Losing by a record margin and sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder is no laughing matter but you wouldn't know it by the response of some Warriors players on Saturday night.

He's been gone for more than 18 months but former coach Ivan Cleary continues to cast a shadow over the Warriors. Regardless of last night's result in Penrith, Cleary represents a glorious past that seems a long way away.

On this evidence, start planning for 2014. With more than half the season to play for the Warriors, this was a horror show.

It's something that afflicted All Blacks teams at World Cups for close to two decades and now the Warriors are experiencing their own performance anxiety that threatens to ruin their season.

Matt Elliott's Warriors are on a road to nowhere, and tonight come up against Penrith who are coached by the man who had them on a road to somewhere.

With a quick swoop, burst of pace and a well-timed draw and pass to Manu Vatuvei.

The form of the four-prop rotation was a major part of the Warriors' run to the 2011 NRL grand final and it's hoped that quartet can now propel the club up the ladder.

The Warriors' main target for next season remains England fullback Sam Tomkins but they are on the verge of adding another player for 2014 with Cronulla back-rower Jayson Bukuya close to securing a two-year deal.

The Warriors are on the verge of signing Cronulla Sharks back-rower Jayson Bukuya on a two-year deal.

Warriors fullback Kevin Locke does not have a prolapsed disc in his back as first feared.

The Warriors have scored just their second win of the NRL season but will be concerned after fullback Kevin Locke was stretchered from the field.

Jerome Ropati recently trawled through some footage of himself playing in the 2010 NRL season to see how he used to play.

The side playing against the Titans on Sunday looks like one that can start winning games, writes Richie Barnett. It's a pretty solid team and one that can turn tight defeats into results.

Another rollicking weekend of NRL football already has clubs reaching for their calculators - and not even the struggling Warriors are out of top eight possibilities.

The Warriors are bottom of the table and there will be many who will claim they belong there.

If Sam Tomkins comes to the Warriors, he is set to be the highest paid player at Mt Smart

"Are we looking at smoke signals or a smoke screen when it comes to Matt Elliott and the Warriors?" asks Chris Rattue.

On the only measure that matters, the Warriors are the worst team in the NRL. They sit on the bottom of the ladder, with only one win in seven games, and there's a widespread belief their season is effectively over with barely one-quarter gone.

Warriors coach Matt Elliott said his team were hard done by with refereeing decisions for the second straight week following last night's 28-18 defeat to the Melbourne Storm.

As British talent begins to make an impact on the NRL, Wigan superstar Sam Tomkins has been targeted by the Warriors.

The Warriors are second-to-last after just one win in six games. It represents the equal worst start in the club's 19-year history.

The Warriors' injury curse continues with captain Simon Mannering an extremely unlikely starter for Thursday's Anzac Day game against the high-flying Storm.