LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
Dylan Walker, the Warriors' versatile player, is calling on the injured interchange players to elevate their game as the team aims to snap a three-game losing streak against the Knights in Newcastle this Sunday.
Just like a kicking team trying to score a last-minute field goal, the Warriors shot out of the gate in Round 8, taking an early lead and dominating the first quarter of the match.
However, once their starting pack's time on the field came to an end, they lost their momentum quicker than a winger chasing down a breakaway try.
In a game reminiscent of historic clashes between the two teams, on ANZAC Day, the Warriors surged to a 12-point lead within the first eight minutes.
But, akin to a halfback orchestrating a comeback, things quickly turned sour once key players like Addin Fonua-Blake and Mitch Barnett were substituted out, resulting in a leak of 17 points to the Gold Coast.
Although the interchange strategy was tweaked in the previous round against the Dragons, with a starting front row player always on the field, the team still faced a similar decline in performance after a strong start.
Walker, a seasoned interchange specialist known for his impact off the bench, stressed to NRL.com that no team should find themselves playing catch-up after such promising beginnings, placing some of the responsibility on the bench players.
As the Warriors look to regain their winning form, Walker knows that it's an attitude thing at the end of the day.
The players on the interchange bench need to bring their A-game, like a fullback chasing down a breakaway try, to ensure the team finishes strong against the Knights.