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Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters NRL clash at Sydney's Allianz Stadium.
A month has now passed since the Warriors last tasted victory - a 34-4 romp over struggling South Sydney Rabbitohs. Subsequently, they have managed just a draw against Manly Sea Eagles and three straight losses, their worst run since Andrew Webster took the head coaching reins last year.
The Roosters have staggered out of the blocks this season, but currently sit just inside the top-eight playoff cutoff with five wins and four losses.
By contrast to the Warriors, their last two performances were a 60-18 win over St George Dragons and 40-18 over Brisbane Broncos, so their form is solid.
Both teams have key players scratched, with Warriors centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck straining a hamstring in training and Roosers hooker Brandon Smith nursing a calf tweak.
Join us at 4pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Roosters $1.24, Warriors $4.10
'We've lost our way': Barnett's message for Warriors teammates before brutal schedule stretch
NZ Warriors forward Mitchell Barnett has issued a call-to-arms for his embattled side, admitting the team need to urgently find their feet to resuscitate their 2024 campaign.
Winless in their past four matches, the Warriors now face a torrid upcoming schedule that starts with an away clash with in-form Sydney Roosters, before meeting three-time defending champions Penrith Panthers and the improving Dolphins.
This stretch may ultimately define their season and Barnett realises changes need to come immediately to arrest their alarming freefall.
"Our backs are up against the wall and we need to start playing like that," said the Australian.
Coach Andrew Webster has been open about the team's persistent issues with errors and poor discipline, which have consistently relieved pressure on opposition and put themselves in precarious positions.
"We need to get ourselves right and get the discipline right as well, and then hopefully we can turn it into results.
"We're just too ill-disciplined at the moment and you just can't give teams the leg-ups that we've been giving them."
Now the pressure is squarely on the Warriors, whom Barnett admits have struggled to maintain composure during critical stages of contests.
"We've lost our way a little bit through a bit of frustration, that's probably a good way of putting it," he said. "Hopefully, we get things back on track sooner rather than later, before it's too late."
Since their tight 14-8 defeat to Newcastle Knights, the squad has remained across the Tasman this week before their trip to Allianz Stadium to face the Roosters, who are fresh off emphatic wins over St George Dragons and Brisbane Broncos.
Hooker Wayde Egan says the group have benefitted from the camp environment, which has helped galvanise the squad and provided the opportunity to regroup from a testing month.
"Obviously, it hasn't been our best few weeks, but it's only early in the year and we're not panicking," said Egan. "We're just sticking to the day-by-day process and trying to win each day, each training session.
"Definitely being in the camp surrounded by the boys helps a lot - to be able to implement a few new things and stay tight as a group.
"This camp has come at the right time and hopefully we can show a better performance come Sunday."
