Ex-Raider Todd Payten has challenged his exhausted troops to produce one final effort against Manly next weekend after slumping to a third-straight loss on Sunday afternoon.
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Payten has been in charge of the club since Stephen Kearney's departure three months ago, and has been forced to manage a group of players separated from their families as a solution to allowing the NRL to continue through the COVID-19 crisis.
The 41-year-old has one more week at the club before departing for North Queensland where he'll begin a three-year contract as head coach.
"I'm really proud of this group of men, they've changed my life and I owe them a whole lot of debt and gratitude," Payten said.
"I'll always be grateful for the opportunity they've given me and my family.
"Our consistent message is about representing everyone back home. Perception around our club for a long time has been that we don't have any fight or spirit.
"I questioned our commitment after my first game in charge and the messaging has been consistent from that day forward just around making people proud for what we're doing, not just being another number here.
"I want us to enjoy the last eight days that we have together.
"It makes it a whole lot easier to turn up to training when we're enjoying it. We're going to be down on troops, I don't know who's going to play, we'll just get through it."
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Payten's Warriors were gallant in defeat against the Raiders, racing to a 14-6 lead thanks to a Peta Hiku double before being held scoreless in the second half.
"That's something we've spoken about the past couple of weeks is the starts to our games, then we just showed some spirit, we had guys drop out of the game with injury," Payten said.
"I didn't think we made them earn enough of their points."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
