Hugh McGahan: D-Day is here for Warriors

The Warriors in action against the Roosters last week. Photo / Getty Images

It's time for the real Warriors to stand up and be counted; coach Brian McClennan promised his chargers would be the real deal by the start of round six.

D-day has arrived - D for Delivery.

Wins against the Eels and Titans were predicted as this opposition was not rated good enough to beat this Warriors outfit. Neither really tested them. The Roosters weren't rated well enough either but dished out a lesson or two in preparations, both physical and mental.

Sure, it's easy for everyone to be critical after the fact but the Warriors need to realise that after today's game against the Raiders, 25 per cent of the season is over.

Everybody is saying it's only round six, but when is it the right round to be on your game? The time is now - and it's overdue. Injuries are not an excuse any more; the famed youth development programme needs to be seen in more ways than just a Toyota Cup team. When injury strikes, as it has done, depth is tested and, when it fails, it's questioned. Is it good enough to think that players can transition from under-20s straight into NRL?

The Warriors have banked on their development programme to see them into the future. That's great but without sufficient experience playing against older, wiser heads in the NSW Cup, they can be exposed too early.

The Warriors do not have the luxury to wait for the injuries to Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck and co to heal and assist in a recovery. Is this Warriors group prepared to endure the anguish of the sporting public if they fail to deliver at a time when expectation was high?

Can that youthful exuberance tolerate the pressures of the media? They can certainly retreat to the cocoon of the faithful supporters for shelter until their fortunes improve, but increasing the strength of their depth is paramount. The winning of games or success can hide faults within an organisation, but defeat exposes frailties we tend not pay too much attention to until adversity strikes.

There are some frailties here; at least for the short term.

Brian McClennan also needs to look again at the offer presented to him by Owen Glenn when asked if he required players to strengthen his squad. When an offer like that is made to you, especially when money is not an issue, take it.

It may appear a vote of confidence in your players to state you are happy with your current squad - but looking a gift horse in the mouth is not the smartest move.

When assessing the current playing stock and, if the offer was to be made again, would he be quite so quick to reject it again?