NZ Warriors coach Nathan Brown believes the ability to finally name a consistent squad has been the key to their recent reversal in from.
The Warriors will take on Brisbane Broncos on Sunday with a chance to complete their first four-game win streak since the start of the 2018 NRL season, as well as keep their resuscitated finals hopes alive.
After a year of constant changes, due to injury and suspension, Brown believes he's found a formula that works.
"It's about continually trying to improve as individuals and, in some form or another, get some combinations going," says Brown.
"We've had huge amounts of change during the year - some forced by injury, some forced by people going home, and some forced by coaching staff - to move Euan [Aitken to the forwards] and these types of things.
"Combinations are certainly a work in progress with individual players, younger players starting to grow their game and as a group get some going and find our way with what we're trying to achieve and where we're trying to get to."
The squad has undergone a significant turnaround this season. They've bid farewell to captain and star player Roger Tuivasa-Sheck earlier than planned, as well as wings Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a, and Leeson Ah Mau, among others.
They've also been busy in recruitment, bringing in the likes of forward Matt Lodge and Reece Walsh, while injury has also taken a huge toll on their troops, most notably in the loss of star and leader Tohu Harris to a season-ending ACL tear.
But with their new additions finding their feet in the system and the return to full health of key cogs Addin Fonua-Blake and Chanel Harris-Tavita, the team has begun to find its straps.
"With the dynamics of the team changing a lot now, we're certainly a team learning our way into the style of footy we need to play and I think we're getting better at it and trying to get more consistent," adds Brown.
The Warriors need to ensure they win all of their remaining fixtures - with games against Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans to round out their season - and hope other results go their way to sneak into the top-eight.
Join us from 6pm, Sunday (NZ time) for live updates of the NRL clash between NZ Warriors and Brisbane Broncos
