KEY POINTS:
The team standing in the way of the Warriors making just their second grand final appearance happens to be the one hundreds of New Zealanders adopted as their own in the '80s.
Manly might have just one high-profile New Zealander on its books this season in Steve Matai, but its ties to this country are strong, forged through the likes of Mark Broadhurst and Darrell Williams and sealed by Graham Lowe and Matthew Ridge.
Not that sentiment will play any part on Saturday when the Warriors try to dismantle the NRL's most effective winning machine.
It's something they couldn't do in their two meetings this year, and have only managed once in their past five meetings. With the Sea Eagles, pipped on points difference for the minor premiership by the Melbourne Storm, having the weekend off courtesy of their dominating performance against St George last weekend, the odds could only be stacked further against the Warriors if it was announced that the match will be transferred from the Sydney Football Stadium to Brookvale Oval.
But the Warriors have been so impressive in the first two weeks of Mr McIntyre's creation, that few are willing to write them off.
"Can they beat Manly? Yeah. I think they can," defeated Roosters skipper Braith Anasta said. "They have big boys, some quick blokes around the middle of the park. Their game is based on momentum and getting that flow and if they can do that, well, they will be hard to stop whoever they play.
"They're big, strong, skilful and fast. You need two or three guys in there at a time to slow them down. They are really effective."
The Warriors are understandably more coy when discussing how to beat a team that, at times, has looked near unbeatable.
Centre Brent Tate, one of the buys of the season, gave a fair indication of the enormity of the task.
"They're probably the best team in the comp. By far the Premiership favourites and deservedly so," Tate said. "We've got a hell of a week in front of us."
Ivan Cleary, the man charged with the responsibility of coming up with a game plan to clip the Sea Eagles' wings, was predictably non-commital.
"They have beaten us twice. They absolutely hammered us in the first round," he said. "They are a very good side and have been outstanding for a few years now. They have done everything that has been asked of them so far and had a really solid win against St George. It's a huge ask but if we perform to our capabilities we are a chance. Sure, it's a tough game but that's what it's all about."
Tough is not a bad adjective to use - Manly have been involved in some of the toughest matches ever played.
Before the Warriors were even a twinkle in the eye of some far-sighted Mt Albert Lions' administrators, Manly jerseys, sponsors Wormald emblazoned across the front, were a common sight on New Zealand streets. But in truth they were more popular here than they were in the rest of Sydney.
The Silvertails, as they were derisively known, were famous for raiding clubs from less wealthy parts of Sydney in attempts to buy premierships.
Clubs like Western Suburbs, the self-styled 'Fibros' named in reference for the type of cheap housing in the area, took great delight in the clash of cultures and tried to smash them off the park.
But Manly have always combined wealth with backbone and few teams can actually claim to have been consistently successful against them using this approach.
History counts for nothing but the Warriors - who are prone to over-emphasising their physicality - would do well to remember this.
