I saw four things that occurred on Saturday that make me more positive for the future, as long as they are built on and developed by the team.
1. Attitude - right from the outset there was a completely different feel to the side and it was clear that they came to play. This is very much contrasted with the disinterested, lazy and apathetic approach that they showed against the Titans and Newcastle. One would hope that the penny has dropped regarding how important their individual and collective attitudes are. If they revert back to what happened in the earlier games, they don't need a coach, they need a psychiatrist.
2. Committed forwards - forwards running with purpose, looking to bend the line and make post contact metres. We dominated that Warriors pack who had shown in the previous 5 games that they were a good pack and difficult to get over the top of. It was also not one or two of them that showed that type of commitment, it was across the board. Milford and Bird benefited from the extra space and time that afforded them.
3. Milford's game awareness - I noted some criticism of him taking the FG just before half-time. I had no issue with it and it in fact showed good game awareness in my view. It was unlikely that we were going to create anything in the time available prior to half-time. We had prime field position, why not take the opportunity to go in at half-time ahead by one, and what's more, have that advantage of being a point up and not looking for a FG at the end of the game where there may have been more pressure.
4. Right near the death, Milford put in a deliberate grubber to get the ball over the sideline and force a scrum and thereby (a) chew up more time and (b) allow us to defend with a set defensive line from the scrum. Once again, really good game management in my opinion, which has been lacking.
If we go in with the same approach against the Storm, I give us every chance of beating them. Particularly, if the refs continue their crack down.