Losses can bring pressure, but so can a good win, and Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell can feel an increase in expectations ahead of the start of the NRL season.
The Warriors go into the new campaign, and a meeting with Parramatta in Sydney next Sunday, on the back of a 48-4 thumping of Brisbane in their final trial.
The Auckland-based club scored nine tries against the Broncos in Dunedin, including a late double to Hurrell.
“Everyone is stoked by the win, but it’s kind of pressuring us to do better in round one,” he said.
“We had a good game, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We have to train harder and work on the game plan and hopefully we’ll do well.”
Hurrell has had a rigorous pre-season after coming back to training “a bit too fat”.
He admits the club were disappointed about the weight he had put on after finishing playing for Tonga at last year’s World Cup.
But he put in the hard yards to shed 9kg and will be back at his playing weight of last season.
A prolific line-breaker, the 22-year-old Hurrell is entering his third NRL season.
He finished his debut year in 2012 as the club’s equal top-scorer with 12, and was second last season with 13.
While he is working on improvements in attack, his defence remains a big focus, and related to that is further improving his fitness.
“If I’m fatigued, I just switch off a bit,” he said.
“When I get fitter, I communicate with the boys and stay together with them.”
Hurrell is also preparing for a battle for a spot in the team.
Dane Nielsen is first pick for one centre berth, while Carlos Tuimavave, who was used there against the Broncos, showed some nice touches.
“Carlos had been training hard and it’s going to be hard with me and Carlos competing for that position,” Hurrell said.
“But for us, we don’t mind who’s going to play. It’s what’s best for the team.”