Warriors vow to attack Tigers in NRL semi - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Warriors vow to attack Tigers in NRL semi

Joe Barton 15/09/2011 05:43:02 PM Comments (0)

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary admits his team didn't rise to the challenge against Brisbane last weekend, but remains adamant they won't change their carefree style in Friday's elimination NRL final against Wests Tigers.

The offload-happy Warriors produced 15 errors at Suncorp Stadium - more than any other team came up with in week one of the finals - in a catastrophic display that helped the Broncos to a cruisy 40-10 qualifying final win.

It was the most error-prone Warriors performance since their round 18 victory over the Gold Coast - a win that turned their season around and led to a streak that resulted in winning six of eight matches.

But Cleary said he would not instruct his livewire players Feleti Mateo, Manu Vatuvei and Kevin Locke to curb their instinctive playmaking.

There is a feeling amongst the Tigers players that the Warriors only needed a pinch of luck to have upset the Broncos - but instead of putting players through gaps, passes went to ground.

"We're not going to change too much," Cleary told reporters after landing in Sydney in Thursday.

"It's probably right (that if one or two passes stick, the Brisbane game changes), the problem was that none of them stuck.

"We might have been a bit excited, and then after that the Broncos to their credit really put us under pressure.

"... A lot of our boys have either played one (finals game) or haven't played any - it's an opportunity to put things right this week."

Cleary accepted suggestions the occasion may have got the better of some of his younger stars when faced with a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.

"It would probably be hard to argue with that assessment and in a way it's fair enough," Cleary said.

"We understand we just didn't deliver a performance that gave us a chance to win the game whether it's a final or any other game.

"We understand what's in front of us and what we've got to do, I guess now we've got to just wait and see."

Central to the Warriors' horror night was a disastrous game from powerhouse winger Vatuvei, who produced five mistakes on his own, but Cleary said 'the Beast' was ready to repay his team-mates for the sluggish effort.

"I back his ability," Cleary said.

"He's bounced back well in the past and I think over the balance of his career he hasn't had too many bad games.

"The first thing he did was put his hand up and accept responsibility that he didn't play as well as he would have liked to and didn't fulfil the responsibility of his team on the night.

"That's the first process on getting on with it and he's certainly done that.

"(I told him to) have a look at your preparation last week and some things that you can do better.

"He acknowledges a few things he could do better (but) I know I'm glad he's on my team."

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