KEY POINTS:
There is great support for the Warriors in Sydney, even around the streets of Manly.
No other NRL club is as disliked by the fans of other teams, mainly because of the Eagles' 1970s and 1980s strategy of buying up anyone who was any good at any other club, which often gave rise to questions about the salary cap.
Undoubtedly their best side was the 1978 title-winners, built around Northern Beaches talent in hooker Max Krilich, who was Kangaroos captain, five-eighths Alan Thompson and others such as fullback Graeme Eadie and prop Terry Randall.
Manly held a reunion for their former top-graders last night but across the street in Brookvale there was a flat full of Kiwis who had adorned their balcony with Warriors gear and silver fern flags.
As they wandered through Auckland Airport on their way out, the Warriors players were accosted by members of the New South Wales Country rugby team in transit to Fiji, seeking advice and autographs, particularly from big wing Manu Vatuvei.
At the Warriors' end-of-season awards this month, coach Ivan Cleary said one of his joys in the job was having the Air New Zealand flight attendant on their previous flight approach him and say he had never flown with such a well-behaved sports team during his 40 years in the job.
It was the same on Thursday, the pilot thanking the Warriors and wishing them luck in his landing speech, and the passengers, many of who had secured photos and autographs, clapping and cheering.
When they got inside the terminal, team manager Don Mann was greeted by their Aussie organiser. "Let me say first of all that I'm right behind you," he said as he shook Mann's hand, "Good luck for the game."
Captain Steve Price and halfback Nathan Fien went on The Footy Show on Thursday night, the panel all wearing fake beards in honour of the Warriors' beard-growing efforts.
They were preceded by a Maori concert party that MC Paul "Fatty" Vautin introduced as "from Bondi" - a joke but also a new mark of respect. The Warriors haven't been wanted on the Channel Nine show since the last time they were at this stage in the play-offs five years ago.
There were plenty of Warriors jerseys and hats around the streets on the northern beaches yesterday. A multitude of cars, buses and the local Manly-Warringah cabs, which have the sea eagle as their symbol, are adorned in stickers and flags and water-based wipe-off slogans.
At Brookvale Minicrete concrete yard all the trucks flew Manly gear as company policy, bar one, driven by former New Plymouth boy Gary Forema, who has lived here for 30 years. "I told them no friggin' way unless they give me a Warriors one too."
The team will be without their number one fan, though.
Mad Butcher Peter Leitch, clearly having trouble picking form, booked a long-overdue holiday at the urging of his wife. He has been in Croatia throughout the Warriors' run, relying on texts to keep him up to date.
Sydney Football Stadium, 9.45 tonight
MANLY
Brett Stewart
Michael Robertson
Steve Bell
Steve Matai
David Williams
Jamie Lyon
Matt Orford (c)
Brent Kite
Matt Ballin
Josh Perry
A. Watmough
Glenn Hall
Glenn Stewart
WARRIORS
Wade McKinnon
Aidan Kirk
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Michael Witt
Nathan Fien
Ruben Wiki
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Ben Matulino
Micheal Luck
Manly: Heath L'Estrange, Mark Bryant, Jason King, Steve Menzies, Adam Cuthbertson (one to be omitted)
Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Grant Rovelli, Logan Swann, Evarn Tuimavave (two to be omitted)
Referee: Shayne Hayne
MANLY v WARRIORS
Head-to-head
Sea Eagles 9, Warriors 6
In 2008:
Sea Eagles 2, Warriors 0
Last match
Manly 20-14, Mt Smart, (Round 15, 2008)
Preview
Manly put their rested troops up against a Warriors side riding a crest of momentum and emotion. The Sea Eagles looked good in disposing of the Dragons a fortnight ago, but would never have imagined their next meeting would be against the Warriors in a preliminary final. Doubts surround the fitness of centre Steve Bell, who continues to be hampered by a calf strain. The Warriors have turned from inconsistent battlers into the surprise packet of the season.
Key
The return of fullback Wade McKinnon gives the Warriors more zing in attack.
