KEY POINTS:
I have always believed that to love league is to love the game wherever it might be played.
People become avid and one-eyed about their own club, even tribal perhaps. But somewhere inside all of them I would hope they can recognise how good the game is, even when their team is not involved. That is the true test of whether you really like the game.
Such is the case for me as I prepare for the preliminary final between the Warriors and Manly Sea Eagles. What a game, what a match up.
I have no allegiance to any club, so it doesn't matter to me who wins. I'll simply be there calling the game as best I can and loving what I am doing because no matter who is playing, I love the game.
Ever since the Warriors were admitted to the NRL, there have been people in Australia who maintain they should never have been allowed in.
Others, like myself, were happy for the game as a whole, that we could do something to foster league overseas. Had we not put a Kiwi side in our competition, league in New Zealand would have struggled to survive.
It's not New Zealand's No 1 game but at least the Warriors are doing well which is wonderful for the sport in New Zealand and globally.
So with my feelings laid out in front of you, let's talk about this match.
Manly and their record against the Warriors presents a major hurdle. They are an even bigger obstacle than the Storm or the Sharks.
Statistics are nothing really, but the Warriors have played Manly twice this year and lost both times. Manly have also won six of their past eight clashes against the Warriors.
Those figures are scary for the Warriors. Most clubs have one or two bogey opponents and maybe Manly is just that for the Warriors.
Manly is a hard side to beat because both their offence and defence is of an incredibly high standard. Their on line defence is a feature and the attacking brilliance of Brett Stewart, Steve Menzies, Jamie Lyon and Anthony Watmough is massive.
Add to that the toughness of Brent Kite and craftiness of Matt Orford, and they are a better team than last year. The betting agencies see it the same way, installing Manly as title favourites ahead of Melbourne after the suspension of Cameron Smith.
But my assessment of Manly is not about who is out for Melbourne - it is on what Manly have done this season. In other words, beat them and the trophy has a big chance of making the trip across the Tasman.
I have been in awe of what the Warriors have done and I wonder what is the most significant aspect of the improvement. I am not in a great position to answer that but I can imagine, just like everyone else.
They have a good coach and talent in large numbers but for mine, it is the infectious will to win and the hatred of defeat that has come with the addition of people like Steve Price, Brent Tate and the presence of Ruben Wiki.
If you go back through the coaches who have guided these three players, you will find men who drill into their players that 95 per cent is not enough.
Words like tiredness, failure and surrender are not in their dictionaries.
I have watched many Kiwi sides over the years - my first visit to your country was in 1971 when you thrashed us at Carlaw Park. From memory, Henry Tatana kicked goals from everywhere on the mudheap that day.
They were a good side, but along the way I have watched teams come out of New Zealand - both club and national sides - and they seemed to lack that intensity and urgency required at the end of games, particularly away from home. It was almost as though three-quarters of the way through they thought it was over.
That is not the case with this Warriors side, as was shown against Melbourne at Olympic Park. That win convinced me they have the spirit to win this match and even, perhaps, the premiership.
Why was the Melbourne win so significant? Because they won the game outside their comfort zone.
It wasn't like the old days at Carlaw Park or North Harbour or Mt Smart. It was Melbourne in Melbourne, against the defending premiers, who had much to celebrate including the presentation of the minor premiership trophy.
The Warriors are gathering importance and respect over here, just like 2002, but this is a team with a different temperament which came vividly through in Melbourne, a graveyard for so many teams. Nothing should be as daunting as that.
The Warriors have plenty of firepower. Jerome Ropati showed Israel Folau a thing or two in Melbourne, Manu Vatuvei is smoking, and Wade McKinnon is back, which reminds me how Lance Hohaia has done such a great job in Macca's absence.
The Sea Eagles will be a major obstacle, but these Warriors believe in themselves and their lexicons do not contain the words tiredness, surrender or failure.
And from an avid league fan across the Tasman ... GOOD LUCK.
Ray Warren is number one league commentator for Australia's Channel 9 television network
