Despondent Manly players are hoping this week's trip away to New Zealand will help them rediscover the mojo that appears to have deserted them over the past month.
Prop Brenton Lawrence and fullback Tom Trbojevic each said the chance to go into camp on Friday ahead of Sunday afternoon's crucial clash with the Warriors should give the players a chance to spend some quality time together and hopefully rediscover the spark that helped them push their way up to third place on the ladder as recently as five rounds ago.
"We're very tight-knit, we know what needs to happen. We'll just go out there and do it," said the Gold Coast-bound Lawrence on Monday.
"We've got a few ideas [what's wrong], it's not some kind of huge obstacle we need to overcome. I've been in teams where there wasn't really an answer to fix it. This is not that team."
Though he didn't name which squads, Lawrence was part of the Titans 2011 wooden spoon outfit. He was hopeful of finishing his Manly career on a high. He stressed this current Manly side is the same one that trounced the Sharks at Cronulla and twice downed the Roosters this season.
"It's the same squad that's won those good games and performed really well. We're not shying away from it. There's still a job to do," Lawrence said.
"Our first job is just to go over to New Zealand and get a win.
"It's a great feeling when we're in camp and feeding off each other and having a good time. There's a lot of banter, a lot of cards, just being together. Getting the lads together it's always a good time."
Trbojevic said while no-one in the team saw the type of performance dished up against Canterbury coming, the focus now was on winning their last two regular season games to ensure a finals finish and a bit of form heading into September.
"I think the attitude's been there. It's hard to put a finger on, we've just got to keep working hard," Trbojevic said.
"I've got full faith in the squad; we've beaten those best sides, the squad hasn't changed, we've just got to find our mojo again. The best way to do that is train hard."
Like Lawrence, Trbojevic praised the spirit in the team and looked forward to the chance to get away as a group.
"That's what has been really big for us, the way everyone wants to play for each other," Trbojevic said.
"It's why we've won the games we have won this year. We have to find that again and be looking to rekindle that again.
"We've got a couple of days over there [in New Zealand] before we play so we'll get away and being around everyone will definitely help. We'll focus on that. It'll be a tough one over there but we need to win so hopefully we can get up."
