AFTER another result which suggested the New Zealand Warriors are limping into the NRL finals, captain James Fisher-Harris declared: “No-one respects us”.
Fisher-Harris scored the fastest try in NRL history when he crossed from his own team’s kick-off when the ball was allowed to bounce at 4 Pines Park.
But in his farewell Manly game, captain Daly Cherry-Evans booted a 75th minute field goal to put the contest out of reach for the Aucklanders.
“No-one really respects us, no-one gives us any hope or anything like that,” the Kiwis star said. “I actually love that.
“We’re the only team from New Zealand. Just see what our actions can do, you know?”
He was backed up at the post-match media conference by coach Andrew Webster, who said: “No-one’s given us a chance since day one. We’re used to that.
“We believe. We believe what we can do in that dressingroom. Back home, all our fans believe it.
“We’re going to have a full house at Mt Smart Stadium. Lots of people at the start of the season would do anything to have a home semi.
“I just said to the boys ‘we’re the ones in control of this, we’re the ones beating ourselves’.
“The people who don’t believe, that’s fine. But we believe in ourselves.”
Asked about the prospect of taking on his former club Penrith next week, Fisher-Harris replied: “Whatever happens, happens.”
Webster interjected, saying: “He just wants to play mate, whoever it is. That’s all we all want to do – whoever it is.”