Warriors Tohu Harris and Jazz Tevega weighed in on the team's performance as they prepare for their match with the Sea Eagles.
After watching the review of the Warriors' round four loss to the Sydney Roosters, middle forward Jazz Tevaga took things a little personally.
A week removed from their remarkable fightback against the Canberra Raiders, the team lacked that same work rate and effort against the high-flying Roosters, who eventually flewoff with a 32-12 win.
"Watching the tape back, late in that second half it showed the enthusiasm they were playing with compared to us," Tevaga explained. "We weren't going after them; in the past we've played teams like the Titans and Raiders, we did go after them. I think we lacked a bit of intent; a bit of hunger to go after them.
"We need to switch our mindset. You know, show them respect, but at the same time go after them. Browny (coach Nathan Brown) uses the term 'killer mode' - we need to lock into that killer mode and go after them."
For Tevaga, it wasn't the most comfortable watch, as someone who prides himself on his work ethic in the physical areas of the game.
Throughout his NRL career, be it in a starting role of coming off the bench, Tevaga has brought a bit of mongrel to the side with his energy on the defensive end and his willingness to get in the face of the opponent.
Jazz Tevaga. Photo / Photosport
This season, Tevaga has mainly been starting at lock and has taken his appointment in the position as a nod to what he brings to the side.
"I think we start off with a better mindset the way I play. Like I said, with going after teams, I took it really personally in the review because I feel like I drive that stuff – the aggression, the physicality – so I've got a big job to back up against Manly.
"I feel as a whole, the way we want to play and the way we want to start, I feel like I'm more suited to starting. Even when I come off the bench, I feel like I bring a lot of energy, leg speed, line speed.
"I don't want to say (I'm an) enforcer; I just feel like I drive the energy with our big boys, and our physicality and aggression."
This Friday, the Warriors meet a struggling Manly side in which will signal a fifth of the season being behind them. Through four rounds, the Warriors have a 2-2 record and with a break of more than a week before their round five and six matches, the club will have an opportunity to evaluate their first month of the campaign and where they can make improvements.
"Manly are going to be desperate, and we're going to be desperate as well," Tevaga said.
"We've got a long turnaround and if we win this weekend, we can look forward to the next block of games. I think if we can win three out of five it's a fair start to the season."
