4 Mar 2016

Heat is on the Warriors

2:22 pm on 4 March 2016

The heat will go on the Warriors in more way than one when they kick off their National Rugby League season in Sydney this weekend.

With temperatures expected to nudge the late 30s at Campbelltown Stadium in south-west Sydney, West-Tigers coach Jason Taylor has ruled out requesting drinks breaks, believing his team could handle it better than their Auckland-based opponents.

"I just hope that it remains that way and we don't get a late change, because I'd like to think that that's going to play in our favour," Taylor said.

"There's a lot of work to be done before we get a result, based on how hot it is, and we haven't talked about that as a team for a second.

"(But) it'd be nice if it's nice and hot for us."

Both Taylor and Warriors counterpart Andrew McFadden are pressure to find success early in 2016 after poor efforts last year.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden Photo: PHOTOSPORT

McFadden's Warriors have been bolstered by arguably the best recruitment drive of the summer, netting stars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke in key positions, while wily veteran Jeff Robson and prop James Gavet were also crafty additions.

Still, Taylor insists mercurial Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson remained the key threat, one to be negated by shutting down his forward pack.

"For me, Shaun Johnson is still the number one danger, he's so talented. And then having Tuivasa-Sheck and Luke around him, it adds another dimension," he said.

"But it'll be what happens in the middle. Their forwards are strong and we need to hold them. If we don't do that, then those guys on the edges will be too hard to handle."