KEY POINTS:
There wasn't a lot of rugby league warfare to contemplate but you were still inclined to scream "Ban the Bomb" at Mt Smart Stadium last night.
Rugby league devotees are inclined, at times, to mock rugby as the game of kick and clap but their own code can
descend towards foot-ball at times.
The air force ruled while the ground troops plodded along as the Warriors' remote title hopes crashed badly with a 10-12 defeat against Parramatta.
The match was not exactly a glowing advert for the complicated McIntyre finals system. Somehow, both teams were too desperate when the football instincts should have been allowed to flow. And they were not desperate enough when they needed to throw caution to the wind.
Enter the crossfield bomb, the surrender attacking move teams use when they haven't got anything else up the sleeve.
There were plenty of these bombs, and they often met with a scrambled end.
Guess how the Warriors scored their first try? Yes, the crossfield bomb? Guess, how the Eels replied to take the lead? Yep, the crossfield bomb.
If bombs aren't your go, how about the grubber kick. That brought the second Eels try.
For a wild variation, how about the short crossfield kick that led to the Warriors' penalty try. And what did the Warriors try when they were two points in arrears with a minute left to play - yes the good old midfield bomb.
Whatever happened to the magical long-range Warriors strike force that tore its way into finals contention?
Whatever happened to the brilliant Eels, who smashed the depleted and despondent Broncos in the final round?
Finals football can bring out the best in players and it can bring out the worst. Last night's match was as poor a finals game as I can remember. No drama, little tension, too many moves that broke down and too much reliance on kicks.
Mingled in between you could find a few interesting stories. Warriors coach Ivan Cleary swapped his hooker pre-match, bringing on dancing George Gatis, with Nathan Fien moving to the bench.
It was an indication of sorts that Cleary was looking for some spark after the Warriors often trundled towards the end of the regular season.
Gatis is an occasional star for the Warriors but with his 30th birthday approaching, the Warriors have decided to release him at the end of this season, even though he wanted more than a one-year deal.
He appears to be more effective bursting into games and Cleary's move did not bring results last night.
