Being able to earn the right to play the football they are capable of has been the focus this week for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.
Sitting ninth with two wins after five rounds of the Knock On Effect NSW Cup, the Sea Eagles have the capacity to be a force in the competition but some basic errors and structure have left the team down.
The Sea Eagles will be looking to bounce back quickly when they take on the 10th placed Warriors in Auckland on Saturday following a 26-20 loss to Penrith at home last round.
"We let in two tries in the last seven minutes before half-time to go from leading 12-10 to being behind 22-14,'' said Blacktown Workers Coach Wayne Lambkin.
"It was really disappointing because I thought we were controlling the game really well at 12-10. We always knew there wouldn't be much in the scoreline.
"Our kicking game was good, our kick chase was good, and we were getting in the grind with them but then we just had a lapse. And it comes off error into penalty into six again into try.
"It's knowing how to break that kind of cycle where we just need to get through a set in those circumstances but that's how it has been for most of the year.
"We have a very talented football team who are not earning the right to play the football they are capable of. They want to play that from the start without going through the arm wrestle.
Match: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Round 6 -
home Team
Warriors
10th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
"The team has acknowledged this. We need to be able to set the platform and earn the right first."
Lambkin has this week moved Lehi Hopoate from centre back to his preferred full-back position after being one of the shining lights for Blacktown Workers in his first taste of NSW Cup. The change has seen full-back Bailey Hodgson shifted to centre.
"We wanted to see how Lehi would handle the transition physically in the NSW Cup after a good pre-season but it hasn't been a problem at all,'' Lambkin said.
"He still has got a lot to learn in game management and knowledge of the game but physically, he has met every criteria.
"With Lehi back at full-back, we also thought it was a chance to have a look at Bailey in a different position. We like centre because he is brave with and without the ball. He has got good speed and good footwork."
The match against the Warriors kicks off at 2.40pm (NZ time) at Go Media Stadium, Auckland, and will be live on Fox.
