What a terrific performance by the mighty Vodofone Warriors last night as the sliced and diced the once-mighty Brisbane Broncos. The 36-4 victory was one of the best Warriors performances of the season, at least since they demolished the same side in Brisbane in March.
This was not supposed to be the Year of the Warrior. A number of so-called experts from the other side of the ditch will have egg on their faces after pre-season predictions as the Herald reminds us:
They were supposed to finish stone cold motherless last, but the Warriors last night stormed into the NRL finals with a clinical demolition of the Brisbane Broncos.
The home win at Mt Smart lifted the Warriors above the Roosters and Manly into fifth place and put a huge dent in the Broncos' hopes of extending their 18-season unbroken stretch as a finals team.
They now have to regroup before a must-win clash against Canberra next weekend.
But the Warriors will be eyeing their final-round trip to Parramatta with some enthusiasm.
A win in that contest probably won't be enough to push them into the top four, but it would give them some serious momentum for the finals.
On last night's evidence, not many teams will be queuing up for a week-one finals match against the Warriors side that pundit Phil Gould tipped to come "last, last, last".
Indeed; from wooden-spooners to genuine contenders, the Warriors have overcome all sorts of obstacles this season. Steve Price's last year in the NRL came to nowt, Wade McKinnon left the club mid-season, and an horrific injury toll has kept Doc Mayhew working overtime. But there have been some great positives too; Louis Brown has been a revelation, Manu "The Beast" Vatuvei has been a try-scoring machine, the halves combination of Brett Seymour and James Maloney has been very handy when both have been fit, and Lance Hohaia, the last survivor of the 2002 Grand Final team continues to defy Father Time. Hohaia's second try last night was a brilliant individual effort.
And we agree with Steve Deane; no-one would want to face the Warriors in a must-win first-up finals match, especially if Michael Luck's leg heals in time. A win over the Eels, whose finals chances ended last night would be a great tonic heading into the business end of the season.
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