Errors undo strong start for Warriors
The Warriors came out firing against the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday night before falling into an error-ridden pattern that cost them a hard-fought lead and ultimately the game.
The Warriors dominated the first 20 minutes, showing glimpses of free-flowing attack and committed defence, which had them 12-0 in front within the first 13 minutes.
But then errors crept back into their game and the Sharks made the most of almost every opportunity gifted to them, taking a 24-12 lead by half-time.
The home side’s errors and Sharks’ onslaught continued after the break, resulting in a 38-16 deficit when the full-time siren sounded.
The only high Warriors’ highlight in the second half was stunning try in the corner by winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Interim Head Coach Stacey Jones loves the club and just wants to win some footy games.
“We got off to a good start … then it was a familiar outcome that was happening. We’d make an error then our resilience to defend that was not there. It’s as simple as that,” Jones says.
“That’s where we’re need to get better at. I spoke to the group when I first came on and said we have to fix up some effort areas, being resilient and having some steel and we got the same result tonight.
|“I tried to keep things as simple as possible during the week with attack stuff and it showed for that first part and then we just fell back to some habits that we’ve got to get out of this team right now.|
“I’d like to fix it straight away but it might take some time. It’s certainly a massive part of our game that we’re not doing right at the moment and we’ve certainly got to fix it.
“I spoke to the group about individual performance and at the moment, we’ve got guys who are just coming up with too many errors that are putting ourselves under pressure.”
Jones will look to address those errors this week ahead of the side’s clash with competition leaders Penrith Panthers at Moreton Daily Stadium on Saturday night (5.30pm kick-off).
It will be their last ‘home game’ at Redcliffe this season with the remainder to be played in New Zealand at Mount Smart Stadium and at Sunshine Coast Stadium (August 6).
So, what does Jones want from the remaining 11 weeks?
“I want to win some footy games. I just want to win … compete every week and be in the game but I want to win some footy games. I want this club to win footy games. If we do that, we’re going to have fun doing it. I said, ‘boys I want to have fun but to do that we’ve got to win some footy games and it’s hard work’.”
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Time to perform
Captain Tohu Harris says Jones’ passion for the club is evident and the side wants to perform well for him.
“Every time he spoke during the week, we could see how much he cares about this club and cares about the players, so that gave us a lot of confidence and a lot of drive to come out and perform and I think that showed at the start of the game,” he explains.
“We did the little things well and there was lots of effort but like Stace said, we did too many things that just hurt ourselves and when you put that much pressure on ourselves … quality sides like that are hard to stop.
“In terms of fixing that, it is up to the individual and how we go about things and how much we care about our footy. The team definitely wants to put in for Stace because he’s done so much for the club and he’s come in in a tough situation but taken the reigns and taken it head-on.”
Don’t miss Saturday’s final home game at Moreton Daily Stadium. Kick-off is at 5.30pm. Head here for tickets.