The Warriors were at a loss to explain their uninspired showing in a 34-18 defeat to Manly on Saturday night, with their coach accepting they took a step backwards in their growth as a team.

While the Kiwi side remained in the contest up until the final 15 minutes they were ill-disciplined, with 11 penalties conceded, and struggled to finish their sets, completing at 76 per cent.

They failed to build on previous victories over the Knights and Roosters in rounds four and five, with coach Andrew McFadden delivering a frank assessment post-match.

"It was disappointing, we gave up 30-plus points at our own home and it wasn't good enough," McFadden said.

"The opposition were excellent, I thought they came out with lots of energy, they were physical and we got into a bit of a battle. 

"They probably just had a bit too much scoreboard pressure for us and we forced our hand, we didn't keep our game tight, and when we came up with errors we gave them easy points… ultimately we got beaten by a better side tonight.

"We will review the game, we will be honest with each other and move to next week."

 


Warriors prop Jacob Lillyman said it just wasn't his side's night, explaining the frustration felt through 80 minutes where his team were almost always on the back foot.

"I don't know, mate, it just seemed to go against us from the start," the Queensland representative said.

"In that first half it just felt like we did far too much defence, piggybacks, penalties on late tackles… it just felt like we turned the ball over too easy.

"We were still well in the game and were very confident at half-time… but we didn't start with the intensity we needed to in the second-half and they got on top again."

On their way to a fourth loss in six games this year the Warriors also continued a worrying trend of failing to deal with opposition kicks, conceding two tries off kicks for the second week in a row.

According to Lillyman that is a sign some individuals are clocking off and failing to execute their roles on defence at different points.

"There was a couple of those sorts of tries (off kicks) and a couple of easy tries as well," Lillyman added.

"I think it just comes down to individual roles and coming up with a play. 

"The one that comes to mind we just couldn't come up with a play, it's right across the park from kick pressure to actually just getting on the ball.

"I think after tonight next week can't come quick enough."

The Warriors remain on Kiwi soil for Round 7, heading down to Wellington to take on the Bulldogs in an 'away' match on Saturday night.