NRL 2021: NZ Warriors 'really happy' with coach Nathan Brown despite club's losing run

NZ Warriors coach Nathan Brown has the full backing of the club, insists chief executive Cameron George. 

After a promising start to Brown's tenure, a 19-6 victory over Gold Coast Titans in round one, the Warriors have struggled for consistency during their 2021 campaign - unable to record back-to-back wins over the first 18 rounds of the season.

Heading into round 19, the Kiwi side are 14th on the NRL ladder, above just the Broncos and Bulldogs, four points shy of the top eight.

From 17 games played, the Warriors have won five and lost 12. And to make matters worse, the Warriors are winless from their last six matches.

But speaking to SENZ chief executive makes it clear that Brown is not being singled out for the club's woes, as the Warriors play their second consecutive season based in Australia.

"He's a good coach, he's got a very good relationship with the players," George says. 

"They love playing for him because he is really developing them as players and individuals.

"We're really happy with him."

George also pinpoints the challenges of the pandemic are playing a part in Brown's rocky start, as well as the club's horrendous run of injuries that this week also saw Tohu Harris and Wayde Egan ruled out until 2022.

"The poor bugger has spent only six weeks at Mt Smart Stadium, he's been disconnected from the pathways programs. 

"He's had to develop a lot of young kids this year before their time and he's had to balance a lot of other problems out.

"It's just been an unfortunate year with injuries, we're doing a review on that now.

"We wanted to understand any certain trends on that if there are any and how we fix those."

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