Ruben Wiki: Critics ready to fire but we're fine

The critics might be getting their pistols ready to shoot the Warriors down but we will just keep doing our business.

We're certainly not bulletproof and didn't do ourselves any favours against the Dragons last week but we feel like we have made significant progress and we're still in a good position halfway through the season.

We've lost a few close ones and if we had picked up a couple of those we would be in a much stronger position and people would be saying how well we've been travelling. Sometimes the difference can be a bounce of the ball or even one dropped pass.

After more than 10 years in the game I have learned not to listen to criticism but sometimes younger players find it harder to ignore.

The simple message I give them is that they have to let it go because it is certainly not going to help their game.

We have to trust our own abilities because there is a huge amount of talent at this club and we're moving in the right direction. We've found a lot of go-forward, our halves are starting to fire and, with the exception of last weekend, our defence has been one of the best in the competition.

Today we need to get back on track against a Melbourne Storm missing three of their best players who are on State of Origin duty.

In fact, there's really no better time to tackle them and we have to make it count - if only to shut the critics up.

I was really pleased to see Brian McClennan appointed Kiwis coach and I look forward to working with him - if he wants me, that is.

I first met him last year and I can usually get a good feel for a person pretty quickly and he came across as a really genuine guy who had some great ideas about how to play the game.

I trust him to take New Zealand forward and he brings with him a great track record with the sides he's coached. He's clearly passionate about league and also wants to succeed so I'm sure we will grow another leg as a team and carry on from what Daniel Anderson achieved in his three years in the position.

People have said that it might be hard for Blue to deal with the 'egos' in the Kiwi team, having not coached at NRL level. But I know the guys respect him.

It won't be too much of a change heading into the Tri-Series because, having worked with McClennan, everyone will know what to expect.

One thing he will bring, though, are new ideas and that will get the boys more excited than they usually are. I'm excited already.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY