NRL: Warriors still have work to do

Brett Seymour of the Warriors (L) passes the ball to Russell Packer. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors have arguably the easiest run of any team into the NRL finals.

Compared to other top-ten teams who have a realistic chance of making the eight, Warriors' fans will be relatively pleased. In the last six games of this year's competition, they have only to face two teams in the top eight.

Five of their opponents -in order: the Titans, Sharks, Knights, Broncos and Eels - are below them on the table. Only the Sea Eagles in round 24 are above the Warriors, courtesy of points differential.

However, this is still no easy assignment and the Warriors are still vulnerable. With a defensive mindset, they have rarely been able to stack any decent points on their opposition and have eked out a number of narrow wins as a consequence. Only wins over Brisbane (48-16, round 2) and a State of Origin depleted Parramatta (35-6, round 17) have been comprehensive. They've taken their share of poundings too, notably from Penrith (40-12, round 6), Melbourne (40-6, round 7) and Wests (50-6, round 12), although they have steadied the ship significantly since then.

The balance of those results means their points differential (-21) risks betraying them. A loss of five points or more to the Titans, combined with wins for Brisbane, South Sydney and Parramatta this week and the Warriors could slip as low as 10th with 24 points.

Compounding that are the records for teams 7-10 in the last three weeks. Parramatta (10th) are the big movers with three straight wins, a record that is starting to resemble their 11 wins from 12 matches that took them to last year's grand final. The Broncos (9th) have righted their season from early woe, while the Rabbitohs (8th) looked sharp against the Warriors in the previous round (although they lost to the Bulldogs on Friday night).

Unlike some of the more anxious fans, Warriors coach Ivan Cleary claims to ignore the table: "I looked at the draw at the start of the season and couldn't see any easy games - I still can't see them now. We still have to play teams on the cusp who are getting absolutely desperate. Look at Souths last week. Things can change and you can make a run like the Eels last year. The table can change dramatically."

Former Kiwis captain Hugh McGahan is surprised the Warriors have gone as well as they have.

"However, I still don't see the Warriors as top-four contenders, given the Rabbitohs, Broncos and Titans are behind them. I know people don't like to hear that - but the team can't attack as well as they'dlike to.

"They've definitely found the way to stand strong together on defence, though. I hope an injury-free James Maloney and Brett Seymour get more of an opportunity to create something in these later rounds because they are a great combination.