NRL 2023: NZ Warriors 'not getting carried away' despite promising start to new season

The NZ Warriors are vowing to keep their feet firmly on the ground after a promising start to the NRL season, declaring complacency is the enemy. 

Sunday's clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs will be their first of the year at Mount Smart, and despite plenty of positives, the side aren't taking anything for granted, insisting they're far from the finished product. 

The Warriors were back in the grind today - their impressive win over the Cowboys a distant memory. 

"We can't get carried away, no one remembers the first three rounds at the end of the season," Warriors coach Andrew Webster said.

An intriguing clash with the Bulldogs this weekend will be another test for a team who are wary of getting carried away with their 2-1 start to the year.

Not that coach Webster has had to remind his players how quickly fortunes can change. 

"Yeah, it's a good feeling at the moment but we're well aware of how quickly it can disappear if we don't stay the course and get the work done that we need to get done," Shaun Johnson said.

But the positives are there. A dominant forward pack allowed the halves pairing of Johnson and Te Maire Martin to flourish in Townsville.

"When your forwards are going forward it's a lot easier to play off," Martin said. "It's a whole team effort there, everyone's stepping up and we're going well in that department."

Webster gave Johnson in particular, license to express himself more. 

"Yep, he makes a point of it," Webster said. "He certainly wants me running the footy, wants me dancing across the line, keeping them guessing."

Plenty of that, and the Warriors are sure to go from strength to strength.

Join Newshub at 4pm Sunday for the Warriors v Canterbury Bulldogs NRL clash