Warriors on the Warpath
Third-place-getters in 2008, the mighty F7s Warriors were knocked out by eventual premiers the Gold Coast Titans.
In 2009, they have put together a crack squad with the right mix of youth and experience. The Mount Smarters have no less than four rookies signed up following a tremendous recruitment campaign over the off-season. Plus late mail is that skipper JesBass has successfully recalled former Referee of the Year antonius into the NZ ranks.
Can the Aotearoa contingent take out the big one this year? This punter reckons they're a better than even chance.
"Tika tonu mai
Tika tonu mai
Ki ahau e noho nei
Tika tonu mai I a hei ha!"
Gamebreakers: rayroxon, Mixmasterreece, Jesbass. Suttsburger
Home ground: Mt Smart Stadium
Early bookies mail: Short as Stacey Jones and firming as favourites, we'll give you 2-1 (3-1 in 2008).