Jacob Lillyman says the Warriors are looking forward to meeting Souths and the Roosters. Photo / Getty Images
Jacob Lillyman says the Warriors are looking forward to meeting Souths and the Roosters. Photo / Getty Images
Big games against serious contenders will show if team has steel.
Tough games against the Rabbitohs and Roosters in the next fortnight should reveal plenty about the Warriors' character and their ability to mix it with the best sides in the NRL.
After three narrow wins in a row over Cronulla, Parramatta and Newcastle - sides beneath them in the lower half of the ladder - back-to-back-games against the reigning premiers and in-form Roosters loom as the first real test of the Warriors' premiership credentials.
The seventh-placed Warriors are level on 14 competition points with the sixth-ranked Rabbitohs, whom they take on at nib Stadium in Perth tomorrow.
The 2013 title-winning Roosters currently occupy fifth spot.
Much has been made of their ability to grind out their recent victories but senior prop Jacob Lillyman says the next fortnight will provide a true gauge of how the Warriors are tracking.
"These two games will show where we're really at," said Lillyman. "If we stand up and make a statement, that will do our season the world of good and we need to see this as an opportunity to do that.
"These are the games you look forward to, especially in the forwards. Both Souths and the Roosters have massive forward packs so we're really looking forward to it and hopefully we can get the result."
Despite their winning run, the flip-side of their narrow victories is that the Warriors haven't been clinical in their disposal of rival sides.
Although they led throughout last Sunday's game, they were fortunate to hold off a badly depleted Knights outfit 24-20 despite holding a 20-8 advantage early in the second half.
Lillyman conceded their intensity had waned and admitted they need to show more consistency across 80 minutes.
"We need to put the foot on the throat and really capitalise on those opportunities," he said. "There were a few times against Newcastle when we had them pinned in the corners and just came up with soft tackles or let players skip to the outside and let them off the hook."
That said, the 31-year-old Queensland State of Origin front-rower sees positives in the fact that his side have been getting results.
After being on the wrong end of so many close encounters in recent years Lillyman believes the Warriors are growing in confidence after scraping through some tight matches.
"It's nice to see we get a bit of luck. Over the years, we'd come off on the rough end in those games that could go either way.
"We're getting a bit of luck and sneaking through and that does your confidence the world of good and allows us to really see that we have a lot to work on but that we can build on it."
Coach Andrew McFadden agrees his side need to be better to match it with their next two opponents.
"I watched the Roosters on Monday night [in their 24-2 win over Melbourne] and, wow, they were impressive, with their energy and how clinical they were. It's a reminder of what you need if you want to be a contender at the pointy end."
They'll need more than luck to bring down the Rabbitohs, who are finding their way back into top form after consecutive wins over the Eels and Titans.
Lillyman is bracing for a huge test up front against the likes of Tom and George Burgess, Tim Grant, fellow Maroons forward Chris McQueen and 2016 Warriors hooker Issac Luke.
"We've got to meet that physical challenge head-on. We did last year for 60 minutes.
"We played some unreal footy there but dropped off at the end and let it slip so we don't want to let that happen again."
Ikahihifo keen for extension
Sebastine Ikahihifo is desperate to remain at the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
Back-rower Sebastine Ikahihifo knows every minute of game time he gets off the interchange bench is a chance to prove he deserves a contract extension with the Warriors.
The 24-year-old is off contract at the end of the season and has had interest from both the Dragons and Titans but is desperate to remain at the Warriors.
Since debuting in 2012, Ikahihifo made 30 NRL appearances before a frustrating run of injuries and illness hindered his start to this season.
He won a bench spot for the round five match in Melbourne but fell out of favour before earning a recall for last week's clash against Newcastle. In a 15-minute stint he did enough to hold his place in the squad for tomorrow's clash against the Rabbitohs.
"I still want to spend some time at the Warriors and feel like I have unfulfilled potential here," said Ikahihifo.
"I feel like there's unfinished business here. I'll be pretty disappointed if I'm going to leave my time in the Warriors jersey like that. I've got to get some more intent in my game as the time I was given last week was limited so I have to go hard in that short time."
The Warriors are aware of the interest in him from other clubs and are weighing up whether to retain him.
"We're working through that at the moment," coach Andrew McFadden said. "We've got pretty hotly contested positions in the forwards and these young kids Sam Lisone and Albert Vete have really put a lot of pressure on some seasoned performers.
"We certainly value Seb a lot. He's got a real awkwardness about him but it is very effective and we certainly don't want to change him. He's allowed free rein over the way he wants to play because he is so effective.
"He's been playing pretty well in our NSW Cup side and there's just been limited opportunities because of how well these young guys have been playing."
