Hugh McGahan: Three is the magic number

Ten years on and the Warriors are pretty much where they started in 2005 - on the cusp of being in the playoffs, albeit it was then the top five, now the top eight.

I have mentioned publicly that, on their current position and form, they will not make the semifinals. But let me qualify this statement.

Mathematically they can still make it. But if the Warriors continue to perform as they are currently, the team will miss the playoffs. They are scheduled to play eight teams who are above them in the remaining 10 games. The Warriors must win all their home games, which is a tough ask but, in these home games, there is (dare I say it) only one guaranteed win and that is the Knights.

I feel they have a very good chance against the Raiders. Other home games commence today against the Broncos, then Bulldogs and Eels, which are less likely to yield wins, given the form of all three teams. If all the home games fall their way the Warriors' away games will require just one win. I feel their best chance is against the Roosters, who are in a similar position and still struggling in their halves combination, and Penrith.

The Cowboys, Storm and Manly will be tough encounters but the Warriors will still need for games to fall their way so it remains open for them. Their destiny lies in their hands, as it always has, and if there are a couple of more losses, don't bring out the "if only" cheer squad, as no team is granted a wild card into the semis for nearly winning games.

This team has shown its ability to win games and win them well on a given day and I have never disputed this fact. They need to bury some statistics to fulfil their goal of September football and one of them is to hit three wins in a row at some stage soon.

This will inject confidence, as they have shown recently, because the team has not been playing that badly and, unfortunately, we tend to highlight and focus on the poor parts of the game.

The opening minutes of last week's Parramatta fixture were the best I have witnessed in the last three seasons and, for me, the turning point was the loss of Louis Anderson, which I feel contributed to the two late first-half tries by Parramatta.

The team is struggling without Steve Price on the field and Ruben Wiki will need to bring his off-field presence to the workplace and deliver his experience to those who cannot work out what to do and when to do it.

Stacey Jones is recovering his form and tried his hardest to construct a win last week.

Nathan Fien is vital to the team's chances and his worth is evident. But, Nathan, you do not need to show us how tough you are in every tackle. The frustration is showing in your play but the team needs you on the field and the referees will be watching (and hearing) you closely.

The hype of today's game might be a little overstated and unnecessary, although I understand the milestone.

But apart from an extra marketing angle to attract an audience, is it necessary to add extra pressure on the team at this point? Will it bring what is needed more than anything else: A win?