Don’t write the New Zealand Warriors off just yet – they can still win the NRL this year.
Wins against the Roosters, Sea Eagles and Storm in recent weeks proved Matt Elliott’s men are a real chance of going deep in the NRL playoffs – they just need to make the eight.
The Warriors have five games remaining and need to win at least three, if not four, to be guaranteed a place in the finals.
Along with Manly, these include Penrith, Gold Coast, Canberra and St George Illawarra. The Warriors of the past two months could conceivably win all five, though perhaps the Canberra match could be too tough.
Once confirmed to play finals football, they have the ability to play chief upset merchant, much like the classes of 2003, 2008 and 2011, when they managed almost unfathomable wins against higher ranked opposition.
Think the thrashing of the Bulldogs in 2003, the twin defeats of Melbourne in 2008 and 2011 and beating the fancied Wests Tigers.
In Kevin Locke, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson and Nathan Friend, the Warriors have a mixture of game breaking ability (Locke and Johnson) and sound direction (Leuluai and Friend) in the key positions of fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker.
Throw in the attacking ability of Feleti Mateo and Konrad Hurrell, plus a Test and State of Origin pack that can dominate with Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira and Jacob Lilyman, and no wonder they have come into form recently.
You’d give the Warriors a B- for the year so far. Unfortunately their 18 points in the past two months were offset by their awful start to the season.
Yet, to steal a Batman analogy, they have shown enough ability to rise from the depths.
After being completely written off after languishing at the bottom of the ladder, they defeated the NRL’s Bane, the Melbourne Storm, a behemoth which usually overpowers opponents.
The Auckland team also knocked off their own Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of the pack Sydney Roosters.
Killer Croc lies in wait next. Another giant of the NRL, the Manly Sea Eagles have been unpredictable this year, but have enough class and toughness to reside in the top four.
The match will be on neutral ground in Gosford. If Simon Mannering’s team can defeat them for a second time this year, then they should bounce through to the finals.
Their Saturday showdown against the Sharks loomed as a real hiding to nothing match. How can you top the Everest-like high of beating Melbourne, statistically the most consistent team of the last decade?
The Warriors’class of 2013 haven’t faced the extra spotlight of real expectation since the end of 2011, when they reached the grand final.
Last week, those extra media appearances on Sterlo and the Footy Show probably served to bring in complacency. It cost them.
So will the Warriors complete another comic-book ending to this year and flourish in September?
If they can get there, yes, they will.
Renegade
Guest
I'd be happy for my side to play the warriors in the finals....the team everyone wants to avoid is the storm, no doubt.
pogo
Guest
My mate from the north tells me that Tomkins started as a 5/8th, perhaps that is where the want to take him?
Clark
Guest
Out of all the top 4 teams, although Melbourne aren't really in the best form now, they will be the better team in the finals series, but interestingly they are the one that the Warriors would be the most confident about knocking over. I believe they can upset both Souths and Sydney but Manly is probably the one to avoid (don't like our chances against them at Brookevale if a finals game isn't moved away from there). So in short Warriors have the potential to go all the way and if Melbourne can avoid playing the Warriors at all during the finals, they will win it.
Clark
Guest
If anybody was going to upset one of the top 4 teams in a finals series the Warriors in my opinion are the only ones capable of doing so. The ability to win the entire thing is a different story. The team the have assembled at this time can definitely give it a decent crack. I think every team in the 8 will want to avoid a match up with the Warriors come september
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
The Warriors are an exciting team and it would be awesome to see them in the final. It was a bad loss to the Sharks but hopefully they can scrape their way into the finals and ignite another winning streak. I doubt they can top the Roosters or Manly though come September.
Renegade
Guest
Maximillian, Agree and that was my point regarding whether the warriors want to spend that much on a position they already have covered. The Broncos should be gunning for Tomkins, same as the tigers, cowboys, raiders, panthers and if the bulldogs lose Barba they should throw money at Tomkins as well. In regards to is he a $300k better fullback than Dugan, 100% YES.....I can't believe Dugan is getting 700k, but hey the dragons are having to pay overs to sign/keep anyone at the moment.
planko
Guest
Andrew could not agree more. Every time they get beat over the last rounds it will be a relief to EVERY side in the 8. Cause it increases the chances of them not making the play offs at all. But even if they do at least no side is going to need to fly over there to play .... I love the way they play but I would like to make a point. I know this is going to sound silly but I think the rule of how penalties get given should be changed. Eg when Manly played them in NZ recently both sides were hurt by getting a penalty when on the attack in the others 20m area. Getting a penalty on tackle 1 or 2 when you are in the oppostions 20 metre line serves no purpose other than helping the defensive line reset. This happened from memory twice for manly and warriors in this game.Let the referee just restart the set if think's one team deserves a penalty most teams will prefer to stay on the attack ? Than take the 2 ... Even so you could create a signal or call and the captain could stop the play if he wants the 2 points ? Thoughts anyone ? Also I love watching their games cause VOSS is calling so much better than both the RAY's.
maximillian
Guest
I don't doubt the class of Tomkins but with the salary cap the way it is, you only have limited room to spend on certain players. Dugan just signed a contract extension of 700K a year. Is Tomkins 300K a year better fullback than Dugan? I'm not convinced he's worth that much. Andrew makes a good point above that the Warriors already have 2 NRL level fullbacks in Locke & the Fish so why sign a third? I understand Friend is leaving so they'd be better off signing a new hooker IMO.
Tonyj
Guest
Cherry Evans will never play for anyone else except Manly. As for Manly stealing other club's juniors, what the hell does that mean? Other clubs don't do that or do you mean Manly gets them for free where everyone else has to pay for them? Get real, pathetic Manly hater, all clubs do it these days. And they've been doing it for years, only more astutely than other clubs.
oikee
Guest
The Broncos are willing to pay 1.5 million for Cam Smith, i would think Tomkins is a bargain at 1 million. Look, these players can win you a comp. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that if the Broncos had Tomkins or Smith, we would win a tital in one year. Look at how good the Broncos go now, without a real spine. Either of these players will give the warriors or Broncos that last peice of class they need to go that one step further. No matter what team they go to, it would be the same. Titans with Smith would win, Cowboys with tomkins would win. Eels with Smith and Tomkins, they probably would need both, hehe But you get the idea. Both these teams only need a good player maker to get them across the line. Moon doggy.
Geronimo
Guest
If god decreed that they should play the Broncos twice during 2 month SOO period - has any team done this in the past -only the GC had a better draw with them playing 3 or 4 away games on neutral territory
Renegade
Guest
Tomkins has proven himself at test level....when it comes to NRL everyone said the same thing about Burgesses, Graham, Ellis, etc. Will Jamie Lyon have enough to come back to NRL after winning man of steel, etc, etc?? This kid will deliever, he is without doubt one of the best players in the game. I'm not sure whether the warriors need to pay a fullback that much money considering they have decent options now but if they don't i'm sure sides like the Broncos can throw some money at him.
Andrew Marmont
Roar Guru
Interesting debate here. He is one of England's best Test players (in fact is their all-time leading try-scorer), this must also add to his value. But I don't think the Warriors need another fullback either. Kevin Locke is equal to any NRL fullback. The Fish is also a real talent - is that enough cover?
Clark
Guest
Thats a good point. I remember when we used to finish off almost every single break with points. The fact is that in terms of recruitment in the past we always seem to always get players in positions we don't need. It was frustrating for a while constantly playing without two specialised centres.
maximillian
Guest
Yea I agree Oikee but the issue for me is the money. Reports suggest close to $1million a season & I'm not convinced he's worth that much. He's a superstar in the ESL but unproven at NRL level so if they're going to spend that much on a marquee signing Id prefer someone at least of proven NRL quality.
Bunny Lord
Guest
I guess you've all forgotten about Souths now, eh? I want to believe we'll be there in October, and we have four or five games left to prove it. Let's remind everyone of the might of Redfern!
Renegade
Guest
I believe they will make the 8 but winning the premiership is an entirely different thing.
Horatio
Guest
They have had a god draw so should have every chance...
oikee
Guest
Trust me, you need Tomkins. The reason the Warriors got beaten was the simple fact nobody was their to support players who made breaks. I was waiting for nobby to turn up but unlike Slater, he never seems to support like the master. Tomkins on the other hand is worldclass. His support play is equal if not better than Billy the kid. Wait and see, this guy is class with a capital K. hehe. Oh and the fact that Johnson had to throw the ball into touch because the winger was hocked again because they cant defend raids is another reason you need Tomkins. The Warriors win that game is you had a winger and not Hurrell plastered out wide because defence is brittle, like ice thawing on pond.
Clark
Guest
Superstar player, to be honest we didn't really need another fullback. i will be happy as long as we can keep Locke and Johnson.