NRL: Warriors can attack second half of season with hope rather than fear

Players celebrate Manu Vatuvei's try during the NRL Rugby League match between the Vodafone Warriors and The Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

The Warriors might be ready to launch.

No one is going to get too excited - there have been too many false dawns in the past - but this team look equipped to attack the second half of the season with hope rather than fear.

The post-Origin period hasn't often worked out well for the Auckland club but this season might be different.

Tonight's 30-8 win over Canberra established them in the top eight and took them to an 8-7 record. That's equal to their best return at this stage in any campaign since 2003.

"As a squad, we are a lot more conditioned to make a run [this year]," said coach Andrew McFadden. "If we can stay healthy, we have got a lot of competition for spots which keeps everyone on their toes and helps drive performance. Ultimately, I think we are a far better football side to cope with the end of the season."

There are encouraging signs. Since the forgettable effort against Souths, when they were hammered 36-4, the Warriors have responded with two mature performances.

Canberra are a solid outfit and have scored a mountain of tries this season but the Warriors didn't let them get into the match.

The Raiders spent most of the first half defending. By halftime, they had made 183 tackles - 53 more than the home side - and were mostly out of attacking range. In the second half the Warriors disappeared out of sight.

"The penny has dropped with what works for us," said McFadden. "The Souths game taught us a lot - you learn more from your losses - and gave us an insight into what we need to do. Both last week and this week there were similar themes. We built pressure through our kicking game and then the points came on the back of that. We certainly had to earn it and scrambled really well in the first half."

There are much greater tests to come - starting with the Storm after next week's bye - but it feels like opponents will have to work for any victories rather than watching the Warriors beat themselves.

"As a collective, we are playing a bit smarter," said captain Simon Mannering. "Everything is pretty measured over the last two weeks. The emphasis is on getting the right field position and finishing our sets well. If you don't tire out a defence, your set plays aren't going to beat them."

Shaun Johnson was in doubt before the match, with a lower back strain that needed intense physiotherapy over the last few days, but he shone throughout the game and will welcome a few days off with the bye.