By PETER JESSUP
Are the Warriors still mentally flaky?
The game against the Bulldogs in Wellington tonight will not provide the answer, although it may confirm whether they are deserved finals contenders.
The long-term habit of winning and losing games they are not supposed to is still there - thrash Brisbane away, concede to the Panthers at home.
The coaching staff and players have quietly admitted this week that complacency may be part of their problem - they think they'll win and no one gets up for the game; committed opposition get over them because they've been underrated.
But there'll be no problem getting up for the Bulldogs. There's traditional rivalry, the battle for Kiwi positions in the centres and Nigel Vagana versus Clinton Toopi. Then there's the fact that the Warriors have yet to win in Wellington.
The Dogs, after three consecutive losses, can't remember the last time they lost four games on the trot.
The Warriors are also desperate to avoid playing a third bad game after lacklustre efforts against the lower-ranked Cowboys and Penrith.
Captain Stacey Jones said the short turnaround from Penrith last Sunday evening to the Dogs tonight was good - games like Sunday's made him want to play again next day to turn things around.
It is Jones who will have to spark if the Warriors are to win.
He has long been rated "world's second-best player" behind Andrew Johns. If the Warriors - and the Kiwis - are to be champions this season then Jones must make the mental jump to call himself world's best, then deliver that.
He can, maybe. Turning 27 on Tuesday, he has matured into a leadership role that has previously been thrust upon him when he was not ready.
There's always been talk about how he copes with the pressures of playmaker, captain and kicker, so the captaincy has been shared and the kicking duty passed around.
But at times of crisis it always comes back to Jones, as is the case tonight with regular skipper Monty Betham suspended.
When Betham was first appointed Jones was disappointed for himself.
Jones' play has matured. He is no longer a risk on defence, first target for opposition forwards. His field kicking game is more accurate, his range of kicks extended and multiple tries to the three-quarters are the result.
What everyone is waiting for is to see him scoring tries like his effort against the Roosters in last year's grand final, the sort of individual brilliance that turns games.
Maybe part of the Warriors' problems in what they perceive as second-rate games is waiting for Stacey. Are the rest pressing as hard as they would against Brisbane or Newcastle, or relying on their match-winner?
The Warriors flew to Wellington after training at Ericsson yesterday and all were declared fit.
The Bulldogs have had multiple and varied distractions this week: chief executive Steve Mortimer had to apologise to the NRL and referee Paul Simpkins after abusing the whistler following their close loss to Canberra. There was a A$5000 ($5580) fine, with a second A$5000 payable if he re-offends within 12 months.
Centre Vagana will meet Mortimer today to continue contract talks, with the club having already indicated it will expect players to take pay cuts so it can meet the salary cap. He will command a high price on the open market when anti-tampering rules come off after June 30 and is likely to check his value there.
With Mark O'Meley out, suspended and injured, Willie Mason steps up to prop and captain Steve Price returns from suspension in a new-look front row. Half Brent Sherwin will play after missing last week with injury.
The Warriors have the more stable lineup. Wairangi Koopu offers hurting defence at lock to cover for Betham and they still have plenty of backrow power.
Vinnie Anderson earns a start after strong defence when filling in for the injured John Carlaw, left out this week because his hip flexor problem had affected his confidence. Justin Murphy comes back to the bench and is likely to be injected into the game late second-half.
There is no area of the pitch where the Dogs hold advantage. Across the park, it's very even. So it could well come down to Jones. But only if the others let that happen.
NRL points table and fixtures
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