Coach Matthew Elliott reckons it's time the Warriors showed the hallmarks of an NRL playoffs-quality side when they face the Wests Tigers in Sydney on Friday.
With eight games remaining, he's not panicking, but Elliott says his 11th-placed team need to improve in numerous subtle but important areas if they are to climb into the competition's top eight.
They sit one win and one place ahead of the Tigers, who have also experienced a recent revival after a slow start to the season.
Both teams lost their most recent games ahead of last weekend's bye, leaving Elliott demanding the sort of clinical play which saw the Warriors win five straight games before losing 30-13 to South Sydney in Perth on July 7.
The Souths loss carried important lessons, Elliott said, most notably the Rabbitohs' work off the ball to create space for a superior kicking game.
They were areas of the game that weren't glaring but showcased why Souths were leading the competition.
"Their ground control, whether with the ball or defensively, was better than ours and their kicks were better than ours.
"It's a progression we have to make if we're serious about doing well this season."
Elliott doesn't want the Warriors to be left behind at what he describes as a crucial juncture of the season.
He wants them to control their own destiny rather than spending the last few weeks of the regular season relying on other fringe contenders falling over.
Wing Manu Vatuvei (shin) should be fit to return but Elliott was less confident about forwards Charlie Gubb (stomach) and Russell Packer (ankle and hamstring), who were named on an extended interchange bench.
Elliott hopes his side won't be distracted by the hype in Sydney surrounding the Tigers' high-profile New Zealand playmaker Benji Marshall, who has requested a release from his contract.
"If we start getting distracted by other teams, we won't be playing in September," he said.
Share
