Stephen Kearney refused to use the absence of Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke as an excuse after the Warriors failed to fire shot against the Roosters.

Minus two of their key playmakers, the Warriors' rarely looked like scoring in the 32-0 defeat at Mt Smart as their run of inconsistent form continued.

To be fair to Mason Lino and Karl Lawton, who started at halfback and hooker on Saturday, they were not given much of a chance to shine by the Roosters forwards, who dominated the physical exchanges.

ANTHONY AU-YEUNG/GETTY IMAGES

Tohu Harris is well contained by the Roosters' defence.

Led by enforcer Dylan Napa, the Roosters pack controlled the middle of the ruck while the visitors as a whole ran for almost 250m than the home team.

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Kearney had no doubt that was where the match was lost.

"For the most part this year we've done a pretty good job regardless of whoever's filling in," Kearney said.

"Do we miss them - possibly. But I don't think that hides the fact that the Roosters came here tonight really determined and physical. 

"We just couldn't match that."

Skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck echoed his coach's thoughts and said he, Lino and Lawton needed to do a better job of helping out five-eighth Blake Green.

"It felt like a lot of pressure was on him to run the whole goal-line and I need to put my hand up to run the work there," Tuivasa-Sheck added. 

"I know Mason's done it before... and those combinations need to be a lot better. We were disappointed we couldn't get points when we were down there."

Tuivasa-Sheck might be lining up alongside yet another halfback against Parramatta next week after Lino was forced off in the second half with a lower leg injury.

He will have scans over the coming days, while Johnson remains in doubt with an ankle injury.

The Roosters cleary came with a plan to target Green's kicking game and there were a number of questionable late hits on the veteran No 6.

That did not go unnoticed by Kearney, who felt the problem is becoming more prevalent in the competition.

"I noticed last week where there was a bit of a free for all with the kickers - not our game but another game," Kearney said. 

"I can't remember the last penalty there has been for someone hitting a halfback late or while he's in the action of kicking. Certainly one of them tonight, the ball nearly landed and [Green] got hit. It took an eternity for the tackler to tackle him. But that's not the reason why we got beat."

Kearney did not rule out making any changes for the Eels game but would make up his mind after reviewing the tape.

Having won their first five games of the season, the Warriors have failed to register back-to-back victories for the last five weeks.

While they remain in the top four, that will soon change if they can't rediscover their consistency.

"That's the lesson for us as a group - in this competition you've got to be ready every week," the coach said. "And that's staff, making sure we're getting the boys ready, and it's the boys taking ownership of it themselves and taking absolutely nothing for granted."

 - Stuff