Warriors anticipate improved Titans

The New Zealand Warriors expect this week's version of the Gold Coast Titans to play nothing like the team who have started the season with the three straight losses and sit last on the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder.

After feeling the full brunt of Manly's return to form last weekend in a 42-6 loss, the Warriors believe the Titans will bring their best performance of the year to Mount Smart Stadium on Friday night.

With first-choice Gold Coast halves Ash Taylor and Tyrone Roberts both in line to return in round four, Warriors playmaker Blake Green told NRL.com his side was on high alert.

"They are a serious footy team and have been in all the games they have played in without those two [Taylor and Roberts], and they have been playing without luck as well to be honest," Green said.
"I think they have played some really good footy. They compete, scrap hard in the middle and they are a hard-working team."

The Titans generated just six points in their opening two games of the season but were much improved in a 28-20 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs last week.

Warriors forward Lachlan Burr, who played with both Taylor and Roberts during his time with the Gold Coast in 2016, said if the pair return it will add another dimension to the Titans. 

"They are both crafty players, smart players, both have good kicking games, and 'T' [Roberts] has a good show and go," Burr told NRL.com.

"The Titans have been pretty unlucky the last three weeks. They are a good team but just haven't put it together, and hopefully they don't this week either, but if they do we are going to be up for it.

"I am sure they have got together and talked about what they were doing wrong and will come on Friday with a better mindset."

Burr also singled out Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for his strong leadership during the club's back-to-back losses in the last fortnight.

The Kiwi international fullback clocked up some big numbers in a well beaten side last week, running for 247 metres, making two line breaks and breaking eight tackles.

"Roger seems to play good every game. To see him leading from the front as our captain was inspirational," Burr said.

"It says a lot about your captain when he does that."