The game plan at the Warriors this week is to proceed as usual for round three against the visiting Brisbane Broncos but outside Mt Smart Auckland is climbing to a finals-type fever pitch.
The stadium will likely be a sell-out on Saturday with 17,500 of 23,000 tickets gone by last
night and the Auckland Regional Council frantically trying to expand capacity by placing another 1500 temporary seats at the northern end of the venue.
"It's one hell of a long season. We try and act the same whether we are winning or losing," said chief executive Wayne Scurrah.
They accepted the expectation they had generated with good early season wins and victory over 2008 champions Manly last weekend but could not get carried away, Scurrah said. "Everyone has their heads screwed on."
Wing Manu Vatuvei's knee is still too swollen to return a definitive scan and will be looked at later this week.
Of more concern is the ongoing neck problem suffered by prop Evarn Tuimavave. He too is awaiting further scans and a full diagnosis of the disc injury he suffered in pre-season. If surgery is required he is likely to be gone for the season.
The release of five-eighth Michael Witt frees up salary cap money to fill holes and the club is keeping its options open but is yet to make any firm offers.
"Some players are still looking after being released last year, some want to move on so yes, there are options if we need to look at them," Scurrah said.
They have agreed with Hull not to play Epalahame Lauaki, who has also been released, while he awaits an English work permit.
While the pressure on their depth right now is in the forwards with Tuimavave, Ben Matulino and Leeson Ah Mau injured, focus remains on the halves and how they function in the first quarter of the 26-round season.
Stacey Jones and Nathan Fien are both off contract at the end of the year as is Liam Foran, 20, who has been out with an elbow problem, and under-20s player Isaac John.
Jones, 32, and skipper Steve Price, 34, are in a category of their own.
"We have an open mind on both those guys - we'll revisit it with them mid-year, see how their bodies are standing up and how the desire is," Scurrah said.
Also off-contract are Kiwis centre Jerome Ropati and utility Lance Hohaia, both mid-20s and certain to be targets for extension. Hooker Ian Henderson will also attract an offer.
Wings Malo Solomona, Aidan Kirk and Paddy Ah Van are the others yet to renegotiate.
Scurrah said Fien, who has a three-year deal on the table from Huddersfield but wants to stay in Auckland, had been told the club wanted to wait until May to determine whether he would be made an offer.
"We want to see the halves in action, most of them are off-contract at the end of this year and with Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli moving on we have a chance to revise - we want to see what happens."
Already signed longer-term are Wade McKinnon, Brent Tate, Simon Mannering, Denan Kemp, Jacob Lillyman, Ben Matulino, Joel Moon, Russell Packer, Tuimavave and Vatuvei plus a host of up-and-comers in the under 20s. "We have a solid core going ahead," Scurrah said.
The club was finding it easier to attract attention from off-contract players given the recent success.
Steve Price. Photo / Getty Images
The game plan at the Warriors this week is to proceed as usual for round three against the visiting Brisbane Broncos but outside Mt Smart Auckland is climbing to a finals-type fever pitch.
The stadium will likely be a sell-out on Saturday with 17,500 of 23,000 tickets gone by last
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