Warriors aim to stop Eels slipping through

The Warriors are putting a heavy accent on their defence as they ramp up preparations for the new NRL season.

They ran in nine tries in their 48-4 drubbing of Brisbane in their final trial in Dunedin last weekend, so are confident they can put on points if they have a reasonable share of possession.

But assistant coach Andrew McFadden says they know they have to be better without the ball.

“Defensively, we’ve been a little inconsistent,” he said on Thursday.

“It’s certainly a focus for us for round one.”

McFadden said it was more a case of attitude than structure.

“We’re always tweaking with the structures because the game constantly evolves,” he said.

“It’s just really working hard on our mindset and, when we’re at training, making sure that it really matters.”

Against the Broncos, the Warriors put out their strongest side of their three pre-season outings, although injuries meant Manu Vatuvei, Dane Nielsen, Kevin Locke and Thomas Leuluai sat out the match.

Winger Vatuvei and centre Neilsen are rated as good chances to get over respective thigh and hip problems and be available against Parramatta in Sydney on March 9.

Fullback Locke (knee) and five-eighth Leuluai (groin) will both miss the start of the season.

The Warriors have a ready-made No.1 in high-profile English signing Sam Tomkins, while another recruit, former Cronulla Shark Chad Townsend, showed good form against Brisbane when partnering Shaun Johnson in the halves.

McFadden said the coaching staff had a pretty good idea of their line-up to face the Eels.

However, the performance against the Broncos had put them in the pleasant position of making it harder to confirm the exact 17.

The areas giving thought included the front row, where McFadden said all five props used in last Sunday pressed their claims, and the outside backs, with 19-year-old try-scorer David Fusitua among those to impress.

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