Fear factor fades fast

BY AARON LAWTON

GIANT prop Sam Rapira has conceded an unhealthy culture of fear seeped into the Warriors squad this year but says last week's win over the Roosters finally stopped it in its tracks.

The Warriors square off against the table-topping Dragons this afternoon at Mt Smart Stadium and the game plan is simple throw the ball around.

It worked for them last week and today they'll again jog out on to the paddock ready to play like they have nothing to lose.

With seven games left in the regular season, the Warriors if they win all of them will finish on 31 competition points. Whether that's even enough to make the top eight is unclear.

But what is clear, however, is that the Warriors won't die trying any more.

"Against the Roosters, we probably just passed the ball a bit more and that was spoken about during the week," Rapira said of arguably his side's most entertaining display all season.

"A big thing for us was about having fun out there and that's what happened once we started passing the ball around.

"It was also about effort. We basically gave it everything we had."

Rapira admits fear of failure caused him and his team-mates to do exactly that this season.

"I think one of the big problems this season has been the fact we, as a team, have been afraid to make mistakes," he said.

"I guess we've been focusing on safety plays and that's not what the Warriors are about.

"We have always been known as a team that's good at passing the ball around and playing with a bit of flair. We needed to bring that back and that's what we've done.

"Yes, we can still improve but beating the Roosters was a huge start for us."

Playing against the in-form Dragons today is going to require yet another big step up compared to taking on the Roosters, who sit at the other end of the ladder.

Adding some spice to the occasion is the fact two Dragons will have big targets on their heads former Warrior Nathan Fien, who will play his old side for the first time since leaving several weeks ago, and Justin Poore, the New South Wales forward who lifted Warriors skipper Steve Price after he was knocked out during State of Origin.

As far as Fien goes, Rapira, with a slight smirk, says he's ready for the nuggety Kiwis international to line him up.

"It will be a bit weird but I know that whoever runs the first hit-up, Fieny's going to be the first one in to tackle," he said. "He's not going to make it easy on us.

"We'll be looking to give it back to him even harder. We're mates off the field but not on it."

There's no humour, though, when Poore's name is brought up.

"It was a bit of a scary moment seeing what happened to Pricey in Origin," Rapira said.

"It [talk of retribution] has been brought up a couple of times at training since.

"For us, if anything happens, we're a team and the natural instinct is to step in for your mate. The Dragons will be the same.

"There's better ways of proving to another player your feelings other than fighting, though.

"A big hit or a big run can do as much damage as anything else.

"That might be a way we make our statement this weekend."

- © Fairfax NZ News