League: Simon Mannering closing in on NRL's unwanted record

Simon Mannering of the Warriors. Photo / Getty

Several long-serving New Zealand Warriors players are set to take ownership at the top of an unwanted NRL leaderboard.

Long-term Warriors Simon Mannering, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman and Ben Matulino all haven't tasted finals footy since 2011, a streak that is set to continue, bar a 100-1 mathematical miracle. As a result, they will soon hit the front as the active players with the most games played since their last playoff appearance.

The Warriors' six-year drought is tied with the Wests Tigers for the second-longest absence, only behind the Parramatta Eels, who haven't made the top eight since 2009.

However, that will soon change. With just five games to go in the 2017 season, the Eels currently sit sixth on the NRL ladder with 28 points, and have been installed by the TAB at a near-certain $1.02 to make the playoffs.

A playoff appearance will be sweet relief for Eels stalwart Tim Mannah, who currently leads the way with the most consecutive games played without a playoff appearance. Mannah made the playoffs in his debut season, but has since played a record 170 games without returning to the finals - a streak which will soon end.

Former Eel Joseph Paulo, who has played 147 NRL games without a playoff game, is also set to break his playoff duck with the third-placed Cronulla Sharks, leaving five long-term Warriors at the top of the heap.

The unluckiest Warrior is the ever-present Mannering, who has been a consistent performer in a slew of under-performing Warriors squads. Mannering has played 129 games since his last playoff game, and is followed by fellow regulars Shaun Johnson (126 games), Jacob Lillyman (123 games) and Ben Matulino (122 games). Bodene Thompson (123 games) also hasn't been to the playoffs since 2010, having failed to make the eight with the Warriors (2015-2017), Tigers (2013-2014) and the Titans (2011-2012).

Other long streaks which are set to continue until 2018 include Tigers forwards Elijah Taylor (118 games) and Aaron Woods (117 games), while Nate Myles (120 games) and Brad Takairangi (118) are both in line to break their lengthy droughts with the Melbourne Storm and Eels respectively.

As a result, it looks set that the Warriors' players will hold the longest playoff droughts in the NRL, and that barren stretch may continue next season, according to former Kiwis and Warriors coach Brian McClennan.

"They've obviously got a plan in their mind of how they want it to be and they're heading towards that, [but] I think it's going to be another hard year next year really, the way things are going. I think they'll improve, but will it be enough? I'm not sure," McClennan told Radio Sport.

"I don't see it getting dramatically better, I think it takes time. There are little progresses there, but if I'm putting money down next year on whether they'll make the eight, I would say no. I think this re-build is going to take a little bit of time."

That time may be something the veteran Warriors don't have on their side, as they face another year at home during the finals series.

Most consecutive games since last playoff appearance (* = likely to end)

1. Tim Mannah - 170 games*
2. Joseph Paulo - 147*
3. Simon Mannering - 129
4. Shaun Johnson - 126
5. Bodene Thompson - 123
6. Jacob Lillyman - 123
7. Ben Matulino - 122
8. Nate Myles - 120*
9. Elijah Taylor - 118
10. Brad Takairangi - 118*
11. Aaron Woods - 117
12. Chris Lawrence - 108
13. Chase Stanley - 106
14. William Zillman - 106
15. Martin Taupau - 102*