League: Warriors face task of winning every game

The equation facing the Warriors is simple.

Get beaten in the National Rugby League over the next six weeks and they can say goodbye to their slim, if not purely mathematical, playoff hopes.

"We know the equation at hand," back-up hooker George Gatis says.

"We just have to win every game as they come."

After last weekend's bye, the Warriors start their run-in with a trip to Penrith tonight.

They are back in 13th spot on 16 points, 12 short of the 28 generally regarded as being the likely cut for the finals.

They will also come up against a Penrith side with plenty to play for.

The Panthers have much firmer playoff prospects, being just two points outside the top eight.

Since their loss to the Warriors in Auckland four weeks ago, the west Sydney club have had a run of two wins and a narrow two-point loss to Manly last weekend.

Gatis admitted it would take a special effort for the Warriors to make it through to the post-season.

"But I like to think we have the team to do it," he said.

"I don't think we've been too far off in the last eight weeks. Hopefully we can get our basics in place and have a good run home."

Gatis will start on the bench against the Panthers in his second consecutive NRL appearance after being recalled by the Warriors.

After 10 consecutive appearances this season, he missed five matches and played in the Bartercard Cup while Lance Hohaia was used as the dummy half back-up to Nathan Fien.

Gatis returned for the 20-12 home loss to Parramatta.

* The New Zealand Rugby League yesterday formally ended its financial interest in the Warriors, enabling multimillionaire Eric Watson to assume 100 per cent ownership of the struggling club.

Watson and fellow businessman Mark Hotchin signed a deal which saw them buy the NZRL's 10 per cent shareholding in the club.

Another minority shareholder, Wellington businessman Ramesh Dayal, also transferred his 15 per cent stake to Watson and Hotchin's Warriors League Ltd, formerly known as Cullen Sports.

The amounts paid were not disclosed.

The NZRL had sought to extricate itself from a six-year association with the Warriors for the past 12 months.


Penrith Stadium, 7.30 tonight

Panthers: Rhys Wesser, Michael Gordon, Mark O'Halloran, Lee Hookey, Luke Rooney, Preston Campbell, Craig Gower, Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Craig Stapleton, Matthew Cross, Tony Puletua (c), Frank Pritchard
Interchange: Frank Puletua, Bryan Norrie, Matthew Bell, Luke Swain.

Warriors: Patrick Ah Van, Cooper Vuna, Tony Mart, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Grant Rovelli, Ruben Wiki, Nathan Fien, Steve Price (c), Awen Guttenbeil, Louis Anderson, Sione Faumuina
Interchange: George Gatis, Sam Rapira, Wairangi Koopu, Micheal Luck.

- NZPA