Frustration is the Word of the Week for Warriors fans.

So much so in fact that The Big League Podcast host Nathan Limm had to apologise for using it too often when summing up the team’s performance against the Broncos in Napier last Saturday.

A Brisbane side that crossed the ditch without five of their State of Origin representatives, including former Warrior Reece Walsh and Dally M Medal points leader Payne Haas, defied most bookmakers odds to beat the Warriors 26-22 at McLean Park.

The Warriors had the ball over the line three times early in the first half, yet could not touch ball to grass but it was a comparatively poor defensive effort to previous weeks that was ultimately their undoing.

They allowed they Broncos to build what seemed to be an unassailable 26-10 lead yet the Warriors found two late tries to set up a grandstand finish.

It was only Adam Pompey pulling back a Broncos defender’s jersey before Marcelo Montoya scored what fans thought would be the try to send the game to at least golden point, before the bunker correctly intervened, that put an stop to another famous comeback.

Middle-forward Bunty Afoa told The Big League Podcast the side acknowledges they let themselves and the fans down with their performance in Napier.

“I think the biggest one we took out of it and Webby [Andrew Webster] touched up on it as well was that we didn’t earn those moments. We didn’t ice those couple of tries in the first half and it came to bite us in the end.”

He says coach Andrew Webster had told them post-match that individually the side had to own their own moments, whether on attack or defence.

Afoa though was quick to distance himself and the team from any accusations of complacency due to the Broncos missing a number of key players.

“We knew what the Broncs were going to come with, we knew that the young guns were going to fire and we knew that it was going to be a tough game.”

He told Nathan Limm that this week’s training has had an emphasis on individual performances as well as tidying up areas around completion rate and sixth-tackle option taking that was below the standards set so far this season.

Shaun Johnson’s contract has been much-discussed amongst rugby league fans both in New Zealand and Australia, with the star half knocking back an offer from Wests Tigers to head back across the Tasman when his deal expires at the end of the season.

As interest in the Johnson has grown throughout the season due to his resurgent performances, concerns had been festering among Warriors fans that he may depart the club a second time.

Afoa told The Big League Podcast Johnson is a Warrior through and through.

“I just summed it up to everyone that he is a Warrior, he’s always been a Warrior, for him to stay at this club would lift a lot of the boys spirits.”

He says personally he would like Johnson to stay at Mt Smart and that having started both of their careers there it would be a huge win for the club to retain him.

A full house of 15,000 packed in to McLean Park on Saturday for the match against the Broncos, 12 of whom left the ground in police custody after invading the pitch in the final ten minutes.

Afoa says the interruptions were particularly frustrating for the home side as they were chasing the game and stoppages allowed Brisbane to regroup and catch their breath.

“We’re down on points and it kind of changes the momentum of the game, you know, gives the opposite team a rest.”

However he then reveals himself to be a man of humour as he admits there may be a time and place for such behaviour.

“If there’s a minute left and we’re winning, then yeah!”

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