Warriors seek defensive answers after horror month

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said it's totally unacceptable that his side have leaked 154 points across their last four games, and this week ordered his men to do overtime on the tackle pads in a bid to turn it around.

The Warriors have had 42 points put on them in consecutive losses to the Roosters and Sharks over the past fortnight and were beaten 46-12 by Canberra in round 20.

A 24-16 win over Manly three weeks ago is the only positive to come out of the past month for the Auckland-based side, who are now all but out of running for the finals.

Kearney said familiar issues emerged against Cronulla last Saturday, in a match where the Warriors missed 51 tackles.

"Three of the last four weeks have been totally unacceptable... I just didn't like the manner in which some of the Sharks' tries were scored," Kearney said.

"[Defence] has essentially been the focus of the week… that's the area that's needed improving.

"We need to fix it, to compete in this competition you need to stop the opposition scoring tries, and if you don't do it then you're in trouble."

Forward Adam Blair denied it was down to a lack of effort though and said the issues stem from players going off on their own rather than sticking to the plan.

"There's always effort there, it's just not collective effort as a group," Blair said

"I think when you are under a bit of pressure and there's a lot of points being scored, at times people want to make a difference and go out there and do things.

"At times those things go against what we are trying to do.

"For us it's just owning your individual roles. If everyone does their job then the team seems to be playing well."

The Warriors will be on high alert against the Rabbitohs on Friday, with explosive No.6 Cody Walker having scored four tries the last time they played back in round five.

Bunnies hooker Damien Cook also comes off a huge performance in a 22-20 win over Brisbane last week, in which he scored a try and ran for 131 metres.

Warriors interchange forward Lachlan Burr said those two players have received plenty of attention in video sessions this week.

"Damien Cook and Cody Walker, players like that are going to be a major threat, we have got to keep eyes on Cook the whole time," Burr told NRL.com.

"Cook's a weapon and we need to win the ruck this weekend, because if we don't he will have a field day and toy with us."

Meanwhile, Kearney said he still believes mid-season recruit Kodi Nikorima is best suited to the halves, despite preferring to start rookie Chanel Harris-Tavita in the position for the last two games, with Nikorima on the bench.

Nikorima is named to regain his starting place at five-eighth against Souths, with Harris-Tavita set to share dummy-half duties with Issac Luke.

"Personally I think that's [Kodi's] best spot," Kearney said.

"I thought his best game for the footy club was when we played the Broncos up there [at Suncorp in round 17], and he was playing in the halves."