Warriors coach Stacey Jones knew how crucial the start of the second half against the Storm would be.
He told the players about it as they sat in the shed trailing 10-8 at the break, but still, they allowed Jahrome Hughes to score a try two minutes into the second period and straight away the Storm had some breathing space and went on to win 24-12.
It’s been one of the Warriors’ biggest issues this season and memories are still fresh of the Raiders scoring straight after the break last weekend, then going on to win comfortably.
“We address it, we talk about it. They just got some ruck speed on us and got a six again,” Jones said afterwards.
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“We could’t hold them out. Disappointing. We’re saying all the right things in the changing room about coming out and starting fast after half-time.
Brett Phibbs/Photosport
Chanel Harris-Tavita will have scans on Monday to find out the extent of his latest injury.
“The last two weeks that’s been a part of our game that’s been an issue.”
Again, the Warriors showed they can play some nice footy and for the first half there was little between them and one of the best teams in the NRL.
But the thing is, they aren’t able to play at a high level for long enough.
“It seems to change in different weeks, but those mental lapses definitely don’t help,” Warriors captain Tohu Harris said.
“We tried to address that with coming out with intensity in the second half, but they got ruck speed and giving away a seven-tackle set, then giving them a full set on our line, it’s little lapses like that, little discipline areas.”
One of the positives from the game was the hat-trick scored by winger Ed Kosi. He had a nightmare against the Storm when these teams last met on Anzac Day and he was banished to the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup to work on his game straight after.
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A good crowd of 18,395 came out to watch the Warriors take on the Storm at Mt Smart Stadium.
But he was given an opportunity to prove himself again on Friday night and grabbed it with both hands, with a performance that has changed the direction of his career.
“Ed was outstanding tonight, the way he bounced back,” Jones said.
“Not just his three tries, but he caught some really good high balls, he carried the ball strong.
“From where he was when we last played him, he’s come a long way. He’s worked hard on his game, he’s played well in the reserve grade.
“He played well against Parramatta when he got another opportunity, so hopefully this is the start of something good for Ed and the club.”
But while it was a pleasing night for Kosi, that wasn’t the case for Chanel Harris-Tavita, who had to leave the game with an injury and it could be that he’s made his last appearance for the Warriors, before he quits the game.“We’re thinking it’s an MCL,’ Jones said of Harris-Tavita’s injury.
“So however long that is, we’re not too sure. He’ll have scans and we’ll need to see the extent of the injury.
“Losing Chanel was a bit of a disruption for us, he was playing pretty good up until his injury. We had to shuffle things around a bit and I thought Wayde Egan did a pretty good job (at five-eighth).
“Hard for a player that plays in the middle to have to defend on an edge. That edge got a bit exposed at times, but not through Wayde’s fault.”
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