Warriors surge towards finals!
August 19th 2008 06:32
After 23 rounds of NRL football, the Warriors sit in 8th position, one point ahead of the inconsistent Panthers. Who would have thought it was possible after 16 rounds, when the Warriors were 5 and 9 and languishing near the bottom of the table. It has been a massive turn around from the boys in black and by jeez it was needed!
After losing key players Wade McKinnon (knee), Steve Price (Hamstring), Manu Vatuvei (leg), Jerome Ropati (various) and Michael Witt (hip flexor) to injury for lengthy periods throughout the season, the Warriors most definitely suffered as a result. However, as these players have fought back from injury and cemented their spots back in first grade, the competitive environment just to make the squad of 17 each week has been enough to resurrect their season.
McKinnon has been solid in his two hit outs since recovering from a season threatening knee injury, replacing Lance Hohaia at the back, who has had his best season since 2003. Hohaia reverts to the bench, playing in the utility role and is in career best form. With these vital players back on deck, and all squad members in mouth watering form, this could be the Warriors best chance to move deep into the finals series since 2003.
They face the red-hot Dragons at Woollongong this Sunday, then they are home to the Panthers before facing the resurgent Eels at Parramatta Stadium in Round 26. While they have a tricky run in, you would expect them to win at least one of their remaining three, and considering the form they are in and the confidence brewing from their beaming faces at present, they are a real shot at winning all three. While their points differential does pose problems should they be tied on points, there doesn't seem to be too many threats from those teams currently sitting outside the eight.
After losing key players Wade McKinnon (knee), Steve Price (Hamstring), Manu Vatuvei (leg), Jerome Ropati (various) and Michael Witt (hip flexor) to injury for lengthy periods throughout the season, the Warriors most definitely suffered as a result. However, as these players have fought back from injury and cemented their spots back in first grade, the competitive environment just to make the squad of 17 each week has been enough to resurrect their season.
McKinnon has been solid in his two hit outs since recovering from a season threatening knee injury, replacing Lance Hohaia at the back, who has had his best season since 2003. Hohaia reverts to the bench, playing in the utility role and is in career best form. With these vital players back on deck, and all squad members in mouth watering form, this could be the Warriors best chance to move deep into the finals series since 2003.
They face the red-hot Dragons at Woollongong this Sunday, then they are home to the Panthers before facing the resurgent Eels at Parramatta Stadium in Round 26. While they have a tricky run in, you would expect them to win at least one of their remaining three, and considering the form they are in and the confidence brewing from their beaming faces at present, they are a real shot at winning all three. While their points differential does pose problems should they be tied on points, there doesn't seem to be too many threats from those teams currently sitting outside the eight.
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