KEY POINTS:
The Warriors' achievement in downing the Eels in a must-win game at Parramatta last weekend to secure a place in the NRL finals follows a fantastic sustained effort to win eight out of 10 games in recent weeks.
It was just before that run began that myself and
other commentators totally wrote off their chances of making the finals series this year.
That they have managed to halt the flood of points that was being scored against a leaky defence, sharpen their attack and turn their season around so well is nothing short of astonishing. I'm glad they have proved me wrong.
However, this weekend they face a massive challenge against what many believe to be the raging favourites to run to a third consecutive title.
The Melbourne Storm have attacking class all over the park, from Cameron Smith who launches their raids to the link-man Ryan Hoffman who keeps the ball moving to their incredible backs Greg Inglis, Israel Folau and Billy Slater.
The entire team is top class, as proved by selection of most bar the Kiwis for one or other of the State of Origin teams this year. When you look at it that way it does make you wonder how they can keep all those top-liners under the salary cap. Either coach Craig Bellamy and chief executive Brian Waldron are absolute geniuses when it comes to player recruitment, development and contract negotiation and there are many players prepared to stay at the club on salaries below their market value, or the books need closer auditing than has been the case.
From what I hear in the build-up, many commentators think it is not even worthwhile the Warriors turning up because there is no way they can win. But, while the odds are certainly stacked against them, I beg to differ.
If the Warriors as a team turn up and play their best with the likes of Steve Price, Ruben Wiki and Micheal Luck leading the charge and Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati and Manu Vatuvei at the top of their game the Auckland club is most certainly in with a chance. In sport there is no such thing as a guaranteed result.
The one thing all league fans and especially the Warriors fans will be gutted about is the fact the club's most-potent attacking weapon Wade McKinnon is sitting on the sidelines due to his own stupidity. One can only hope McKinnon realises - as he looks on from the sidelines - that it is time he gave up harassing referees and linesmen because it is now costing him the thing he wants most: finals football.
Tonight the Broncos, which is the team I believe poses the biggest threat to both Melbourne and Manly, play the Roosters. This is a side whose coach of 21 years is leaving at the end ofthe season, a coach who is far and away the best in the NRL, who is surrounded by players young and not-so-young who historically have performed for him when it counts most, the likes of Darren Lockyer and Tonie Carroll.
Looking to Manly and the Dragons tomorrow, the Eagles are at the top of their game and have proved to be most entertaining. After making, then losing, the grand final last season they will have both the experience and the hunger to try and go one better. I don't think the Dragons will be around in the last weekend of the NRL because they have not shown the same consistency through the season.
The Raiders, like the Warriors, are showing great end-of-season form and have momentum when it counts, while the Sharks have lost their best player in Greg Bird due to another act of footballers' stupidity. As my friend the player agent Jim Banaghan says, "You can't put brains in statues".
I pick an upset.