By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors require a big improvement in defence in the middle of the park if they are to beat the champion Penrith Panthers at Ericsson tomorrow.
They also need better go-forward from the big men in attack than that which was delivered against St George last week because, regardless how good their defence is, the Panthers will get points. They're too good not to.
In Craig Gower they have an astute general.
Preston Campbell and Rhys Wesser back him up with their great running skills.
There was much soul-searching at Ericsson this week as performances were dissected. No pride was taken in last week's effort, or lack thereof.
"The players have done more review work this week than ever before. We didn't have to say much, they knew that it was pretty ugly," said coach Daniel Anderson.
Anderson doesn't expect to have to say much to motivate the side before it runs out.
"I'll be surprised if I need to say much at all," he said.
So tomorrow offers redemption.
Prop Jerry Seuseu was passed fit by the medics but Anderson said he would retain his right to name the 17 tomorrow, keeping options open to see how the six on the bench came up after the last full-on training on Thursday.
They'll have a light run today.
Anderson is wary of the Penrith pack.
"They're the biggest in the comp. Martin Lang is one of the most resilient carriers of the football in the competition - he gets belted every week and he never stops.
"Ben Ross replaces him and he's bigger and younger.
"Then there's the 'Hair Bears' Tony Puletua and Joe Galuvao, who are locked by the find of the season so far in former prop Trent Waterhouse, 193cm, 107kg and quick with it."
Anderson said he wasn't worried about Jerome Ropati, 19, being marked out as a target in his second NRL start at five-eighths.
"I wouldn't pick him if I was concerned. He's physically ready - it's a matter of being mentally on to it, preparing himself properly.
"We've started a lot of young guys - Thomas Leuluai was younger. They're young and talented and they know they can match it with these established players. "
Penrith have the best away record in the NRL from last season (11 from 12) and won away at Canberra last week.
John Lang has instilled a team spirit that overcomes any ground advantage and having won at Ericsson last year, they will not be intimidated by the home side or its parochial crowd.
The Warriors need a good kicking game, which was absent last week because there was poor go-forward.
They need others to take some load from Stacey Jones, to make themselves targets, so he's able to get free of the pack of defenders he always has trailing him.
They also need more urgency in attack and more desperation in defence because the Panthers are going to make them scramble to cover line-breaks.
Penrith arrive late this afternoon and go straight to Ericsson for a light training run. The team was to travel as named, with Frank Pritchard to drop from a five-man bench.
Penrith and the Warriors have played 14 times in competition, the Panthers winning eight, the Warriors six.
They have played at Ericsson six times, for three wins each.
Last season the Panthers won 28-14 at Ericsson in round seven, 34-12 at Penrith in round 12 and 28-20 in the preliminary final, eliminating the Warriors from the play-offs.
* Warriors vs Panthers, Ericsson Stadium, tomorrow, 4pm
* Visit nzherald.co.nz throughout the weekend for Warriors updates.
Warriors draw and results - 2004 NRL
Other NRL fixtures and points table
Rugby League: Big defensive effort needed to blunt Panthers' claws
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