By PETER JESSUP in SYDNEY
With a winning percentage in the high 50s, Warriors coach Daniel Anderson is, like his team, in the top-four in the NRL.
Not a bad return for a bloke who started at the club two years ago with fewer than half a dozen players.
And all with only two big buy-ins, Kevin Campion and P. J. Marsh.
But now the acid goes on Anderson and his team to find how tough they are, mentally and physically.
Tomorrow's game against the Northern Eagles is Anderson's 50th with the Warriors. So far he has 28 wins, 19 losses and two draws.
The 57.7 per cent record leaves him behind Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett, the doyen of league coaches, who has 66 per cent. Newcastle's Michael Hagan is on 65 per cent and the Sharks' Australian coach Chris Anderson on 60 per cent.
The Warriors' Anderson, no relation, is about equal with the Bulldogs' Steve Folkes and ahead of his old teacher, Brian Smith, of Parramatta (54 per cent).
Anything better than 51 per cent is a major achievement in what is always a tight contest.
But can Anderson lift a side hammered eight tries to none by the Roosters last weekend?
And what requires more work - the attack that faltered for a first-ever zero score under his command, or the defence that let in the most touchdowns since he took the reins?
Anderson lightened up on training this week, with a feeling that 23 weeks of consecutive football had jaded some players. They worked instead on sharpening the basics.
He has no doubt they will step up tomorrow.
Former Manly second-rower Awen Guttenbeil confirmed that.
"We know we can do better than that and we'll be looking to set a good foundation for the semis."
Losing was a bad feeling, one they had not been used to this year. It prompted another chorus of "They can't do it" from Australia.
But Guttenbeil doesn't buy that.
"We want to give ourselves the best shot possible and that means finishing high on the table."
So tomorrow should be a measure of resolve and ability.
The Eagles have been menacing on defence, hanging in during games where others have the better attack.
John Hopoate is the man to watch late in the game because he comes off his wing to take on tired forwards, generally demanding two or more tacklers and gaining ground.
That is likely to be the pattern at Brookie tomorrow. But the Warriors have the far superior halves and they are likely to have the run of the game.
If Stacey Jones and Marsh can establish kicking dominance on the back of good forward work, the Warriors should play the game at the right end of the field. Then it's a matter of pressure, patience and taking opportunities.
It is prop Mark Tookey's 100th NRL game since his debut for the South Queensland Crushers in 1996.
The Eagles have five regulars out through injury - hooker Jamie Goddard, prop Nathan Long, half Luke Dorn, three-quarter Albert Torrens and fullback Brendon Reeves.
* The Warriors have signed 21-year-old utility back Brent Webb to the end of the 2005 season.
New Zealand Warriors: Ivan Cleary, Justin Murphy, John Carlaw, Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones (capt), Jerry Seuseu, P. J. Marsh, Mark Tookey, Logan Swann, Awen Guttenbeil, Kevin Campion; interchange, Brent Webb, Justin Morgan, Wairangi Koopu, Vince Anderson.
Northern Eagles: Robert Miles, Mitch Creary, Lenny Beckett, Ben MacDougall, Tasesa Lavea, Luke Williamson, Jason King, Chad Randall, Danny Lima, Mark Shipway, Nik Kosef, Steve Menzies (capt); interchange, Mal Kaufusi, Aaron Cannings, Wade Forrester, Shayne Dunley.
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