By JOE VAGANA
The salary cap and allowances for local juniors like Matthew Johns have been the dominant news topic as we go to Newcastle to play the Knights, and we can only hope all the talk of a boycott by their fans will distract them.
I have to sympathise with Mattie
Johns, though. I've been at Auckland for six years, he's been at Newcastle for seven. In another two years' time, when my contract ends, I'd like to think the Warriors would be able to go the extra yards to give me a deal that would keep me here in the face of bigger offers from overseas, and I know others like Stacey Jones and Logan Swann feel the same.
It's a dilemma every club wishes it didn't have to confront. As a player, you hope the club will recognise the service you've put in.
Having said that, there are already so many extra clauses in the salary cap law that it's a real mess. The players would like to see some uniformity, some stability, so we know where we're going in future.
The Johns boys' drama and the State of Origin give us a great chance to roll the Knights today. There's no doubt that sort of thing distracts your attention from what it should be - on the game - and we hope to take advantage of any slack they give us.
But we'll be going in wary. We fell into a trap against St George, thinking it was going to be easy, and we certainly don't need another hiding like that.
Confidence has a lot to do with how well we go and this week the confidence has been showing. Morale is good after the win over the Bulldogs.
This game will be another won and lost in the forwards and we have to be at the top of our game. I've been quietly pleased with my own form in the past two games. It's the playing standard I want to maintain all season but I really feel I've only hit my straps in the past couple of weeks - now I'm looking to deliver that standard consistently.
It's easier to do that when the other boys are backing it up around you and I have to give all our pack a good rap.
I also have to give the fans a rap. They were sensational last Saturday.
