Fans cheer Warriors off to battle

Epalahame Lauaki with his god-daughter Mia Wakefield at the airport. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Warriors had their hands full yesterday swapping passports and hauling luggage while signing autographs and meeting fans who had come to bid them farewell.

The team flew out to Sydney to play in tomorrow's NRL preliminary final against the Manly Sea Eagles after beating the Roosters in Auckland last weekend.

Fans scurried to get their picture taken with team members, others patted the players' backs as they filed past, while some called out "Good luck boys!" and "All the best, Warriors!"

Captain Steve Price said the team were positive about tomorrow's game.

"We're not thinking past this week. It's probably the toughest thing. It's going to be a big challenge. We're looking forward to it."

Carl Brahne was among 200 members from Auckland's City-Newton Dragons rugby league club headed to Sydney for the big game. "It's great to see them [the Warriors] get up there but it's still 50-50. They have to get past this last game," he said.

Second rower Epalahame Lauaki said while holding his 7-month-old god- daughter Mia Wakefield: "I think for most of us, this is what we've always wanted to do - to get to the top and just play the game well. It's been good. Just hopefully see us at the next game - the grand final."

This weekend's preliminary final at Sydney Football Stadium will determine who will go on to the NRL grand final, to play the winner of tonight's first preliminary final between Cronulla and the Melbourne Storm.

Legendary Warriors prop Ruben Wiki said he was feeling good in the lead up to the game, acknowledging that although it could be his last, there was no point in thinking ahead.

"It's been my last game for the last couple of months. I've been in the game for 16 years and now I just want to go out there and continue to play.

"You make your own destiny and it's up to the team to step up to the next challenge."