League: Warriors loaded with potential, says Cayless

Parramatta Eels skipper Nathan Cayless believes a couple of victories will go a long way to getting the New Zealand Warriors' National Rugby League (NRL) campaign on track.

The Warriors remain winless after going down to the Eels 14-22 in Hamilton on Saturday night. That defeat followed their 16-22 loss to Melbourne in Auckland in round one.

While the Warriors have made plenty of errors in both matches, Cayless was confident of their ability to move up the ladder from their position of minus four points.

"Obviously it's hard starting on negative four -- mentally that's really tough," he said.

"But they're a good, strong football team. They've got good forwards and very skilful backs. If they get a couple of wins up, they will be a really hard team to beat."

Cayless wasn't getting too excited about the Parramatta's second successive victory over the Warriors at Waikato Stadium.

He praised his team's defence, but said that, like the Warriors, the Eels made too many mistakes.

"I don't know if it was a great win, but it was a win," he said.

"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves at times but our defence was pretty good and the boys stuck together and toughed it out."

Meanwhile, the Kiwis prop hadn't looked as far ahead yet as the Anzac test against Australia in early May.

Having missed selection for the corresponding fixture last year in Daniel Anderson's final match as New Zealand coach, Cayless said he was content simply to get his early season match fitness up.

"I want to get a few more games under my belt," he said.

"I didn't make the (Anzac) team last year, so I haven't got my hopes up too high. It would be nice, but there are a lot of good young players coming through, so I've got to put the form on the board."

Cayless, 27, did get recalled later in the year when new coach Brian McClennan took over and he played in the opening Tri-Nations test in October.

After the Kiwis ended 46 years without a win in Sydney by beating the Kangaroos 38-28, Cayless stayed back to be with his pregnant partner and missed the rest of New Zealand's run to the title.

"Obviously it was hard to see them win and not be there," he said.

"But we've got a baby girl and staying behind was the best thing I've done."

Parramatta substitute Dean Widders, who scored the clinching try 10 minutes from fulltime, said the Eels' intensity carried them home.

He said the 2006 Warriors were just as physical as their predecessors.

"They can still bruise as hard as ever and they came out to play because of the situation they're in," he said.

"It was just that we came over here with a good attitude and our intensity throughout the game was pretty high.

"Although we weren't always at our best, we had our intensity right up there."

- NZPA