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Wobbly Warriors worldbeaters or should tipsters be wary?

Manu Vatuvei was in sensational form against Samoa. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Wayne Drought
Roar Guru
3rd June, 2013
11

The shaky isles have never had a better embodiment of that moniker than Auckland’s finest export, the shaky New Zealand Warriors.

A side guaranteed to keep any tipster up at night, last night against the Broncos the men from Mt. Smart roared back into form like no other side can, backing up their win over the Knights with a 56 to 18 thrashing of a vulnerable Broncos side.

It’s a quick turnaround from just two weeks ago when Penrith put them to the sword with a 60-point haul, but is there really a heartbeat in Simon Mannering’s struggling side after all?

Just like I did last week for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, I figured the best way to get an accurate reading of if the Warriors have any sniff of a finals berth is to analyse their run over Origin. With zero players selected, the Warriors should be able to put their strongest side on the park each week.

Right now the Warriors are sitting with a 4-8 record, two wins off the pace of the top eight.

Next week they face off with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at fortress Brooky. It is a tough ask for any side, let alone one as patchy as the Warriors. However, the Kiwi side does not fare as poorly as Brookvale as other teams, holding a 5-5 record since 1996.

The only thing going for the Warriors here is the wave of confidence they will surf in on, as well as the absence of Brett Stewart. Anthony Watmough may also struggle to back up from State of Origin. Tough to pick the Aucklanders in this one.

Next up is the high-flying Roosters at Allianz. A full complement of Origin stars and an away game spell bad news for the Warriors here I fear.

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Round 15 the Warriors get the bye, missing out on taking advantage of any sides drained by Origin.

The next week the Warriors are back in Auckland, hosting the Broncos. Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin rarely asks his Origin players to back up, so getting them to make the trip over the Tasman seems extremely unlikely, leaving the side looking a bit like it did in their last. At the Warriors home ground, I’d expect a similar scoreline too.

The Rabbitohs are next over in Perth. Once again, the Warriors are up against a top four side with their full squad, which means it will be an extremely difficult task to get over the top of Rusty’s Rabbits.

Another bye in Round 18, once again while players are on Origin duty.

The last of the Origin-affected rounds is Round 20 where the Warriors will jet off to the suburban icon Leichardt Oval to face off against Wests. Only Robbie Farah will have to back up for the Tigers, unless Aaron Woods is called upon for Game III.

The Tigers are fellow cellar dwellers and have not shown the form the Warriors have, but with a steady squad for most of the Origin period, they could be a formidable opponent at Leichardt.

So there it is – only one real sure thing in a Broncos rematch and the rest of their games not clear cut in the slightest. There is a very real chance the Warriors could be going into Round 20 only having collected one or two more wins.

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Despite key playmakers Mateo, Locke and Johnson all looking at the top of their games, Manu at his steamrolling best and the intimidating prop rotation all finally firing together against the Broncos, I could in no confidence tip them to come out of the Origin period in the top eight.

But then again… it is the Warriors. Who knows what team will turn up next week.

Yet another tipster who will be losing sleep over this Auckland mob.

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