Blair: Witch-hunt won’t bring back belief
Senior Warriors forward Adam Blair admits the team have lost belief and confidence but remains optimistic the Auckland club can finish the 2019 NRL campaign on a positive note.
The consecutive heavy defeats to the Sharks and Roosters have cast a dark shadow over what was already a disappointing season.
The 42-16 loss to the Sharks was particularly damaging, as the team had a week’s build-up in Sydney and were expected to respond after the one-sided Roosters result a week earlier. Instead, they produced a feeble effort, with the game over early in the second half, as the Sharks cut through paper thin defence.
Coach Stephen Kearney pointed to a lack of resilience and belief after the match. Blair agreed there is an issue.
“The belief thing is obviously a tough one,” said Blair. “When you are getting beaten up by 40 points two weeks in a row, it’s quite hard to keep believing in what you are doing, individually and as a group.”
“We probably have taken a dent in our belief as a group.”
Blair also brushed off the public comments of chief executive Cameron George last week, who, among other things, said there was a lack of effort among some members of the playing group, prompting a sharp response from Kearney.
“I haven’t really seen what’s going on but I’ve heard Cam has come out and said some stuff,” said Blair. “I guess Cam is just passionate about the club and passionate about where
they want to head. Maybe those two can sort their stuff out behind closed doors. We have a job to do as a team, to go out there and try to perform.”
Blair added that he didn’t take offence from George’s comments, despite the suggestion several members of the NRL squad were underperforming, and were only retained because of a lack of alternatives.
“I don’t really read into it,” said Blair. “He’s passionate about league and the club, wants to do what is right for the club. We can’t control what he says, he’s entitled to what he wants to say, we’ll just have to work hard and finish the season on a good note.”
Blair maintains if they can sort out their defensive issues against South Sydney at Mt Smart on Friday night (they have missed 78 tackles in the last two matches), something positive can be salvaged from the season.
“There is always effort there, but it is not collective effort as a group,” said Blair.
“Defence is an attitude; it’s a hard job to do. It’s about turning up and looking after your mate next to you. When times are tough and you have to defend your line three or four times, it’s about worrying about that job at that moment, rather than the next job or whatever is after that.”
Utility forward Jazz Tevaga said the equation was simple.
“We have two games left in the season,” said Tevaga. “What do we do? Do we roll over, or do we end the season on a high and give our fans something to cheer about? We need to install some care and pride back in the jersey because there hasn’t been much of that.”