A lack of leadership at Sydney Roosters and uncharacteristically poor defence is hitting the struggling NRL club hard, according to prop Dylan Napa.
The Roosters have plunged to three successive losses to begin the season.
They've conceded 103 points in the process to send the back-to-back-to-back minor premiers to the bottom of the NRL.
That poor defence; the departure of James Maloney, Michael Jennings and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck; and injuries or suspension to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce has left the Tricolours fighting for their season.
They meet Manly at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, a clash which shapes as must-win given no team has started the season 0-4 and gone on to enjoy premiership success.
"A lot of leadership has been lost and we are aware of that but it is hard to get on top of," Napa told AAP on Tuesday night at the launch of Peugeot's Sydney City dealership.
"And our defence is the number one thing we respect the most, that is where we have been poorest and that is an attitude thing.
"We need to pull out finger out sooner rather than later as a club."
Napa insisted spirits at the under-siege Roosters remained high.
"Those losses have really hurt and this weekend, while in our season it is not a must-win but it is definitely a must-win for ourselves and our confidence," he said.
"No one has throw in the towel no one has been in a bad mood at training, we just have to believe in our system, that might be easier said than done but our spirits are still high."
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