last week against the Eels, where they couldn’t capitalise on territorial dominance in the 26-22 defeat.
“We’ve got to concentrate for longer,” said coach Andrew Webster. “We just want to play our best football and get as close to it as we can. We’re never going to be perfect and we’ve realised that for a long time now but we’ve got to be more consistent with what we do.
“We kicked from our end four times last week [while] Parramatta kicked from their end 18 times. We dominated field position but that long-range concentration stuff kills you.”
He said that eradicating the mental lapses was principally about executing in the moment, even if there was a lot of coaching emphasis during the week.
“We can talk all the detail all day but they know it, they’re super smart guys,” said Webster. ”It’s just taking your thoughts from this to what’s next and it can often change. It can be one thing and then the next minute it can be something else and we’ve got to dial into that.”
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad agreed: “It’s sort of everywhere in our game at the moment. It’s little moments and individually we’ve just got to be better.”
Regardless of their final position on the NRL table, Friday is about restoring confidence and belief after some shaky weeks.
“Whatever that [ladder] outcome, if we walk off the field happier with the way we play, that’ll be exciting going into the finals,” said Webster
It won’t be easy. The Sea Eagles want to commemorate the farewell of Daly Cherry-Evans with a victory, while also keeping their slim top-eight hopes alive.
Brookvale has traditionally been a difficult venue for the Warriors, with only two wins (2020 and 2009) from their past nine visits. There’s a hostile atmosphere, fewer expatriate Kiwis than at other stadiums around Australia and the crowd is on top of the referee. But it’s also a chance to replicate finals level intensity a week early.
“Those are the sort of moments you wanna play in,” said Nicoll-Klokstad. ”I’ve been in a few environments like that and you walk towards it.”
The Warriors will be without hooker Wayde Egan, who is being rested. Egan copped a blow to his hip against the Eels and missing this match is an insurance policy.
“It’s one of those situations where I felt if we went again with Wayde, he wouldn’t be eligible to play week one of the playoffs,” said Webster. ”But a week off guarantees he gets there and gets there in good shape, so that’s all it is for us.”
Egan, who has also been battling a shoulder injury, has only played 50 minutes of the past two matches but Webster said that was also down to circumstances and the makeup of the bench, rather than any form concerns.
“Everyone’s just reading a little bit too much into the timing of it,” said Webster. “Wayde’s a great player, we want him out there for a long period of time but we want 17 players contributing [as well].”
- If the Warriors beat the Sea Eagles, and the Sharks lose to the Bulldogs...the Warriors finish fifth (likely host Panthers or Roosters).
- If the Warriors beat the Sea Eagles, and the Sharks beat the Bulldogs...the Warriors finish sixth* (likely host Roosters or Dolphins).
- If the Warriors lose to the Sea Eagles and the Sharks beat the Bulldogs...the Warriors finish sixth (likely host Roosters, Dolphins or Sea Eagles).
- If the Warriors lose to the Sea Eagles and lose to the Bulldogs...the Warriors finish sixth (likely host Roosters, Dolphins or Sea Eagles).
*The Sharks have a superior points difference over the Warriors (+91 v +22) - but if the Sharks only won by one point, the Warriors would have needed to have beaten the Sea Eagles by 71 points to move ahead of them. Highly unlikely but still a possibility.
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.