Warriors

The Warriors still can't beat the Dragons or win at Eden Park, losing their fourth in four years, but more disconcertingly have opened their season with two straight defeats.

Curse, hoodoo, call it what you like, but the Warriors are adamant there's a simple answer to ending their barren NRL run at Eden Park - put out their A game.

The Warriors have some lofty goals, like all teams in the NRL, and one of them is to be the best defensive team in the competition.

Captain Simon Mannering was named Warriors Player of the Year for a record third time at the annual awards dinner tonight.

The season is over for the Warriors after an awful 19-10 loss to the Dragons today.

The Warriors will have to achieve something never done in their history - and may need to rely on other results going their way - but coach Matt Elliott remains bullish his team can make the play-offs.

Warriors playmaker Thomas Leuluai sees Canberra's off-field turmoil as providing an added hurdle for his own team in a high stakes NRL clash in Auckland.

The top eight dream is alive. It was a stuttering, somewhat nervous performance from the Warriors, who didn't take the lead until just before the hour, but they showed grit and flair in equal measures to bring their season back from the brink with a 24-22 win over the Titans tonight.

The Warriors would have climbed into the top eight for the first time this season with a win over Manly today but the prospect of it seemed to make them suffer from altitude sickness.

The Warriors' points-against average has improved markedly since they began resuscitating their NRL campaign in late May.

The Warriors have rescued their NRL season in remarkable fashion over the past two and bit months, but lock Elijah Taylor says they know all the good work could be undone in a flash.

As much as everyone else was talking about top eight, Warriors coach Matt Elliott wouldn't allow himself to contemplate it until he saw what happened in this game.

Many pinpoint the Warriors' turnaround this season to the honesty session they had as a club immediately after returning to Auckland following the heavy defeat to Penrith.

What was four has now become five as the Warriors beat the Broncos 18-16 to continue a winning streak the rest of the league will now be taking considerable notice of.

Glen Fisiiahi may have seen off the challenge of Kevin Locke to retain his fullback place, but both the player and his coach believe the number on his back is now inconsequential.

Warriors coach Matthew Elliott hailed his side's 23-12 victory over the Sydney Roosters as one of the most courageous in his time in rugby league.

Warriors fullback Kevin Locke remains in doubt to face the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

The NRL is halfway through the season. Michael Brown of APNZ plays school teacher and evaluates the Warriors' season to date.

Sam Tomkins' decision on whether to join the Warriors next season has a huge bearing on the remainder of the club's recruitment strategy, including whether hooker Nathan Friend has a future at Mt Smart Stadium.