KEY POINTS:
The Warriors' win in Melbourne is possibly the best game they have ever played and it came at a time when they needed it most.
Although it hasn't taken them to the grand final, as the playoff win over Cronulla did in 2002, it has shown that they can shine when faced with the toughest ask in league's toughest competition - playing the Storm in Melbourne.
Melbourne at home was the game every other team wanted to avoid and all the pundits, bookies and media commentators gave the Warriors no chance at all.
As it turned out they played a superb team game and equalled the best defensive outfit in the competition, while out-doing them on attack.
The Warriors now have one critical element in their favour as the finals series continues - momentum. The team's confidence will have soared after last Sunday's victory. They will go into the game tonight as favourites, a tag that hasn't always hung well with them.
Historically, the Warriors haven't always fared well when starting as expected winners but I feel this time the favourites label is well warranted.
With Willie Mason and their usual hooker Riley Brown watching this game on television, the Roosters are not the attacking force they were mid-season when they strung a series of wins together. I don't feel they will be able to match it with the home side.
If the Warriors do win, the remaining teams in the competition will be looking over their shoulders at the Auckland u outfit, who will then have turned over the sides that finished first and fourth in the regular season.
It is satisfying to be talking about the Warriors in such glowing terms, especially since it was just three months ago that they were running third-from-last and were written off.
With the end of the State of Origin series and the return to form of Brent Tate, Steve Price and Manu Vatuvei, their season has taken a brilliant turn for nine wins in their past 11 games. There are just three games to go to take the ultimate prize and, since they've beaten the top side, the one everyone thought would be first, with daylight back to second, we just have to hang on for the ride and see if they can repeat that effort.
* Wayne Bennett, as the elder statesman of the NRL coaching ranks, a former policeman and by all accounts a strict disciplinarian, must be gutted by the antics of players Karmichael Hunt, Sam Thaiday and Darius Boyd, who face sexual assault allegations after an all-day drinking session.
Skipper Darren Lockyer's name was yesterday the latest added to the list of alleged drunken shame.
While nothing is yet proved, Bennett will be disappointed that this binge took place during the middle of the finals series and not once the season was over. It shows no respect for the club, the fans and sponsors and the game's most successful coach.
Until this incident, I believed the Broncos were going to be almost unbeatable at Suncorp Stadium. The stupidity of these players has given the Storm a chance.
