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Warriors sense glory

Warriors sense glory

09/07/2010 10:51:02 PM

It is their best season since 2003 and while no one across the ditch gives the quietly confident Warriors a chance of premiership glory, victory over Gold Coast on Friday would turn all predictions upside-down.

Coach Ivan Cleary attempted to portray his side as a longshot this week, more than happy to fly under the radar. Few noticed his overachieving men notch four victories in their last five matches, which saw them rise to fifth on the ladder.

"We'll probably go in as strong underdogs, but that's fair enough. They're at home, they've been good up there and they've been good over the last six weeks so all the pressure's on them," Cleary said.

"We know we can do it. We just have to do it on the big stage. We'll try sneak in to town and make them beat us."

Defence wins crunch matches and the Warriors have built their season of self-belief on the back of staunch goal-line resistance.

But their momentum-snatching surge to the finals instigated a flourish of 12 tries in the last two wins, through exerting patient pressure.

Central to the Warriors' attacking berth is an underrated halves pairing. Half-back Brett Seymour and five-eight James Maloney are delivering a potent platform after being separated through injury for most of the season.

In his first year of first grade, Maloney has been a revelation. Expected to play second fiddle to Seymour – he has done anything but.

There is no dominant partner among the duo. Maloney peels off 40/20s, slots the points and assumes long kicking duties, which leaves the experienced Seymour free to shape the ship close to the line.

The former Shark and Bronco has formed a lethal partnership with Manu 'The Beast' Vatuvei, who needs one try to claim the club's all-time try-scoring record outright from Stacey Jones.

Seymour is thrilled to be back in the big time with last year's atrocities now well and truly behind him.

"It's like your first day of school, playing finals football is such a buzz," Seymour said. "It'll be a packed stadium but we've got some very parochial fans over in Aussie so I'm sure they'll be out in force."

This is sudden death time. A win and the Warriors' odds will plummet, as it would secure a home final in Auckland the following week.

Maloney took no comfort from a strong chance they would get a second life if two sides bellow them lose this weekend.

"The home final's obviously and incentive but you've got to win to stay in," he said. "I don't think if we lost we'd be that safe."

The Titans beat the Warriors twice this season, but the home side has scars of dropping both finals matches last year to crash out without firing a shot.

Their influential skipper Scott Prince is carrying an AC shoulder injury and will be targeted by the Warriors' big men, while dangerous full-back Preston Campbell returns after a three-week hamstring injury.

This is anyone's game.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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