KEY POINTS:
Of all the beards on show at the Warriors, Ian Henderson's probably fits him the most.
It's not to say it suits him. It's just that it matches his personality and the way he plays.
His whiskers are dishevelled, somewhat craggy and full.
"I usually play with the
socks down. I'm a bit of a grafter, a bit unorthodox, so the beard might suit the playing personality."
The 25-year-old, English-born, Australian-raised Scotsman (he's playing for Scotland at the World Cup) is one of the finds of the season for the Warriors.
Each week he is impressive. His darts out of dummy half have netted six tries and almost 1800m in ground gained, then there is his work rate on defence.
Against the Storm seven weeks ago, he got through 56 tackles, the fourth highest of anyone in any game during the season and equalled Micheal Luck in the same game.
He also has this innate ability to get under the skin of the opposition.
"I don't go out there to get under someone's skin," he said ahead of today's qualifying final against the Storm in Melbourne. "I play competitively, same as Wade [McKinnon]. He gets under people's skin with the way he competes. I just do the same.
"I'm usually niggling someone. Some of the opposition might not like the way I play. I'm a bit of a grub. I just play the game the best I can. I don't deliberately try to put people off.
"I guess it's pretty funny sometimes. Some players react to that and play better while others are put off their game. If people get upset about it, fine."
His opposite today, Cameron Smith, isn't likely to fall for any funny business. The Australia and Storm captain is the undisputed master of the No 9s and has 142 NRL games under his belt.
"I think he's a great player," Henderson enthuses. "He kills it most games. Danny Buderus is up there with him but there's no one better than those two. No way."
Henderson is two months older than Smith but has played only 31 NRL matches over four years.
Limited opportunities led to him spending two seasons with Bradford in the UK, where he won a Super League title, but his return to the NRL has been a success.
He played all but the opening game this season and his transition to starting hooker and Nathan Fien's to the halves has worked. Going into today's game, the Warriors are on a run of eight wins in 10 games.
Henderson can't wait to get rid of the beard once the Warriors' season is over. For that reason, he doesn't want to get rid of it too quickly.
