Stephen Kearney has questioned the fortitude of his New Zealand Warriors players after a second hefty NRL defeat which looks set to prompt personnel changes.
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The Warriors coach described their 46-12 loss to Manly in Christchurch as inexplicably poor, coming a week after their 34-6 humbling from the Wests Tigers.
Those results border on bizarre given they opened the season with a 40-6 rout of the Bulldogs.
Kearney was at a loss to explain why their defensive intensity has collapsed, having missed a total of 79 tackles across the twin defeats.
The ease with which Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans sliced through the Warriors line was glaring, along with another rigid attacking display which will stir up those who criticised the club's falling out with the departed Shaun Johnson.
"Some of the defensive effort particularly at the back end of the game, was not acceptable," Kearney said.
"There's a lack of resilience at the moment, which is an area of concern for us.
"We lacked any penetration. We had three or four (consecutive) sets down on their tryline and came away with nothing."
Kearney gave hints selection changes are coming for Friday's fixture against Gold Coast in Auckland but wouldn't specify where.
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Faulty defensive reads from centre Solomone Kata were ruthlessly exposed while newcomer Adam Keighran's second quiet night in the halves may prompt a chance for fellow-youngster Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Kearney will turn the blowtorch on veteran forwards Adam Blair and Tohu Harris, whose impact has been limited, while starting props Agnatius Paasi and Bunty Afoa were eclipsed by the Sea Eagles.
Hooker Issac Luke missed most of the second half with a tight hamstring.
If he fails to recover and Nathaniel Roache remains out with a calf problems, Kearney will call on utility Karl Lawton as starting hooker against his former club.
A more important change will be to the players' mindset, Kearney said.
"The lads' confidence will have taken a bit of a whack after the last couple of weeks," he explained.
"As quickly as it changed from round one to round two it can change back. It's just getting back to what we know works for us."
-AAP
