Warriors focusing on what comes next

Warriors Coach Stephen Kearney (L) and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (R) during a Warriors training...
Warriors Coach Stephen Kearney (L) and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (R) during a Warriors training session at Mt Smart Stadium. Photo: Getty Images
The Warriors are taking long, deep breaths.

They're taking deep breaths on the field, where they have picked up a focus-inducing breathing technique from All Blacks captain Kieran Read.

And they are taking deep breaths off the field, as they look to keep level heads after an invigorating first-up NRL win over South Sydney.

The 108-test All Blacks legend Read dropped in at the Warriors' pre-season training camp this year in Papamoa to dish out some much-needed advice.

A flaky bunch at the best of times, the Warriors needed help buckling down and sticking to their roles at key moments - a challenge with which Read, having won back-to-back Rugby World Cups, was well acquainted.

So, after each of their six tries in Saturday's win over the Rabbitohs, the Warriors followed Read's advice, huddled together and breathed collectively.

It is a process, they insist, they will stick to throughout the 2018 NRL season - continuingtoday against Gold Coast in Auckland, as they look to kick start their year with two wins for just the third time in the club's history.

"It's just to bring everyone back in, to refocus, to just get ready for what's next," captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"Scoring tries, we're getting excited and things are going well but, just from previous years, we've been ahead a lot and lost it in the last 10 minutes.

"[It's] being able to refocus and reset and go again, focus on the next task."

The Titans have been dealt a massive blow for the clash, with halfback Ashley Taylor ruled out with a hamstring injury, less than a week after setting up four tries in their season-opening win over Canberra.

The club says his absence is just a precaution - and is confident he will be fit to play St George Illawarra next week - but there is no hiding the impact of his loss.

Coach Garth Brennan will move Bryce Cartwright to halfback in his place, with Morgan Boyle added to the starting side at lock, given Jarrod Wallace is still suspended.

All against a team which has beaten the Titans in 13 of their past 14 clashes, with the Warriors piling on at least 24 points in 12 of them.

"The Warriors went over [to Perth last week] and hadn't won over there and came away with a great win," Brennan said.

"Everyone is talking about how we've only beaten the Warriors once in the last 14 appearances. Well, maybe it's our turn to get rid of a monkey off our back.'

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