Warriors

Despite being well beaten in a 36-16 defeat to the Canberra Raiders last Sunday, the Warriors powered through the middle of the park, averaging 49 metres on every set in Round 23.

Their total haul of 1814 metres was beaten only by the St George Illawarra Dragons last week, with Jacob Lillyman, Ben Matulino and Simon Mannering all running for over 100 metres individually.

For rookie big man Isaiah Papali'i, it has been heartening to get the job done without the presence of injured frontline props James Gavet and Albert Vete, as well as veteran back-rower Bodene Thompson.

The 36-16 loss to the Raiders at a rainy Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon typified all that's gone wrong this year. 

Some good effort in patches, but it wasn't converted into points and errors and sloppy defence proved costly.

Kearney blasted his players after their loss to the Knights last weekend for not trying. That wasn't as much a factor in this game, more a case of them being outclassed and having no confidence.

 "It's another disappointing night," lamented Kearney afterwards.

Foran failed a fitness test on a shoulder complaint today, but was expected to be available for next week's meeting with South Sydney.

His absence means coach Stephen Kearney would have to rely on three young players to step up against the Raiders.

Ata Hingano and Mason Lino team up in the halves and Nathaniel Roache at hooker.

Hingano, who debuted late last season would be playing just his 12th NRL match and making only his fifth start, while it would be just the seventh appearance for Lino.

It was perhaps the worst performance of the season against the club that looks set to pick up the NRL's wooden spoon for the third straight year, but the players are left with no choice but to dust themselves off and move on to Sunday's game against the Raiders.

That result ended any hope of the Warriors finishing in the top eight and they've got to get through four meaningless games before the season ends.

Mannering, who has played 276 games for the club, admitted it wasn't easy to get over the Knights defeat. 

"To be honest, it was hard," Mannering said. 

Fox Sports handed out that unwanted accolade to Stephen Kearney's side on the back of their latest loss to NRL cellar-dwellars the Newcastle Knights.

Fox produced a scathing assessment of the Kiwi franchise.

"Forget Newcastle and forget the Wests Tigers. They might be anchoring the NRL table but they're not the biggest disappointment in rugby league this year. That honour goes to the New Zealand Warriors," their story began before they flung a stiff-arm at the Mt Smart outfit.

As has been customary for much of 2017, multiple errors and repeated knock-ons on Friday ultimately proved the Warriors' undoing.

Despite another decent showing up front, where the Warriors outran the Sharks with the ball, the defending premiers ran in four tries to two to cement their place in the top four with five regular-season games remaining.

The Warriors are on the precipice and will have to win their last five, which include tough matches against Canberra and Manly to have any chance of a top-eight finish.

Second rower Bunty Afoa scored his first try of the season to get the Warriors on the board, thanks to some quick hand work from Kieran Foran and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Issac Luke's conversion put the Warriors in an early 6-0 lead, but twenty minutes in the Cowboys were even it out.

The visitors looked set to leave the first half 6-6 but The Cowboys took advantage of their errors, scored and converted another try.

The Warriors have long been keen to lure Taumalolo back to his homeland.

In 2015, they offered him a $2 million contract only for the 24-year-old lock to re-sign with North Queensland for less money, that ultimately paid off for Taumalolo as the Cowboys won their maiden premiership that season.

Earlier this year, the Warriors again came calling with another hugely tempting offer which, combined with the chance to be around family, almost had Taumalolo packing his bags.

Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott said on Tuesday he didn't think Foran had played well recently because he was already thinking about the Bulldogs, who he will join next year.

However, Kearney was not impressed with the implication.

"I think there's been stages where everyone hasn't been at their best and to single out Kieran is pretty ordinary," he said.

"Has he been at his best? Absolutely not. But he's not by himself there, so I don't think he's clocked out early.

Johnson limped off with a serious knee injury midway through the second half only to watch the Warriors concede three late tries in their 34-22 loss to the Panthers.

Initial diagnosis suggested the 26-year-old halfback may have suffered season-ending damage requiring surgery.

But team doctor John Mayhew says the injury isn't as serious as first feared and Johnson is expected to recover from the ruptured ligament in his left knee in six to eight weeks.

"This is a much better outcome than we had expected," said Mayhew.