The Warriors will finish inside the top four after another win last night. Photo: NRL Photos / www.photosport.nz
For the first time since 2007, the Warriors will finish the NRL regular season in the top four.
The Warriors scraped home against the Dragons 18-6 in Auckland last night to secure a home play off, with a round to play.
The team marked their 300th match at Mount Smart Stadium last night with their seventh win on the trot to also celebrate Shaun Johnson's 250th NRL match and skipper Tohu Harris' 100th Warriors appearance.
The Warriors have come up against sides all outside the top eight in recent weeks and coach Andrew Webster said they have played with nothing to lose.
"We didn't take a couple of opportunities, but tonight was different to the last 3-4 weeks, we've played teams that are absolutely fearless, the things they try and do, you just don't see that form a team that's coming top four."
A bizarre opening to the match saw the Warriors allow the kick-off to bounce and the ball ended up with Dragons centre Zac Lomax who dived over to score, but the bunker ruled he had lost the ball into Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Adam Pompey sliced through the line on an angled run.
Nicoll-Klokstad made it 10-0 soon after, before the Dragons worked their way back into the contest.
The Warriors sealed the win in the 74th when Johnson kicked into the in-goal and Addin Fonua-Blake grounded it.
Webster said despite another close scoreline, the performance was far better than previous weeks.
"We defended unbelievable tonight, it was the best part of our game. We weren't disciplined at times but they really never looked like breaking us down. Top four is an unbelievable achievement for the club and they should be really proud."
However, he said the team is still not satisfied.
"The boys really want more, we'll tidy things up, we'll get better."
Tohu Harris has joined the 100 club for the Warriors. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
Skipper Tohu Harris concurred with his coach.
"It comes down to how you defend, we put ourselves under pressure and I thought we defended really well, but we cant afford to have that kind of discipline in the bigger games towards the end of the year."
He said another packed house in Penrose helped drive them home.
"The crowd has been outstanding all year long, even when we've travelled, we have heard them every single game."
Harris hopes it is not the last time they play at Mount Smart this season.
"This is our home, this is where the Warriors belong."
The 32-year-old said it was a privilege to join the 100 club for the Warriors.
"It's a special moment, to walk in the gym and see the guys who played 100 before me to be on the wall, to be up there beside those guys is pretty special. It's been a fun year and hopefully it gets even better."
Last night's win may have come at a cost with five-eighth Luke Metcalf suffering a hamstring injury, thought Webster said they will have to wait and see how serious it is.
The Warriors meet the Dolphins next week in their final game before the play offs.
-RNZ
