Paasi: We need to step up for the fans

The Warriors' fate is sealed for 2019 but Stephen Kearney's men say they still have plenty to play for in their final two games of the season.

After conceding 42 points in a loss for the second time in as many weeks last Saturday against Cronulla, the Warriors forfeited any realistic hope they had of playing past the regular season.

But this week players spoke of a desire to pick up a win in their final home game of the year against the Rabbitohs on Friday, while veteran forward Adam Blair said they simply can't afford to go into the off-season in their current rut.

With the side having lost four of their last five games, Blair said the message was clear. 

"Head down, bum up, and try finish off the season on some good notes, because after that it's a long time before you play again," Blair said.

"You want to go out on a couple of wins.

"I've been in these situations before. The last game is always the hardest game when you know you're not playing finals."

The Warriors have won only three of nine games at Mt Smart Stadium this year, and tasted victory at the venue just once since round three.

Prop Agnatius Paasi said they owe it to their home fans to put in a good performance against the fifth-placed Rabbitohs.

"Obviously we are not going to make the finals, but we need to give our fans a reason to put a smile on their face," Paasi told NRL.com.

"We owe them one, we haven't built much at home this year. We have had some really good wins in away games but at home we haven't executed too often.

"In this last home game we need to step up."

Paasi this week shaved off his trademark long hair in support of the Shave for a Cure charity, which he was inspired to do following the death of his aunty from cancer last year.

It comes as the former Mate Ma'a Tonga rep prepares to play his 100th NRL game on Friday night.

The 27-year-old told NRL.com the impending milestone had made him reflect on how close he was to giving the game away back in 2014, prior to making his debut with the Warriors midway through that season.   

"It's a blessing because I didn't think I was even going to make my NRL debut for a while there," Paasi said.

"In 2014 I was about to quit footy because of my circumstances, having a kid, not knowing where to go.

"But I am blessed to have family support and for this career, and now to play 100 games."

After managing just one game for the Warriors in 2014, Paasi credits his three-year stint with the Gold Coast Titans for giving him the chance to become a become a regular at NRL level.  

"[Former Warriors assistant coach] Rohan Smith was at the Titans and I just asked if he could get me over there for 2015," Paasi said.

"I was lucky to get a train and trial contract at the time. The rest is history.

"I went over heavy, they trimmed me down and I played the whole year. I feel grateful to those guys and [then coach] Neil Henry for what they did for me at the time."