Warriors look for lift after another loss

By Robert Lowe

AAP 

Coach Matthew Elliott will have six days to lift the Warriors after the club had their NRL play-off ambitions dented with a third consecutive defeat.

The disappointment that he will have to dispel before they face Gold Coast in Queensland next Saturday include his own.

Elliott didn't hide his feelings after the Warriors were beaten 28-24 by Penrith in Auckland on Sunday to dropped to 12th, two points outside the top eight, with three rounds to go.

Asked how he would pick his team up, he said: "I probably have to start with myself first.

"I'm not ashamed to tell you I'm bitterly disappointed at the moment."

The last time the Warriors went down to Penrith, it was the club-record 62-6 thrashing they suffered in May.

They went on to resuscitate their season with seven wins in their next eight matches.

But since their 30-22 victory over defending champions Melbourne in a thriller in late July, they have produced three flat performances.

"We didn't play with enough intensity, unfortunately," Elliott said of the latest loss.

"It's been a feature of our last few games.

"When you're doing it collectively over that period of time, we have to look closely at what we're doing in our preparation."

Elliott said he had plenty of faith in his squad, saying they were the same players who had been doing so well up to and including the win over the Storm.

"My belief has not evaporated," he said.

"My belief in what this group is capable of is huge. We just have to produce it.

"We've shown you what it looks like. At the moment we just can't find it."

AAP