The Queensland State of Origin front-rower says the pack need to lift their individual and collective efforts when they come up against the Gold Coast Titans tomorrow.
The 30-year-old has been one of the side's most consistent performers this season and was one of the few players who could be content with what he produced in last week's outing against the Roosters. In 48 minutes Lillyman contributed 19 runs for 145 metres and made 20 tackles to lead the way for his underwhelming teammates.
"I think we've been pretty good most of the year but a couple of weeks there where we weren't at our best so we'll just have to try and aim up and try and get the job done this week. They're always tough, the Titans. They always turn up and it's always a real physical battle and we've just got to be ready for that."
Coach Andrew McFadden agreed his forwards had struggled to match the Roosters' big men and said that had a flow-on effect of stifling the side's playmakers Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai.
"Your halves don't have much of an opportunity unless you really win that battle in the middle so I'm definitely going to challenge our forwards this weekend," McFadden said.
Lillyman admitted it had been hard to see the team's fortunes change in a matter of weeks.
"It's been very frustrating. But we're not out of it yet and we've just got to maintain that positive frame of mind and try and just focus on winning this game."
- David Skipwith of the NZ Herald
