WE need a win.

Wigan won on Friday and we lost at Leeds, so we're getting chased down for sixth spot.

And, if we get in the play-offs, it is still important to get a win in the next couple of games.

We don't want to go into the play-offs on the back of three defeats, just scraping in.

We want to get in there on merit and with a bit of confidence.

Play-off matches are one-off games, like cup games, but you have to get yourself fired up for it week in, week out.

Our recent performance against Harlequins wasn't brilliant but we got the win.

You'd settle for that at first and then work at performances from there, although we've definitely got to start performing better than we have been doing.

The Leeds performance wasn't quite what we expected.

It was quite similar to the Bradford game really. It's something we need to put right quickly.

It seems that, although on the whole we defend pretty well, there are little one-on-one errors and missed tackles, and we're getting punished. It's probably down to concentration as well.

And I really don't know why we've lost nine away games in a row.

I honestly don't think the team think: We're away this week so we've not got a chance.' That's not the mentality at all.

I wasn't even aware until after the Leeds game that we had lost so many in a row.

We're starting games okay, like at Salford, but we've fallen away.

We all know why it is - we're making errors and giving penalties away - so it has to be stopped.

But the players are still looking forward to the big games coming up. You train all year for them.

It's a long, hard season and you want to be peaking now and hitting a bit of form.

I'm playing 80 minutes every week so really it is about maintenance in training during the week.

There's nothing fitness wise I can do now, it's about trying to keep my strength up.

The whole team's training is geared around peaking for this time of year but form cycles can sometimes prevent that. The lads are physically fit and strong, it's just about confidence now.

As for nerves at this stage of the season, there are everyday game nerves that everyone suffers from.

And I'm sure now - on the back of the Leeds defeat - there's going to be a bit of nerves because players will be thinking it would be an absolute disaster if we didn't make the top six.

That's something we'll deal with as a team. We'll talk about it, we'll be positive and we'll address the next game.

We can't look any further than that game. A win against Hull on Sunday and all of a sudden we're definitely in the top six and confidence is high again.

Eddie and Stevo from Sky will be the guests for a question and answer session in my latest Testimonial event at Bank Quay Social Club on September 24.