New respect for Warriors among fans, and former critics in NRL

There is a changing narrative about the Warriors ahead of another trip to Australia, to play the Dragons on Friday night.

Before last year’s resurgence under Andrew Webster in his memorable first campaign in charge, the team were considered no-hopers, a laughing stock to some, because of season after season of mediocrity.

However, the belief surrounding the club has hardly been higher of late and the Warriors are heading into most matches with players, supporters and pundits believing, and expecting, them to win.

Even some of Australia’s harshest league critics, including iconic ex-players such as Paul Gallen and Billy Slater, have tipped the Warriors to win their first NRL title.

That sounds premature only seven weeks into the campaign and the Warriors were found wanting against the grand finalists in last year’s play-offs.

Webster’s Warriors were nonetheless only 80 minutes away from their first grand final since 2011 after finishing fourth in the regular season.

They have made a solid enough start to 2024 to suggest they could match or better last year’s performance, with three victories on the bounce after two close defeats and last week’s thrilling 22-22 draw with Manly, coming back from a 16-0 deficit at another sold-out Mt Smart.

The NRL is tough. No team is unbeaten and four points separate Cronulla and Melbourne, who are first and second, and five sides with six points between ninth and 13th on the ladder.

The Warriors are seventh on seven points and have commanded recognition because of their consistency under Webster.

“We're not flying under the radar, they're coming to get us. The next step is maybe we jag a field goal [against Manly] and win,” Webster said.

“I would love the extra point on the ladder, but I'm also worried we wouldn't get the lessons and the lessons wouldn't be as strong.”

Expectation isn’t a new sensation for the Warriors. Their fan base is excitable, passionate, desperate for success.

The club’s big off-season signing from Brisbane, second rower Kurt Capewell, has said he wouldn’t have moved to New Zealand unless he believed they could win a premiership, as he did with Penrith in 2021.

“We’re not the underdogs anymore and people are coming here [to Auckland] expecting a big game,” Capewell said.

“The more experience you have in those games, the better off you are.”

But the feeling they’re favourites more often than not is perhaps only just starting to dawn on the players. For the record, according to TAB, the Warriors are favourites ($1.48) against the Dragons ($2.55).