Manu Vatuvei celebrates the try of Lewis Brown (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
So, who picked that one then? If you’ve strutted into work this morning telling everyone within earshot that you always knew the Warriors were specials against Melbourne then I don’t believe you.
Even the biggest optimist wouldn’t have thought the NRL grand final would be contested between the Warriors and Manly.
The Kiwis have always been like the kid nobody had a problem with, but you wouldn’t notice if they weren’t there.
Mount Smart Stadium has always been the toughest road trip in the game, but the only thing the Warriors used to return from Australia with was a tan.
Not anymore. They’ve stuffed the large scalps of the Wests Tigers and the Melbourne Storm into their carry-on luggage over the past fortnight and scurried off back to Auckland before anyone could realise what had happened. Cheeky devils.
Come Sunday they could hold the NRL premiership, defend the Toyota Cup, claim the NSW Cup and add it to the rather impressive figure of the World Cup sitting somewhere on New Zealand soil.
That’s right. Not only will the Warriors compete for the biggest rugby league prize in the southern hemisphere on Sunday, but the junior Warriors will play North Queensland in the Toyota Cup and the Auckland Vulcans will meet Canterbury-Bankstown in the NSW Cup.
It shows that all must be in order in New Zealand rugby league to have the seniors, fringe players and young talent slaying all before them.
You hope those in the land of the long white cloud are paying attention.
Yes, I know the Rugby World Cup is on, but if Georgia and Romania aren’t playing on Sunday maybe you can spare a couple of hours.
The Warriors were once the Harlem Globetrotters of rugby league. They cared more about off-loads than completed sets and concentration in defence for 80-minutes was unheard of. But not anymore.
The last three halves of football the Warriors have completed have been near perfect.
They stunned the Wests Tigers with their composure in the second half just over a week ago to sneak home in stunning circumstances. Then on Saturday night, when nobody gave them a chance, reduced the Melbourne Storm to a rudderless mess.
Watching the Warriors in attack was like witnessing a convoy of semi-trailers steaming down a freeway.
They’ve always had the big bodies to do damage to opposition teams, but getting them to curb their natural flair has always been easier said than done.
Once they were inside Melbourne’s 20 metre line, the likes of young halfback Shaun Johnson took over and inflicted plenty of damage.
The 21-year-old Auckland born product has certainly impressed in his debut season. The halves battle between Johnson, James Maloney, Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran will be intriguing.
The Warriors defence has also improved incredibly over the last fortnight. The lazy reads have disappeared and been replaced by commitment and desperate tackles. Once on the ground, they made sure they out-wrestled the Storm to slow down the ruck.
Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk have never looked so blunt. It was like all the pieces on the chess board were moving exactly where Cleary wanted them to. It couldn’t be this easy could it?
One Manly fan I spoke to yesterday said he’d rather his side face the Warriors instead of the Storm. Right now, I’m not so sure.
The Sea Eagles pack, often criticised for having a soft underbelly, will need to find a way to stop the convoy in its tracks.
The Warriors are as dangerous as they’ve ever been. Now isn’t the right time to think of them as a softer alternate to Melbourne.
So far, it has come back to bite the Tigers and the Storm. Could the Sea Eagles be next?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
it's called Open Rugby.
all7days
Roar Guru
Leagues good if you can't understand Union. I love to turn my brain off and watch League :) It's like an action movie or Pop music. I'm a fan of them all.
all7days
Roar Guru
And having a NZ team arguably has more benifet for Aussie. It raised the profile in NZ. The Sport grew and now they have an even bigger talent pool for their teams to recruit from. Not to mention the $$$ from TV and increased attendance to games from NZers in Australia. It's a win/win. It isn't a favour from Australia.
me, I like football
Guest
Are these peak, reach or average numbers.
all7days
Roar Guru
So your saying we should up the costs of travel for NPC teams that are already struggling to survive? Northland, Manawatu, Southland, Counties, Tasman, and so on? You want them to pay even more money even though they can hardly afford to pay for the players and the travel already? I would like to include Aussie teams but it has to be sustainable. As long as they aren't elligible for the Shield that is :) We can drop the amount of Aussie teams in Super Rugby to one and Let one team into the NPC if we need to reciprocacte in that respect.
Republican
Guest
ParraEeels I'm talking domestically. Our Domestic Union has needed a leg up for ever but NZ are unlikely to reciprocate in this respect - unlike what we continue to do for them in a number of codes.
Jarrod
Guest
thats probably the dumbest comment i've heard in my life, the warriors would be the last team the nrl would want in the grand final in terms of more viewers/tickets/money, and to suggest the nrl would strategically pick which team make the finals is so far beyond farfeched it amazes me, get a grip you whingers
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
SA Oikee came up with a reasonable analogy.After all Bolt is a Jamaican and running is not as full of technicalities as the ski jump,and league is doing quite nicely in Jamaica to date. So size has really nothing to do with it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
clipper. Firstly let me state I am not an advocate of PNG for many years,to clarify my position. Let me further state ,that the spectators lined up in long queues were there to purchase tickets.Whether they were cheap I don't honestly know.What I do know,the stadiums ATM are too small for the demand of locals,and infrastructure has to be imrpoved dramaically if they are to have any chance. And to respond to Kovana ,if they had a ground which held 25,000 the stone throwing perhaps would not have happened,although we get clowns in so called more advanced cities who now and again throw cans or glasses on to the fields. The money backing from the govt,mining companies,cocoa cola one example (on board) and any I.C grants which all NRl clubs currently receive,would I suggest provide the monies.I am not looking 2013,but 2018 onwards. The new I.C will not be sponsoring any team.each will have to be able to rely on their own resources.If the PNG mob can't do it down the line,they won't get in.,simple as that.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well we will just have to wait and see Parra Eels,because if the same benevolent Belgian or another wealthy group of backers are involved,then Gallop may still be on to something,and should they get in (which I doubt) you will be cussing and swearing LOL. Yeah the Wellington bid to join SL in europe, was about as successful as the ARC championship.With the famous promo"You won't know them now but you soon will". I am still waiting to get to know them.
clipper
Guest
Crosscoder - no doubt they would fill up the stadium if it was free or very cheap, but if it was a commercial concern aimed at making a profit, how could the locals afford it, unless the NRL sponsors the team?
Nathan of Perth
Guest
As a tip, Renegade, the guy making Doctor Strangelove references is usually not taking the subject matter seriously.
kovana
Guest
People throwing stones onto the field, and gunshots outside. Yep.. NRL players would love to play there.
ParraEelsNRL-EA-russ13-VictoryFC-Brutus
Roar Rookie
Gallop also commented on the Wellington bid when the mysteries Belgian billionaires was first mention years ago and who can forget the Wellington bid to join superleague in Europe a few years ago.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Parra Eels .................................or is it PW?. You had better ask the NRL and Gallop.They have the bid details ,not a mere mortal like myself. I thought the angels only involved themselves in the 'heavenly "game,must have been sadly mistaken.Never mind you must have your finger on the pulse..
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Republican WA is the next expansion focus,Gallop has stated the idea is one non heartland and one heartland area.It stands to reason having a WA team adds to the national focus.A 2nd NZ team is eons away,and despite the NZ DNA nonsense suggested and in spite of WA being an AFL demographics(which apparently doesn't apply in West Sydney rl territory). Forgetting conveniently the large numbers of NSW and Qlanders who have moved to WA for the resource industry,do not fit into your AFL demographics.They need to be catered for,hence the WA Reds bid,well researched and financially backed.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
It's good to see similar articles appearing like they did back in 2002 when The Warriors made their first NRL Grand Final. Nine years on and the big difference, is that this time around the NZ'ers are an actual chance of winning on the big day. Hats off to the boys for making the GF in all three grades - but let's see how many trophies they take home before we start declaring Kiwi dominance. Manly are proven performers - where as the Kiwi's (with special reference to The All Blacks) are renowned chokers during vital games on the big stage. Hopefully The Warriors produce some comfort for the Kiwi populace with victory - as their beloved All Blacks coming crashing back to earth with yet another inept performance when it matters most. Go the Wallabies !!!!!!!!!!!!
ParraEelsNRL-EA-russ13-VictoryFC-Brutus
Roar Rookie
Has the Belgian billionaires appear again wearing white and wings on its back?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
So the 15,000 that attended the game PNg v Presidents X111)(must have been expats) ,with another 10,000 not able to get in being locals,one could argue.There are more than a handful of locals who work in the resource industry,with some disposable income. Anycase agree PNG is a long way off. Apparently Wellington NZ has a bid for the next expansionary phase,suggesting the backers have some inside knowledge of the area and the likely support base.
kovana
Guest
TBH, i have no idea why you had to even post that.