NRL: Embrace the pressure, Cleary tells Warriors

New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary says the team's match against the Storm this weekend is 'as big as you get'. Photo / Greg Bowker

Players and coaches often like to spout how they treat even the biggest matches as 'just another game' but Warriors coach Ivan Cleary isn't naive and is telling his players to embrace the stage and pressure that comes with a grand final qualifier.

The Warriors tackle the Storm in Melbourne on Saturday night for a place in next weekend's grand final. It's a place the club have gone only once before, when they were beaten by the Roosters in the 2002 title decider, and they have played in only two other grand final qualifiers (2003, 2008).

"It's not like any other week," Cleary said. "This is as big as you get. Every play means something; every player, their roles. Little things are big things. We are playing the best team. All that stuff. You can't hide from the fact this is what it's all about and why you play the game.

"I'm certainly smelling the roses because it's great to be here and be a part of the competition. The other three sides who are left in - the Broncos, Manly and Melbourne - have been outstanding all year so for us to be in that little party is certainly an honour."

Melbourne finished the regular season with 42 points, two ahead of Manly and Brisbane and eight ahead of the fourth-placed Wests Tigers. The Warriors are the odd ones out in the final four, having qualified sixth with 32 points.

For this reason Cleary and his players were quick to grab the underdog status. It's something they want and something they need - almost like a security blanket. They don't cope well when expectations are high, particularly their own, but often surprise when little is expected of them. It was like that last weekend against the Tigers and like that in 2008 when the Warriors rolled the Storm in Melbourne in the first week of the playoffs.

"I don't think we are as big an outsider as that day," Cleary opined. "I don't think we will be paying as much [with the bookies]. It's a different place, a different year. We were total outsiders that day - one vs eight, and no hope in the world. While I think we are underdogs this week, we are a better side than what we probably were then."

They are at the same stage they were in 2008, but were overrun by a rampant Manly side who went on to smack the Storm 40-0 in the final. No one was going to beat Manly that season but the Warriors also ran out of steam.

Fatigue might be a factor again this time around. Saturday's game will be their fifth on the road in the last six weeks and most have come against top-eight sides (Dragons, Cowboys, Broncos, Tigers, Storm). It will take its toll but Cleary will hope they can go at least one more time.

"Hopefully [the travel factor] doesn't take too much of a toll," he said. "It's an issue but it's what we've got. You can see the finish line so that sort of thing is best put to the back of the mind.

"One of the best things over the last six or seven weeks is that it's been like a training camp or academy for the big games. We are playing all the top-eight sides and a lot of them away from home. There are certainly no excuses in terms of being match ready for this game.

"We have a few bumps and bruises, like any team has. That's probably where the Storm have a bit of an advantage having had a week off but the finish line is close and the guys will keep on going."

It's a large part of why Cleary's brought in Elijah Taylor ahead of Ukuma Ta'ai in the 17-man squad. Taylor is a workaholic (he has averaged 32 tackles a game in 19 appearances this season) while Ta'ai brings physicality and impact and the former will be needed against a high-energy side who snipe away at the inside channels. In Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk they also have three of the game's best players but it is a much more inexperienced side than the one that claimed two titles (illegitimately as it proved with their breach of the salary cap) and four consecutive grand final appearances.

The Warriors also hold no fear about playing in Melbourne having won 18-14 in April and five times there throughout history.

Quite obviously, it's not just any other game.

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