'No-excuse' mantra driving Warriors' record year in Oz
The Warriors have lauded a "no-excuse" mantra to travel as a large part of the reason behind the club's best ever record in Australia.
Andrew Webster's men will attempt to win five straight away from New Zealand in Cronulla on Saturday night, as part of their hot start to 2025.
For so long among the NRL's poorest travellers, the Warriors have spent this season dispelling the theory they are a different team at home to away.
With a five-from-six record in Australia this season, the Warriors' win record of 83 per cent in the country is the highest in the club's history.
That has been crucial in the Warriors' rise to third spot, given they have historically won nearly 55 per cent of games in New Zealand and 36 per cent in Australia.
Changes to the Warriors' travel approach this season have been small, but not insignificant.
Officials decided after a review at the end of last season to no longer have week-long camps in Australia between away matches, as they had at times in the past.
The difference there has already been notable, with the Warriors winning three straight games while travelling back and forth between rounds nine and 11.
The club now try to train in the morning before flying in the afternoon when possible, allowing players to have a full 24 hours off on the previous day.
And crucially, players have made a point to embrace being together away from home, becoming more social and going out to dinner more on the road.
"Nothing is an excuse. We want to enjoy our travel," Webster said.
"The boys talk about it more than I do. The last thing they say before they get on the plane is let's enjoy this and enjoy each other's company.
"We don't talk about it. (It's not) let's go and win, this is going to be hard, let's find a way.
"We just don't believe in that. We just enjoy it and attack the situation."
The Warriors' five victories in Australia this year is already more than they had in all of 2024.
That number is significant when considering that of the 27 seasons the Warriors have been based in New Zealand, they have won more than five matches in Australia just seven times.
A win on Saturday night would also mark their equal-best winning streak in Australia since 2002, and just the fourth time in history they have won five on the trot.
It's a feat not lost on ex-Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake, who on Saturday night will meet the club for the first time since leaving.
"It was pretty hard, but it's only hard if you use it as an excuse," Fonua-Blake said.
"While it wasn't ideal coming back and forth every week, a lot of the times we've seen it as a bonding opportunity.
"I feel like they're getting it right at the moment. Hopefully they don't get it right this weekend."
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