'THESE 17 PLAYERS HAVEN'T BEEN BEATEN BY MELBOURNE 15 TIMES': WEBSTER FED UP WITH LOSING STREAK NARRATIVE
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has vented his frustration surrounding the Warriors' now 16-game NRL losing streak to the Melbourne Storm, saying it is unfair to blame his players for the slump.
The Kiwi club hasn't been able to beat the club since ANZAC day in 2015.
Despite the slump being the longest active losing streak in the NRL, Webster believes it has been taken out of context when used against the club and his players.
"I mean these 17 players haven't been beaten by Melbourne 15 times," said Webster.
"Like it's a great story and how dominant they are, I think they've probably been the most consistent team over the last 20 years, but this group of 17 was really confident that they could do something.
"We haven't, so we got to wear that one, but the past isn't any resemblance of these 17 boys."
The closest the Warriors have come to breaking the streak was under Webster's watch earlier this season in round two.
The Warriors held an eight-point lead with just three minutes remaining, before the Storm mounted a sensational comeback, including a try-of-the-season contender from Xavier Coates, to shock the Auckland-based side 30-26.
"Once you cross that hump you know, and you get that first win we can all cross that one off and then it's not a story for the next 15 years," Webster continued.
Warriors captain Tohu Harris, who has been with the club since 2018, was more diplomatic with his response about their ungoing struggles against the Storm.
"I really want to beat them," said Harris. "Every single person back in the sheds there is disappointed with the result tonight because everyone wanted to get that win against them.
"But we can't just dwell on it we just got to keep going and if we do get another opportunity against them, hopefully, we can have a different result."
If the Warriors do get another chance in 2024, it would need to come in a finals game, with the sides not scheduled to play each other again in the regular season.
The Warriors focus now turns to their round 16 clash with the Gold Coast Titans across the Tasman, who they lost to 27-24 in round eight.
Webster's side currently sit 12th on the ladder with 12 rounds to play.
2024-06-15T20:26:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd