Blake Green had hoped the lack of fight that marred the Warriors’ early-season NRL efforts wouldn’t be seen again. He was wrong.
In a cruel episode of deja vu, the Warriors’ 46-12 loss Canberra last Friday matched the scoreline of their round three trouncing from Manly in Christchurch.
The aftermath of that game was notable for Green slamming the Warriors for going missing on the physicality front.
It was the same on Tuesday as the veteran halfback outlined in bleak terms why the Warriors didn’t come close to the Raiders and why a return fixture against the Sea Eagles this weekend is an important measuring stick.
“We just got beaten up physically,” he said.
“Nothing really technical. It was all just attitude, heart, courage, desire. We lacked all the basic things you need to win physical contests.
“The most disappointing thing is that we had buckets of it for about eight weeks there and the balloon sort of popped on Friday. We had none.
“We need to get that back quickly.”
A loss to Manly on Saturday would be an outright club record seventh straight defeat at Mt Smart Stadium.
Green joked the Warriors should wear an away strip and change the name of the venue in a bid to harness the mindset that has seen them impress on the road this season.
An upset of Manly became harder on Tuesday when the club confirmed hooker Karl Lawton (shoulder) and five-eighth Kodi Nikorima (ankle) had been ruled out after aggravating previous injuries against Canberra.
With three specialist hookers missing, lock Jazz Tevaga will start at dummy half while Chanel Harris-Tavita replaces Nikorima for the 10th appearance of his rookie season.
Harris-Tavita was among the few Warriors to emerge with credit last week, scoring both of their tries.
Green said the 20-year-old’s energy was welcome as the 12th-placed Kiwi club embark on a stiff run for home to force an unlikely finals berth.
“What we saw the other night is he’s off the cuff and sort of buzzing around the footy,” Green said.
“As always with young kids, he’s energetic, nothing fazes him.
“I don’t think he realises what the score was on the weekend. He comes in bouncing every day so that’ll be a positive for us.”