Weary Warriors
by Becky Tappin 
A team that is pretty much a shoe-in to making the playoffs losing in the final minutes to a second rate team.
How frustrating is all I can say.
The Vodafone Warriors are possibly the most frustrating sports team in New Zealand, filled with talented players and experience to boot, and yet so many times their fans have been disappointed by inexplicable losses.
Last weekend we witnessed a fantastic win over the Titans 30 - 6, and this weekend against a Raiders team who, to be frank, are grossly out of form, we lose in the last two minutes.
What is wrong with the Warriors?
I am not the best league player in the world (I actually don’t play) but it appears that the Warriors, although overflowing with experienced and talented players (Manu Vatuvei, Grant Rovelli, Ruben Wiki and Steve Price) still have a lot to learn.
I have some advice for our boys in the NRL: the game lasts for 80 minutes. Do not stop until the ref blows that final whistle.
We played soft defence throughout the game and it was only a matter of time before the Raiders capitalised on our slackness.
However, all is not lost. We are still in with a definite chance for the playoffs. Although a home semi is looking like an unlikely goal.
I am a lot more at ease knowing that in form player Wade McKinnon is set to return in our next match against the Manly Sea Eagles.
If the Warriors win their next two games against Manly and then Penrith, we will probably finish fifth. But if other results go our way, the boys could finish third before the playoffs.
Although they are extremely frustrating to watch at times, when they are on top of their game, boy can they play!
Watch them come up against the Manly Sea Eagles this Sunday at 2pm.
I only hope I am not left with the same feeling of frustration as I was after the clash against the Raiders on Saturday.