Two tries in six minutes, including a brilliant long-range effort from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, swung the contest in the visitors\u2019 favour and they didn\u2019t allow the Warriors back into the contest.<\/p>\n
Hooker Wayde Egan echoed Martin\u2019s message, saying they can\u2019t get too caught up in what went wrong as there were plenty of positives to come out of the performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust don\u2019t get too down in the dumps,\u201d Egan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done some really good things tonight and we obviously got some things to work on. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t dwell too much on the loss. It\u2019s a quick game. You\u2019ve got to obviously review it really hard tomorrow and be honest and have a look at where we can get better, but come Monday, that game\u2019s gone, it\u2019s done. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t think about it for too long.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tuaupiki admitted the defeat was difficult to take, particularly after the Warriors had controlled large periods of the match. <\/p>\n
Taine Tuaupiki. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was tough, chaotic, and just lots of scramble, lots of effort from both teams,\u201d Tuaupiki said. \u201cGutted to be on the losing side of it. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey just got some freaks in their team that can just do things like what Hammer done off that long kick return. And good on them, but we need to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Warriors will now have to win three consecutive finals matches to claim the premiership, beginning with their elimination final against the Knights. <\/p>\n
For Egan, that is reason enough to embrace the challenge rather than feel sorry for themselves. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurts a lot,\u201d Egan said. \u201cObviously, we were sort of going into the game wanting to win, but … take the long route now and I guess play another game, an extra game, have fun.\u201d <\/p>\n
Beating the Knights won\u2019t be easy, though. Even though the Warriors have beaten them twice this season, their meeting last month caused plenty of headaches.<\/p>\n
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges before losing Jacob Saifiti, who was sent off for a dangerous shoulder charge. <\/p>\n
The Knights led by as many as 16 points before the Warriors rallied to eventually claim the vital two points. <\/p>\n
However, the match shouldn\u2019t have been as close considering the Knights played the majority of it down a player<\/a>. <\/p>\n There is a chance the Warriors will welcome back Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from a shoulder injury, however, they face the prospect of being without Leka Halasima, who was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury, and Jackson Ford, who picked up an ankle injury in his comeback match.<\/p>\n