League: Warriors' hopes elevated by turbo props

Russell Packer (left) is one of four Warriors props who has impressed this season. Photo / Getty Images

Jacob, Sam, Ben and Russell. It could be a mild mannered group of accountants or a neighbourhood law firm - but this particular foursome are the quartet powering the Warriors' resurgence over the last two months.

The Auckland-based team have won six of their last seven matches, with the defeat a golden point loss to the Broncos, to storm into the NRL top four. They will have a job to stay there today as they have never beaten the Dragons at Wollongong in the NRL - but key to today and the string of victories has been the performance of the props in the engine room; Jacob Lillyman and Sam Rapira, backed up by Ben Matulino and Russell Packer off the bench.

"For the last six or seven weeks each pair has been setting a new standard and we just feed off that," says Lillyman. "We feed off each other out on the field; if the other prop is screaming for the ball and tears in flat tack into a brick wall of defence - that inspires you. The next run, you are pushing blokes out of the way to try and get the ball because you are that pumped up and want to do the same thing."

"We have had some pretty good combinations in recent times, recently, especially [Steve] Price and [Ruben] Wiki," says coach Ivan Cleary. "Those two left a legacy and the result is what you see now. It is good to see the next crop coming through."

One of the more pleasing aspects of recent games is that the Warriors are tuning up for finals football by playing finals football. There is a edge to their play and a tighter feel to their game. "Our props make a massive difference", says James Maloney. "To play on the back of a pack going forward is really easy and it is probably making me and Shaun [Johnson] look good."

Cleary says the foursome are driven by healthy competition between them, and complement each other well: "Jacob is old style - he loves the physical stuff and doesn't shy away from it," says Cleary. "The harder it gets, the better he goes. Sam is one of our best marker defenders. For a big guy he works really hard defensively and does a lot of stuff that most front rowers wouldn't do - yet he can still carry the ball as good as anyone and has got an offload in him as well.

"Meanwhile, Ben is probably our biggest hitter in defence. His footwork is pretty good - coming from the back row he is quite mobile for a big guy. Russell is our biggest boy and definitely old style. He brings more than just his own game - his personality is actually good for the chemistry of the team. When Russell is up and excited, it rubs off on everyone."

All four carry for almost 100m per game, with Matulino leading the way with an average of 95m. Packer is averaging 27 tackles per match, but the rest of the quartet are not far behind (Rapira 24; Lillyman 21; Matulino 18).

There is all the usual banter between the men who operate in the trenches. At training last week Lillyman was hurling a 15kg medicine ball metres into the air at the Warrior's gym, while Matulino and Rapira lifted huge slabs together on the bench press. Lillyman has taken more of a senior role at the club this year, but deflects talk of leadership. "I've never been one for giving advice," says Lillyman. "I try to lead by example rather than pulling someone aside. If I can bring a leadership quality to the team it would be leading by example rather than Churchillian speeches."

Russell Packer remains the only one of the regular starters yet to score a try this season, something the other props are revelling in.

"He's been calling certain plays near the tryline to get over but it just hasn't come off for him," laughs Lillyman. "He's doing his best to avoid the nude run on Mad Monday."

Today's match against St George looms as the biggest test in recent weeks. The Dragons are desperate to break out of their slump, where they have won just two of 11 games, while the Warriors have a poor record against St George, winning just four of 17 matches since 1995.

"They are one of the better packs you will come across," says Lillyman, "especially with all of their representative forwards. The first 20 minutes will be hectic with lots of big contact and it is a matter of weathering the storm".

Maloney is also prepared for an onslaught, and discounts any talk of a terminal slump at St George.

"At their best they don't offer you much," says Maloney, " they kick to the corners and play that grinding style. They tend to frustrate you when you get opportunities and then can't get points. We need to be patient and play for 80 minutes."