Fox Sports rugby league reporter Paul Kent believes the Warriors need to invest in more Australian-raised players if they are to be successful in the NRL.
The Warriors are set to miss the finals for the sixth consecutive season, despite having one of the more talented rosters in the NRL.
The Auckland based club last made the finals in 2011 in which they used eight Australian born players - compared to only three in 2017.
Speaking on Fox Sports' NRL 360 show Kent said New Zealand players lack the mental toughness and skills of players playing league in Australia.
"I think what's wrong with the Kiwis is that the fundamental problem is, this is going to sound absurd, is there is too many Kiwis in the side," said Kent.
"I think for the Warriors when the going gets tough they get going. They need to come through the tougher junior system and they need to recruit more Australian raised players.
"This is nothing to do with whether you're Maori, Samoan, Tongan or Australian. It's essentially where you develop your hard edge in football from ages 14 to about 19.
"It's not tough enough over there in Kiwi land.
"They need a core group of players who have a tough edge to them. I don't see toughness when the game is on the line.
"The Warriors can beat you with talent but you get them in that dog fight where you drag them in and start bashing them up, they tend to lose."
The show was reacting to Stacey Jones' comments on RadioLIVE's Saturday Sport saying Stephen Kearny told players he will walk players out the front gate at Mount Smart if he senses any complacency.
Bulldogs prop James Graham asked whether athletes are choosing rugby union over rugby league, as it is a problem in his home nation of England.
"Do the Warriors get the second choice of athletes in New Zealand?," Graham said.
"Are the best athletes growing up in New Zealand choosing rugby union because it is a bigger sport?
"I know it is a problem in England with our rugby league that the best athletes chose other sports."
The Warriors currently sit 11th on the NRL ladder. They face the Newcastle Knights in their next match on Saturday afternoon.
Newhsub.
