Restoring respect and giving club stalwart Micheal Luck a fitting send-off will be the Warriors’ targets over the rest of their NRL season as they try to bounce back from a tumultuous week.
Winger Manu Vatuvei says there’s still shock among the players over coach Brian McClennan’s departure after less than a season.
It was something he didn’t see coming, despite the Warriors’ six-match losing streak that has ended their playoff hopes.
“There’s a cloud because we’re still shocked by the news,” he said.
“We just have to live with it and move on, and hopefully turn this around.”
Vatuvei’s links with McClennan go back some way.
It was McClennan, as Kiwis coach, who gave “The Beast” his first Test cap as a 19-year-old in 2005.
Vatuvei went on the star in that year’s Tri-Nations, scoring two tries in New Zealand’s 24-0 upset over Australia in the final in Leeds.
“It was really hard for myself,” he said of McClennan’s sacking.
“Bluey was one who thought I was ready to make my international debut, so it was sad to see him leave like that. It’s part of the business, but I’m disappointed he had to leave.”
The Warriors complete their season away to St George Illawarra on Saturday night and at home against Canberra the following weekend.
With little tangible to play for, the players wanted to give something back to the club and the fans, and accord Luck an appropriate farewell after seven seasons with the Warriors, Vatuvei said.
The 30-year-old Luck, who has endured an injury-hit campaign, is set to hang up his boots to become football operations manager at his former club North Queensland.
If the workaholic lock takes the field against Canberra, he will notch up 150 appearances for the Warriors, to go with his 76 games for the Cowboys.
“We want him to leave this club on a high and with happy memories,” Vatuvei said.
Against the Dragons, Luck is in the starting 13 for the first time this year and will take over the captaincy that Vatuvei held in the absence of injured club captain Simon Mannering.