Acting Warriors coach Todd Payten has delivered another stern message to his players, this time after a much improved showing in the NRL.
Todd Payten Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
The Warriors have pushed the reigning premiers, the Sydney Roosters, in Gosford before ultimately falling to an 18-10 defeat.
It was a big turnaround from their heavy defeat to the Cronulla Sharks last Sunday, which Payten labelled their worst display of the season.
"I don't want to say I'm proud of them, but that's the minimum requirement for us. We need that effort and intent for another 10 weeks," Payten said to media after the loss to the Roosters.
"We've got to shift our mindset. We can't be happy with pushing the two-time defending premiers.
"I spoke to the gentlemen after the game and I was firm and so were the other coaches about not being happy with that.
"We probably proved to ourselves that we're a decent team but we're still a way away from being a tough, consistent team."
Ken Maumalo Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
It was the last game for influential wingers Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a, who along with forwards Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa, are returning home tomorrow (Monday) to be reunited with their families.
"As challenging as the last what 15 weeks have been, it's about to get a little bit more challenging," Payten said.
"The two wingers are big parts of our game so we're going to have to defend better so teams don't march down the field and put us into a corner."
Prop Daniel Alvaro and winger George Jennings are joining the Warriors at their Terrigal base today, after the Parramatta Eels agreed to release them on loan for the next four weeks.
"There's some quality there too which will help, but they need to learn pretty quickly."
"In four or five days they need to know our calls, understand our structures a little bit and find themselves within the group.
"That's another challenge for them and us."