Richie Barnett: Warriors will fancy their chances

Shaun Johnson. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors have been pulling off the big plays recently, with Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke leading the way.

Johnson has been involved in seven of the team's 15 long-range tries this season, so he has really made a difference.

Spectacular tries turn matches, but they also provide much more than points on the board.

League is often a game of statistics, but there are no stats for the positive vibe big plays can create in a team. They are great for the confidence. Forwards love knowing that when they're under pressure defending their line, there are guys in the team who can get them out of trouble in a flash.

Of course it's not always the plays that end in a try 90 metres away that are the most important. Every time Locke fields a kick and makes a half-break it has a huge impact on the set. The real benefits of that half-break come later. It's another area for which there are no real stats: those little plays that get a team on the front foot in a set.

The Warriors have been coming up with plenty of them recently, which is one reason they have been winning even when they haven't been playing that great.

At the beginning of the year the Dragons were untouchable, but that air of invincibility has vanished.

The Warriors have never beaten the Dragons in Wollongong, but they will fancy their chances tomorrow night.

It's a huge game for Krisnan Inu. He needs to put his hand up and show he really wants to be in the team. If he doesn't, plenty of others will.

* League in this country is looking good. Myself, Stacey Jones, Monty Betham and Ruben Wiki spent time at the national secondary school championships this week and the level of talent coming through is amazing.

Those young players now have established pathways to the top. Jim Doyle, Tony Kemp and the NZRL team deserve a pat on the back for the way they are growing the game.

The right people are now in the right places and they are really passionate about improving the game. The vision and direction of the NZRL are in good hands and Kiwi league is growing.

For a measure of how well things are going, just look at the position of fullback. In years to come, the Kiwis can choose between Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Kevin Locke and Glen Fisiiahi. It's bloody exciting.