Warriors try machine successfully tackles improvement

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TOP MAN: Warriors cult hero Manu Vatuvei was last night named the 2010 Warriors Player of the Year.

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Manu Vatuvei can seemingly score tries at will but it is improved defence that is giving the powerhouse Warriors wing the most satisfaction heading into the NRL finals.

Vatuvei will be out to make the club's try-scoring record his own against the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night. He sits equal on 77 with Warriors legend Stacey Jones at present after scoring 19 tries this year.

But while he has provided the finishing touches to the improved Warriors' attack this season, there's a general consensus that the team's bolstered work on defence has been at the heart of their surge into the playoffs.

Vatuvei, who overcame a weakness under the high ball to make that a deadly weapon, has put in plenty of work with his tackling and defensive lines to improve this areas on the vulnerable left side of the Warriors.

"Defence has been a weakness of mine," he says with his usual honesty.

"It's something that I have worked on and improved every week. I have noticed that I have improved a bit and that's been pleasing for me."

But it's his try-scoring abilities that make Vatuvei so special and the reason why the club shook their bank balance to re-sign him. He is arguably the best finisher in the NRL right now with his regular season tally equalling the Warriors record set by Sean Hoppe.

Having overcome some niggling injuries Vatuvei reckons he is playing better than ever but says he has plenty of improvement left in him.

"I'm more confident now ... I've matured and I know what I need to do," Vatuvei said. "I do my job, I try to come off the field feeling good and knowing that I've done all the stuff I needed to do for the team. I'm happy with my form but I think there is improvement every week."

He says the Warriors are motivated to win on the Gold Coast on Friday night, knowing victory would bring them a home match next weekend.

"For sure. We don't want to lose and hope the other teams lose to give us a second chance. But anything can happen here because the Titans will be a big test for us, we have got to make sure that we play for 80 minutes with our defence and attack ... never giving up for the whole game because they are an 80-minute team.

"We are the underdogs so the pressure is on them, but it's about who wants it the most."

He has felt a lift in the squad over the past couple of weeks with the playoffs a reality.

"All the boys are really confident that we can back each other up. We are pumped, especially the young guys who are having their first taste of finals footy. It's great to make the final eight and be in finals footy again - it's going to be a great vibe there."

Vatuvei said the addition of tackle machine Michael Luck was a timely boost for the side with defence so crucial now. Luck has overcome a horrific leg cut to return to the pack.

"He's a bloke that wouldn't want to miss finals footy and even though he will have a scar there he will want to play. He's the type of person that if he had a broken arm he'd still want to play. He's really tough and the sort of guy we need in the team. He never gives up and he lifts all the boys up with everything he does."

- © Fairfax NZ News