As frustrating as it was, there were two small mercies in last night's dispiriting loss to the Sharks.

The Warriors have a bad case of Saturday night fever - and this affliction is nothing to sing and dance about.

Grand final tickets go on sale to the public on Tuesday. Manly fans should start queuing up this morning.

Shaun Johnson has been maturing nicely this season but he didn't need to look far last night to see a player who consistently delivers at a high level.

One of the biggest contributions to the amazing turnaround of the 2013 team is undoubtedly new coach Matt Elliott.

The looming departure of Neil Henry still stings Matt Scott but it has not stopped the North Queensland co-captain giving Kevin Walters the thumbs up as his replacement.

The Warriors are on a run reminiscent of their streaks of 2008 and 2011 and there's a hope they can at least replicate what those two sides achieved.

He is a player the Kiwis were banking on having at the World Cup but Thomas Leuluai hasn't decided whether he will play for New Zealand or Samoa.

With a move to Eden Park now firmly on the Warriors' horizon, the challenge of winning a premiership title may become even more difficult.

One of the more unlikely streaks in the NRL rolls on.

Get ready Auckland - League Nines is coming to a stadium near you.

If you want to see what lies behind the Melbourne Storm's culture of success, ask the players about their notorious pre-season 'boot camp'.

Nathan Friend still doesn't know where he will be playing next season but, if anything, his form has only improved since being told by the Warriors he was free to look for a contract elsewhere.

I have never seen the NRL ladder look so congested at this time of the season, but the Warriors will sneak into the top eight.

This weekend marks the NRL's rivalry round but there's already more anticipation around Manly's game against Parramatta next weekend.

Even Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy refers to them as the Big Three and the return of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater has made a tough task at Mt Smart Stadium even more difficult for the Warriors on Sunday.

Some doctors are becoming increasingly concerned rival clubs are flouting rules on concussion and that the NRL doesn't appear to be doing anything to enforce its own rules.

Stephen Kearney had very little time to think about and prepare for the World Cup in 2008.

Queensland superstar Greg "GI" Inglis is hoping to miss just a fortnight of action.

Last night, Queensland won their eighth-straight State of Origin series and proved why they are the best side in the history of the competition.

The odds looked stacked against New South Wales winning a first series since 2005.

For the Warriors to regain the winning habit next week, they will have to trump a resurgent Tigers side - and overcome their cursed history at Leichhardt Oval.

The thought of Benji Marshall moving from rugby league should not be underestimated by the NRL.

The misery continues for Parramatta, while the Penrith evolution under Ivan Cleary rolls on.

The Warriors are investigating the possibility of staging a match in Dubai.

This Friday marks 100 days until the start of the Rugby League World Cup and Kearney admits this year's team will probably be the most difficult he has had to select.

Youngster Boyd Cordner is in line for a State of Origin baptism of fire after NSW's plans for the series decider were thrown into disarray by the loss of skipper Paul Gallen.

I used to love the biff but now it has no place in rugby league and I support hard-line efforts to try to eliminate it from the game, writes Richie Barnett.

The UK Super League will be cut from 14 to 12 teams from 2015 and may bring back promotion/relegation.

It's just as well Thomas Leuluai tends not to read newspapers or follow sports media, as he may have been buried under the avalanche of criticism that came his way earlier this year.