By Sam Ackerman
Warriors captain Simon Mannering, who led the team to last year’s grand final has signed with the club for another three years.
However if a playoff system, reintroduced for this coming season had been in place, the Warriors would have been knocked out in the first week of the finals.
Mannering is pleased to be part of the club.
“It's just exciting times overall for the club. Last year we had all three teams in the grand final, I definitely want to be part of something here.”
However, if a change that has just been made to the NRL playoffs was in place last year, the Warriors would not have made the grand final.
The unpopular McIntyre system has been scrapped for a return to the top eight formula that was last used in 1996.
But Warriors coach Brian McClennan supports the change.
“I actually like it, I support it, it's a very good system. It rewards consistency of effort throughout the year.”
The guaranteed home advantage and first week safety net is another incentive for a top four finish.
Centre Jerome Ropati says that is the team’s aim.
“That's been our goal right through our off-season, what Bluey [McClennan] wanted. He wants us to be a top four team, he wants to make sure at that finals run it's going to be a lot easier for us, especially when it comes to travelling, last year we travelled every week of the finals, we don't want to do that.”
However the team has 24 matches to get through first.
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