The NZ Warriors' 18-0 thrashing of the Dragons on Saturday has fans dreaming of a successful season. But across the Tasman, not everyone's gushing.
"The Warriors are not a good football side," the Daily Telegraph's Buzz Rothfield tells Fox Sport.
"We know they're not a good football side."
Despite the record-breaking performance with their set completions and the rare feat of keeping the opposition scoreless, praise for the Warriors hasn't been widespread.
"To allow the Warriors to complete 45 out of 47 is unheard of."
"The Dragons were lucky they played the Warriors, Fox's Paul Kent added. "Give the Raiders 75 minutes without a mistake and they put 60 on this side."
That lack of respect is adding fuel to the Warriors fire.
"I feel like we played well," said rookie forward Jamayne Taunoa-Brown.
"I think we've just got to back that up this week and show we can play really good footy."
The Panthers on Friday will be a step up in competition, and Sir Graham Lowe urges them to become more adventurous on attack.
"They've got to throw caution to the wind and use the ball," Lowe tells Newshub. "Their weapon will be their unpredictability."
Lowe is backing the Warriors' senior players to again steer the ship.
"Adam Blair laid a platform for those younger players. That was one of the best games I've seen him play.
The Warriors are confident they've got the ingredients and they're desperate to prove the doubters wrong.
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