KEY POINTS:
They say a week is a long time in sport.
But it doesn't have to be.
In the sensational Warriors' case, they had just five days to prepare for last night's 30-13 win over the Roosters following their historic win over Melbourne.
After a tentative possession-starved first half, they managed to exceed their Melbourne heroics. Magnificent.
They smashed the Roosters, who are notorious second-half faders.
It was one of the great performances in the club's turbulent 14-year history. Ivan Cleary's side have proved this season that they are no longer there to make up the top-eight numbers.
This unit is a title-challenging club who will make the thrill of NRL finals football _ and it provides some of the best action you will find in any sport _ a permanent part of Auckland and New Zealand's sporting calendar.
Fantastic.
The question now is whether they can continue this great run against a fine Manly outfit in the preliminary final in Sydney. The Warriors are pushing the odds, and their petrol supply, next weekend going for an 11th win in 13 games.
Manly are not only superbly drilled, but they play a fast game that has completely bamboozled the Warriors at times.
But the Warriors have turned the finals series into a venture into the great unknown.
The five teams left this morning have undergone personality transplants as well.
Manly were once the Flash Harrys who tried to buy premierships yet they are now epitomised by their faithful utility Steve Menzies, one of the most loyal club players in Aussie league history.
Cronulla were perpetual bridesmaids under gentleman coach John Lang, but are muscular tyrants under the snarling stewardship of Ricky Stuart.
Brisbane were once the cleanest operation in the game, but go into these finals with a player-behaviour scandal over them and claims they drink from the well of success to excess.
And while Melbourne should be celebrated as the bold and highly successful adventurers in new NRL territory, they face constant and reputable accusations of indulging in new dark arts.
And then there are the Warriors.
No longer are they the flaky hopefuls.
Last night, they turned into ruthless favourites against Brad Fittler's Roosters.
Manly, though, will be a massive hurdle and the Warriors will be without the magnificent crowd that drove them on in the second half last night. But the last two weeks have shown they are capable of anything.
Wade McKinnon will be back but Cleary must seriously wonder if he should keep the talismanic Lance Hohaia.
