Second-rower Jackson Ford is just one of several NZ Warriors players in career-best form under the guidance of first-year coach Andrew Webster.
Ford, 25, will start for the 17th time this season against the Canberra Raiders on Friday, in what will be his 50th NRL match.
Three quarters through his first season with the Warriors, he has amassed almost half of his total appearances in four years at former club St George Illawarra Dragons.
Struggling for game time, he made the switch across the trans-Tasman, and has become a key figure in a dominant Warriors pack.
He credits Webster for instilling new-found belief in his own ability, and helping him realise his potential as a first-grade player.
"I'd say confidence," Ford said. "Coming over here, I didn't have much confidence at all. Not playing many games each year, and not many minutes.
"But with him, he's told me what he's wanted to do, and how he wants me to do it. Confidence for me is the big thing that Webby has given me this year."
If Ford and the Warriors are to overcome the fourth-placed Raiders, they will have to do it in wet weather, with rain hammering Auckland once again.
But much like the Warriors' faithful support, Ford expects his team to show up and show out to Mt Smart without any excuses.
"We've had a few wet games at Mt Smart, and we've learned that the teams have come here knowing it's going to be wet," he said.
"They come with their defensive mindset, so for us this week, we have to match what they do, and give it to them defensively as much as they give it to us.
"The atmosphere here at Mt Smart has been unreal, and I can't see it getting any less. Every time we rock up here, the crowd is rocking.
"They really bring it, don't they? They're loud, vocal, even when it's raining, they're still rocking up."
The Warriors have also been boosted by the return of second-rower Marata Niukore, who returns after a three-match suspension.
Ford is delighted to have his second-row partner back, and expects him to hit the ground running as the Warriors push for a top-four spot.
"It's good to see Marata back after three weeks off, I'm sure he will really be looking for some contact this week," he said.
"He's come back to training real bright, real fresh, and he'll be looking to have a good game after those few weeks off."
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