New Zealand Worriers not who we want to be: Kearney

With their season fast slipping away the New Zealand Warriors made fun a priority this week as they try and play their way back into form against the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night.

The Auckland-based side head into round 14 languishing in 13th position on the ladder with just four wins to their name.

After falling to the Storm last week, the Gold Coast match shapes as must-win for the Warriors given their difficult run home, which will see them play current top-eight sides in nine of their remaining 12 games.

But coach Stephen Kearney said dwelling on their current situation won't help, and this week made an effort to ensure his players were still enjoying themselves.

"I was disappointed and frustrated [last week], I think we all were as a footy club," Kearney said.

"It's really important for us to be positive this week - when we are playing our best footy we are enjoying ourselves.

"If they haven't got a smile on their face I know they're not enjoying their jobs, so that was why it was really important I gave them that message.

"That's why you hear a little bit of laughter around the place and good spirits, because we are that type of footy team.

"But we need to improve and we need to make sure it’s an 80-minute performance.

"We have made a couple of adjustments and we are hopeful that'll come off this Friday.

"We're in a position where we want to get our season back on track, so we just need to make sure we focus on what we do well and execute it as well as we can."

It's a philosophy shared by captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who said Kearney's message had been consistent all week.  

"It's real important because he feels like that's the best way we play our footy, and I believe it," Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"When we are out there throwing the ball around and just having fun with our mates next to us, that's when you play your best footy, that's when you get results.

"Not [by] forcing it. That's when it goes sideways for us.

"Coming out here enjoying our footy and playing with a lot of fun, that's the way to get results."

Tuivasa-Sheck was among a handful of players who put their hand up during this week's review session, acknowledging he had failed to fire as the Warriors conceded 24 unanswered points in the second half against the Storm.

Starting props Agnatius Paasi and Leeson Ah Mau were the only Warriors forwards to make more than 80 metres last weekend, while mid-season recruit Kodi Nikorima made three handling errors and missed six tackles.  

"Finding your own improvements this week individually [is the main message]," Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"That's all you can do, just look at the errors you made and where you can be better this week.

"A few of the players including myself put their hand up.

"[Melbourne] took it up a gear and unfortunately not many of us went with them, and when the whole team isn't doing that you get blown away."

In addition to being forward Adam Blair's 300th NRL game, Friday night's match at Cbus Super Stadium will mark the Warriors' 600th game since entering the competition in 1995.

The venue has been a happy hunting ground for the Warriors in recent times, with seven wins from their last eight matches at Robina.