Warriors Eel-ated before finals

BY AARON LAWTON

Last updated 13:56 05/09/2010

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Warriors captain Simon Mannering is tackled during the NRL playoff match against the Gold Coast Titans.

Wiiliam Zillman of the Titans scores a try against the Warriors.

Manu Vatuvei scores a try for the Warriors in their NRL playoffs loss to the Gold Coast Titans.

Kevin Gordon scores for the Gold Coast Titans against the Warrors in their NRL playoffs match.

James Maloney of the Warriors looks dejected after his team lost the NRL playoff match againstthe God Coast Titans.

Ukuma Ta'ai of the of the Warriors takes a hit.

NZ Warrior Brett Seymour puts up a hand to fend as he runs the ball against the Sharks.

NZ Warrior Ian Henderson is tackled in a match against the Cronulla Sharks in Sydney.

Warriors forward Ian Henderson is at full stretch to tackle Cronulla's Nathan Gardner during their NRL match in Sydney.

Lewis Brown of the Warrios is tackled against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Stadium.

Ukuma Ta'ai runs the ball against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Stadium.

Ukuma Ta'ai of the Warriors is driven back in a tackle during the round 20 NRL match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Sydney.

Nathan Merritt of the Rabbitohs scores during the round 20 NRL match against the Warriors in Sydney.

Brent Tate of the Warriors is tackled during the round 20 NRL match against the Rabbitohs in Sydney.

Fetuli Talanoa of the Rabbitohs crosses the line to score one of his tries during the round 20 NRL match against the Warriors in Sydney.

Warriors' Lewis Brown struggles to hold Rabbitoh Fetuli Talanoa back from the tryline during the round 20 NRL match in Sydney.

Chris Sandow of the Rabbitohs celebrates his try during the round 20 NRL match against the Warriors in Sydney.

Eddy Pettybourne of the Rabbitohs is tackled during the round 20 NRL match against the Warriors in Sydney.

The Warriors contemplate their lot after a Bulldog try during their NRL match in Sydney.

The Warriors defence holds onto Bulldog Andrew Ryan during their NRL match in Sydney.

Bulldogs scrumhalf Brett Kilmorley breaks through some high Warriors defence during their NRL match in Sydney.

Warriors Lance Hohaia (left) and Lewis Brown struggle to catch Bulldogs Luke Patten during their NRL match in Sydney.

The Bulldogs celebrate their first try against the Warriors.

Lance Hohaia is tackled by Brent Kite in the Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles game at Mt Smart Stadium.

Aaron Heremaia is tackled in the Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles game at Mt Smart Stadium.

Bill Tupou takes off up the centre in the Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles game at Mt Smart Stadium.

Warriors halfback James Maloney takes a few Manly players along in the Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles game at Mt Smart Stadium.

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Momentum. It's a word that seems to spew forth from the mouths of NRL players, coaches and commentators as the finals draw close.

Every team wants to have it. Some do. Some don't.

The Warriors, after 26 rounds of gruelling footy, can officially claim to have the former after putting the Eels to the sword with a victory in Sydney last night.

The win was the resurgent club's fourth in five matches and the timing couldn't have been any better, with the NRL's finals scheduled for next weekend.

On Friday night, the Titans secured the only remaining spot in the top four – and a home semifinal – with a win over the Tigers.

But the Warriors, in crushing the Eels – ruining former Kiwis skipper Nathan Cayless' rugby league swansong in the process – have done enough to ensure a fifth-placed finish after the Roosters, who started the final round equal to them on competition points and points differential, were only able to beat the Cowboys by 10 last night.

As a result, the Warriors will play the Titans at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Friday night.

For the Eels, last year's defeated Grand Finalists and this season's competition favourites, this was supposed to be a night to farewell their departing stars – Cayless to retirement and Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo, ironically, to the Warriors. But just as they had failed to live up to the weight of expectation all year and bombed out of finals contention a week ago, their farewell effort was as flimsy.

If the Warriors had arrived at Parramatta Stadium – a venue they'd only won at twice in 11 matches – expecting an easy contest, they were quickly jolted out of such a mindset from the opening seconds, with the Eels throwing the ball around like it was a hot potato. Four minutes in, Inu looked to have scored in the corner but he failed to control the ball over the line.

From there, the Warriors began to wake from their slumber. But despite boasting five consecutive sets at one point, they couldn't crack the Eels' defence. Finally, they broke the deadlock when Jerome Ropati ran on to a grubber kick from James Maloney and grounded the ball inside the corner post.

The Eels responded through sharp thinking to Timana Tahu, who caught the visitors napping with a quick tap to score.

A Brent Tate four-pointer rounded out the scoring in the first half. But the Warriors were forced to start the second without their standoff James Maloney, who was sinbinned on the siren for tackling Luke Burt without the ball as he mounted a late counter-attack.

Once Maloney returned, Brett Seymour popped a superb offload to prop Jesse Royal to score under the sticks in the 56th minute.

Still, despite their dominance, the Warriors continue to give away silly penalties to keep the Eels in the contest – something that should be of concern to coach Ivan Cleary as his side prepares for their first foray into the finals since 2008.

But any Eels' hopes of a fairytale send-off for Cayless and co went out the window when the Warriors scored through Kevin Locke.

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From there, the Eels appeared to give up all hope and a try to Manu Vatuvei just after the restart – the 77th of his career, which equalled Stacey Jones' club record – was enough to seal the victory.

Cayless scored what could only be a dubious four-pointer for small consolation to close out the final match of his career.