Interim NZ Warriors coach Todd Pyaten is trying to focus on the positives after his side's 18-12 defeat to the Penrith Panthers on the Central Coast on Friday night.
Chasing a third successive win, the Warriors were on the backfoot from the start as they spent the majority of the first half defending their line as they trailed 16-0 late in the first half.
But the Warriors mounted a second half fightback to close the gap within a converted try, but the Panthers held firm as they claimed a club record ninth consecutive win.
The Panthers' six-point win margin is the smallest they've had during their unbeaten run, which sees them sitting atop the NRL standings.
While he was disappointed, Payten couldn't fault his side's effort, something he has been asking for since taking over Stephen Kearney in June.
"I'm proud of the effort, but really disappointed that we lost," says Payten.
"We played tough - I've been asking for that for weeks. I thought we'd been building.
"We played a team that was up the top of the ladder that had 160 more plays with the ball, 12 more sets, nine repeat sets, a lopsided penalty count – but we just kept turning up.
"I'm proud of them, but I thought we had an opportunity to tie it up there at the end."
Payten also heaped praise on young hafback Chanel Harris-Tavita who made his second start alongside Kodi Nikorima following the departure of Blake Green.
But there is one thing Payten hopes Harris-Tavita can continue to improve on, and that is his swearing.
"What I like about him is that he actually goes after the game. You saw in a tackle late in the game that when things are pretty tightly contested, he's tried to turn it for his team.
"He's going to develop into a good first-grader and his direction and talk is probably a week by week thing.
"It's about him being confident and comfortable with his role in the team.
"He needs to be able to feel comfortable telling players around him where to go and what to do. If he has to swear, be mean and do whatever it takes, that's what he's got to get to, like a good halfback."
The Warriors now have eight days to rest-up for the next clash against the last-placed Canterbury Bulldogs next Sunday.
Payten said young forward Elisa Katoa should be fit for the game after struggling with a leg injury which he later revealed to just be cramp.
"Eli is a young kid who's still learning the game. I think he's played less than 15 first-grade games and to play 80 minutes is a big, physical challenge for him.
"He hasn't missed a game, he's got to punch out 80 minutes and he's finding it a challenge, just where he is with his development at the moment."
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