The Warriors get a breather this weekend after 14 roller-coaster weeks and coach Matthew Elliott is grateful for the timing of the club’s first bye of the NRL season.

After falling to their eighth defeat of the first 10 NRL rounds with a 62-6 thumping at Penrith, the Warriors have rebounded with four wins in a row.

The last two have come via particularly gutsy performances against top-four sides Manly and the Sydney Roosters.

But the exertions have also taken their toll, with Elliott pointing to the scene in the dressing room after the 23-12 victory over the Roosters last Sunday.

“If we played like that every week and we had to use that amount of effort to win, they would all be 70kg by the end of the season,” he said.

“So the bye did come at a really good time.”

Both halfback Shaun Johnson and second rower Feleti Mateo carried injuries into the match against the Roosters, while winger Manu Vatuvei is getting over some niggles.

But the casualty list is much lighter than earlier in the season and will be soon down to three with fullback Kevin Locke recovering from a hip problem.

After four days off, the Warriors were welcomed back on Friday with a tough 80-minute gym session.

“We need to establish a precedent of intensity, which has probably really helped us over the last few weeks,” Elliott said.

“Today was about entrenching that attitude more than the physical benefits.”

The Warriors’ next match is at home against Brisbane, who also have a bye this week.

Just three weeks ago, the Warriors rolled the Broncos 56-18 but Elliott is expecting to face a different team at Mt Smart Stadium.

Last time, Brisbane were without their State of Origin quartet as well as prop Ben Hannant, who returned from injury last week.

“We won’t be playing anything remotely like the side we played in Brisbane,” Elliott said.

“I dare say the mentality they will be bringing with them will be pretty focused.”