KEY POINTS:
Maybe it's the beards that make a number of them look like Uncle Jesse off the Dukes of Hazzard, or their newfound resolve on defence.
Whatever it is, it's working and the Warriors are now a realistic chance of making the top-eight playoffs. It's something that looked doubtful
eight weeks ago but six wins in seven games, as well as two points from the bye, had them sitting in the eight heading into this weekend's round.
As sportsmen and women like to roll out with tired monotony, destiny is in their own hands.
Given their dreadful points differential caused by non-existent defence early in the season, they probably need to win at least two of their final three games to be safe. None of the three are easy, especially as they are against sides also scrapping for a ticket to the Promised Land.
Dragons
If history is any indicator, the Warriors don't have a chance today against the Dragons.
In five games at WIN Stadium, they have never won - the closest being the 22-16 defeat in 2006. There isn't any particular explanation but the Dragons have tended to have the wood on the Warriors.
Nathan Brown's side took advantage of State of Origin, posting seven consecutive wins when other teams were weakened, but they have since won only two of six games. They got back on track in Brisbane last weekend with an important 24-20 win over a side with top-four aspirations.
The Dragons have a tremendous backline, headed by rugby union-bound centre Mark Gasnier and internationals Mark Cooper, the reformed Wendell Sailor and Jason Nightingale, who is fourth in the try-scoring stakes with 12. Halfback Ben Hornby can control a game and he was excellent against the Broncos, laying on three tries for team-mates.
Panthers
The Warriors' chances depend on what Panthers side turn up.
If it's the one that folded embarrassingly 74-12 against Canberra a fortnight ago, Ivan Cleary will be very confident of netting two competition points. But if it's the one that can explode into life on the back of Frank Pritchard's exploits, then life for the Auckland team could be difficult.
The Panthers are one of the most inconsistent teams in the competition - they backed up three wins in a row with three losses. But they have claimed only one top-six scalp throughout the season, a 21-20 win over the Sharks in round six.
The boys from the Blue Mountains were many people's favourites for the unwanted kitchen device but are on the cusp of the eight on the back of an enterprising style of football. They returned to form last weekend - it's almost impossible not to against the dreadful and demoralised Bulldogs (52-16) - but they have a tough run-in with games against the Storm, Warriors and Sea Eagles.
Also in the Warriors' favour is their impressive record at Mt Smart Stadium this season - eight wins in 11 games - including wins over the Storm, Broncos and Sharks.
Eels
The biggest favour for the Warriors is for the Eels to now be out of playoffs contention by this time.
Dangerously, however, they could well be still hanging around.
Parramatta were second favourites this year and many are still trying to work out what has gone wrong. They are still alive, though, and probably need to win all three of their remaining games to sneak into the eight.
They had what shaped as a gimme two points against the Bulldogs last night and face the Dragons in a must-win game next weekend.
The Eels have firepower across the park in the likes of Krisnan Inu and Faleti Mateo and last weekend Jarryd Hayne showed the sort of form that saw him named 2006 Rookie of the Year and 2007 Winger of the Year.
To make matters worse, the Warriors have won only one game in nine at Parramatta Stadium.
