KEY POINTS:
The Warriors are buoyant and confident of sustaining their finals run against the Manly Sea Eagles in Sydney on Saturday.
No doubt was expressed at training yesterday about their ability or their chances. They respect Manly but there is no fear just because they were beaten 52-6 over
there and 20-14 here during the season.
"I certainly don't feel any sense of dying in our run," said coach Ivan Cleary.
"We've kept on improving in every game over recent weeks and if we keep on doing that we're a good chance."
Captain Steve Price, coming up to his 299th NRL game, said the team had worked out what was working for them and they were doing it. "There's a lot more cohesion in the side now."
Former Sea Eagles player Michael Witt said Manly had had the wood on the Warriors this year but "you don't want to put too much on that. Everyone is fighting fit, everyone is excited and confident".
The return of their number one strike attacker Wade McKinnon at fullback after a three-week suspension is a huge plus for the side. Not only does he strengthen the cover defence, his return also allows Lance Hohaia to be injected from the bench for maximum impact around the ruck, where he has made a meal of tired opposition forwards in recent weeks.
"I'm a bit disappointed but half expected it but I'm happy to come off the bench." He expects to do more tackling in the middle than at fullback and is ready to be aggressive in that regard. And he's enjoying running in traffic.
"The dummy-half [play] definitely has been working for us and it's something we'll try and use again, it takes a load off our big guys."
Retirements and club transfers loom as motivation at this time of the year. Warriors Ruben Wiki and Logan Swann finish their NRL careers the day the team loses, or October 5, grand final day, with a title ring. At Manly it is veteran Origin and test star Steve Menzies, Origin centre Steve Bell, prop Matt Bryant and lock Luke Williamson moving on.
Menzies comes within one game of Terry Lamb's all-time appearance record of 249 and needs to play the grand final to equal that - a loss to the Warriors will end his chances as he moves to Bradford at the season's end.
Price said motivation had to be found in the game, the opportunity and what it meant, not in sentimentality.
"The Wiki factor is in the back of our minds but it's not the only factor. Rubes means a lot to us but if it takes that [to get motivated] I'd be a bit disappointed." They had to be professional all the time.
Steve Bell has struggled with a calf tear suffered in Manly's last game against the Dragons, prop Josh Perry suffered a knee strain but both are expected to be given every chance to play.
Eagles captain Matt Orford said focus was strictly on Saturday night. "I think we're much better prepared to handle all of the hype that comes with playing at this time of the year but there's no point in even thinking about playing in another grand final at this stage. We've got to get past the Warriors first."
Sea Eagles
Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (captain), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart.
Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Mark Bryant, Jason King, Steve Menzies, Adam Cuthbertson (one to be omitted)
Warriors
Wade McKinnon, Aidan Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (captain), Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck.
Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Grant Rovelli, Logan Swann, Evarn Tuimavave (two to be omitted)
Referee: Shayne Hayne