NRL: Playoff uncertainty hurting

The Warriors' tryline is breached by Titans player Kevin Gordon in their opening NRL playoff match on the Gold Coast. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors were left lamenting a sixth-straight NRL loss to the Titans and a potential exit from the competition as they awaited crucial results late last night.

A pungent smell of 'what might have been' lingered in the dressing room as the team put themselves at the mercy of others to make the second week of the finals.

The result went some way to suggesting the Warriors are not capable of winning the competition, having still beaten just two of the top eight sides this season. In contrast, the Titans are on a roll with seven wins from their last eight starts.

The McIntyre system can be a cruel master. The Warriors' fate might still be decided by today's match between Manly and St George-Illawarra. Coach Ivan Cleary said it was hard dealing with the uncertainty.

"Regardless of results, we still have to prepare not knowing the outcome. We might have considered staying on [in Australia] if we'd known in advance, but we mightn't know until [today] where, or if, we're playing."

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah was quick to back his coach by questioning the system.

"There is no issue where the two highest-ranked losers get another opportunity, but there is a lot of uncertainty whether you are in or not [which can affect logistics].

"Compare that to the AFL system, where the draw is guaranteed and you can plan better. We fly home now not knowing whether we'll be playing again or where we will be going. We may have stayed over and earned ourselves another day's preparation otherwise.

"But it does create excitement through the weekend and ensures the last game is still live."

The Australian Rules' finals system still has eight teams but the winner of 5 vs 8 plays away at the loser of 1 vs 4. The same applies to the winner of 6 vs 7 and loser of 2 vs 3. The two top-four winners get a second week bye, the two bottom-four losers are out. The NRL only boots out the bottom two losers, meaning teams as high as 3 and 4 can be dismissed.

Compounding the Warriors' woe was that the team made too many errors through missed tackles and forced offloads. That made it a struggle when combined with some tough refereeing calls and a Titans side determined to make up for the finals disappointment of last year.

"We started well but lost our way," Cleary said of the fact they trailed 22-6 at halftime after taking an early 6-0 lead. "We pushed things too much. They got a lot of possession in that first half and were accurate with it. We could've got back into the contest but were flustered."

Before Friday night, the Warriors had conceded the least points of any NRL team (45). The Titans unlocked their defence and tested the Warriors' patience, often with mesmerising moves where a receiver would go close to the defensive line before passing.

"We just got a bit rattled," said finals football veteran Brent Tate, as blood oozed from his head after a couple of booming hits.

"Probably just a few errors cost us. They have some big-game players and we got scattered for a 15-minute period in the first half.

"I thought we got back to our game plan and were in it again in the second half. If we get another chance, what we gained tonight is invaluable."

Some 50:50 refereeing calls, most involving stripping the ball, were another sore point.

"I thought there were a couple of close calls," Cleary said. "But that's what we get, consistent losses in the penalty count. However, our own basic errors cost us this game.

"It seemed every time there was a dropped ball in the play-the-ball, it was either a penalty against us or their ball," Tate said. "I don't think we were that bad all night."

Meanwhile, Jerome Ropati's shoulder injury means he is likely to miss any remaining Warriors games but be fit for the Four Nations. An MRI scan has shown a tear in his rotator cuff muscle.

Dr John Mayhew joked Micheal Luck had received his weekly four-five stitches to the head but had experienced no problems with the cut to his leg.