While the One New Zealand Warriors “got what we deserved” from the Titans, head coach Andrew Webster says “we’ve got to get our pride back” in Saturday’s 17th-round NRL encounter against the Brisbane Broncos at Go Media Stadium.
In the wake of Saturday night’s devastating 6-66 loss to Gold Coast, Webster said the Warriors can “definitely come back from this.”
“We’ve got a lot of quality players here,” he said.
“We’ve got people who are here for the right reasons, people who want to win and want to win for the One New Zealand Warriors, win for each other and they’re proud people. We’re a proud club. It was obviously very embarrassing (against the Titans) but we can definitely come back.”
Saturday’s contest, the 49th between the Warriors and the Broncos, is the first at Go Media Stadium since 2019 and the 22nd overall in Auckland with the Warriors holding a 12-10 edge at their home venue.
We’ve got more to play for than just two points. We’ve got to get our pride back. We’ve got to go after it
Andrew Webster
One New Zealand Warriors head coach
“The way we attack things from here is going to be the most important thing,” said Webster.
“I think you’ve got to be consistent. You’ve got to try to take all the emotion out of it.
“You have to look at it and say: ‘Right, where did we go wrong? Did we do anything well? Then let’s talk about it. What was our preparation like?” I thought it was good but ask them (the players). And then we have to come up with a plan about how we’re going to win this week.
“My philosophy is we’ve got to stay tight as a team, we’ve got to show some care for each other and not point the finger. We’re all in this together. I’m part of this as well. My philosophy is that I take ownership too.
“There needs to be a response after this. That’s what we’re going to be after against a good team and on our home patch. Both teams are going to be desperate. We’ve got more to play for than just two points. We’ve got to get our pride back. We’ve got to go after it.”
One New Zealand Warriors captain Tohu Harris said the players were desperate to atone in front of their fans at a sold-out Go Media Stadium.
“We’ve got to repay the faith they’ve had in us,” he said.
“Their support for us has been outstanding and so has the support of our fans from outside New Zealand. We’re embarrassed with the performance we put out there.”
As many as five players from the Queensland and New South Wales State of Origin squads are in line to play in the match.
The Warriors will be hoping to have Queensland interchange back rower Kurt Capewell and New South Wales 18th man Mitchell Barnett on deck while the Broncos have Queensland fullback Reece Walsh and loose forward Patrick Carrigan plus New South Wales prop Payne Haas lining up in Origin II in Melbourne on Wednesday night.