Warriors set one month target ahead of homecoming

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and the Warriors have set themselves a one-month target where they plan to find consistency ahead of their long-awaited return to Mt Smart Stadium on July 3.

After a game of two halves against the Rabbitohs in Magic Round, the Warriors have clashes against the Dragons, Knights and Sea Eagles – minus Origin stars – to win if they're genuine about remaining in finals contention.

Warriors coach Nathan Brown spoke to the media on Wednesday, declaring the side were desperate to ensure they put an emphasis on returning to New Zealand in just over five weeks with wins on the board.

“We want to go home and have the fans turn up to watch a team that’s playing consistent footy,” Brown said.

For Watene-Zelezniak, who returned from a nasty head knock a fortnight ago, he is counting down the days until he can take his young family home to New Zealand and live for the first time.

"A big reason why I signed here was to go home, we’re biding our time and doing what we can but we’re definitely all looking forward to getting home,” Watene-Zelezniak told NRL.com.

"All I’ve known is living in Australia so it will be a new challenge going back to New Zealand but it’s one that will be awesome to take my wife and kids back home and experience where I’m from.

"Being able to go back with some momentum is really important to us, we want to make it a big occasion."

The Warriors travel to Kogarah on Saturday looking to make amends for a round one defeat to the Dragons, where they were showed up by a Mikaele Ravalawa hat-trick.

Warriors back-rower Euan Aitken is a "certainty" to play according to the club but Chanel Harris-Tavita (testicle) and Jesse Arthars (shoulder) were considered unlikely.

“It’s a big game for us, they got us in round one so we owe them,” Watene-Zelezniak said.

“I’m not enjoying the losses but there’s a good bunch of boys and I’m excited where we can go. We haven’t played to our potential at all.

“We played well in the second half but you can’t give teams a lead like that. If we can replicate the second half against Souths for the rest of the year we’ll be hard to beat.”

Off the field and Watene-Zelezniak’s joint watch business with retired brother Malakai continues to boom with the former Panthers and Wests Tigers outside back opening a store in Penrith recently.

“Mal’s running it now and he’s doing well for life after footy,” Dallin said.

“Hopefully we can open up a few more shops so I can transition straight into that. Who knows, we might be able to open one up in New Zealand.”