Strength of schedule: Warriors' brutal run home laid bare

The full extent of the challenge facing the Warriors in their push to play finals football in 2019 has been revealed, with data confirming they have toughest run home.

With the Auckland-based outfit already two points adrift of eighth spot, Strength of Schedule metrics from NRL.com Stats suggest they will have to produce one of the great late-season revivals if they are to play finals football.

The rankings are measured by the average of opposition competition points in remaining games, while home-ground winning percentage fluctuates totals for home and away outfits. 

In the final month of the regular season, the Warriors play top-four sides the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Raiders and travel to play the Sharks at PointsBet Stadium. They have won once in their last five attempts in the Sutherland Shire.

While the Warriors' final stretch is brutal, the data paints a different picture for the other three clubs still with a realistic chance of climbing up into the top eight.

The Wests Tigers' scheduled is ranked 9th hardest, while the Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks have the second and third easiest runs respectively.

There is good news for the eighth-placed Broncos too, with Brisbane possessing the fifth easiest run home.

A defiant Warriors coach Stephen Kearney this week refused to be drawn on any discussion beyond this week's match against the defending premiers at the SCG.

"The NRL is one huge challenge every week," Kearney said.

"I just focus on training today, to be honest. I know if you don't train well today you don't give yourself a chance on Sunday.

"I take the viewpoint that we play the Roosters on Sunday at the SCG and I want our team to make sure that we prepare to take our best performance.

"When that's finished I'll worry about the Sharks."

Although the Warriors sit 11th on the ladder, Kearney said they approach the final month of the home and away season in good form.

"Over the course of the last eight weeks we have had one bad game [a 46-12 loss to Canberra in round 20]," Kearney said.

"We take a lot of heart from the other seven performances where we think we have done some really good things."

While he did his best to portray a positive message, skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck admitted his side's inconsistency has been a major source of frustration.  

The Warriors have managed to win back-to-back games just once all season.

"The frustration is there because I believe so much in these guys and I know what they have in them, but it's frustrating when we don't bring it each week," Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"Last week I spoke to the boys about what a different team we can be if we come out with the right intent, and that's what we've been working on.

"That's the challenge for us and the team, to bring it each week."