NRL: We're still trying, say battered Warriors

Warriors stand-in skipper Micheal Luck brings down rampaging Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi during last night's match in Sydney. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Warriors insist they haven't thrown in the towel in the National Rugby League (NRL), despite a demoralising 40-4 hiding from Parramatta last night.

Inspired by one of the NRL's form players, Jarryd Hayne, the electric Eels dismantled the Warriors by scoring seven tries to one, for their fifth successive win.

The only consolation for the Warriors - with a solitary win from their last eight - is that Cronulla and Sydney Roosters remain below them on the ladder and may prevent them matching their worst finishes of second-last in 2000 and 2004.

Still, they'll be looking over their shoulders as they host Canberra next Sunday, fresh from an upset win over premiership favourites St George-Illawarra, then high-flyers the Bulldogs (away) and Melbourne (home).

"Everyone's trying their arses off. You can't fault anyone's effort, but just our execution is off at times and we ran into a pretty dominant team," insisted stand-in captain Micheal Luck.

From Luck, that seemed fair enough.

The durable second-rower notched another 45 tackles last night to take his season tally to a remarkable 937, comfortably the most in the NRL and a sure bet to top 1000 by season's end.

It was little consolation, though, as the misfiring Warriors somehow try to lift for their home faithful next weekend in what coach Ivan Cleary labelled "a test of character".

"We've just got to play for pride. We've got two home games and we want to show the fans that have been loyal that we'll still be out there doing our best."

With brilliant fullback Hayne a constant menace and Kiwis prop Fuifui Moimoi rampaging all over Parramatta Stadium, the match was decided at 18-0 after just 14 minutes.

Again, the Warriors' only effective attacking play was the Stacey Jones bomb to winger Manu Vatuvei, who fumbled his first two then grabbed the third for their only try in the 32nd minute.

Hayne set up two quick tries after the break with a short ball to Joel Reddy then a chip and regather, and it was goodnight.

Cleary's summation of the Eels, who moved inside the top-eight for the first time, was everything his Warriors were missing.

"Some of their key guys are just playing great football. They turned up and they were really accurate, throwing the ball around and making offloads, they kicked really well.

"I thought our boys tried really hard, we were just outplayed. They've obviously got a lot of momentum and it carried on tonight. It was hard to find a fault in them."

That was the Warriors in a nutshell a year ago as they made a late charge to the playoffs.

The irony of the switch in fortunes for last night's combatants wasn't lost on Eels coach Daniel Anderson.

In round one, the Warriors were tipped as premiership contenders and beat the Eels at home as new coach Anderson oversaw five defeats from their first seven games.

Anderson, who guided the Warriors to the 2002 grand final then quit mid-2004 before a successful English stint with St Helens, didn't want to comment on his old club's woes.

"I don't know. I don't watch their games, I'm only worried about Parramatta, to tell the truth," he said.

"We've got some hunger and drive, we're very motivated and we've got players all over the park making huge contributions. We're a tough team to play at the moment."

- NZPA