In the next seven rounds the ever-improving Warriors face a formidable playing schedule.
Starting with a two-match trip to Australia, Stephen Kearney’s side travels to Canberra, then onto Sydney for a showdown with the Roosters.
Three blockbuster clashes are then scheduled for Mt Smart Stadium.
First up the North Queensland Cowboys come to town, followed by the Brisbane Broncos, then the St George Illawarra Dragons, who have had a super start to the season and are currently the ladder leaders.
Hopefully the Auckland-based club can benefit from the key advantage that playing at home can offer – against these powerful sides, any leg up is an added bonus.
Round 8 sees the Warriors travel to Melbourne to face the 2017 premiers, the Storm.
The week after that, Benji Marshall and Co. are in Auckland for a Saturday night clash in what should be another sell-out crowd to see the Tigers’ Kiwi-stacked squad.
No easy game, not that there ever is in this competition, but these seven matches are as hard as they come. The Warriors’ mental toughness and fitness will be tested during this period and premiership points will be vital.
If they can register as many as possible out of the 14 points on offer, it will hold them in very good stead to be playing finals football in September.
Albo
Guest
I'm with you souvalis ! They do have a tough 7 match stretch ahead of them, but if they can win 4 of them , they will be well in line for a spot in the 8 with a likely much easier run then ahead of them. I like their apparent more focused attitude and early season fitness. And the return of Mannering soon will only strengthen them further. Of those 7 games, they have the Cows, Broncos, Dragons &Tigers at home, whilst they have the Raiders, Roosters & Storm away. I would give them good chances to beat the Raiders this week & the Tigers in week 9. I would fancy them at home against the Broncos and maybe the Dragons ? And they have a record better than most other teams against the Storm in Melbourne. So I see 4 wins a distinct possibility in that run of 7 , leaving them in a handy spot on the ladder after 9 rounds and before the state of origin period where they usually go well. But as always , these are the Warriors , so I won't yet be putting my house on these predictions !
Jacko
Guest
hard to argue that. If the Warriors won all those games then their would be some other clubs in deep doggy doodoo and those other clubs would desperately need a good month but if the Warriors drop all those games then they are the team in trouble. I see a win or two and a loss or two but the more wins the better
Percycutor
Roar Pro
Tough competition for 26 rounds Jacko. It was more designed to point out probably more to NZ Warriors fans the toughness of the competition. In NZ a lot of people don’t understand just how much of a high level of Rugby League the Premiership is. But thanks for your comment.
Percycutor
Roar Pro
Canberra in Canberra always a very tough trip. Few cracks in the Raiders showing, for the Warriors benefit that might give them a small amount of confidence, and the belief that is required to win such tough away matches.
Percycutor
Roar Pro
I have no idea, I’m a Rugby League fan firstly and experience in this competition has taught me to expect the unexpected. The idea of the article didn’t offer bias, it was intended to simply point out that the Warriors are clashing with some true heavyweights almost consecutively. I wish them well, it’s a tough ask in a very tough competition.
Jacko
Guest
I would have thought that it is a big couple of months for all NRL teams myself.....Not just the Warriors...But hey...lets write ANOTHER article about the Warriors as clearly no other team needs to win over the next couple of months
souvalis
Guest
They lose this weekend and people will be jumping out of trees with I told you so’s...but I’m a believer..this is a different team with a new mindset who are playing a brand of football I want to watch..
Paul
Roar Guru
How many of these games do you see the Warriors actually winning, Percycutor? Assuming form lines go as expected, you might beat Canberra, maybe, you might also beat the Tigers, but that's about it. Great start to the season could come crashing down, I suspect.