It is turning into a little bit of a joke, however at the very least Andrew Webster has accepted the truth that each media session he attends will embrace a query in regards to the group’s gradual begins.
Dryly refusing to acknowledge the problem at first, the Warriors coach admitted that it “lastly bit us on the bum” of their 34-24 loss to Newcastle on the weekend after failing to fireplace from kick-off and discovering themselves trailing 18-Zero early .
“The Knights performed very well,” he instructed the media.
“We had an awesome resilience in the truth that we got here again effectively, however we would have liked to dig in and defend our line a bit higher early, in order that we’re not having to come back again on a regular basis. I’m actually pleased with the boys for the comeback, however we have now to be higher.”
In addition to having to try to repair an issue that’s clearly now a working theme for the aspect, Webster can be coping with dropping half Te Maire Martin for as much as eight weeks with a fractured fibula.
“Yeah it is large,” admitted Webster.
“Te Maire is an enormous a part of what we’re doing. I get enthusiastic about how laborious he competes, his work from marker, tackling and saving tries, then you definitely add in how good he’s with the soccer. We will miss him.”
Dylan Walker strikes to five-eighth, a task which Webster is assured the previous Australian worldwide can slip into simply.
“We’ve not had our full squad out there because the starting of the 12 months,” Webster stated.
“That is the way in which it’s. Dyan’s performed five-eighth for Manly earlier than, I nonetheless need to see the vitality he brings within the center so he must steadiness that with being an organiser.”
This would be the second time the Warriors have performed the Cowboys this season, successful 26-12 in Townsville with a few acquainted faces lining up on and off the sector for the North Queenslanders.
Heart Pita Hiku performed 4 seasons for the Warriors, one in every of them when Todd Payten acted as a profitable caretaker head coach on the again finish of 2020, earlier than taking the full-time function on the Cowboys.
“There’s quite a lot of similarities there,” stated Webster.
“The bit I like about it’s that we do not have to preview the Cowboys an excessive amount of. The messages stay the identical. They are going to be motivated to not make it two losses in a row, so we’ll need to be hungrier than they’re to get the end result.”
Hooker Wayde Egan is anticipated to solely miss one match after struggling a concussion within the loss to the Knights. Webster is assured that captain Tohu Harris will begin on Saturday after struggling a knee harm a fortnight in the past.
