League: Journey a long one for Cleary

Ivan Cleary

Three good wins in a row suggest the New Zealand Warriors are building some momentum, but the National Rugby League playoffs have yet to hit coach Ivan Cleary's radar.

For Cleary, the finals are too far away to contemplate for the Warriors, who remain back in 12th place, and the hurdles ahead are still "incredible".

"If we keep winning and get close, obviously we will have a look at it," he said.

"But at this stage, we can't take our eye off the ball. We have to concentrate on what we are doing and hopefully keep performing the way we have been over the last month."

The Warriors' immediate programme is a favourable one, with their next four matches against opponents outside the top eight, starting with Penrith in Auckland tomorrow night.

The Panthers will be without their skipper, Kiwi forward Tony Puletua, who has a rib injury.

They will also be missing two other frontline players who are on State of Origin duty -- chief playmaker Craig Gower and elusive fullback Rhys Wesser.

Gower will be New South Wales' halfback in the Origin decider in Melbourne next Wednesday, while Wesser has been slotted in on the wing for Queensland.

The Warriors have beaten Origin-depleted sides on the two previous occasions this season -- premiers Wests Tigers and the Sydney Roosters.

But Cleary was wary of suggestions that the absence of Puletua, Gower and Wesser would swing the odds significantly against the Sydney side.

Fringe players almost always lifted when called in to fill the breach, he said.

"While it might be an advantage for us that they're missing some key people, often the unheralded players step up and do a little more," he said.

"It might help the commitment of teams. I'm sure Penrith will be pretty tough on Saturday night.'

The Warriors also have an Origin absentee in skipper and Queensland prop Steve Price.

His unavailability has resulted in the only change to the 17 that humbled South Sydney 66-0 last weekend.

As happened before Origin 1 and 2, 19-year-old Sam Rapira comes on to the bench, while Evarn Tuimavave takes Price's place in the starting 13.

The Warriors' recent run of results has given them the second-best points difference in the competition, behind only leaders Melbourne.

If they do grab a fourth successive win, they will achieve a feat they have not managed since their grand final year of 2003.

After the size of their victory over Souths, they knew that clocking off mentally in their preparations against Penrith could be a danger.

But Cleary said he hadn't found it too difficult to keep his players' feet on the ground this week.

"The boys have been pretty good actually," he said.

"You always have to look for signs to ward off complacency, but I haven't seen any. There's been a lot of self-analysis in the team and that always good."

Penrith have had an up-and-down season, but head to Ericsson Stadium with a win over the Tigers under their belt after coming off a bye.

At 11th on the ladder, they sit one place above the Warriors. Four competition points -- the number the Warriors had deducted for salary cap breaches -- separate the clubs.

- NZPA