Warriors coach Andrew Webster says he will have a true idea of where his team sits in the NRL pecking order after Sunday’s clash against the Sharks.
As it stands the Warriors sit fourth on the ladder with a 3-1 record, although none of those wins and have come against current top eight sides, with their sole loss being against the fifth-placed Roosters.
Webster is tipping Round 5 to be the week the competition steps up a gear and delivers a better picture of where everyone is at.
“I think this is going to be the biggest game for all clubs this week, where clubs who aren’t going well will work it out and clubs who are really good teams will get better,” Webster said.
“We have got to find out where we sit in that, and I think this is the exact week for it.
Where we are at now is that I have left each game so happy with the result and then reviewed the game and gone, ‘wow, we got so much wrong’.
Andrew Webster
The main areas of concern for Webster ahead of facing the Sharks, who looked a different beast with halfback Nicho Hynes back at the helm last week in a 40-8 win over the Dragons, are the way his side is starting games and their discipline in defence.
The Warriors have given up the opening try in all four games so far, and in all but one have conceded at least eight points inside the first 15 minutes.
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In possession they boast the best completion rate in the NRL, finishing 83 percent of their sets on average, but sit 10th in possession percentage, which Webster puts down to a penalty rate that is the equal third worst in the competition.
“Making sure that our game stands up under pressure, that we actually play for the full 80 minutes, from the start right to the finish [is the focus],” Webster said.
“I think we are playing to the finish of the game, but we need to start better, set games up, rather than having to chase all the time.
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“I want to see some discipline. I feel like parts are killing us where we are just marching [opposition teams] out.
“We are putting so much pressure on ourselves, continuously at different stages. But at the same time what are you proud of? They hang in there, they work hard for each other, they want to win.
“I am proud of them, but we have got a long way to go.”
Meanwhile Webster hinted that should captain Tohu Harris (knee) fail to be declared fit for the game at PointsBet Stadium, interchange dynamo Dylan Walker would be the likely starting lock, despite his reluctance to break up the “bald brothers” bench combination of Walker and Jazz Tevaga.
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With the ball playing of Harris a key part of their attack, Webster suggested Walker’s style is probably the closest thing to a like for like swap.
“If [Walker] starts he gives us that opportunity that everyone knows we have got someone that can pass the football there,” Webster said.
“He just gives us that little bit of organisation, so I think starting might be good for him.”